Inside This Palatial Penthouse In The Chic Dallas Arts District

By Jane Humphrey

Towering over the vibrant Dallas Arts District, this palatial paradise is ready to entertain.

Pops of art pack a punch in the great room including pieces from Herbert Brandl, “Untitled (Mount Everest)” (1999, oil on canvas), and Yves Klein, “Table d’Or” (1961, glass and gold leaf).

Bedecked with contemporary furnishings and boasting optimal views, this modern manse was a rather sizable project in the making since day-one plans were put together. “It was so meaningful to do it right,” shares Dallas-based interior designer Emily Summers (emilysummers.com), who was tapped by homeowners Craig and Kathy Hall to transform their penthouse space into their own slice of sky-high bliss. “They wanted to feel very settled into the Arts District—to be intimate with the treetops in Klyde Warren Park and overlooking the dome of the opera.”

Customized kitchen by Bulthaup and counter stools from Harry Bertoia for Knoll.

As founder and owner of HALL Group—a Dallas-based private company specializing in commercial real estate and development—Craig Hall founded the HALL Arts Residences—a 28-story tower complete with 48 luxury homes. Leading the charge for this creative concept set in the storied Arts District, it seems only natural that Hall himself would take things to new heights—literally. He and his wife settled into the penthouse level, opting to live in what truly feels like a treetop haven. To play into the grand-scale space featuring floor-to-ceiling windows, Summers carefully curated a selection of sleek furnishings, contemporary touches and a spectacular selection of artwork. “For me art takes the lead in design,” shares Summers. “Oftentimes a room starts with just that, and we love it when it does.” Being great art collectors themselves, the Halls worked with Summers to strategically feature wow-worthy pieces and maximize potential. Case in point—the Herbert Brandl “Untitled (Mount Everest)” (1999, oil on canvas) piece in the main room, which Summers credits as really dictating the initial design aesthetic. Enlisting a roster of top-tier names including Helen Frankenthaler, Saint Clair Cemin and Yves Klein, the final product resulted in a fantastic sense of space itself.

The TV area of the great room beckons with a custom curved sectional by Jouffre.

Another theme that was important to the homeowners was that the home could be planned with entertaining top of mind. “They have a growing family and therefore wanted plenty of space,” notes Summers. “They knew they would be hosting a lot, so they wanted the entertaining to be equally accessible for indoor-outdoor use.” From Bulthaup kitchens, catering accessibility and fully functional offerings throughout the home, the scene has been truly set for their next gathering.

The great room features a Bruno Moinard Dinant dining table from Avenue Road.