{"id":54394,"date":"2025-07-10T15:06:14","date_gmt":"2025-07-10T15:06:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/54394\/"},"modified":"2025-07-10T15:06:14","modified_gmt":"2025-07-10T15:06:14","slug":"dallas-empty-nesters-swap-25-years-of-belongings-for-artfully-curated-condo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/54394\/","title":{"rendered":"Dallas empty nesters swap 25 years of belongings for artfully curated condo"},"content":{"rendered":"

After 25 years in a home near White Rock Lake, Janet and Alex Madrazo were ready for a change. Their two kids are grown and out on their own, and the Madrazos wanted a fresh start, both in terms of location and style. They went on to offload their house and their belongings. \u201cWe decided to sell absolutely everything,\u201d says Janet Madrazo. \u201cSo we had an estate sale and sold it all.\u201d <\/p>\n

\"TheThe entryway to the couple’s new condo leads to rooms with large windows that make the most of the city view. Like the rest of the home, the entry showcases art. On the left is “No. 156” by artist Brian Moore, acquired through William Campbell Gallery. On the right are “Vanishing Point” by Lisa Bradley and “Shadow Still Life #3” by Shezi Sarhady, both represented by Joel Cooner Gallery.(Dan Piassick)<\/p>\n

They were on the hunt for a condo in the Uptown area, but they weren\u2019t exactly sure where. \u201cWe had a friend who had a condo in the State Thomas district, and he was never there,\u201d Madrazo shares. \u201cHe said, \u2018Why don\u2019t you just live there and figure out what you want to do?\u2019\u201d That\u2019s exactly what they did, bringing only their clothes and wine collection. But it didn\u2019t take long to find their dream empty-nester pad, in the six-story Parkside building off Klyde Warren Park. The couple loved the neighborhood\u2019s walkability and proximity to the Dallas Arts District, and the views were superb. \u201cWe have great views that won\u2019t ever be blocked because Klyde Warren is right in front of us,\u201d Madrazo explains. <\/p>\n

The Madrazos were the first owners to live in the condo, so it was prime for a personal touch. After living there for a year, purchasing a few pieces of art and furniture along the way, they were ready to bring in a professional. \u201cWe didn\u2019t know exactly what we wanted, so I started looking at various designers who had designed condos,\u201d Madrazo explains. She came across Nicole Arnold\u2019s work in an online search and loved her aesthetic. \u201cWe really wanted an entryway rug, and we wanted to work on the kitchen,\u201d says Madrazo. \u201cAnd you know how all good projects go. It just never ends there.\u201d <\/p>\n

\"TheThe study features “Art PG” by Max Steven Grossman, a piece that Arnold helped the homeowners select from Laura Rathe Fine Art. “That piece gave the room its own special pop,” says Arnold.(Dan Piassick)<\/p>\n

The couple worked with Arnold and her team at Nicole Arnold Interiors<\/a> to refresh the 2,200-square-foot space using some of the couple\u2019s existing art and furniture, as well as new pieces that Arnold suggested. \u201cSome pieces of furniture just weren\u2019t comfortable, and some things didn\u2019t fit with the space,\u201d the designer says. \u201cSo we ended up rearranging what they had already in some cases and augmented with new pieces.\u201d The couple\u2019s modern sensibility and love for global influences resulted in an eclectic space featuring antiques; midcentury furniture by influential designers such as Saarinen, Wegner and Perriand; and contemporary art from local galleries.<\/p>\n

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The Madrazos had started collecting art while they were still living in their home off White Rock Lake, and it was there they realized their passion for living amongst beautiful works. \u201cWe bought a couple of our first pieces from Joel Cooner Gallery<\/a>,\u201d shares Madrazo. \u201cWe worked with him a lot early on, and it was so transformative. After we bought a few pieces, we saw how that transformed our home. The art changes everything, and we knew we needed more in this home.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"TheThe den features a Knoll Saarinen Womb chair and ottoman and a Mexique coffee table designed by Charlotte Perriand, which the homeowners purchased from Scott + Cooner.(Dan Piassick)<\/p>\n

Not only did Arnold help the couple acquire new art pieces to perfectly fit each space, but she also walked each nook and cranny with the couple, suggesting interior changes, furniture additions, lighting swaps and new accessories. For instance, in the den, the couple looked to Arnold and her team to suggest lighting and wallpaper to complement the existing modern furniture. \u201cWe loved that the condo had white walls and that it was open,\u201d says Madrazo. \u201cWe have huge windows and balconies, and we loved all that, but at the same time it felt a little stark and not that warm. Nicole talked a lot about how we needed to layer and add depth.\u201d <\/p>\n

