Interior designer Erika Barczak completely transforms an Old World Tuscan home into a modern oasis.

The great room opens to a two-story ceiling with a wall of sliding doors and windows that overlook the pool PHOTO BY FRENCHBLUE PHOTOGRAPHY
The great room opens to a two-story ceiling with a wall of sliding doors and windows that overlook the pool.

When an award-winning bulldog handler moved from Michigan to Conroe, Texas, with her small pack of dogs, she fell in love with a beautiful private property, nestled back off the main city roads—perfect for four-legged pals. She reached out to interior designer Erika Barczak of By Design Interiors (bydesigninteriors.com) to transform this quintessential Texas Tuscan, with its heavy faux finishes and closed-off spaces, into a modern home she and the dogs could love.

Erika Barczak transformed this mudroom to be both design-friendly and durable. PHOTO BY FRENCHBLUE PHOTOGRAPHY
Erika Barczak transformed this mudroom to be both design-friendly and durable.

Barczak began by teaming up with the builders, Wamhoff, to create a more open-concept space by removing walls to enlarge the kitchen, create a functional working pantry and flip the single-car garage into a "puppy palace" to kennel the dogs indoors.

The bar area is perfect for cocktail hour PHOTO BY FRENCHBLUE PHOTOGRAPHY
The bar area is perfect for cocktail hour.

The dynamic black, white and gold kitchen has a more relaxed flow, and materials were chosen for both their aesthetics and durability—everything had to look beautiful but also be puppy proof. First, the waterfall kitchen island is topped with Bentley, a striking black and white quartz by Cambria, which steered every other selection in the kitchen, from the black chevron backsplash to the gold bamboo-look light fixtures. Appliances coordinate with the black and gold finishes as well, like a custom-made gold vent hood made by Wamhoff and a JennAir range with brass bezel accents.

The color palette flows through the house—with pops of turquoise added in—to a pantry area accessed by a "hidden" door along the kitchen range wall. Here, a little glam funk is added with geometric cement floor tiles, hammered brass sink and bold turquoise cabinets.

This eye-catching kitchen features a striking black and white quartz by Cambria PHOTO BY FRENCHBLUE PHOTOGRAPHY
This eye-catching kitchen features a striking black and white quartz by Cambria.

The great room is a breathtaking centerpiece to the home, with its two-story ceiling and wall of sliding doors and windows overlooking the pool. On nice days, the entire space can be opened to the outdoor living area. The fireplace surround is revitalized with Arto Brick's buckle pattern tile in charcoal, and the mantelpiece is made from 1700s reclaimed timber, while bulky shelving is replaced with sleek open shelf built-ins.

The bathrooms take on a chic, feminine aesthetic, with a mod-inspired powder bath that boasts a floating vanity, bejeweled gold and black glass hardware, Carrara marble vessel sink and black and white hexagon tile. The primary bathroom looks like something out of a luxury hotel, with every wall clad in Calacatta-look large-format porcelain tile for a serene and striking look.

The primary bath beckons with its large-format porcelain tile. PHOTO BY FRENCHBLUE PHOTOGRAPHY
The primary bath beckons with its large-format porcelain tile.

Every nook and corner of this 2005 home was transformed to be full of light, pup-friendly and absolutely glam. A beautiful diamond in the rough that the new owner can truly enjoy.