Located in the generally flat terrain of Dallas, TX, sits a house on a unique parcel of land. The homeowners wanted to transform the property and the house to be able to host friends, workout in and primarily live on the first floor. “This urban house is on this sort of funny little street in Central Dallas,” said James LaRue, principal of LaRue Architects. “It has a little pond in the back of the property and the property comes to a point at the pond. It’s shaped like a slice of pizza. They are also empty nesters and primarily live on the first floor. We knew they liked to entertain, so we came up with the idea to focus on the pond for the design of the building.”

The homeowners wanted a modern, sophisticated, yet warm and inviting retreat for their central Dallas home. Most of the house is designed for livability primarily on the main floor, with two additional bedrooms on the upper floor. There is also a detached guesthouse where many game-watching parties take place. An exercise room and a 25-meter lap pool are essential design elements for the active homeowners. The floor plan is open and great for entertaining; the kitchen, dining, living and wine room flow together, while remaining separate from the private master suite. The office is adjacent to these spaces via a beautiful gallery, where the serene view is best experienced. “This house is unique for Dallas because you don’t expect to see this pond back there. The site also has a significant slope down toward the pond,” said Emily Haydon, project manager at LaRue Architects. “This is something we have in Austin, but something you don’t typically see in Dallas.”