ANOTHER DOWNSIZING STORY & A GIVEAWAY BY CURATED!!

For years, Kristin Mullen, her husband, and four children all lived in this wonderful house which they had designed upon returning to the states after living abroad.  With 3 sons and one daughter, a large house was much desired and very needed.  Kristin loves to decorate and this house was her greatest project. 

I first wrote her house and her décor years ago – Kristin’s rooms were a Pinterest and blog favorite.  The house, on Meadowood, was featured in magazines and catalogues even rented it out for photoshoots.   Kristin and her husband had lived in the Far East and when she chose a decorative scheme for this house, she opted for a French Indo Colonial look – to remember those happy times.  

The front door opened to the foyer and the loggia beyond, with views of the expansive back yard.

The entry was my favorite – the skirted table and gray painted molding.

The living room was painted black - years before it became so on-trend.  Later, Kristin rearranged the room.   She brought in lots of red to create that French Indo Colonial feel.

Remember these two chairs – is all I will say!!!

The dining room was the highlight of the house!  Fabulous red Chippendale chairs, two chandeliers, and matching red Chinoiserie cabinets flank the side door.

This stunning piece was repurposed by Kristin.  Painted red, she added leather and brass studs to make it an even more Oriental piece.

The  family room looked as if it was transported from a Scottish mansion with it gorgeous Pine paneling.

The back patio with fireplace overlooks the pool and fountains.

The pool includes a water rill.

With such a large house – at almost 11,000 sq. ft and with three stories - when the children start leaving for college, you start thinking about downsizing.  Well, downsizing is all in the eyes of the beholder.

Kristin’s beloved daughter Darcy has a disability and will always live at home with a caregiver, so a downsized house still needs to be large enough to accommodate her needs, along with room down the road for visiting grandchildren, yet to be born.

Their plan was to sell the house on Meadowood, move to a townhouse and then build another, smaller dream house.  When Meadowood was finally sold, the family quickly moved to an ultra modern townhouse which was to be a nice break from classic décor.  The problem was that Darcy didn’t like the contemporary townhouse.  In  fact, she hated it and was very vocal about her displeasure.  After enduring it for a month, Kristin and her husband decided to meet with a realtor and that very morning they found a classic Tudor that had been remodeled.  It was smaller than Meadowood, but at 7,000 sq.ft. it wasn’t small.  Still – the set up was perfect for Darcy and that was the most important thing.

Like I said – one person’s downsizing isn’t the same as the next person, but the new house is 4,000 sq. ft. smaller!!   

The new house with Tudor accents is very cozy looking from the outside.  But the façade hides its true expansive size.

Kristin decided to give the house an inside/outside garden feel,  the opposite of the glamourous and dressy décor that Meadowood had.   Her family wanted a more casual home where they could use every room and walk around barefoot!    Her pricey rugs were put in storage and Dash and Albert rugs were used instead.   She christened their new home “The Barefoot House.”

BEFORE:   The Tudor house had dark molding and paneling, something that Kristin would never want to live with in a house.

One note – the house had been remodeled before the Mullen’s purchased it.  These are the before photos so you can see how different the house looks today.

TODAY:   Painted white, the room is now stunning!!    Recognize the chairs?  Fancy before in yellow silk, they now wear blue and white linen stripes and painted wood!    Beside the new white paneling and walls, the floors were stained black – a great contrast to all the white.

I am in LOVE with this room!!!!   Just beautiful!!!!

Another view towards the front window showing the urns on wood pedestals.

In the corner is this accent gilt chair and ottoman. 

You might remember that Kristin had several Aidan Gray pieces in Meadowood, which she used here in the Barefoot House.   That nest!!!  That’s fabulous!!!

Another view shows a bit more of the chandelier.  Love the sunburst which was found in Round Top!!

Cowtan and Tout curtains.  So pretty.

BEFORE:   Dark moldings and faux paint on walls.   The wine cellar is behind an iron door on the right.

TODAY:   All the walls are white with white moldings and dark, black wood floors for contrast.  Striped Dash & Albert rug.  The room has an inside/outside feel with the door that opens to the garden which Kristin created. 

