By the time designer Jessica Maros completed her characterful Dallas residence, she had already navigated a creative path full of enthralling twists and turns. The Vancouver native spent years setting vibes onstage as the lead singer of the folk-rock band Escondido, based in Nashville. Then, she moved to Los Angeles where she collaborated on projects with designer Leanne Ford, all the while developing her own aesthetic. Over time, Maros has honed the skill of storytelling through spatial design planning, harmonizing living spaces and infusing them with character.
These experiences culminated in the moment she and her husband, Stephen Marley, discovered a historical property nestled in Kessler Park. “I remember it so vividly, because instantly I thought, ‘That is the house,’ ” she recalls. But the home had its challenges. Originally built in 1924, it had never seen any major updates—some rooms did not even have lighting. To navigate the renovation, the couple enlisted architect Fred Peña, who worked with builder Paul Zubiate to update the residence. Nearly every detail needed conservation district approval, from the windows to the exterior paint color—a deep green that makes a statement while blending in with the property’s mature trees. “It looks beautiful with copper,” Maros observes, pointing to the tarnished exterior pipes they decided to keep.
Home Details
Architecture:
Fred Peña, Tezanto
Interior Design:
Jessica Maros, Maros Designs
Home Builder:
Paul Zubiate, Zubiate Building Works
Styling:
Ashley Earnhardt
A Charles Eames walnut chair provides a sculptural touch in the living room, seated atop a rug from The Citizenry. A plywood painting of Tommy Dorsey flanks an archway across from watercolors by an anonymous artist.
In the living room, sofas from Room & Board form a seating area next to a Nelson Bubble lamp from Design Within Reach and an arching floor light from 1stdibs. A chandelier by Arteriors hangs above a coffee table by the same brand, and Pamela Dodd’s Eye See U becomes a colorful focal point.
Emphasizing simple statement pieces, the dining room hosts a table and chairs by Ethnicraft. Designer Jessica Maros found the lighting at The Original Round Top Antiques Fair.
Reform walnut cabinetry, limestone flooring from Daltile and quartz countertops define the kitchen. Blu Dot stools pull up to the expansive island counter, which holds a Brizo faucet. Satco’s flush lighting and Simon Legald for Normann Copenhagen pendants illuminate the space.
A circa-1950s Ludvig Pontoppidan sofa from Eneby Home, Noguchi base coffee table with custom marble top and vintage rug outfit the vinyl room. Crowning the space is a 1900s game light from The Original Round Top Antiques Fair, where the designer also sourced the merlot-hued chair.
Sherwin-Williams’ Marooned sets a dramatic tone in the powder room. A Turkish sink, Phylrich faucet from Reece and Matt Alford Studio lighting complete the jewel box.
In the primary bedroom, Sherwin-Williams’ Greek Villa walls and Farrow & Ball’s Bone ceiling establish a meditative feel. CB2 dome lamps, a Crate & Barrel hemp rug and Schumacher bolster fabric complement artwork by the designer above the custom steel frame.
Daltile mosaic flooring and SureCrete’s Desert Sand microcement walls encase the homeowners’ airy bathroom. A Four Hands clay wall sconce and VanityArt stone tub enhance the spa-like atmosphere.
Many such original elements were saved: After creating the new entry and mudroom by glazing a porch archway, the team reinstalled the existing door; brass-toned powder coating refreshed the silver doorknobs; and the wood floors were lovingly resanded. (“Paul said this was the last time we could strip those floors,” she adds.) In the dining room, Maros hoped to restore the hearth, but the brick wasn’t salvageable; instead, she applied microcement. “The hearth is actually meant for an old gas heater,” the designer notes, so she hunted one down and installed it as a functional ode to the home’s past.
These thoughtful custom touches continue throughout. For her bedroom, Maros bought a new globe pendant and covered it with linen so it gives off a soft glow. Similarly, after sourcing the dining room’s overhead lights in Round Top, she applied an unexpected cobalt blue to the brass bases. “I love that tiny little pop of color,” the designer shares.
Whether vintage or new, artwork also enriches each space with color and a sense of connection. A vibrant abstract work that serves as the living room’s centerpiece was painted by Pamela Dodd, a neighbor of Maros. “I love supporting my friends, so if I see something cool, I’ll always use it,” she says. Meanwhile, the living and vinyl rooms showcase large plywood paintings of jazz musicians Tommy Dorsey and Glenn Miller, painted by a prolific artist in Nashville. These once adorned a 1940s bar before eventually landing in the antiques shop where the designer stumbled upon them.
Equally treated as art is the natural light that flows into the home through its 55 total windows. “We almost never use the lights in the kitchen,” Maros says, so she was especially strategic with the aesthetics of the fixtures, incorporating wall sconces and ceiling mounts that evoke an industrial feel. Stephen loves to cook, so they also installed a 12-foot-long island where he can socialize while preparing food.
“The great thing about this house is that every room is used, and I think that’s the power of designing for how you live your life every day,” Maros reflects. Meaningful moments vary from hosting guests in the kitchen to reading a book in the vinyl room, which is decked out in new custom cabinetry, reupholstered vintage seating and a 1900s game light. Layering these pieces in a fresh way feels both modern and perfectly in context in the century-old home. “I had to find a way to blend both worlds,” she says. “Ultimately, it came down to intuition and having respect for what has happened before me, reshaping it into something new.”
Daltile mosaic flooring and SureCrete’s Desert Sand microcement walls encase the homeowners’ airy bathroom. A Four Hands clay wall sconce and VanityArt stone tub enhance the spa-like atmosphere.