Couple Designs And Builds An Award-Winning Dream Home

Text by Cheryl Alexander | Photography by Cody Bess and Jonathan Calvert | Interiors by Pamela O’Brien and Dana Smith, Pamela Hope Designs| Architecture by Greg Swedberg, 2Scale Architects

Jon Halvorsen and Pamela O’Brien met on eHarmony in 2012. Following a courtship filled with adventure and fun, they married in 2013. Jon, who is a harbor pilot with the Galveston-Texas City Pilots, and Pamela, an interior designer, moved into her townhome. They enjoyed living there, but the couple really wanted to find something new together.

Soon after their wedding they began house-hunting. One day while driving around, Pamela noticed a For Sale sign that captured her attention.

“I drove by the tiny pink and green house almost daily,” said Pamela, “but it was covered in so much overgrowth that I never noticed it.”

Although it was in the couple’s preferred neighborhood, they were dismayed by its condition and the noise from the busy street. How­ever, after searching and not finding anything they really wanted, they revisited the lot.

“We knew the overgrowth and dilapidated house could be re­placed,” said Jon. “The lot was a nice size, nearly square with a protected, open lot behind it, and it had nice new fencing and a nice slope from back to front that provided excellent drainage. Since we had toured and visited different neighborhoods, we discovered there are nearly no quiet streets left in the area, so the noise did not bother us as much. When we saw the luxury level of homes that were being built in the area, we decided to make an offer.”

Pamela is a designer with im­pressive experience in the market, with all the right connections in the industry. The previous year, she had designed five similar new construction projects, so the couple felt it would be a good exercise and great experience to build their home and for Pamela to serve as the general contractor, along with a superintendent/consultant.

“I was already involved with many of our team players through my design business,” said Pamela, “and I used friends and colleagues for our realtor, architect, mortgage broker and landscape designer. We used my favorite trades, vendors and contractors from my design work for everything from paint colors to sofa pillows. It takes a village.”

The couple commenced with an initial vision of constructing a home with a French Country architectural style, decorated in New Traditional. Because of its prominent location, they wanted people to drive by and say “What a pretty house!” Nestled between a bright, white modern farmhouse and a large Mediterranean-style home, they believed the French Country village style would be unique, but not jarring.

Regarding the interiors, Pamela had many items and family pieces she loved and wanted to keep. “I was excited about repurposing – using my talented trades like refinishers and upholsterers,” said Pamela, “but I also needed some new furnishings since the home was larger.”

The couple’s “must haves” included a custom driveway, an oversized garage, room for an apartment to house Pamela’s design studio, private green space, a specialty kitchen and floor plan, and for the home and garden to be low maintenance.

“I am a big proponent for low maintenance whenever possible, inside and out,” said Pamela. “No one wants to be a slave to her home, and most people have neither the time nor inclination to spend a lot of time cleaning and maintaining their property.”

Heavy rain during the first three months of construction, followed by mud and then dust, proved to be the biggest challenges the couple faced in their ambitious endeavor.

“There were many times during construction,” said Jon, “that Pamela didn’t believe the house would ever be clean!”

If this sounds like a lot for a first-time general contractor to handle, it is. But when asked if the finished product matched their initial vision, the couple’s answer was simple: “To a “T!” Others in the know seem to agree as the home won several ASID awards, including best bathroom, best outdoor living space, best bedroom and runner-up for kitchen.

The stellar kitchen features a long cooking wall with cheerful, oversized white glazed and beveled subway tiles, a prominent custom built vent hood (hand-finished by Pamela and her decorative painter) to match the Currey and Company island pendants, and a Thermador 48-inch Pro Grand Steam Range. An island and plenty of storage are favorites along with the walk-in pantry with its glass door and a beloved pie safe painted robin’s egg blue, which served as the color inspiration. Stainless steel appliances, satin nickel plumbing fixtures and pewter hardware add metallic touches, while the white porcelain and silver accessories bask in the light of this bright and airy kitchen.

The kitchen is also technology-driven. The under-cabinet lighting system provides beautiful, crystal clear light and allows outlets and USB charging stations to be cleverly concealed beneath the cabinets. Tablets, phones and other devices can be cradled along the wall, complete with add-on speakers. The couple can listen to their favorite tunes, check in with friends and family, and follow a recipe online without stepping away from the stove.

The award-winning master suite begins at the end of a long hallway, making the room extra private and quiet. The layout and aesthetic of the space is both inviting and functional.

“As a newly married couple,” said Pamela, “we wanted our own bedroom with a style that reflected both of us.”

Large picture windows showcase a green wall and landscaping just outside the master suite, and the taupe and cream color palette of the draperies, furniture and rugs softens and sensualizes the aesthetic. Pearly woven wood blinds provide daytime privacy. Metal and crystal lamps add a transitional twist.

The couple can enter the master bathroom, closet and laundry room without disturbing each other. The master bath is sized ideally for two and includes a free-standing tub, a large window allowing natural light, large shower with two shower heads and private water closet area. The space leads directly into the closet and then the laundry room, making preparing for work or bed very convenient.

The award-winning outdoor space was conceived to position the house in a way that would shelter it from Memorial Drive and create a circular drive, a three-car garage and a motor court. The front landscaping boasts colorful roses, lantana and blooming trees. The backyard has an ivy-covered fence that runs the entire length, courtesy of the neighbors. A repurposed mantel from the original property’s tear-down was painted, glazed and installed on the back wall of the property. Three white benches invite leisurely seating.

Though the bath, bedroom and kitchen may have won industry awards, each of the homeowners favors other rooms.

“My favorite is our formal dining room,” said Pamela, “and although we don’t use it much, I think it’s so pretty and whimsical. I love looking at it everyday. I also love my studio. We used repurposed floors and doors, et cetera from the teardown and made it a bit more feminine than the rest of the house.”

Jon said, “I love my study where I have my nautical charts, maritime art and ski paraphernalia on display.”

Their new home is all that they envisioned, and the work and time they invested by managing the process brought them a new appreciation for the building industry and each other. For now, it’s their dream home.

“We both prefer higher altitudes and mountains,” said Pamela, “so we hope our next home will be ‘elevated!’ ”

TOP IMAGE: Soft tones create a warm, inviting space. Vanguard sectional from James Craig Furnishings, ottoman from John Brooks, rug from Oriental Rug Bazaar, Hooker console from James Craig Furnishings and art by Lindsay Peyton.