DESIGNED BY LAKE FLATO
WITH INTERIORS BY
SARA STORY, THIS HOME
FEATURES A COMBINATION
OF MATERIALS, AN ECLECTIC
MIX OF FURNISHINGS
AND A COLLECTION OF
CONTEMPORARY ART.
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PHOTOGRAPHS:
COURTESY
OF
ROBERT
RECK
P R O F I L E | S A R A S T O R Y
When needing to escape the hustle and bustle of New York Cit y,
interior designer Sara Stor y seeks a weekend and holiday sanctuar y
at this Texas refuge.
W R I T T E N B Y K A R I N E M O N I É
S O P H I S T I C A T E D
C OU N T RY
L I V I NG
B
ased in the Big Apple, where she has been at the helm of her eponymous studio since 2003, Sara
Story finds inspiration in travel, fashion and contemporary art. Born in Japan, Story grew up
in both Singapore and Houston, so Texas means a lot to the designer, who has good memories
in the Lone Star State. Now that she has three children—one girl and two boys—it has become even
more important for Story to share this experience with her family.
To create her dream home, the interior designer placed her trust in Lake Flato, the architectural firm
Story's father had hired 20 years ago. Among Story's main aims was creating a nonconventional project,
a departure from the style of traditional ranches. Located atop a 500-acre plot, the property spreads
over 10 acres and comprises the main two-level home, a guesthouse decorated with contemporary art
by Ellen Berkenblit, a pool house and a tennis pavilion. Using pure lines, the architecture is clearly
modern, built from massive blocks of Texas Lueders limestone, along with glass, wood and steel.
Large outdoor verandas were made possible by the broad overhanging roof. Fascinated by the work
of Austrian architect Adolf Loos (1870-1933), Finnish designer Paavo Tynell (1890-1973) and
typical French houses in Provence, Story wanted to include some of these references in the project.
e natural environment was another source of inspiration: One objective was to design a family
retreat where Story's children could experience what it means to be both surrounded by nature and in
