DOLORES HUANG knew exactly what she wanted in a forever home. She had been saving photos for years, tucking them away for the day that she and her husband, Tim, could set their plan in motion. What she wanted was very different from the semi-custom home in Cary that the couple lived in with their two elementary-age children. What she wanted was the freedom to choose customized finishes and features to make a home that was practical and fun for her children without sacrificing style. “My previous home was a two-level Craftsman house. There were lots of design limitations and guidelines given by the builder at the time,” she says. “We wanted to build a fully custom home in our style with a builder who would allow us to adjust the design to make it a legacy home we could pass down to the kids.”
The Huangs enlisted Bost Custom Homes for the build and Jill Perry of Design Works for the interiors after the pair bonded over their shared love of Art Deco design. “I was attracted to Art Deco because it brings a little history to the modern era,” says Huang of the aesthetic she wanted in the home.
“I love how much innovation and style transformed during that time period. In our previous home it was Craftsman heavy, limiting the transition of bringing other styles into our home. I like so many styles, and I wanted the freedom to transition to something else when we are ready for it.”
One look at Huang’s tear sheets and collection of inspiration images, and Perry knew exactly where to go with the interior design. Her goal was simple: create a modern but livable aesthetic with Art Deco touches throughout. “Based on those photos, we chose an emerald green sofa anchored with a geometric black-and-white rug in the living room and coordinated both with a midnight color vent hood in the open kitchen nearby,” she says.
“Those elements were the starting point for the design. Everything else radiated out from there.” Bright colors like pink, green, and cobalt blue mix with glitzy-gold accents throughout the home on lighting, art, and furniture to reinforce Huang’s style. “We splashed Art Deco in the rooms without going overboard and making it look like a speakeasy,” Perry adds. In the foyer, the designer added a modern elliptical console with brass highlights by Global Views, setting the tone for the entire contemporary glam aesthetic. In the dining room, Perry chose chairs with a geometric brass pattern on the side, another nod to the Art Deco style Huang loves.
While the main living areas are modern and sophisticated, Huang relegated the upper level for her children to relax and freely enjoy their bedrooms as well as a playroom with a climbing wall, a gaming area, a media room, and a study space. “The upstairs is their floor, and the toys stay up there,” Huang says. “I hired organizers to set up the whole house, including the kids’ floor, so everything is labeled and has a place.”
Anytime Huang started to lean toward the glam factor upstairs, Perry gently reminded her of the need for practicality while the kids are young. “We kept going back to the goal of making it beautiful but livable,” Perry says. “It’s a design for how they really live.” In the end, the home checks the boxes on everything the Huangs wanted in their forever home. The timeless decor feels modern and livable, and can easily transition as the family grows. “Jill and I connected on design,” says Huang. “I trusted her to take my inspiration photos and turn them into a cohesive home. And she hit the mark.”