A House of Dreams

A House of Dreams

From an inkling to a design, one woman is manifesting a young family’s dream home into a reality.

Becky Swearingen of Swearingen Designs

Building A Forever Home

In our newest home design series, we will follow a young family as they work with a design team to build their forever home.

Imagine a charming painted portrait of an idyllic French countryside view featuring a charming villa nestled in a wooded hillside.

The land stretches far and wide, with luscious green grass — two young boys chase each other across the hill. This portrait of a calm, quaint, and rustic life is the future that The Hamilton Group Builders and Becky Swearingen of Swearingen Designs have painted for a young East Texas family.

Meet Chelsi and Brent Jackson, a young couple in the midst of a new adventure. East Texan born and bred, they met at Texas A&M and have spent over ten years working towards medical careers. The Jacksons have had more than their fair share of experience with fast-paced city living; now, with two young boys, their longing for the small-town atmosphere of East Texas has called them home. Possessing a parcel of land and a vision, they are embarking on a journey towards manifesting their dream home in the hills of Henderson.

Enter the design dream team of The Hamilton Group Builders and Becky Swearingen, conducting a two-pronged approach focusing on architectural and interior design. While The Hamilton Group focuses on creating a functional design that’s visually pleasing, Becky works magic to demystify her client’s aesthetic and breathe life into the home through smart design choices.

Interior Design: The Early Stages

The first stages of a design process are always exciting and full of new possibilities. Inour new home design series, we’ll follow along as Becky and the Jacksons navigatetheir interior design journey.

STAGE ONE – Access Client Aesthetic

Through one-on-one meetings, Becky is able to suss out the Jackson’s design goals. She believes that interior design flourishes when the designer truly understands their clients; and when there is a personal relationship, you’re guaranteed to create a space that is functional, handsome, and uniquely embodies the client’s lifestyle. Keeping it modern, she urges her clients to use websites such as Houzz and Pinterest for inspiration. Breaking down expectations based on a by-room basis, the scope of the design becomes clearer. It became clear that the Jackson’s were drawn to a French country-style home with a modern twist in the interior, complete with an open floor plan and wide windows overlooking their property. As a young family with two boys, they needed both functional and formal spaces, perfect for an active family and one that loves to host. With a complete understanding of the family’s needs, it’s time to get designing.

STAGE TWO – Digging into Design

After getting a clear picture of the client’s wishes, Becky chooses design elements according to the aesthetic of the home. “I do some leg work selecting the home’s exterior finishings, the interior’s decorative plumbing, lighting, flooring, countertops, and hardware,” says Swearingen. Careful not to overload her clients, Becky sets up a presentation showcasing her selections, keeping it a fun and exciting process throughout. “She takes our ideas and turns them into reality,” says Brent, “it’s always good to trust someone that has developed such a good reputation in the design industry.”

STAGE THREE – Picking out Finishings

Now comes the fun part! Choosing the furnishings that will grace the halls of this lovely abode. Deadlines are crucial at this time, and Becky juggles getting selections approved and ordered. By browsing the aisles and wares of local suppliers such as Cook’s Lighting together, the team finds the perfect modern fixtures for their French-inspired home. Collaborating closely with the clients streamlines the selection process, guaranteeing that the building schedule stays on track — it’s also a fun day out shopping!

NEXT UP:

Once all the design choices are approved and ordered, construction can begin in earnest. In our next installment,we’ll check in with the Jackson’s and Becky to see how their design flourishes from conception into reality.