Eclectic Elegance Distinguishes a Dallas Home
With keen instinct and a honed sense of interior layout, Stephen and Lindsey Edison have created a cohesive yet exceptionally eclectic mix of decoration in their Dallas ranch house. French antiques reside side by side with Western art, African artifacts, industrial accents, legendary midcentury furniture as well as some cowhide.
Lindsey’s style has its roots in a long lineup of spectacular homemakers, such as her mom and grandmother, who had beautiful Louisiana houses. She says, “They instilled in me the importance of owning a welcoming and creative home, ready for entertaining guests.”
at a Glance
Who lives here: Stephen and Lindsey Edison, son Walker and dog Luna
Size: 2,300 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 2 baths
Location: Lake Highlands neighborhood of Dallas
Sarah Greenman
A accent wall serves as a background for a mix of classic dining room furniture and modern. The table is really a hand-me-down from Lindsey’s parents, along with the antlers are a blessed find from a buddy’s basement. Lindsey decorates her home piece by piece and states, “It takes a lot of patience and time to get your home just right.”
Paint: Caviar, Sherwin-Williams; pendant lighting: Lamps Plus; midcentury seats: antiques shop in Hudson, New York
Sarah Greenman
“I am inspired by areas that I’ve been to, and it actually comes through in my decorating style,” says Lindsey. This sitting area with a gallery wall of Asian artwork is inspired by journeys through Asia, the hallway from Morocco and the living area by journeys to Africa.
Camel-back sofa: antiques shop in Hudson, New York
Sarah Greenman
Aside from sourcing items for their residence in their journeys, the Edisons frequent antiques stores in Hudson, New York, along with also the Brimfield Antique Show in Massachusetts. “My family has a home in upstate New York, so I go every summer to shop and then U-Haul it home,” says Lindsey.
Paint: Manhattan Mist, Behr; armchair fabric: Sultana Lattice, Calico Corners; bar cart: West Elm
Sarah Greenman
Over in the living space, Lindsey Requires an oversize Restoration Hardware sofa providing a neutral background for the couple’s collection of African throw pillows and artifacts. “I could not live with this sofa,” she states. “It’s the most comfortable place in the house.” With the extended size of the sofa, the couple nixed a coffee table, which could have presented a hazard to their toddler anyhow.
Paint: Greek Villa, Sherwin-Williams
Sarah Greenman
Upon moving in, the couple painted every wall in the house, installed hardwood floors and changed the lighting fixtures. “It felt just like home the moment I started decorating,” says Lindsey. “Stephen is very handy, so any creative idea I had, we’d talk about it and figure out a plan.”
Sarah Greenman
Stephen fully revamped an existing built-in by eliminating the existing “gingerbread” details and giving the lower cabinets an update. He endorsed the shelves with black paint to emphasize the publications and things exhibited.
Sarah Greenman
Stephen, who grew up watching This Old House, is adventurous when it comes to home improvement projects. He states, “If something needs to be remodeled or fixed, I just Google it and go from there. If I really mess this up, I will always hire someone to fix it.”
The kitchen overlooks the living area and has a broad bar area joining the 2 spaces.
Bar stools: Restoration Hardware
Sarah Greenman
The kitchen has been updated by the previous owners and has been the main selling point of the house. Lindsey says, “The kitchen is perfect for entertaining, which is my favorite thing to do.”
Dark gray cabinetry mixes well with a white beveled subway tile backsplash and a conventional area rug.
Sarah Greenman
The kitchen also has space for a small eat-in dining area. Floating shelves around the back wall provide space for stemware and other serving pieces. The farm table and seats are antiques the Edisons discovered while traveling through Ohio.
Sarah Greenman
Stephen is most proud of this smart DIY project. The couple wanted a place for displaying family photos without creating clutter. Stephen upcycled a wood shipping pallet, mounted into the wall and then transformed it into a photo board utilizing paper clamps.
Sarah Greenman
The couple was stumped by the house’s small hallway, which includes eight doorways. Ultimately they decided to shake up the hallway with bright blue paint. Lindsey says, “We also highlighted the doorway motif by framing pictures of cool, colorful doorways from Morocco down the hallway.”
Paint: Blue Blood, Sherwin-Williams
Sarah Greenman
The master bedroom is located in stark contrast with the bright hallway. Soft furnishings and low light give an atmosphere of Southern charm and sophistication. “My grandma always had red toile within my home, and so that is my little homage,” says Lindsey.
Sarah Greenman
Each the furnishings in the master bedroom have been heirlooms out of Lindsey’s family home in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She says, “I’ve reupholstered items, but I’ll never eliminate them.”
Sarah Greenman
The master bath has a dark wood dual vanity and spacious shelving.
Sarah Greenman
As is common in Dallas ranch homes, the hall bath has an anteroom and a dressing table. The Edisons brightened this formerly dark spot with new sconces along with an emerald green accent wall. They’re hoping to further update the area with new countertops, a sink basin and new floors.
Sarah Greenman
Walker’s nursery is decorated in soft shades of green in a Peter Rabbit theme. Simple furnishings and well rounded playthings keep Walker comfortable and happily occupied.
Curtains, bed skirt: Carousel Designs
Sarah Greenman
Lindsey, Stephen and Walker in their porch. The couple moved to Texas in 2011 while Lindsey was pregnant with their son and discovered Dallas to have just the right mix of Southern sophistication, food, art and individuals. “There’s an overwhelming sense of community in our neighborhood,” says Lindsey. “My home is my reminder of all of the individuals, things and places I love.”