Real estate broker and Compass DFW co-founder Christy Berry and husband Robby have remodeled several homes during their 43 years of marriage.
But up until October 2019, when a tornado demolished their Preston Hollow house, those renovations were all by choice. After the devastating storm, the Berrys, like so many of the tornado’s other victims, were forced to rebuild. This time, however, the process was more of a rebirth. Instead of recreating what once was, the Berrys designed a whole new home for themselves. “We were lucky in that way, because we got to do whatever we wanted,” Christy says, finding a silver lining in the destruction. “It was a great opportunity.”
To help them fulfill their vision of a beautiful but comfortable home that would also be entertaining friendly and ADA compliant (Christy loves throwing dinner parties, and Robby has mobility issues), the Berrys called in Chris Dauwe of Rosewood Custom Builders, remodeling specialist Wren Homsey, and interior designer Corbin See of Sees Design. The result is a light, bright abode with plenty of open spaces that can accommodate a crowd and allow for easy movement. Filled with a mix of vintage and custom furnishings, along with art passed down from Christy’s mother and grandmother, the 3,400-square-foot home has become a haven for the couple, so much so that Christy says they will likely never sell—or remodel ever again.
The previous owner of the Berrys’ original house had added a greenhouse, so Christy had it replaced after it was destroyed by the tornado. The generous space does double duty as their dining room—it’s where they host guests for dinner parties and hold gatherings for loved ones, including their five adult children and their families. “When we first saw the house, I thought, ‘Well, I don’t know anything about orchids,’ ” says Christy, who’s since become a bit of an orchid whisperer.
A fluted plaster wall separates the bar area from the family room. The marble fireplace is from Chad Dorsey’s Strike collection, and the screen is by Claire Crowe. For pre-dinner drinks, guests can settle in to custom E.J. Victor seating.
Elizabeth Lavin
The Takeaway
Sometimes, when you love your neighborhood enough, you stay—no matter what. In October 2019, when a tornado caused an estimated $1.5 billion in damages along its 15-mile path through Preston Hollow, no one would’ve blamed affected residents for defecting to other parts of town. And though local real estate star Christy Berry could’ve surely found herself the perfect ready-made house, she and husband Robby made the choice to stay and rebuild, designing their dream property from top to bottom in the place that still felt like home.
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