Sometimes the best way to gat away from it all is to return to where it all started. Caleb and Madison Lavey can attest to that. Five years ago, the couple ditched the bright lights and nonstop go-go-go in Dallas for greener pastures an hour north, in Celina, where their roots run deep. “I’m a fourth-generation Celinite, and Caleb moved to Celina in elementary school,” says Madison. “We were high school sweethearts.” There, the possibilities of creating a forever home—a place where they could raise four children alongside cattle, chickens, donkeys, goats, and pigs—were as wide-open as their 50-acre plot on County Road 8.
From the jump, the Laveys aimed to build something that was wholly their own. “I knew I wanted a one-story ranch where everyone is together on one level,” Madison explains. “And I wanted it to be Austin Hill Country–inspired—something that fit the land but still had a modern, cool, up-to-date vibe and a little bit of funk mixed with traditional, lasting aspects that would grow with our family.” In short, she envisioned a dreamy retreat where a speakeasy and a schoolhouse could coexist and longhorns could share the spotlight with a Lacanche.
Armed with their ideas, the couple approached architect Scott Marek of Studio Lema to nail down a design. The result was an 8,000-square-foot, four-bedroom, six-bathroom floor plan that allowed for open-concept common areas, long corridors leading to different wings, and tucked-in spaces like a safe room, pantry, and the aforementioned speakeasy. “The house almost feels like it has open arms, so it feels really welcoming from the approach,” Marek says. “Inside, it’s a combination of dark and light, and the contrasts between the spaces support each other and create nice surprises throughout the home.”
With the framework in place, the Laveys looked to Dallas-based design firm Angeline & Co. to deliver the funk factor. The team—which included principal designer and owner Angeline Guido Hall, principal designer Reno Grossi, and senior designer Kelsey Hose—was more than happy to comply. “Madison and Caleb have the coolest style,” Hall says. “It’s been amazing to watch this dream of an ‘elevated ranch’ filled with unexpected elements unfold for them.”
The designers collaborated with builder Aaron Wallrath to bring in a balanced mix of rustic materials, like reclaimed wood and stone, and more refined features—including white oak cabinetry, colorful tiles, moody-hued plastered walls, fanciful wallpapers, and a host of sculptural lighting. Grossi led the charge of assembling a just-right mix of one-of-a-kind vintage and custom furniture. “We found so many great things in Round Top that softened the house’s modern edge and infused a lot of the funky style Madison was after,” he says. “The homeowners also have an incredible art collection. Every year, they buy a new piece. Together, we went through the entire collection and began incorporating pieces in different rooms.”…