Chad Dorsey was working on a client’s home near the scenic White Rock Lake in Dallas when he spotted a for sale sign in front of a large plot populated with trees and occupied by a single storey house. The whole situation was a stroke of luck since the American architect liked the neighbourhood and had been searching for a place where his two dogs could roam around freely.
Chad decided to demolish the derelict house and build a new one after seeing it. The plot’s circular driveway, however, was quite inspirational.
“One side was overgrown with trees that formed this lush, canopied alley,” Chad tells us. “A gravel path led to a tree that grew almost horizontally from the ground, and it reminded me of walking down a beach path to the sea in California.”
With that, Chad conceived the vision of his new home. Dubbed the Surf Shack, the 3,000 sq ft place is home to Chad, his partner Kurt Bielawski and Jackson, a Jack Russell Terrier and Lucy, a Corgi mix.
AT A GLANCE
HOME: A single-storey home near White Rock Lake, Dallas, Texas
SIZE: 3,000 sq ft
WHO LIVES HERE: An architect-designer, his partner and their two dogs
ID: Chad Dorsey
Its architectural shell was designed to look effortless and unassuming. Garages flank the main structure that’s clad in stained shingles to mimic the look of shou sugi ban – a Japanese term that means “charred cedar board” referring to a treated blackened timber – and black corrugated metal roofs.
The entire space has a white-based and light coloured material palette that draws aesthetics from the sunny Californian coastal area. The driveway is paved with white gravel that segues into the concrete so that it appears to be part of the living space.
Inside, concrete flooring, bleached walnut millwork and doors, warm white surfaces and linen drapery add softness. “Everything was meant to feel as if it had been there for many years, except they are clean and well-maintained,” shares Chad.
![home_decor-house-tour-chad-dorsey-modern-surf-shack_frontdoor_1-864x1024-1](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/home_decor-house-tour-chad-dorsey-modern-surf-shack_frontdoor_1-864x1024-1.jpg)
This concept goes perfectly with the furniture that’s mostly made up of old pieces and notable mid-century items Chad has had for many years. Some of the rest were found pieces that he had restored and reupholstered.
![home_decor-house-tour-chad-dorsey-modern-surf-shack_living_3-1024x881-1](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/home_decor-house-tour-chad-dorsey-modern-surf-shack_living_3-1024x881-1.jpg)
The living room’s 30-year old black leather and wood armchairs were a gift from his architect uncle, who also gave him the Herman Miller sideboard in the dining room that was part of a set from Chad’s parents.
As for the coffee table with a timber top that has a prominent fracture in its centre, Chad bought it at a sample sale 15 years ago. “It’s like something out of a deck in Malibu!” he says.
![home_decor-house-tour-chad-dorsey-modern-surf-shack_living_1-1024x582-1](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/home_decor-house-tour-chad-dorsey-modern-surf-shack_living_1-1024x582-1.jpg)
“My aesthetic involves using natural materials with simple textural finishes,” he says. One of these is the living room bookshelves he designed from raw steel, which seem to be floating.
Cork wall panels provide a soothing texture in the lounge, while the copper shelves match the artisanal copper accents of the backsplash.
![home_decor-house-tour-chad-dorsey-modern-surf-shack_living_2-785x1024-1](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/home_decor-house-tour-chad-dorsey-modern-surf-shack_living_2-785x1024-1.jpg)
The kitchen’s colour palette is muted but rich with subtle textures like bleached walnut, marble, concrete and artworks.
The mud-room graffiti wall is by muralist Joe Skilz. The Buy Mum A House artwork is by Thomas Langley.
![home_decor-house-tour-chad-dorsey-modern-surf-shack_kitchen_1-1024x1003-1](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/home_decor-house-tour-chad-dorsey-modern-surf-shack_kitchen_1-1024x1003-1.jpg)
Chad customised the marble top of the dining table by Kara Mann for Milling Road at Baker Furniture.
![home_decor-house-tour-chad-dorsey-modern-surf-shack_dining_1-790x1024-1](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/home_decor-house-tour-chad-dorsey-modern-surf-shack_dining_1-790x1024-1.jpg)
The master bedroom’s steel bed frame is also by Kara Mann for Milling Road at Baker Furniture. The low table and ikebana-style vase complete the Zen vibe.
![home_decor-house-tour-chad-dorsey-modern-surf-shack_bedroom_1-834x1024-1](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/home_decor-house-tour-chad-dorsey-modern-surf-shack_bedroom_1-834x1024-1.jpg)
The design of the house, inside and out, embodies Chad’s signature design. “I call it relaxed luxury,” he says.
“The idea is to live casually with things you love to touch and feel in a way that’s approachable and not precious. Relaxed luxury is often understated and quiet.”
![home_decor-house-tour-chad-dorsey-modern-surf-shack_bathroom_1-741x1024-1](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/home_decor-house-tour-chad-dorsey-modern-surf-shack_bathroom_1-741x1024-1.jpg)
“Details can go unnoticed, but those with discerning eyes will appreciate them. It comes together with custom furnishings that incorporate handcrafted elements, meaningful objects and a true sense of the people who live there.”
art direction JENNY O’CONNOR photos STEPHEN KARLISCH
![home_decor-house-tour-chad-dorsey-modern-surf-shack_bedroom_2-878x1024-1](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/home_decor-house-tour-chad-dorsey-modern-surf-shack_bedroom_2-878x1024-1.jpg)