Rococo Romance

In Dallas' Highland Park, a bevy of gifted creatives conjure the playful embellishments of the Late Baroque age.

After years of dedication to work and raising a family, this investment professional and his wife, a gifted photographer, decided to reward themselves with a new home in Highland Park, Texas designed by architect Cole Smith, FAIA, for welcoming children and grandchildren, and hosting social events in a style inspired by one of their favorite places: Northern Italy. The architect's wife, interior designer Sherry Hayslip, discovered 17th-century columns at a London antique dealer for the fireplace and had local artisans add a few flourishes. The final product inspired the entire kitchen from the ceiling beams to the delicately hand-painted backsplash tiles, with the main focal point of an elaborate steel, bronze and brass pot rack designed by Hayslip and Smith, with the Italian words for herbs pierced into its sides, and hand-hammered victory wreaths that support decorative plates custom-painted with scenes that relate to specific memories for the homeowners. "Even the least expected object can inspire," Hayslip marvels. "If you use fresh eyes and think of it in a fresh way, it can inspire something wonderful!"

Hayslip describes the entire project as a labor of love for everyone involved, perhaps especially, the lady of the house. "She is a fantastic cook and wanted plenty of space for kids, friends and family to be in kitchen and cook with her," says Hayslip, who created several preparation areas with sinks for multiple cooks, plus a generous Wolf 60-inch Dual Fuel range with electric ovens plus a separate Wolf single oven so when the frequent impulse to bake up a storm strikes, they're ready to roll. Sub-Zero integrated refrigerator, freezer and refrigerator drawers respectfully blend into the background of this highly embellished room, and while Hayslip could have opted for black knobs on the Wolf range she chose to embrace the bold, iconic red. "We live in a blend that's both past and future," she explains. "The kitchen honors that concept—it's authentic."