MODERN ALCHEMY

DALLAS

Some of the best ideas in this home came from a little friendly disagreement.

Modern Alchemy was a collaboration with Adam Baldwin, a friend from architecture school with whom I share something of a brother-and-sister relationship. We can challenge each other, laugh about it, and keep working until an idea feels right. I enjoyed that exchange throughout this project; the home is richer for the ways we pushed one another.

Our clients brought their own perspectives, too. One gravitated toward layers and expressive detail, the other toward simplicity and order. We found common ground in strong architectural forms, warm materials, and rooms with personality. Concrete, terrazzo, and wood established the framework, giving bold furnishings and art room to make themselves known.

Gathering was central to the way they wanted to live. A bar between the formal living room and den became a natural point of connection, with custom wine storage, concealed refrigeration, and antique mirror glass bringing together practical needs and a sense of occasion. Midcentury references gave the space a familiar thread without prescribing every choice.

The kitchen earned regional recognition in the Sub-Zero, Wolf, and Cove Kitchen Design Contest. What makes the project especially satisfying to me, though, is how clearly both clients belong in it. Their individual tastes remain present, and the rooms bring them together with warmth, confidence, and a little unexpected energy.