White Walls Don’t Have to Be Boring: Here’s How to Spruce Them Up

Dana Frieling and her family took a 1980s Dallas shack (think palm tree–studded wallpaper) and brought it to life. With four bedrooms, three bathrooms, and a total of 3,100 square feet to work with, Dana went with a less-is-more mind-set, stripping away the chintzy detailing of yesteryear and embracing light and bright Texan charm.

Dana says that their 15-year-old pug, Maverick, helps with every project. Now we know who the real brain behind the reno is! Despite his creative acumen, Dana points out that sometimes Maverick's fur got caught in the newly painted baseboards.

Adding a touch of glam, a gilt mirror hangs above the bed.

Why, yes, I would like to curl up and read all day!

Dana is an admitted DIY fanatic. The headboard is handcrafted from raw pine planks and framed in medium-density fiberboard (MDF).

Worn woven leather blends perfectly into a sunny nook. "Bringing vintage goodies into a minimalist, contemporary room" is a favorite for Dana.

Mod meets vintage in a bathroom. The shower is steel-framed glass, but that tub? It's a vintage find.

OK, OK, so there might be some throwback to that kooky palm tree wallpaper … but at least this tree is real!

As with most vintage finds, the tub was polished up and refinished. Now it really shines!

Before Dana and her husband got to it, the bathroom was completely mirrored—yikes! The rectangular mirror over the hovering vanity is the only remnant of that.

As with any labor of love, Dana notes, "We have so much sweat equity in this house, it's unreal." Though with these calming details and vibrant greens, it appears almost effortless. Almost.

In the master bedroom, a black four-post frame makes a statement, but those chevrons on the rug … now those really steal the show.

The black-and-white stripes on the HomeGoods bedding are mimicked in that stunning black canopy, painted right onto the walls and ceiling.

Quack! No home would be complete without some personal knickknacks. On her nightstand, Dana keeps a wooden duck and a cup of arrows, complete with a mini bow.

If you're sensing a theme, you're right on the money. Black-and-white graphics come into play on the bedding, ceiling, and floor too. But this time, it's accented with a mid-century tufted ottoman.

Like many designers, Dana likes to be "surrounded by beautiful images constantly." As of late, "beautiful" comes in the form of a stork painting sitting atop the vintage desk and chair set.

I spy another duck!

Another opportunity to curl up in the Texan sun, this time in a large, overstuffed armchair.

Can you ever have too many plants?

Black and white comes into play in the guest bathroom with subway tile and a polished granite countertop. Loving the stark contrast!

Just picture Maverick, that designer-pug genius, scampering down these stairs.

"Graphic wall treatments are one of my favorite elements to implement," says Dana. "They pack a powerful punch and aren't seen in your typical house." In the entryway of their home, Dana and her husband crafted this all on their own from 1/2-inch-thick MDF. On the feature wall, it's in dramatic diamonds, but moving in either direction, it melts into stripes.

Dana, an ever-vigilant designer, is constantly on the lookout at flea markets during the daylight hours, and at night, she'll peruse the Internet for just the right piece. The utility cart that became the vanity in this bathroom was a Craigslist find.

Live-edge is a fancy word for rough, which is what this table is. I guess you could say it's a little "rough around the edges."

From that kooky, '80s-obsessed previous owner, Dana did allow one holdover: the vintage chandelier in the dining room.

Duck, duck, goose!

At the dinner table, the family almost looks like they're floating on air … but it's just a trick of the eye! Acrylic chairs, updates of a 1960s design, seamlessly blend into the room.