Interior: A Softer Kind of Western

In the heart of Texas, I was invited into a home that didn’t need to shout to say where it was from. The woman who hired me knew exactly what she didn’t want—no cow prints, no saddles on display, no cliché cowboy kitsch. What she wanted was something quieter, something thoughtful. A space that nodded to the cowboy culture she loved, but in a way that felt modern, elegant, and entirely her own.

She already had a strong foundation—a cozy couch draped with soft blankets, a simple entertainment cabinet that closed up neatly when not in use, and even a well-loved piano tucked into the corner. The structure was there. My role was to bring the details into harmony with her style.

We started with the walls. I chose a two-tone palette—terracotta on the lower half, soft peach above. Together, they echoed the tones of the desert without overwhelming the senses. Her favorite cactus got a new home, repotted into a classic terracotta planter and placed where the light would catch it just right.

Against one wall, I brought in a beautiful console table. Modern in its silhouette, but warm in its natural wood grain, with subtle copper knobs that tied into her love of earthy metals. On top, a bowl of polished copper spheres reflected the light, offering just a glint of shine. Beside them, a low succulent arrangement, a leather box filled with photo mementos, and a soft ivory sculpture of a horse—elegant, grounded, and deeply Texan in spirit.

We finished with art. Minimalist paintings in sand-toned neutrals, abstract and restrained, yet quietly evocative of open skies, soft ridges, and long stretches of road.

Sometimes, honoring where you’re from doesn’t mean putting it all on display. Sometimes, it’s about letting the land speak softly through your space—through color, texture, and the pieces you choose to keep close.