The Weekender

Gamma and buffalo grass as well as red oak trees create a lush setting for the  modern, dark gray brick, 2,100-square-foot lake house. Chaises from Brown Jordan provide the perfect venue for sunning.

Owner Kathleen Muñoz pours herself a glass of wine in her sleek kitchen. Bulthaup cabinetry and countertops; custom kitchen table base by James Cinquemani with Italian Calcutta marble tabletop; Mario Bellini Cab chairs from Scott + Cooner; antler centerpiece from Grange Hall; lighting fixture by Ingo Mauer from Scott + Cooner.

“We are not lake people at all,” Kathleen Muñoz says right away, explaining why she and husband Alan chose to build their first vacation home on the banks of Lake Whitney instead of, say, Tuscany, where they visited many times and still have Italian friends. “My husband is a physician without much time off, and he has to get back to the hospital quickly for emergencies. Airplanes were out.”

But friends invited them to their weekend house on Lake Whitney five years ago, and the Muñozes fell in love with the laid-back lake lifestyle. They snatched up the next house that came up for sale in the area. Says Kathleen: “It was probably originally a 1950s fishing shack made into a ‘house’ by adding big columns and porticos. Everything was out of proportion. It seemed easier to get out the bulldozer,” than to try to fix it. Enter architect and family friend Russell Buchanan, known for his elegantly spare designs using natural materials. Kathleen had shared an office with Buchanan years ago. “I liked Russ’ quirky approach to projects and his interesting use of materials,” she says.

Homeowner Kathleen Muñoz. (Right) The living room provides dramatic views both inside and out. Fireplace in Pennsylvania bluestone with custom mantel and fire screen by James Cinquemani; papier-mâché mounted head over the fireplace from Grange Hall; sofa from Ligne Roset; Diva ottomans and chairs; Platner chrome and glass tables from Knoll; and synthetic shag rug from Crate & Barrel.

The Muñozes’ 2,100-square-foot lake house is just such a project. “We splurged on the Bulthaup kitchen,” Kathleen says, “but even then we used showroom samples. It was a very cost-effective house. “Russ manipulated the materials to get the most bang for the buck.” Most of the rooms have large windows looking onto a private center courtyard, giving the illusion of more space. “I’d love for people to know that it doesn’t take a lot of money to build with good design,” she adds.

Though the lake house seems perfectly suited for its naturally wild surroundings, the original landscaping had been cultivated into a manicured suburban lawn. “The first thing we did was to try to get rid of it and let the natural grasses come back,” she says. Four years into the effort, the Muñozes now have a healthy thatch of blue gamma, rye, and other native grasses. They also planted rosemary bushes, cedars, and mesquite trees. “Anything decorative we made sure was hybrid native or close to it,” she says.

The garden by the front door features agave, dwarf oleander, pittosporum, and an Ipe fence. (bottom left) Chairs from Brown Jordan provide a better view of the lake. (right) A closer look at the agave.

Their property is within view of a bird sanctuary that protects pelicans, bald eagles, owls, and wild turkeys, among others. “Sometimes I take the canoe out by myself and paddle around,” Kathleen says. “We eat alfresco, even in the summer. You can’t do that in Dallas. We are always outside when the sun goes down, just watching. The magic on the lake starts then.” 

After a long day in the sun, the inviting sectional from Ligne Roset offers cool refuge. “Algue” sculpture by Vitra. (bottom left) The spa-like bathroom with Pietrastone countertop; Duravit sink from TKO; concrete floors; and walk-in shower. (bottom right) Visitors get the idea that Alan and Kathleen Muñozes’ lake house isn’t your average lake house before they even get through the front door.

The Muñozes entertain with ease thanks in part to the Gaggenau cooktop, Miele ovens, and Sub-Zero refrigerator. The kitchen affords views of Lake Whitney, so cooking becomes even less of a chore.