After Kristin moved from Meadowood, she sold much of her furniture, including her dining table because the rental townhouse didn’t have two dining areas.  The new house did – and Kristin told me she refused to buy another table one month after she sold a perfect one.  Instead she decided to use her table from her outside loggia.  Paired with kubu chairs – the dining table is perfect for the Barefoot House!!

The chandelier came from the Meadowood living room and the bookshelf is from the former breakfast room.

The Tudor/Tuscany styled iron door to the wine cellar was removed by Kristin and a barn styled door styled by her is used here instead. 

Kristin used antique shutters throughout the house, as you will see!

A close-up of the styling in the bookshelves.  An antique pine chair stands in the corner.

A close-up of Kristin’s styling in the dining room – casual and perfect for the Barefoot House.

BEFORE:   The family room with more dark molding and light wood floors – both of which were changed. 

TODAY:  First Kristin removed a built in TV cabinet which was installed on this wall.  Next, she collected antique shutters to hide the large flatscreen.   The two center shutters open to reveal the TV. 

The upholstery is light and casual with blue and white stripes and beige tufted leather.   Against the wall is her prized antique Swedish grandfather clock.

A view of the shutters and console table which showcases Kristin’s talent at tablescapes!   I absolutely love how she hid the TV here!!!   Love her accessorizing! 

A view of the antique Swedish clock.

Behind the sofa is an antique desk with wood wing chair (!) 

The accessories have an watery, beach feel. 

Water colors are brought in by the accessories.

BEFORE:   The kitchen was just…dark. 

It’s amazing what paint can do!!!!  Look at this!!  New marble of course.  And a few new glass cabinet doors – but this is an amazing difference with just paint and new countertops.

BEFORE:  The breakfast area off the kitchen, more dark and light woods.

In the breakfast area, Kristin added a seating area at the window. Pewter plates hang over the desk.

The  library is off the front hall.  More dark moldings and light floors.

In the library, Kristin  added a slipcovered sofa and two red chinoiserie chairs.  Behind the sofa is the desk and slipcovered wingchair.  I love the red accents in the Dash & Albert rug!!!

BEFORE:  The master bedroom on the first floor, with  a sea of carpet. 

Today, the carpet is replaced with the dark wood floors and a pretty skin patterned Stark rug.

The bed is from Tara Shaw’s line.  Kristen mixed the toile curtains from Meadowood’s dining room with plain cream curtains.

There’s a zebra bench at the end table.

Kristin used the chinoiserie breakfront here in the bedroom to give the room that French Indo Colonial feel.

And, more antique shutters add layered texture to the room, along with the ticking covered wing chair.

A view at dusk in the back yard, where Kristin created an English styled garden with a pool.  The grass softly creeps right up to the pool – so as to eliminate a mass of hardscape.

And, a day view. 

There is also a smaller, secret garden, right off the dining room, at the side of the house.

Recently, at a Kappa luncheon honoring popular designer and blogger Mark Sikes, Kristin was invited to design a table setting.  Using Mark’s favorite blue and white stripes as a jumping off point, Kristin added antique French chairs along with red and white stripes.

Another view of her table, which was an unusual perfect square shape.   The movie “Home Again,” which Mark consulted on, also influenced her with the bougainvillea centerpiece.

Isn’t this just the perfect table to honor Mark Sikes??

Kristen opened her shop “Curated” a few years ago for another outlet to showcase her creativity.  The shop features Swedish & European antiques and accessories,  all handpicked by Kristin, along with objets d’art.  The shop also serves as a home base for her decorating business.

Don’t live in Dallas?  You can still shop at Curated online HERE.

Curated is also a Sponsor of Cote de Texas and it has its own button on the sidebar, where you can reach the store directly.

Kristin was so sweet to have a Giveaway for Cote de Texas readers.

One lucky reader will win these two 19” pillows in Swedish Grey

To win:

All you have to do is visit the Curated web site

HERE

and pick out your favorite item for sale.  Come back and leave a comment here, telling us your favorite item!

Be sure to go and “LIKE” the Curated Facebook page HERE

Want to visit Curated?

Call 469.930.9811

6725 Snider Plaza
Dallas, Texas
Monday - Saturday | 10am - 5pm