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My Houzz: Enchanting Eclecticism for a Dallas Artist
Collected treasures, an artful mix of materials and one very large tree make for a one-of-a-kind Texas home and studio
Artist, freelance writer, home tour contributor for Houzz, designer, actor, mother and author of the blog La Maison Boheme. Greenman lives in a 1970s Texas ranch house, which she has transformed into a bohemian haven and family home. She loves eclectic, boho style but also has a soft spot for Midcentury modern and Swedish design. Learn more at www.sarahgreenman.com.
Artist, freelance writer, home tour contributor for Houzz, designer, actor,... More »
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Mosaic artist Constance Chantilis stumbled upon her one-of-a-kind house as the for-sale sign was being placed in the front yard. She was instantly enchanted by the property. "I loved that I could access the outdoors from every room," she says. Being close to nature is a key ingredient to the health and overall upkeep of Chantilis' creative soul. "This place is my sanctuary," she says, "and it feeds me."
What fed the design of the home, built by Mark Martinek of Mod Construction, was a Southern catalpa tree growing in the side yard. The entire home is elevated to accommodate the root system of the tree, listed on the Texas Forest Service's Big Tree Registry for being one of the largest specimens in the state. The tree's name is Grace, and Chantilis says, "I knew when I saw the tree and heard her name that this was my new home."
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Constance Chantilis and her dogs, Marley and Clark
Size: 2,300-plus square feet (main house); studio; 2 bedrooms, 2 baths
Location: Little Forest Hills neighborhood of Dallas
What fed the design of the home, built by Mark Martinek of Mod Construction, was a Southern catalpa tree growing in the side yard. The entire home is elevated to accommodate the root system of the tree, listed on the Texas Forest Service's Big Tree Registry for being one of the largest specimens in the state. The tree's name is Grace, and Chantilis says, "I knew when I saw the tree and heard her name that this was my new home."
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Constance Chantilis and her dogs, Marley and Clark
Size: 2,300-plus square feet (main house); studio; 2 bedrooms, 2 baths
Location: Little Forest Hills neighborhood of Dallas
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| The front yard has a beautiful collection of sculptural low-maintenance plants and stone installations. Yucca, saguaro cactus, cypress and blue sage, among others, reflect the house's artistic style and unique construction. |
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| Chantilis put her unique touch on everything in her home. Even the front gate is adorned with one of her fused-glass art installations. A collection of eyes set in yellow and sepia-colored glass keep watch over the property. |
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The front porch has an eclectic mix of vintage patio furniture, ethnic textiles and architectural elements, like a sheet-metal privacy screen with a punched-out circular pattern.
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The exterior is encased in corrugated metal, Cor-Ten steel, industrial accents and rustic hardware. The front entry showcases glass globes hanging from a metal pergola.
The words "hope" and "faith" are cast in marble pieces that look like they might top a headstone, but here they welcome visitors ascending the steps of the front deck.
The words "hope" and "faith" are cast in marble pieces that look like they might top a headstone, but here they welcome visitors ascending the steps of the front deck.
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| Waist-high metal patio walls are topped with planters that house succulents and cacti of all shapes and sizes. A potbelly ceramic fire pit in the corner is ready for the onset of winter weather. |
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| Inside, Chantilis' eclectic style and expansive collections merge with the open floor plan and modern architecture. "I am a collector at heart and want to be able to see and play with my treats and treasures," she says. |
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| A frosted glass entry allows diffused light into the foyer and still maintains privacy. Peacock lampshade: Anthropologie |
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An industrial table sits in front of a central window, which can be retracted to open the living room to a courtyard deck. Chantilis has created little altars of natural elements, plants and sculptures all over her home. Here she has placed quartz crystals in an aloe vera plant surrounded by seasonal decor and succulents.
Chantilis, owner of Two Sisters Catering, enjoys using restaurant equipment in her home and studio. The baker's rack below the table houses an assortment of gemstones and geodes.
Chantilis, owner of Two Sisters Catering, enjoys using restaurant equipment in her home and studio. The baker's rack below the table houses an assortment of gemstones and geodes.
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| An intricate floral area rug placed at an angle warms up the cement floors. In the corner is a bright coral accent wall painted in what Chantilis calls her happy color (Valspar's Tropical Bloom). A similar shade is also used on the exterior doors to her art studio outside. Rug: Sarkis Oriental Rugs in Snider Plaza; table: Carlos Cortes; sculpture centerpiece on table: Willis LeJeune; dining chairs: Ikea |
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A treasured curio cabinet filled with collected treasures stands in the foyer. "I love that piece," Chantilis says. "It's actually three pieces. The top piece was bought separately and actually sat in a different place in the house for a few years. The mirror in the back and the glass shelves give the feel that my treasures are floating in there."
Round Top, an antiques fair between Austin and Houston, is one of her favorite places to shop for treasures.
Round Top, an antiques fair between Austin and Houston, is one of her favorite places to shop for treasures.
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"The objects I like talk to me, and I want them around me," Chantilis says. "I collected rocks as a little girl, but that has obviously expanded to include religious art, vintage toys, poetry, signs and more. Someone else might not get it or see its value, but I love collecting."
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| A favorite spot is the step between the living room and kitchen. "I've always been a stoop sitter," she says. The industrial stools at the kitchen island were found at Round Top. "The seats were originally hide but had been left out in the rain. I saved them and had them reupholstered with white leather," Chantillis says. Table: El Paso Import Co. |
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Chantilis tucked a wet bar into the breezeway between the living room and her bedroom. It's a well-appointed space with a small refrigerator and temperature-controlled wine storage.
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The master bedroom is a serene expanse of white accented with solid carved dark wood furniture. A natural-fiber area rug keeps the space warm and grounded. Chantilis created and installed fused-glass swinging doors between the bedroom and master bath.
Bed: El Paso Import Co.
Bed: El Paso Import Co.
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The spacious master bathroom features a painted tree cutout that towers over a freestanding soaking tub.
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| In addition to an oversize soaking tub, the bathroom has a frameless glass walk-in shower, double washbowls, clerestory windows and floor-to-ceiling tile. Tile: Fujiwa |
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| Outside, a path made of tree trunk pads embedded in gravel guides visitors to Chantilis' studio, CAC Mosaic Designs, at the back of the property. After a recent flood, Chantilis renovated her studio with the help of Mike Thompsett at Garrison Rock Construction. Studio door paint: Trolley, Valspar |
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Having her workplace in the backyard "certainly has its pluses and minuses," she says. "But it's nice to go out in my PJs to check the kiln or take a glass of wine out the studio and start a project. So much of what I do as a mosaic artist is in stages, so the benefit is huge."
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Just outside the art studio is an outdoor shower constructed with corrugated metal.
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The side yard is a meandering courtyard protected by Grace, the catalpa tree. It boasts a fire pit, a gravel floor, ample seating and a second-story guest room atop the art studio.
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The sheet-metal privacy screen seen on the front porch is used on this second-story deck as well.
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| Two sage-green Adirondack chairs flank a makeshift table, which sits upon an upturned planter. Rusted corrugated metal, a wooden crucifix and potted foxtail ferns create a dynamic backdrop. |
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Chantilis sits in her living room behind a coffee table she crafted from recycled vintage tile. "I want my space to fill me with creativity," she says. "I love when visitors compliment the energy created here and let me know how good they feel when they are in my home."
See more photos of this house
See more photos of this house
Ideabook published on Nov. 21, 2012.
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