When you step through the door of Chuck Hamilton’s streamlined, modern home, you’d never know just how flashy it was when he first purchased it a decade ago.
How bright was it?
“Like an Oscar Mayer hot dog stand,” says Jill White, his designer.
Step one when Hamilton moved in was to paint the walls white to neutralize the palette, but he then did little else. He lived there for a few years, then rented it out for a few more years, but when he moved back in, he knew he wanted to update the space to make it feel more personal, more like home. That’s where Jill White Designs came in.
The result is a stylish reimagining of the quintessential man cave — lots of leather, massive TV, minimum fuss — but a simple color palette, clean lines and a love of local art elevate this space into another stratosphere.
Today, Hamilton, owner of Chuck Hamilton Construction, enjoys how comfortable the condo is and how it fits his needs.
“I love coming home to the space,” he says. “The condo faces east, so I don’t have the harsh sun in the afternoons when I come home and I have a great view of the city.”
“Unwinding with a glass of red wine or sipping on some bourbon is a great way for me to unwind while taking in the views of the city,” Hamilton says. “This Pappy Van Winkle bourbon was a gift from a subcontractor during the holidays one year.”
DINNER WITH A VIEW
When it came to the kitchen, Hamilton’s love of cooking brought with it a fair amount of opinions. His favorite element in the kitchen, in fact, is the Miele induction cooktop.
“I’d never had an induction range and I really love it,” he says “It’s a game changer.”
And as an award-winning contractor, working with a designer like White resulted in innovative and beautiful ideas. She requested the depth of the cabinets match the depth of the vent hood, which sent him into loads of research to find the perfect system. He eventually found a hood that blended into the cabinets, making for a perfectly streamlined look above the range.
Looking into the kitchen, you’ll see all walnut finishes, keeping your eye moving from below the bar to the top cabinets. On the back side of the bar, however, are lower cabinets in rich black, a mixed finish that keeps the look far from monotonous.
“The nice thing about the kitchen is that the layout flows well,” Hamilton says, “and we brought in a professional organizer who really did a standout job getting everything in its right place.”
But the real showstopper in the kitchen is the island. White had envisioned a waterfall edge countertop and fell in love with a slab from a local vendor, but it was sold out from under her. Just when she thought her dream of the perfect slab was crushed, she was able to locate an even more beautiful marble in Dallas. Both Hamilton and White agree the marble is “beautiful and amazing,” and White says it’s her favorite countertop she’s ever installed in a home.
While designing the kitchen, White met a man in Texas who hand-makes zellige tiles and she became obsessed with the idea of using them as the kitchen backsplash. Because they are handmade, zellige tiles have a slightly imperfect charm.
COMFORT ZONE
Offsetting the warmth of the kitchen is the cool industrialism of the living room. White envisioned a strong, masculine feel for the living room in her first set of renderings and Hamilton loved it immediately.
► 1,200 square feet
► 2 beds
► 2 baths
Originally the condo had orange-hued bamboo flooring, which Hamilton hated. And after seeing the sun damage it took, he knew he wanted something other than wood. This porcelain tile mimics concrete, and carrying the same tile from the floor up the wall behind the TV creates a pleasing flow and consistency.
Next to the floor-to-ceiling windows sits an Eames lounge chair and ottoman, icons of 20th century design.
“The mix of leather and molded wood gives the chair its unique look, and this Herman Miller chair was never in question in the space,” White says. “We knew right away this was the chair for the living room.”
Eames lounge chair and ottoman purchased locally from EVO BUSINESS ENVIRONMENTS.
ON DISPLAY
Throughout the condo and beyond, Hamilton has an extensive art collection. When it came time for White to select pieces for the home, she didn’t have to purchase anything. A few trips to Hamilton’s commercial and storage spaces resulted in finding the perfect artworks to balance the masculine tone of the condo.
The art in Hamilton’s home is all by local artists and purchased from M2 Gallery over the years. The bedroom is home to pieces by Lisa Krannichfeld and Cathy Burns, while another of Burns’ works resides in the sitting area.
“Jill did an exceptional job of culling my art collection to find the pieces that really do perfectly fill the space,” Hamilton says.
Bed purchased locally from CORE ID.
“The house is not that large, but it’s not crowded and it reads very open,” Hamilton says. “Jill did a great job of really listening to what I wanted (and didn’t want) and maximizing the space throughout the condo.”
STYLING
Malina Tabor