Some homeowners paint their rooms – Terri Claycomb has them landscaped.
The idea took seed, so to speak, when Terri noticed topiaries painted on hotel walls while vacationing with her husband, Eddie.
“When we were looking for a house, I was always looking for a place where I could have those topiaries painted,” Terri says. “This entryway was perfect.”
Eddie and Terri moved to Dallas from Denver and immediately settled in our neighborhood. This is their second home here, having moved to a larger space as their family grew. The couple has three children: Catelyn, 13, attends the Episcopal School of Dallas; Clif, 11, and Caleb, six, both attend Highlander Carden School.
The entryway of their most recent Lake Highlands home was just the beginning. Now it’s hard to tell the indoors from the outdoors at this French country cottage: The rooms explode with flora and bright, cheerful color as if Mother Nature herself was the decorator.
Just past the entryway is the dining room, at the center of the house. Walls are embellished with a painted country garden, making every day a picnic.
Upstairs is the children’s haven – or maybe heaven is a better word. Each has a room painted just for them. Catelyn’s is a French country bedroom, warm and cozy. The boys’ rooms are embellished with outdoor sports murals, such as fishing and baseball. A baseball bat painted on Caleb’s wall looks so authentic, his grandmother thought it was real, Terri says.
Sports occupy more than murals in the household. Terri is a competitive tennis player and competes at the TCD club level.
“When I began to re-do the re-do’s, Eddie suggested that I get out of the house, so I began to play tennis. Now the whole family plays,” she says.
The heart of the house, the kitchen, was an immediate hit with the kids. Was it because of the smashing décor? Wrong – the room has a drinking water fountain.
Terri uses the color red in the kitchen. Here, she shows off her collection of roosters that match the ones in the curtains. The room is vibrant enough to wake up any morning sleepy head.
A bank of windows overlook the backyard from the kitchen area, dining areas and family room, providing a perfect backdrop of flowers and green space to tie this botanical home together. (One of the reasons the couple bought the house was the beautiful yard.)
In the guest bathroom, Terri wanted antique cabinets. Eddie eventually agreed, and what took a bit of convincing is now one of his proudest accomplishments.
The family room is large and comfortable for entertaining and the grand piano adds a touch of elegance. Terri uses beautifully carved antiques with china plates and teacups to accessorize.
“I would rather have an old teacup than a bottle of perfume,” she says.
