Whenever the word ‘whisperer’ is used, it generally refers to a person’s innate ability to communicate with something that can’t talk on its own. As seen in the movie The Horse Whisperer and the TV show Ghost Whisperer, those possessing such gifts can unlock a subject’s true nature and intents. This same sixth sense belongs to Birmingham architect Jeffrey Dungan, but instead of animals or the unknown, Dungan deftly interprets a property’s terrain and surroundings to achieve the best design possible. And that’s how Don and Kris Rymer’s new home came to be. “As I walked their land for the first time, it immediately spoke to me,” Dungan recounts. “The site’s topography had great movement, as well as some wonderful views of the Twin Sisters Mountain beyond.”
Knowing that Dungan shared their affinity for traditional design intermixed with clean, modern elements, the Rymers were confident the architect could realize their intents. “Having lived in Rosemary Beach, Florida, for eight years before moving back to Texas, we were familiar with Jeff’s work,” Kris explains. “Since he and his firm were responsible for many of our favorite homes in and around Rosemary, we immediately thought of him to create our dream home.” Heath Clement, another instrumental part of the design team, worked closely with Dungan in putting ideas to paper.
Located in Boerne, Texas, the residence is an assembly of graceful stone arches and clay-tile roofs. Since Dungan is well-versed in the region’s vernacular styles and architectural influences, he successfully wove the diverse elements together in the home’s design.
The summer heat was also a driving factor in creating a fortlike layout arranged around a central courtyard for needed comfort and shade. And an infinity pool framed by two guest cabanas offers another respite from soaring temperatures .
Inside, the home takes a lighter, more informal approach. “As Don and I began collaborating with Jeff on the interior spaces, our goal was to select materials and finishes that would impart beauty and permanence,” Kris notes. Features like Carrara marble floors and countertops in the master bath mixed with white-washed, woodplank ceilings in the breakfast room and kitchen offer a pleasing balance of styles. Even the great room, which boasts a 16-foot-high ceiling, is far from pretentious. Flanked with French doors, the space abounds with views and natural light. “We wanted a soft palette in this room, so we chose white-colored linen upholstery and window treatments to create an ideal backdrop for splashes of blues mixed with neutral tones,” says Kris.
The Rymers’ hands-on approach was instrumental in almost every aspect of the home’s design, including the fireplace mantels in the great room, master bedroom, and home office. “We commissioned craftsmen in Hidalgo, Mexico, to fabricate them so that our attention to detail was achieved,” says Kris.
With the last stones laid and the final touches complete, the new residence displays a ready-made sense of longevity, as though it has stood there from Texas’ early founding. “The house sits comfortably in its setting and appears to have grown out of the rocky soil,” says Dungan. And it’s this connection of home and surroundings that serves as a testament to the architect’s ability to listen to the land—even if it’s just a whisper.
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