When Drew and Kayla Cavender decided to build their dream home, they did what most people do. They started searching for inspiration on Pinterest. When the couple compared notes, they found, without talking to each other, that they both loved photos of the same ranch house in Llano.

Working closely with builder Bob Kurtz, of Kurtz Design and Construction, and designer Cheri Rome, of Interiors By Cheri, they contacted the architect of the Llano home. The architect sent basic plans, which were then redesigned to suit the Cavenders.

“We took a lot of influence from the living room and that exterior, but as far as the layout, we kind of took that from our parents’ houses,” Drew says. “The wine cellar (was inspired by one) from my aunt and uncle’s house. We took different things that we liked and used them here.” 

In October 2019, the Cavenders purchased a gorgeous pastoral 42-acre tract of land near Flint on which to build their home.

“We knew we wanted (the new home) to be a little closer into Tyler,” Drew continues. “We lived in Bullard, it’s not far at all. Five minutes from her parents, five minutes from mine. I grew up on land, so I kind of wanted to have the same thing now — for my kids.”

The Cavenders planned to include their new home on the Tyler Area Builders Association Parade of Homes set for June 2020. The annual event is a showcase of the best of the building trades industry. Construction was put on a fast track so that the home could be completed in only six months.

During the construction process, the couple found out they were going to have a second child — this time a daughter. So the home’s plans were modified to include a little girl’s nursery.

“It’s been really fun to do rooms with Cheri for the kids — to design it how we want to do it forever,” Kayla says.

Cheri kept child-proofing in mind when designing and decorating the home. “Even though we used hides, real not faux, they can just be washed off with soap and water.”

Other than a delay in receiving flooring material from China caused by the COVID-19 shutdown, construction went smoothly and the home was completed on time.

“Because of the situation in the world (with COVID-19),” says Kayla, “we decided to pull out of the Parade.”

‘Cool yet rustic’

Enormous windows framed by a soaring beamed ceiling flood the open living area with natural light. Reclaimed wood paneling gives the space a rustic air, while the stone fireplace and tile floors offer a contrast.

Concrete and soapstone countertops add a modern twist to the rustic vibe.

“For the walls, we worked with Reclaimed DesignWorks in Dallas. This space is very similar to the living space of the Llano ranch house that we were inspired by,” Cheri says. “What I tried to do was take the rustic vibe of the Cavenders (the Cavender families own a chain of western wear stores) and make it young and transitional to reflect them because they are young. We wanted it to be cool yet rustic.”

A gorgeous paneled door slides open to reveal the wine cellar.

“The door is an antique from India — over 100 years old,” Cheri says.

Brick extends up the walls of the cellar and form an elegantly curved ceiling. The floor is fashioned from the thin planks of reclaimed wine barrels. Wine is on display throughout the cellar. On the counter sits a turntable with vinyl cued up and ready for the next tasting.

Space for all

The Cavenders chose to have the children’s rooms and a guest bedroom on a separate side of the living area than the master suite and other living spaces.

“In my parent’s house, the kids were on one side and the adults on the other,” Drew says.

The master suite is serene, offering tons of natural light and opening onto an outdoor patio. The freestanding copper tub in the master bathroom is a showstopper — perfect for soaking away stress at the end of a long day.

And then there’s the shower. Drew shows how he can stand in the center of the shower, arms outstretched, and still not have his fingers reach the glass and tile walls.

“Originally, I told him I wanted a big shower — a steam shower. He misinterpreted steam shower for a sauna,” Kayla says.

Drew grins. “It was actually 2 feet bigger, extending toward the center of the tub until I had them move it in and basically square it up. I’m not upset about it, but it’s definitely massive.” 

Laughing, Kayla adds, “Everyone in our family is going to shower in there.”

The couple wanted space for their four dogs as well. A small room off of the laundry/utility area has sliding doors that open into the space for the kennels.

“They’re our babies too,” Kayla says.“We wanted to give them a little space.”

The couple plans to add a pool when their children are older. In anticipation of that, they included another bathroom which has direct access to the backyard.

A sizable second-floor room features bunk beds — queen on bottom, full on top — along a back wall as well as  another bathroom.

“There are lots of cousins (who will come and visit),” says Drew. “Just something else we kept in mind during the process.”

The couple looks forward to entertaining friends and their large family.

Special features 

Other features of the home include a smart-home system that allows them to control appliances, thermostat, lights and even play music from several pads placed throughout the home or from their phones.

“Honestly, we have been so lucky. Bob is great, and Cheri has walked us through it from the beginning. Everything from the floor to the design, the paint, the furniture, everything. We have been blessed to have her,” Kayla notes.

“It has been so fun for me. I don’t like to do the same thing over and over again, so doing something this different and fun was just a blast,” Cheri exclaims.

“We had our ups and downs. But it was a great process,” says Kayla. Drew nods in agreement.

The Cavenders agree that this is their “forever home.”

The Builder: Bob Kurtz, of Tyler, has been designing and constructing beautiful custom homes, offices and doing large remodels, for more than 20 years. 

The Designer: Interior designer Cheri Rome is originally from Nebraska and now lives in the Tyler area.