I met Grant shortly after I moved to Houston to pursue my career in Interior Design. We attended the same church and two months later, we were engaged. A few years later, my sister, Laura, moved to Ennis, a small town south of Dallas. This lead us to take regular trips from Houston to visit them. Each time, we would imagine what it would be like to live there. Two years later, Grant got a job opportunity in Dallas, and that’s when we decided to make the move to Ennis with our 3 children.
Ennis, Bluebonnet Capital of Texas
My husband Grant and I planted our roots in Ennis...this town just drew us in. We had done the whole big house, big mortgage thing before, and we weren’t keen on doing that again. We love to travel, and it was important to us to still have room in the budget for this passion. We both love Europe and the European approach to life- simple and unhurried.
Outdoor dining area
With those desires at the forefront, we decided we would build what we could with what we had and add additional phases to the house in the future. A small, modern, Scandinavian approach was the right direction. We desired a clean and modern aesthetic with some antique and rustic pieces mixed in. Life with 3 kids can be very chaotic and messy! So this move was all about paring back and really thinking about what the necessities were for us.
The first floor is 1,150 sq. ft. and the lofts and playroom a combined 288 sq. ft. I had some major concerns prior to moving in.
Girl room
Boy room
Retractable ladder to access upstairs playroom (custom made by: Iron Paws by Anthony Billingsley)
Upstairs playroom
I was very worried being a family of five and only having a 24” refrigerator, smaller closets and minimal kitchen storage space. After moving in, those concerns quickly disappeared. I grocery shop once a week, and I’ve never had an issue fitting everything in the fridge. The only change I made was buying smaller sized condiments.
We have really minimized our clothes and gotten down to kitchen essentials. If something was a must-have or multi-functional it stayed.
A large pink cabinet made by my dad houses our collection of scales from travels, glassware passed down from my grandmother and additional kitchen storage. When we get asked as to why we chose to use pink on such a large piece in the home, Grant will say, “When everything is white and minimal, you have the opportunity to incorporate some bold choices.”
A set of vintage lockers acts as our “mudroom”, all the backpacks, lunch boxes, jackets, etc. are stored within easy reach but out of view. The bathroom works double duty as the bathroom and laundry room and features a cast iron wall-hung sink and an entire wall of storage.
Cast Iron Sink
Laundry/Storage area in bathroom
Shower with metal enclosure (custom made by: Iron Paws by Anthony Billingsley)
Master Bedroom
Both Grant and I each had a must-have item on our list when starting the build. For Grant, it was linear air registers (which you would typically only see in a commercial space) and small recessed can lighting. “Working as a commercial architectural rep, I see the linear registers all the time and knew I had to have them in our home for two reasons. One, because I really love the unexpected aspect they bring and two, because I think it’s all of the little details that in the end, contribute to the overall feel of the house.” -Grant
For me, it was a library with a Harry Potter theme. I am a collector, treasure hunter, and avid reader. It was really important to have a quiet retreat where I could house all of my books and proudly display all of my collections. With floor-to-ceiling cabinetry painted navy, brass library lights and metallic gold stars on the ceiling, this room is totally unexpected with a menagerie of books and oddities alike. I fell in love with reading in the 4th grade, and I grew up reading Harry Potter and waiting for each book to come out and then each film. For me, Harry Potter is really the ultimate example of just how magical reading can be. I proudly display my very first copy of “The Sorcerer’s Stone” in a lucite box on the wall. The copy is noticeably tattered and well-loved.
Although it’s not for everyone, we love minimal living and feel it’s brought us closer as a family.
All photographs by Grant Duckworth Photography