Alive with the movement of the stair railings and light shining in from the windows, this entryway is the perfect space for an afternoon concerto.

A dynamic, Dallas-based trio create a modern classical home in Fort Worth’s elite Westover Hills.

Text by Lauren Churchin
Photography by Emily Minton Redfield
Interior Design by Joanie Wyll, ASID, Joanie Wyll & Associates

Westover Hills is an exclusive township often referred to as the Beverly Hills of Fort Worth for its classic country club setting, magnificent hilltop estates, and status as one of the wealthiest locations in the United States. Currently, the lush community is experiencing an exciting transformation. Pursuing design trends emphasizing the principle of form follows function, some area residents have begun replacing their long-standing traditional homes with more contemporary structures; structures that continue to highlight the artful beauty of the area while shifting to balance today’s fast-paced lifestyle with a simple, uncluttered living space. It seems these opposite styles are now intermixing in harmony.

Atop one of the highest points in the area sits a beautiful 15,000-square-foot home built approximately 10 years ago at the forefront of the local modern movement. According to award-winning Dallas interior designer, Joanie Wyll, ASID, of Joanie Wyll & Associates, the building represents a style defined as “modern classicalism.”

“The homeowners gave us the task of designing and building a space that melded two individual styles, classic and contemporary,” says Wyll whose design firm specializes in achieving a mix of these two genres. “They wanted their home to be minimalist and museum-like to showcase their extensive art and accessory collection, yet welcoming at the same time.”

To tackle this significant endeavor, which took four years from conception to completion, the homeowners chose a dynamic team comprised of Wyll, Simmie Cooper of Dallas-based Cooper Homes, and Ronald A. Bogard, AIA-Architect. Wyll, Cooper, and Bogard have been completing successful residential projects together in the Dallas-Fort Worth area for over 18 years.

“We as architects and designers communicate with our clients to develop a consensus of opinions that we believe embody their ideal image of a home,” says Bogard. “Our goal is to create an environment that enriches our interactive relationship with the building site, structure, orientation, and spatial volumes.”

According to both Cooper and Bogard, their greatest obstacle was utilizing the building’s two-lot site, which has an incredible presence due to its orientation, as well as a slope so steep and rugged it was originally deemed unbuildable. In order to lay the foundation, they had to create retaining walls to give the home the structural strength it needed to stay atop the bluff. This clever solution also maximized the breathtaking view and set the stage for the massive floor-to-ceiling windows found throughout the house, especially prevalent in the entryway.

Inspired by the homeowner’s civic interests and music appreciation, specifically in the Bass Performance Hall and Van Cliburn Foundation, the majestic entryway is grand enough to accommodate frequent fundraising events and piano concerts. Due to its stately dome, spectacular hand-crafted double staircase with polished steel railings, and methodical arrangement of black granite flooring tiles this is one of the most classical spaces in the home. However, the room is void of any unnecessary adornment, making it completely functional and modern.

There are two pieces of artwork complementing this living room—the Van Voorhis painting and the view.

Architecture and artwork take center stage in the living and dining rooms. An enormous abstract painting by local artist Doug Van Voorhis, who also sculpted the stair railings, is proportionate to the size and simplicity of a neighboring window overlooking 
the stunning garden and pool. In the monochromatic dining room, a floor-to-ceiling Van Voorhis oil painting was commissioned by the homeowners and inlaid into the curve of an accent wall, providing the only splash of color in the room and an unforgettable design element.

One of the most dramatic spaces in the home, the sleek dining room showcases a Breuton table with Donghia chairs, as well as a unique curved painting.

Many of the rugs selected, such as those in the family rooms and winding up the entryway staircases, are original pieces of artwork designed by Wyll and handmade at Edward Fields, a New York City-based carpet manufacturer that has provided custom rugs for celebrities and iconic projects, such as the White House and Air Force One, for over 70 years.

The glass Lorin Marsh coffee table in the living room combines glamour, elegance, and simplicity for a modern look.

The furniture was chosen from the collections of design legends Lorin Marsh, Breuton, and Donghia Furniture, all for bridging the gap between contemporary and traditional styles by combining glamour, elegance, and simplicity. Examples from each designer include the glass Lorin Marsh coffee table in the living room, as well as the Breuton custom granite, stainless steel, and wood dining table with coordinating Donghia chairs. Noticeably absent from these tables are the trinkets, stacks of books, candles, and family photos typically found within more traditional residences. These pieces simply stand alone, with no need for additional ornament.

The master suite features luxurious, resort-like bedding and muted textiles. The adjoining bathroom provides a dramatic contrast with silverleaf mirrors and rare African sapele Mahogany cabinets.

The overall color palette is subdued—black, grey, white, deep chocolate brown and camel—adding a warm cohesiveness to the home by balancing the dramatic high-sheen finishes of the furniture and flooring. “The neutral backdrop of the house served as the perfect setting to accent carpets, fabrics, and black granite floors,” says Wyll. This is exemplified in both the guest and master suites. Both rooms use plush, resort-like bedding and muted textiles from J. Robert Scott and Jim Thompson before making a dramatic transition into the adjoining bathrooms, which are decorated in silver leaf mirrors and rare African sapele mahogany cabinets. “The guest bath, or ‘puffy tile bathroom’ as I call it, has a French Moderne feel,” says Wyll. “Each piece of ceramic tile was meticulously hand-cut down the middle and mocked up in advance to ensure that they all fit perfectly onto the wall.” However, the sexy one-of-a-kind matching vanities are the intended focal point of the room.

The “puffy” ceramic tiles create a striking backdrop for the glamorous French Moderne furnishings.
Facing page The symmetrical floor-to-ceiling windows and streamlined columns are contemporary features, yet the classical dome and roaming gardens are very traditional.

Many aspects of the project required the same attention to detail as the “puffy-tile bathroom,” requiring a continuous dialogue between designer, architect, and builder. One of the most important elements to the homeowner in terms of design and construction is the 1930s-inspired movie theatre. The ultimate goal of the space is for someone to be able to watch a movie utilizing the full capacity of the theatre without interrupting anyone else in the home, especially anyone in the neighboring office. The home theatre transports viewers back to an era captivated by the magical experience watching movies provided due in part to the palace-like beauty and formality of theatres. The team acoustically engineered a room built with concrete block walls and covered them in a high-gloss wood veneer. The doors are an exact replica of those found on any 1930s theatre, as well as the classic marquee illuminating the ceiling above the screen. Posh, oversized red leather recliners sit atop another custom designed Edward Fields rug, adding richness and color to the already glamorous room.

Moviegoers are taken back to the 1930s when theatres were lavish and inspiring.

“Like an Impressionist painting, our design represents a static sculptural art form to be experienced and interpreted by the individual observer at any point in time,” concludes Bogard. Certainly, the Westover Hills residence leaves a lasting impression to be appreciated for its seemingly effortless contrast between contemporary and classic design. While every detail of the home from the custom floor coverings to the intricate bathroom tiles are of the finest, most sumptuous materials available, a familiar visitor wouldn’t hesitate to flop down on one of the feather beds or ease into a leather armchair with a box of popcorn and a black-and-white film. A bold study in how opposites attract, this perfectly balanced piece of art reflects both a life and a style. TH&L