WINNER
The Timeless Tudor
Clarity Homes
This picturesque Tudor-style beauty, nestled in Aledo, was built as a model home for Clarity Homes. “It's timeless meets urban,” Samantha Karcher, Clarity's director of design, says. A locally based company owned by Will and Leslie Bannister, Clarity specializes in building semi-custom homes in its signature boutique style. Upscale details are its superpower, like incorporating gingham wall tiles, a sliding barn door or reclaimed wood walls. Featuring one of its most popular floor plans, dubbed the Elliot, this new build — also staged by Clarity — consists of four bedrooms, 3 1/2 bathrooms and a two-car garage. A spacious entryway leads to an open-concept kitchen and living room, and the downstairs master bedroom affords some privacy while the children's bedrooms reside upstairs. On the exterior, a steep gable roof adds curb appeal with metal accents. “The home is understated elegance with pops of pattern and personality throughout,” adds Samantha. Those pops include a bold black-and-white patterned wallpaper in the powder bath and a charming study, complete with navy blue built-ins. Light wood floors coincide with beautiful wood beams along the living room's vaulted ceiling. And white subway tile paired with aged brass and acrylic pendant lights in the kitchen create the perfect mix of both sleek and naturally refined elements within the home. “It took the idea of Aledo living and incorporated a stamp of urban living,” Samantha says, “which is more simplified and classic.”
FINALIST
A Naturally Refined Hacienda
Clarity Homes
In addition to its Tudor-style build (also featured in this same category), Clarity Homes sought to expand its horizons with a fresh, new design. “We wanted to introduce our take on the hacienda,” explains director of design Samantha Karcher of the 3,000-square-foot new build. “We took a lot of the natural aspects, like the rolling hills of Aledo, into the home.” The spacious abode, which accommodates four bedrooms, four bathrooms and a two-car garage, is a polished retreat. The main living areas feature dark wood flooring, and all the walls were kept neutral, the perfect backdrop for the thoughtfully staged rooms — a detail Clarity adeptly sees to for all its model homes. The vaulted living room ceiling makes an undeniable statement, complete with a set of wood beams for a naturally refined vibe. And chic brick accents make multiple appearances, like the gorgeous whitewashed fireplace and the kitchen's herringbone-patterned brick backsplash. A pair of geometric pendants in a metallic finish float above the spacious island, a nod to the various mixed metal accents found throughout the home. Texture is discovered in every room, including the master bath that touts charming decorative tiles and sleek brass pendant lighting over the vanity. “A lot of people sourced various ideas for their new builds from this home, whether it was the brick backsplash or cement patterned tile in the master bath,” adds Samantha, confirming that for this welcoming hacienda, inspiration abounds.
FINALIST
An Avant-Garde Retreat
Inside Inc
“A wonderfully active family of four requested a new home to better accommodate entertaining and family events,” Inside Inc principal and interior designer Gayla Jett Shannon says of this unique new build. “Their goal was to craft a comfortable environment that would accommodate buffet-style game nights and elegant formal festivities.” The two-story, 5,000-square-foot home, featuring a red brick exterior with a creamy cast stone entry, delivers an impressive array of architectural interest, clean lines and inviting rooms. But it involved one fairly major obstacle that affected the residence in its entirety. “The oddly shaped triangular lot proved to be a challenge in sculpting the design of the interior,” explains Gayla. “The result, however, is a timeless design yet au courant, offering open circulation with perceptible spatial interconnections.” With such fastidious care infused into her client's home, it's no surprise that Gayla managed to create a truly special space they love. In addition to the one-of-a-kind floor plan, there's no shortage of visual interest as the eye travels. In the living room, a floor-to-ceiling limestone fireplace features a striking inset detail of chiseled limestone above the mantel. The walls were kept neutral as an almost gallery-like setting for vivid artwork on display, and the floors were clad in porcelain tile with a limestone appeal. The dining room touts more bespoke touches from the metallic-finished wallcovering on the ceiling to the custom built-in cabinets and buffet. In the end, the home reflects an artful collaboration between designer and client for an “innovative home filled with graceful spaces.”
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