Home for 2000: Texas Rose

For Texas home designer Larry Garnett, the year 2000 has arrived. His family's new home -designed by Garnett himself- celebrates the turn of the century, but not in the way you might think.

No self-cleaning apparatus enhances the kitchen; no futuristic energy system warms the living room. Nothing floats. Garnett's vision of life in 2000 is more down-to-earth. Instead of filling the home with unusual spaces and bizarre gadgetry, he concentrated instead on function and practicality, designing the house to address his family's day-to-day needs in 2000 and beyond. Says Garnett, "I think there's a segment of Americans that's saying, 'Let's be practical. What can I afford? What will I actually use? What do I truly need?' I found myself continually asking myself those questions as I designed our home, and then I asked, "How will this affect my family?" Garnett sat down at his drawing board and designed a home whose every square foot answers those questions.

What you can't see matters: DuPont Tyvek® Home Wrap™ and Owens Corning's FOAMULAR® foam sheathing provide a barrier against unwanted moisture, air flow and noise. With its fire-retardant and energy-efficient Cocoonä insulation, Louisiana-Pacific Corporation delivers even temperatures within. Marvin Windows and Doors' well-proportioned windows give the home a glassy visage. Shakertown Cedar Shingle Siding from Shakertown lends a cozy, rustic look to the exterior. Framed by Texas stone, Simpson Door Company's Mastermark® entry door proves a fitting focal point. Owens Corning's Oakridge® Shadow Shingles complete the home.

DuPont Tyvek® Home Wrap™, Louisiana-Pacific Corporation's Cocoonä insulation, Marvin Windows and Doors' windows, Owens Corning's Oakridge® Shadow Shingles and FOAMULAR® foam sheathing, and Shakertown Cedar Shingle Siding from Shakertown again combine to carry the home's exterior theme of unassuming beauty to the backyard. On the porches and decks, Screen Tight's porch screening system offers a simple solution to the region's buggy summer months. "It was so easy to install, I did it myself," says the home's designer.

In the Beginning
Intrigued by the philosophy behind traditional neighborhood developments, Garnett wanted to give his three teenage sons the experience of a small town's public square, where the commercial buildings and entertainment offerings are within walking distance. "We wanted to leave the hustle and bustle, the large [Houston] metro area, the overcrowded schools," says Garnett.

In the living room, the prominent fireplace stands clad in Cultured Stone Corporation's Cultured Stone® Ohio Cobblefield, Champagne Trim Stones, Champagne Trim Stone Keystone and Silver Sand Hearthstone. The fireplace itself is Heat-N-Glo's Model RHW-41 with glass doors -a handsome companion to the surrounding stone. Running through the house -unobtrusive but never out of earshot- is NuTone Inc.'s Built-In Radio-Intercom System, which allows family members to stay in contact and relax with their favorite radio station. Underfoot, Premier™ Wood Floors' Noble™ Pecan in Amber fulfills its quiet duty with durability and eye-catching presence.

The family found that escape in a rural town of 2,000 in northern Texas. Tucked into the curve of a gin-clear river, the town offers everything an urban-weary family of five could ask for. Picnic grounds line the river's edge. Upstream, fossilized dinosaur tracks and bones give testament to the region's ancient past. Petrified wood the color of burnt sienna makes up the exterior walls of many houses. Dallas is only an hour away. The picturesque town square hosts the county courthouse and sidewalk shops, and has the "walkability" Garnett wanted. "Once the boys are in town, they can walk to the park, the swimming pool, their school or the Dairy Queen," he says. Then, at the end of each day, it's a short drive to the edge of town, where stands the family's home for 2000.

Joined to the home by a porte cochere, the guest cottage and garages boast Premium Series garage doors by Clopay. The buildings are protected by DuPont Tyvek® HomeWrap™, Louisiana-Pacific Corporation's Cocoonä insulation, Owens Corning's Oakridge® Shadow Shingles, FOAMULAR® foam sheathing, and Shakertown Cedar Shingle Siding by Shakertown. Marvin Windows and Doors adds the finishing touch with its functional and lovely windows.

Photography by Mark Englund/HomeStyles