High school sweetheart And Dallas Natives Elizabeth and Charlie Bernet knew they wanted to be close to family when children arrived – they just didn’t realize how close it would be. “I grew up on the same street (as this house) and Charlie’s parents live a mile and a half away, so it’s pretty special to come back here, surrounded by helping hands,” Elizabeth says. Hearing rumors about an old Tudor House being announced as a demolition in their neighborhood of choice, the Bernets took one look and knew it was meant to be. “We are sad every time we see old houses demolished, so saving one was one of our goals,” she says.

Although the English cottage-style façade was exactly what the couple was looking for, they knew work would be needed to make the layout more efficient. To expand its 2,445 square feet and maintain the footprint, they added some walls and demolished others. Upstairs, an oversized bedroom was divided into two children’s areas, a shared bathroom and a laundry area. On the ground floor, two bedrooms have been joined to form a master suite with two closets and a spacious bathroom. They also transformed a cupboard under the stairs into a bathroomopened up the cramped kitchen for more functionality and flanked the fireplace in the small living room with built-in window benches to maximize seating and storage.

The couple brought in an Austin-based designer Shannon Eddings to help fight against renovation– and pushing the boundaries of colors and patterns to show the true character of the home. Between the original diamond-paned windows and the punctuated green palette that naturally lends itself to festive decorations, the charming residence “gives the impression of being straight out of a Flagship film during the holidays,” Elizabeth explains.

Gathering

“I feel like I’m being formal dining rooms are underutilized, so I love it because there’s always someone at the table,” Charlie explains of the house’s only dining area, surrounded by a August Lake wallpaper. A table from Elizabeth’s grandparents anchors the passage space, as does a bench seat.

The adjacent wet barpainted Farrow & Ball Sudbury Yellow (No. 51)breaks up the surrounding rooms flooded with greenery.

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By rethinking the kitchenthe couple, who love to cook, prioritized more counter space, a stovetop alcove with nooks for convenient storage of spices and oil, a officeand access to the courtyard. “THE dutch door “It was a must for me from the start,” says Elizabeth. “It’s a special touch that gives me a sense of nostalgia.”

Sticking to the color palette, Shannon covered the cabinets in Green Smoke by Farrow & Ball (No. 47) and installed beadboard for texture, limiting the Key tile backsplash to the stove area, making it more cost effective.

It’s okay to play favorites

When it came to furnishing the living spacethere was one non-negotiable: the piano had to fit. “We really built the room around that,” Shannon says. “The piano has been on a journey,” explains Charlie. “It’s the one Elizabeth grew up with, and it was given to us when we got married.” To continue the green theme, the designer chose Lee Stripe from Lisa Fine Textiles for the window treatments (using a combination of curtains and roman blinds to make it more economical) and covered the couple’s beloved sofa in Jasper’s Indian garden in green. Fresh cuttings and red ribbons have been added throughout the house, while down thanks to the fireplace and precious ornaments adorn the Christmas tree.

Recognize that less can be more

To maximize the master bedroom limited space, the designer focused on two elements:window treatments and painting, both inspired by Elizabeth’s grandmother’s rug. “One of the things Charlie said early on was, ‘We really want curtains for adults,'” says Shannon, who used a Zak+Fox fabric Elizabeth found to create floor-to-ceiling panels for a feeling of grandeur in the small room. As for the paint, the designer opted for a more moody shade (Farrow & Ball French Gray, No. 18) to balance the abundant natural light. “I like to match the walls, woodwork and ceiling to create a cocoon in a room,” she says. The cozy nook is also outfitted with a vintage painting, a second-hand side table and a soft chair.

Leave no shadow behind

For a tonal look in the primary bath, Shannon used Farrow & Ball Green Card Room (No. 79) on the walls and Cooking apple greens (n° 32) on the cabinets. “I like the way the color changes depending on the light,” Charlie says. The couple’s other must-haves were a clawfoot bathtub-which often hosts bath time for the little ones – and the spectacular tiling. “We knew we wanted to have a checkerboard floor somewhere in the house,” Elizabeth says. “And I feel like they really pop with the green for a cool combo.”

Add a touch of fantasy

Ottoline wallpaper sets a cheerful tone in the girls’ room. Fabric inserts accentuate the cupboard doors (splattered with Water Lily by Benjamin Moore, 480to match the ceiling); an antique bed frame balances the delicacy.