Photography by Kathy Tran
Love is a critical ingredient for making a house into a home, but it’s not the only thing that goes into this process. Turning a collection of walls and floors into something more requires a keen eye, a willingness to experiment and a lot of trips to Home Depot. For Angelee and Eddie Fortuna, these were just a few of the key ingredients in their DIY “Texas Cottage.”
Situated along the bustling strip of Hampton Road, the Fortuna’s house does not draw attention. It’s modest and blends right in with the neighbors – for now. The two, having moved from Downtown three years ago, have spent their time molding, painting and styling the interior first.
“We’re right off Hampton Road, which can deter people from purchasing this house,” Eddie says. “But in an odd way, it gave comfort. Like the familiar sounds of Downtown.”
Eddie, an architectural designer and photographer, and Angelee, a digital marketer, are no strangers to design and aesthetics. They’ve taken their professional knowledge home with them.
Their relationship helped them decide what does and does not work within their space.
“We’ve really been able to grow and evolve our style organically through travel, life experiences and even social media,” he says.
The house is something that they’re proud of. There isn’t a definitive style to their home, but it resonates well. The two have been intentional in their curation so that no two rooms or pieces clash with one another. They carve out the design of their home detail by detail, like the arches crafted into the pony wall to match with the existing kitchen and stairwell.
“It’s a little difficult to pin down the specific style of our home,” Eddie says. “But we would describe it as a kind of Texas cottage.”
Being a DIY-er is no easy task, but the two of them have tackled an abundance of projects in their home. With some help, they have added trim, laid down gallons of paint and constructed a built-in shelf with a mantle in their living room.
“We’ve kind of attacked it with a very DIY spirit, and while I would love to just throw infinite money at somebody to do it fast and do it really well, it has been a point of pride to be able to say that we’ve done it ourselves,” Eddie says.
The couple’s work in creative spaces has allowed them access to a wealth of local talent. “We’ve been very fortunate to have immersed ourselves within the creative community here in Dallas over the last 10+ years,” they say. “Through that, we’ve created some very special personal and professional connections that have manifested in friendship, and sometimes, art in our home.”
One of their current favorites is a commissioned painting by Caris Fawcett.
While their home is already a point of pride, the couple still has a lot of blood, sweat and tears to go as they continue to make it the house of their dreams. But, as Angelee will admit, the DIY elements are part of the home’s charm.
“Even if it’s not perfect, it’s fun.”