\"DesignerArnold gave the built-in bar a look that complemented the rest of the space. She also added vintage-style doors. “The white doors that came with the townhouse didn’t look right,” says the designer. “We needed something with more character.”(Dan Piassick)<\/p>\n

Arnold showed the couple a few wall-covering options, and they settled on a Stroheim grasscloth texture with a hand-blocked print. \u201cThe texture balanced out the antique gong that is hanging on the wall,\u201d says Arnold. \u201cThat [gong] on a white wall hanging over a sofa looked out of place. We are always trying to balance spaces visually with texture and tactile pieces.\u201d The mohair pillows were also a suggestion from the designer, as was the swap from can lighting to an architectural chandelier from Visual Comfort. <\/p>\n

The den\u2019s built-in bar also needed a refresh to aesthetically flow with its updated surroundings. Arnold and her team redesigned the space with new cabinetry, a leathered marble countertop and a hammered-nickel sink. Floating glass shelves show off the couple\u2019s barware, and the Knoll Saarinen dining table nearby offers a comfortable spot to pour a cocktail and relax with a drink. It\u2019s also a spot where Madrazo socializes. \u201cThis table is so great for playing cards,\u201d she notes. \u201cThis afternoon, I\u2019m having three people over and we\u2019re playing bridge. We can sit here and see out to the views. We use this room all the time.\u201d <\/p>\n

\"TheThe formal living room is an eclectic mix of traditional antiques, contemporary furniture and art. The owners previously purchased a 19th-century Louis XVI walnut buffet from Country French Antiques; it’s seen here under a Robert Bourdon wood piece from Joel Cooner Gallery. The Hans J. Wegner Shell chair in cowhide is from Scott + Cooner.(Dan Piassick)<\/p>\n

In the formal living room, the existing layout for seating wasn\u2019t doing the couple any favors. \u201cThey had a sofa that used to sit against the wall where the grasscloth wallpaper is now, and the homeowners never sat on that sofa,\u201d explains Arnold. \u201cNow they love to sit in here when they have people over.\u201d To achieve that inviting feel, Arnold moved the Madrazos\u2019 19th-century Louis XVI walnut buffet to another wall, incorporated the couple\u2019s Hans J. Wegner chair from Scott + Cooner and added a new sofa and chaise lounge. A large art piece from William Campbell Gallery in Fort Worth, Pedras \/ Equinocio by Kevin Tolman, fills the wall where the buffet once sat. \u201cWe needed something big on that wall,\u201d says Arnold. \u201cThe antique buffet was a big presence, but once we moved it we needed something equally as commanding.\u201d <\/p>\n

\"TheThis open-concept living and dining space features a Knoll Saarinen dining table and upholstered chairs. The room is complete with a Japanese panel screen from Joel Cooner Gallery and a sculpture dubbed “Rocker Slit” by artist Steve Murphy, who is represented by William Campbell Gallery.(Dan Piassick)<\/p>\n

The Tolman artwork connects the formal living space to the attached dining room, which also features a Japanese panel screen acquired from Joel Cooner Gallery. The modern lines of the Knoll Saarinen dining table blend with the transitional feel of the dining chairs. \u201cThey had the chairs and they liked them, plus they are comfortable,\u201d says Arnold. \u201cSo it makes sense to keep them in this room.\u201d The designer never suggested bringing in a new piece if the current furnishings made sense. \u201cI don\u2019t believe in just scrapping something to sell more things,\u201d she explains. \u201cI want the room to be right at the end of the day. For some items, there was no reason not to repurpose it if it helps the end result of the design.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"TheThe updated kitchen features marble waterfall countertops, Poggenpohl cabinetry and leather Walter K. Collection Saddle barstools.(Dan Piassick)<\/p>\n

Of course, the sleek kitchen the couple originally desired is one of their favorite spaces. The waterfall marble countertop \u2014 a design element that first caught Madrazo\u2019s eye in Arnold\u2019s online portfolio \u2014 is a striking detail in the space. Pieces by Santa Fe-based artist Gigi Mills hang on a wall, and they hint at what\u2019s to come. \u201cWe are looking at property in Santa Fe,\u201d says Madrazo. And as good client-designer relationships go, it never ends with one project. When the Madrazos buy in New Mexico, they\u2019re ready to bring Arnold on board.<\/p>\n

See more of this Uptown condo: <\/p>\n

\"InView Gallery<\/p>\n

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