Just off the main living area of our Modern Ranch project in Argyle, there’s a room that started as a storage closet—and ended up becoming one of the most personal, intentional spaces in the entire home.
We call it the Content Room.
Originally underutilized and easy to overlook, this space now serves as both a creative studio and visual anchor to the home. It’s highly visible, positioned just off the main living room, which made it the perfect opportunity to create something that not only functioned well—but felt like them.
Design with Purpose
The family behind this project is creative, energetic, and deeply connected. We knew this space needed to reflect that, while also inspiring new ideas and offering a bit of visual surprise.
Functionally, it had to work as a hub for content creation, meetings, and quick collaboration. But emotionally, it needed to carry weight—something with meaning, something that could ground them in their story while giving them space to tell it.
A Custom Mural That Speaks Volumes
Enter: the mural. I pitched the idea to our client with a description similar to this, “What if we did a wall, that felt like an old Chicago warehouse? Think brick wall with layers of old words or logos, layered on top of each other. What if we made the wall feel like it was found – a huge piece of art visible from the living room?” As soon as I floated the idea, our client LIT UP and said, “I know just the guy!” She made the introduction and the rest was history.
We brought in artist Michael Shellis to collaborate on a custom, hand-painted graffiti-style wall that felt bold, intentional, and deeply personal. It became the heart of the room—and a defining moment in the home.
The mural includes subtle nods to the family’s story: the coordinates of where our clients met, references to the places they grew up, lyrics from a highly personal song, and intentional symbols layered into the design. It’s not loud for the sake of being bold—it’s expressive, honest, and fully them.
Because the room is so connected to the main living space, the mural isn’t just a private statement. It’s visible, daily, grounding. A reminder of who they are and what they’ve built—something creative, lasting, and real.
Layered, Connected, and Custom
While this room is a clear standout, it also fits seamlessly into the larger vision for the home. We intentionally opened up the adjacent spaces—kitchen, breakfast nook, staircase—to allow for better flow and visibility. Each area has its own identity, but they all speak the same design language: natural textures, layered tones, and warm, functional modernism.
The Content Room, with its mural as a focal point, becomes a visual and emotional throughline—connecting our clients life, their work, and the way they want to live in their forever home.
