Below the Spanish-tile roof of Kelle Jackson’s Lakewood home, a whimsical red lantern gleams through the window of an upstairs bedroom, while a vintage Italian chandelier screams Hollywood glitz from downstairs. The dichotomy is a perfect preview of the glam-fam décor inside the door.
PR maven Kelle – the Jackson in Highland Park’s Jackson & Flagg Public Relations –moved in just a little over a year ago with husband Joe and son Liam, 3, and with baby girl Devin on the way (she’s now 6 months).
But there was more to it than packing and unpacking: Joe, with his firm the Newport Group, built the home, described by Kelle as “clean-lined Mediterranean.” The Jacksons, with their beloved interior designer (and godfather to their children) Shelby Wagner, were planning, plotting and even repurposing months before moving.
Joe reclaimed the pier-and-beam foundation as well as the brick from the plot’s original home (about one-eighth of what was needed) and added more vintage brick in areas such as the fireplace to maintain old-soul accents in the new home. Balancing the painted brick are Hans Wegner shell chairs and a Lucite console table, giving the comfy living room chic layers.
The hand-cut bleached oak chevrons of the living room floor spread out from under a Moroccan rug Kelle and Joe found in a Marrakesh souk, into the neutral kitchen. Joe’s signature element of glass-fronted cabinets with windows behind adds to the homey atmosphere and generates brightness. “I never have to turn on the light here in the kitchen,” Kelle says.
But the Jackson home doesn’t lack for incredible light fixtures. A vintage-inspired two-tiered chandelier lights the casual dining area just off the kitchen. The aforementioned 1960s Venini chandelier of Murano glass anchors the formal dining room. Kelle procured the fixture from a shop in Palm Springs by way of 1stdibs.com. “I had looked all over Dallas for this style with no luck,” she says. “I love that the chandelier creates a dramatic focal point and really makes the space special.”
Kelle describes the nearby powder room as having a “contemporary clean aesthetic with a piece of Kelly Wearstler.” And it is. Nail head-patterned wallpaper teases a Hollywood Regency bamboo mirror flanked by clean, chrome sconces. It’s Wearstler, well-tailored but still luxe. Up the silver-banistered spiral staircase – yes, silver – Kelle has layered more international flair and Wearstler wares.
She calls it “Marrakesh-inspired,” and indeed, Liam’s bedroom marries the exotic with childlike adventure. His bed is canopied in a John Robshaw toile fabric while elephant and giraffe accents adorn the walls.
Devin’s room also features worldly accents (there’s that red lantern) and Robshaw textile – pink and orange ikat that bounces off the buff walls. A brilliant feathered African juju hat finds its home above the crib; though the piece grabs her attention, Devin fortunately hasn’t grabbed back.
The Jacksons’ master is a spacious haven that serves as the gateway into a magical place: the master bath. Tile Wearstler used in the Viceroy Anguilla hotel covers the walls of the Jack-and-Jill walk-through shower that ties Joe’s modest dressing area with Kelle’s piece of heaven. “I’m a zigzag freak,” Kelle admits, as Missoni towels add pops of color to her tranquil spa space. Beyond lies an organized fantasy closet – the best parts of which Kelle agrees are the Plexiglas handbag dividers. “They let you really see what you have.”
The comment applies to the entire house, really. With Wagner’s help, Kelle decorated a home that honors its pieces. There’s a balance between comfort and contemporary, fashionable and family.
In fact, her wish list for the house began with a bigger focus on family spaces and a five-year minimum stay. A place to feel grounded. “With two kids, I wanted the house to feel very homey while still having stylish focal points,” Kelle says.
“I feel like I grew up a bit while designing this house.”
Published February 2014
