Blue-Sky Thinking

A clever use of space, plenty of hometown support, and gallons of blue paint made it possible for this young couple to remake a little cottage into their dream home

- KATHY BARNES

As young marrieds, Mary Kate and Ben Carl wanted a family and hoped to settle in Mary Kate's hometown in the Texas Hill Country to be close to family and old friends. As luck would have it, one of those friends, a real estate agent and builder, was key to finding their first home, an 800-square-foot cottage in Boerne that wasn't yet on the market. They hired an architect to rethink the floor plan, add dormer windows on the front, and plan an addition that would double its size.

Mary Kate used her experience as an interior designer to choose building materials like butcher block and classic subway tile that fit her budget so she could splurge in some places. In the kitchen, for example, she opted for paneling instead of tile for the backsplash but spent money on Carrara marble counters. "One moment can make a room," she says.

After nine months of construction, the couple moved in and began layering their favorite things, like family heirlooms from Ben's grandmother, lamps and decorative plates from Round Top Antiques Fair, and comfortable upholstered seating.