Text by Bethany Adams
When Trisha and Marion Dodson bought their weekend cottage in Burton, Texas, they found it lacked a few key elements. “At the time, it was a two-bedroom, two-bath [house], but the [primary bath] didn’t even have a tub or shower,” Trisha says.
So, they got to work. From reworking the electrical system to adding a new primary bedroom and bathroom, the couple transformed the home into a haven among the green hills of the countryside. “I just wanted the comfort of my home translated there,” Trisha says. “I wanted it to be a place where all our family and friends could come and be comfortable and still have the look of home that I liked.”
To carry the comforts of their main residence in Houston, Texas, to the new space, Trisha started with a base of calming, subdued tones. On top of that, she built a design that blends the rustic charm of country style with a unique twist all her own. And with the home’s close proximity to so many antiquing hot spots, it’s no surprise that storied style abounds.
The open-concept living and dining spaces feature a striking combination of antique pieces and contemporary treasures. Dark throw pillows bearing modern patterns add interest to the cozy, neutral couch, which is paired with a sweet daybed perfect for enjoying the natural light from the French doors.
Other creative choices include the light fixture that Trisha and Marion created for the dining area. She was inspired by a similar piece in The Garden Co., a restaurant and gift shop in Round Top, Texas. “I looked at it, and I said, ‘I want to copy that,’’’ she says.
The farm table below was another Round Top find, and Trisha notes that it’s perfect for when friends and family come over. “We had a large group the other night for a dinner party, and we took up every inch of that table,” she says. Found at an antiques show in Canton, Texas, vintage ceiling tiles topped with a cornice create a distinctive installation on one of the walls in the dining area.
In the updated primary bedroom, bright-white paint covers every available surface from the floor to the vaulted ceiling, creating an airy vibe that’s perfect for unwinding after a long week. “I have double French doors that look out to the pasture behind us,” Trisha says. “There are cows out there; there are donkeys. . . . I just open the doors and enjoy the view and the sounds, and it’s just so relaxing.”
To balance all the white, Trisha introduced pieces such as the long cabinet that houses her outdoor furniture cushions and a headboard she had made to look like an antique carved piece that was too wide for the bed.
Trisha says that she and Marion look forward to every weekend they spend in the home, where they’ve made plenty of friends and memories. “My husband cannot wait to get there,” she says—and he’s not the only one. “It’s my time to go relax.”
