Cindy Boykin

How did Rebecca Petriccione make this 6,000-square-foot house feel as cozy as a country cottage? Talent and a wonderful sense of style, to be sure, but most of all it was the courage to follow her heart.

"I have always been drawn to color," she says, standing amid this wonderful palette of florals, stripes, plaids, solids, and prints.

"I have friends who are professional decorators and I told them, 'Don't be shocked when you come in…it might be too much color for you.' But I do love color. At my age, I finally got enough confidence to get what I like. I think when I was younger, I fretted more about what other people might think."

The result is a warm, comfortable, serene, very livable, and truly beautiful home.

Obviously Rebecca's charming nature is the heart of this home, but the architectural handprints belong to her husband, George. Although a telecommunications expert by profession, George also enjoyed woodworking and building things. After moving to the Collin County area in 1978, George and Rebecca lived in several different cities, from Richardson to McKinney. Then in the late '90s, George drew up plans on a piece of paper for what he considered to be the perfect house.

View a Slideshow

Not only did he design the house, he would eventually serve as the general contractor and did much of the labor himself. He subcontracted major construction aspects like pouring the foundation, plumbing, and framing—which is a steel frame, by the way—but he personally laid wood floors, completed stone and tile work, hung doors, built the backyard cooking area, and much more.

However, to be an actual dream home, it had to be built on the ideal property. After an extensive search, Rebecca and George found this beautiful, secluded, tree-covered, oversized lot north of Plano. They loved the trees in particular.

In fact, they loved the trees so much that before construction ever began, they had crews transplant any trees that impeded the building process. In all, about 50 trees were transplanted, regardless of their size.

As a result, not only is the property beautiful outside, but inside the house, nearly every window frames a forest scene. The home's décor incorporates this natural mural of sorts. Trees in their vibrant splendor are visible in floor-to-ceiling windows. And, like little paintings, windows in second-story bedrooms, on the stairway landing, and even in a closet, display art created by Mother Nature—an artistic genius if there ever was one!

Rebecca additionally decorates with greenery, fruit-accented arrangements, dried herbs and spices in the kitchen, and a lot of floral paintings. A most charming piece of art is a tiny oil painting of cheerful yellow and purple pansies. It is part of an artful grouping next to the hand-painted chest in the foyer.

Upon our noticing this quaint floral treasure, she acknowledges, "Oh yes, I have always loved flowers, even as a little girl. I'm one of five, and every Saturday we had chores to do. I would weed my mother's flower beds. I loved it."

She continues, "Just a couple of years ago I went to Japan (her mother's native country), and that's where the connection was made. Driving to the mountains, there were flowers everywhere. On the block where my aunt and uncle live or in downtown Tokyo, if there is this much dirt between two pieces of cement," she gestures with hands just inches apart, "somebody is growing something beautiful. So I think my love of flowers is from my heritage."

Because of their love of nature, the couple shared an appreciation for the earth's resources and were never ones to squander these gifts. So whenever possible, they used reclaimed materials in the building or decorating of the house.

For example, the double doors leading to the backyard were once painted black and red, and possibly other colors, before being unceremoniously relinquished to an antique shop in McKinney. George spotted them and saw potential. Rebecca saw them and said, "Absolutely not. No way."

Rebecca laughs, "He went back and bought them anyway."

After working on them for some time, totally refinishing them, Rebecca could see the lively grain of the oak wood and the classic pineapple design in the leaded glass.

And speaking of classic, the red brick used on the exterior of the house and in the kitchen is reclaimed Chicago brick. That's not just a decorator's term. It is actually antique brick from Chicago, which was home to large quarries and produced much of the brick used in the U.S. from the 1850s to the latter part of the 20th century. This brick was retrieved from old buildings, factories and storage.

Rebecca explains, "We had Old Chicago brick in a home we built years ago in Richardson. We liked it a lot, so we wanted to put it in here."

A particularly interesting use of the brick is the way it is used for the kitchen island. "I had not seen it before, but it has worked well. Nothing has chipped or discolored," Rebecca states.

It also imbues a comfortable, earthy look, which along with the clay red wallpaper, cheerful porcelain chickens, rustic table and tall checkered stools complements the cottage feel.

The family room, which adjoins the kitchen, is tall—about 20 feet high—but the artwork and furniture to scale maintain the embracing feel of a cozy home. Beyond the family room is a wonderful dining room ample enough for a large gathering.

Rebecca comments that in addition to wanting their dream home to be nestled among the shelter of trees, they had one other major design preference: no formal rooms. "We had a large home in Stonebridge with formals before, and we knew we didn't want that. We just wanted a livable, comfortable house."

Perhaps one of the most ambitious projects they undertook was transforming the room above the garage into a multipurpose, entertainment space. The wood flooring was formerly a school's gym floor. George refinished (removing the school's emblem and all) and laid the refinished planks into this spacious room.

Bright sunlight pours in here, so it is not intended for a customary media room; rather it is a perfect space for ballet practice, yoga classes, crafting and painting, or just gathering with friends.

Another room you don't find in many houses in our area is a cellar. Having experienced a terrifying storm years ago in McKinney that uprooted trees and wreaked havoc in their neighborhood, the couple decided to build a cellar for safety and storage.

The tranquil master bedroom offers security of another sort, one of warmth and serenity. The soft hues of blue and ivory create a look that is elegant, but also restful. The light oak flooring suggests an earthy foundation, while the tiered ceiling inches closer to the sky.

There are several other key rooms in the house—a study, a light-infused work space off the kitchen for Rebecca, several bedrooms—but like Rebecca's father teased when he visited, "we'll take that tour tomorrow."

The house is spacious, making it ideal for several generations living together, which they have done. The house is also sentimental because of George's devotion and tender care to every detail. Sadly, George passed away about 18 months ago. But rather than sadness, what pervades this house is happiness, joy and life! It is palpable.

George elected to use a steel frame because it would endure the test of time. He chose a metal roof because it would last. He made sure the house was supported by piers that go down to bedrock because it would stand fast. As Rebecca describes her life with George, it is apparent these same qualities describe the love they shared, today and forever.