Fate was at work when a family in Fort Worth, Texas, asked Erin Sander to put the finishing touches on their Spanish Revival home: The Dallas-based designer has spent a lot of time in Spain and noticed the country’s style influence has been sprouting up all over the Lone Star State. “It works well with Mexican details, as well as has a true Western sensibility.”
While Spanish-inspired spaces might be trending, Sander didn’t want to design a home that merely fit a mold; she wanted to create a residence imbued with an authentic sense of place. To do so, the architecture and interior design had to be in lockstep.
With raked plaster surfaces, fascia details and exaggerated arched windows, the newly built residence from Mark Hoesterey of SHM Architects epitomizes Spanish Revival style. However, it was the architecture’s “very true Spanish details” that gave Sander some autonomy on the décor. “It gave us the ability to create younger, more unique interiors,” she describes. “We brought vintage pieces in and added a little bit of edge, so it felt fresh and new for the next generation of their family.”
The discourse between design and architecture is on full display in the great room: While plastered walls and a vaulted, wood-clad ceiling feel distinctly Spanish, table lamps from Dumais Made and golden mohair swivel chairs provide a hint of modernity. “Right away, it defines a tone that there’s something different here,” she states. “We’re pushing the envelope.” A gallery hall flanks the perimeter of the great room and gives guests the opportunity to experience the architecture, furnishings and antiquities all at once. “It sets up the estate feeling of the property,” she explains, “with a grace and elegance that is beautiful.”
Meanwhile, the kitchen possesses a crafted tactility with handmade concrete underfoot, an assortment of artisanal pottery and a backsplash composed of Daniel Heath’s handmade and hand-painted tiles. The cabinetry is coated in a muted green, one of Sander’s signature colors, to tie the hand- wrought details together. “We love to use it as a neutral, but it really brings a lot more life to a space,” she notes. “White would fall flat and wouldn’t have nearly as much character.”
For areas like the living room and kitchen, an amalgamation of furnishings and finishes blur the line between architecture and design. However, in the home’s more private spaces, carefully curated statement pieces provide an atmospheric charm. Sander is particularly fond of the Catalonian door – sourced from Spain, of course – that leads into the client’s office. “She wanted the door itself as a piece of art,” the designer shares.
Though the residence beautifully captures a Spanish sentiment, Sander employed smaller details to give “a giant nod” to the family’s Texas roots. (After all, everything’s bigger in Texas.) Local artists like Jon Flaming cover the walls, while the husband’s collection of monogrammed cowboy boots is proudly displayed on the bookshelf in his study. “It’s a huge part of his identity and personal style,” Sander explains. “Knowing that he’ll be able to actually appreciate them from now on is really special.”
Photography by Nathan Schroder.
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