Palm Springs Inspiration in Dallas

By Therneavin1978 | October 9, 2020

First-time homeowners Greg and Chantal Hickman are familiarized with makeovers. He’s a stylist at Nordstrom. The few pulled out of their design art to give their dated 1961 house in East Dallas a hands on transformation. They gave the exterior a Palm Springs–motivated facelift, and also the interior today comes with an eclectic vibe which incorporates Greg’s handmade furniture.

at a Glance
Who lives here: Greg and Chantal Hickman and their beagle–Boston terrier mix, Lucy
Location: East Dallas
Size: 1,200 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
Year built: 1961

Hilary Walker

Greg and Chantal, shown here, worked with a $4,000 layout budget for the exterior and a six-month time frame. They painted the brick a dark grey and the doorway a cheerful coral. Then they added a painted decorative display and replaced the walls. Modern planters and steel edging inspired from the low-maintenance landscaping and midcentury-cool design of Palm Springs replaced unruly shrubs. “We wanted it to have a more desert feel and drought-resistant plants to the horrible Texas heat,” says Chantal.

Gray paint: Porpoise (5 percent darker); doorway paint: Ardent Coral, equally by Sherwin Williams

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Lucy lounges on a sectional that divides the living area that is open-plan. The couple found the “214” signal at local store Dolly Python. The figures represent the couple’s wedding anniversary (Valentine’s Day) in addition to a Dallas region code.

Rug: Samaya Soumak Jute Rug, West Elm; alloy bar stools: Again & Again

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The Hickmans invested at a few midcentury modern pieces, similar to this lounge chair, to combine with their newer pieces.

Yellow pillow: Trade Days

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Lush pots of greenery, in this way fiddle leaf fig, adorn multiple corners throughout the home.

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This midcentury credenza, utilized as a TV stand, got a contemporary flourish with the inclusion of flocked damask paper.

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The property’s kitchen was updated by the last owner but has been lacking interest. Greg measured and stained pine wooden slats and added them into the front counter to get a striking accent.

Metal bar stools: Again & Again

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Greg, who sells his handmade furniture on Etsy, created this wooden bookshelf. The purple geode was picked up during a trip to one of the few favorite destinations: Marfa, Texas.

Drapes: West Elm

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The bedroom features an impressive accent wall which Greg and Chantal made using Inhabit wall flats made from bark berry sugar. A black macramé hanger is a posh accent as well.

Wall tiles: Chrysalis, Inhabit; bed: stage, BoConcept; pillow: Lappljung Ruta, Ikea

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Mementos collected from travels and experiences accent every room, such as in this bedside vignette. This polaroid of Chantal was taken at a graffiti park during a trip to Austin for the Fourth of July. The geode was accumulated while the two were on holiday with friends in Marfa, Texas.

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To contrast the white accent wall, the remainder of the area is a warm grey. A rich wood midcentury credenza and moody art round out the area. The hardwood floors are original to the home.

Paint: Channel Seal Gray, Valspar

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An excess bedroom acts as a multipurpose area; the Hickmans use it as a home office and for bicycle storage.

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They maximized the space in this area by adding wall storage along with a shared desk. Greg created the shelves from uncooked cedar, as well as the couple bought the desk from a artist at Austin throughout a City-Wide Garage Sale.

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With the help of Rocky Garza, another Dallas furniture maker using a similar flavor for industrial layout and rustic timber, the two built a dining table and benches for the outdoor patio.

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A number of the pieces here, including the letter “H,” that the 7UP tin can and the cart, were sourced from flea markets, Craigslist, antique shops and estate sales.

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“It’s very good to get support from each other,” Greg says. “That is key for us. We are a team on just about everything. I wouldn’t be doing half what I’m doing now if it weren’t for [Chantal].”

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