WINNER
Urban Lake House
Demesne
Lake life takes on a whole new meaning — and some serious style — when it comes to this striking structure created by Demesne, an architectural and interior design firm based in Dallas and Aspen, Colorado. “The simple volumes of this urban lake house give a nod to the existing 1940s weekend cottages and farmhouses contained in the mature neighborhood on White Rock Lake,” Jamie Olsen Ali, managing partner of the Dallas office, says. The home is as fascinating as it is stunning, incorporating modern materials like concrete, steel and cable — used to support the porch overhang as well as the stairs guardrailing — and a standing seam metal roof. “At the time the project was designed, the use of steel was beginning to emerge as an exterior and interior finish,” adds Jamie. “We were lucky to have a contractor who could expertly pull off the use of steel and metal as finished surfaces, exposed structure and cladding.” Endless windows fill the home with an abundance of natural light, but the pièces de résistance are the clear views of White Rock Lake and breathtaking sunsets. “I love the entry as it is both a transparent link and also the connecting element to all spaces in the house,” Jamie says. “It frames the view of the lake as you enter the house, setting the scene for the experience.”
FINALIST
Farmhouse Sleek
Southworth Construction
This gorgeous home takes the modern farmhouse aesthetic to a whole new level, with stunning details and refined design components. Created by Fort Worth-based builder Southworth Construction, the home demonstrates no shortage of texture and satisfying neutrals. “This Southwest modern farmhouse uses extensive Austin white limestone, along with traditional board and batten siding and steep pitched roofs to define a simple and elegant form,” says Southworth owner South Cole, who collaborated with design architect Brad Naeher and landscape architect Fowlkes, Norman & Associates to perfectly define the project. “Modern detailing, including laser-cut corten house numbers and steel cantilever canopies, complements the timeless heavy timber-framed structure and farmhouse form.” Featuring four bedrooms and three bathrooms, the home was designed for a family that had both their children and grandchildren in mind. Communal gathering areas like the great room provide ample space for everyone without feeling overcrowded. All the natural light flooding in highlights interior details like the wood trusses throughout the vaulted ceiling in the great room and the elegant tilework in the master bathroom — complete with a chandelier over the tub! South also transformed an attic space into a studio area with a second-level patio, which serves as fun space that suits everyone from the grandkids to the grandparents.