Coastal Style

Humor Lightens Up Midcentury Design in Dallas

Wayne and Lisa Moore love the clutter-free appearance of midcentury modern design. Nevertheless, when it came to decorating their Dallas house, there was one challenge. OK, make that three challenges. With three active young children, achieving a clean aesthetic with a youthful vibe took extra attention. The solution? A tiny bit of comedy. They repurposed cat scratchers as sculptural artwork, used Pac-Man decals on the stairwell and wrapped framed pieces of space-patterned wallpaper, all adjacent to pieces by Saarinen, Knoll and van der Rohe. “The purpose of home is to create family and friends happy and comfortable,” Lisa says.

in a Glance
Who lives here: Lisa Moore, a clothes designer; her husband, Wayne, an equity investor; and their 3 children
Location: Park Cities, Dallas
Size: 4,800 square feet; 5 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms

Hilary Walker

Saarinen tulip chairs surround a vintage Florence Knoll rosewood dining table with a brass base, one of Wayne and Lisa’s favorite midcentury pieces. “I really like the juxtaposition of a gorgeous wood grain against blank white vinyl,” Lisa says.

Andy Warhol’s Brillo Box serves as a fun centerpiece.

Table: Rosewood Dining Table by Florence Knoll, Sputnik Modern; chairs: Saarinen Tulip Armchair, Design Within Reach; pendant: Random Light by Bertjan Pot, Moooi; painting: by Leslie Wilkes, Barry Whistler Gallery

Hilary Walker

The classic chinoiserie cupboard in the living space, from Nick Brock Antiques in Dallas, was Lisa’s first major furniture purchase. A vintage artwork piece styled in a contemporary acrylic shadow box hangs above.

Sofa: Bantam Studio Sofa (Broad Weave, Red), Design Within Reach; java table: Maya Lin Stones (gloomy), Design Within Reach

Hilary Walker

The majority of the rooms centre around a bit of modern art. From the living room, a cobalt blue figurative bit by British modern artist Christopher Bucklow sets the tone.

Lisa hung corrugated cardboard cat scratchers on the wall as sculptural artwork. They match a Frank Gehry–designed corrugated cardboard side dining table that sits between two Saarinen womb chairs.

Chairs: Womb Chair by Eero Saarinen, Design Within Reach; Low Table Set by Frank Gehry, Scott+Cooner; cat scratchers: Cat Scratcher Lounge, Pet Fusion

Hilary Walker

Lisa considers the term “yes” has enormous favorable energy and placed a neon sign of this word in the base of the staircase. Pac-Man decals decorate the wall above, anchoring the space together with playful appeal.

Decals: Pac-Man Ghost, Blik, Fab; “YES” Neon Letters, Nest Dallas

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A huge oil painting by Scott McDermott, Lisa’s first art purchase while at school, dominates the children’s downstairs playroom. The children use the space for artwork, practicing piano or playing video games. The vintage arcade game was a gift from Lisa’s daddy. “He likes nostalgic bits such as jukeboxes and arcades,” she says. Her mother found the green Panton mini-chairs that tie in perfectly with the portrait painting.

The tiger head above the arcade game symbolizes the funny layout style. “I love blow-up creatures for the swimming pool and rubber Halloween masks,” Lisa says. “The tiger head lands somewhere in the center. I’m not into creature mounts or taxidermy, so that I thought that this was a fun substitute.”

Blue seat: PS Lömsk Swivel Chair, Ikea

Hilary Walker

Artwork and self-portraits for every one of the 3 children frame a cupboard door.

Hilary Walker

Lisa purchased both blue bits in the family room on Craigslist for about $ 200. “I enjoy midcentury modern design, but always throw in some bright happy colours and artwork that’s simple not crafty,” she says.

Chairs: Barcelona Chair by Mies van der Rohe, Design Within Reach

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A portrait of Roy Lichtenstein by Chuck Close is Lisa’s most prized artwork purchase.

Hilary Walker

The Moores gave their spacious kitchen and dining room a facelift after they transferred in. They painted the yellow walls white, refinished the hardwood flooring and furnished the space with easy-to-clean furniture.

Coat stand: Splash Coat Rack, Blu Dot; framed paper cut-out artwork piece: Jim Hodges

Hilary Walker

From the kitchen, they included new granite countertops and stainless steel appliances and painted their traditional wood cabinets.

Hilary Walker

Lisa decorated the upstairs bonus room by framing space-patterned wrapping paper designed by Rodarte because of the Target collaboration.

Shelving: Cubitec Shelving (orange), Design With Attain; ottoman: Pentagonal Pouf, Missoni for Goal

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The main bedroom epitomizes simplicity along with a clutter-free decorating philosophy. Lisa and Wayne maintained the colour palette accessories and colours as minimum as you can.

A DIY sculpture from the Nasher Sculpture Center hangs above the headboard. It’s made of interlocking ornamental plastic bits that can be rearranged.

Wall sculpture DIY kit: Algue, by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec, Nasher Sculpture Center Store

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Lisa designed this acrylic desk a local plastic company then made.

Ottomans: Missoni for Goal; lamp: We Are 1976

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They transformed the main bathroom with marble countertops and flooring and a modern bathtub.

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Lisa painted a striped accent wall in every kid’s room for a fun and dynamic approach to have a consistent theme. Each child selected a bold colour to anchor their area’s design. This really is their son’s space.

Hilary Walker

Hilary Walker

Their older daughter went for hot pink, deep red and vibrant orange inside her bedroom. An aluminum desk, equal to Lisa’s, keeps things clean and simple.

Art printing: Brain Gibb from The Public Trust

Watch Brian Gibb and Misty Keasler’s midcentury house

Hilary Walker

The youngest daughter went with a periwinkle blue accent colour. White frilly bedding along with an antique carousel horse at the corner soften the space as well.

Hilary Walker

Lisa is pictured here with her youngest daughter.

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