KEEPING IT REAL

“People couldn’t see through some of the stuff,” Lilly says. “I’ve always been into seeing what a little elbow grease can do. I figured, there’s 52 weekends in a year — how hard can it be?”

It didn’t take much to transform the 1,200-square-foot space into a picturesque starter home full of indie art and eclectic treasures that showcase the Neubauers’ wonderfully offbeat style.

They pulled up the drab carpet and restored the original hardwood floors underneath; repainted the walls throughout; and replaced the countertops and backsplash in the kitchen.

“We just took it room by room,” Lilly says. “It all of a sudden looked totally different.”

Dreaming up the ideas was easy; financing them proved more difficult. As twenty-something newlyweds just beginning their careers (Markus in civil engineering and Lilly in marketing), the Neubauers didn’t have much money to throw around on home design projects. So, they worked odd jobs on the weekends for extra cash. Lilly landed a few babysitting gigs and worked booths at expos. Markus spent one summer driving a pedicab at Rangers games.

Now Lilly feels happy every time she sees someone pedaling away on three wheels, tourists in tow.

“It reminds me of how hard my husband worked for things,” she says. “It’s funny how, as you become more secure in things, you look back on the difficult times with such fondness.”

Lilly grew up just down the street in Preston Hollow and attended St. Monica Catholic School and Ursuline Academy, so for her, this really is home. Markus was born in Germany to his military dad and German mother, and he moved to the Dallas area when he was 5. He still returns to Germany about every two years. Lilly and Markus met while working at a pizza place in Lubbock, where Lilly was pursuing her public relations and art history degree at Texas Tech University. Markus later graduated from the SMU Lyle School of Engineering honors program. Their different personalities mesh well, and the hours they’ve dedicated to home design efforts have brought the two closer together.

“Markus and I make a really good team when we’re working on projects,” Lilly says.

One project that made a big difference involved installing a built-in sitting area and shelving within the wall behind the dining area. Markus says Lilly envisioned it from the beginning.

“I didn’t even know what built-ins were,” Markus says. “I didn’t get it. What’s the point?”

Now, it’s his favorite spot in the house, with a view of their backyard chicken coop.

“Lilly is really good at visualizing things before they exist,” he says.

The teamwork also prepared them for what was coming next: parenthood. And in typical Neubauer fashion, it happened fast.

The Little Things

Come shop at The Little Things now open at 5207 Bonita Ave. in Dallas. We offer children’s clothing, toys and gifts for sizes newborn to 8. You can also find us at shopthelittlethings.com.

City View Antiques

Not your ordinary Easter Basket! Come Celebrate Spring at City View & be sure to SAVE THE DATE for our April 25th ANTIQUE FLEA MARKET & Storewide Sale. 6830 Walling Lane 214.824.4136 cityviewantiques@homestead.com

214.560.4203