Architect Lloyd Lumpkins and Builder Jennifer Duncan’s Modern Cape Cod

Architect Lloyd Lumpkins and builder Jennifer Duncan have done some impressive work together over the years. Their latest project is a Modern Cape Cod in Preston Hollow that is both inspirational and aspirational.

You can tell from the photograph that it’s clear they enjoy working together.

“Jennifer is not only creative, she’s also fun, and she’s not afraid of anything,” Lumpkins said. 

Duncan added that the pair has a great relationship.

“It just works,” she said. “We get each other. Lloyd tends to want to be true to the period, and I throw some twists at him, and he embraces them. Once you have a relationship with an architect,  you trust each other, and it always turns out great, so why change that?”

This beautiful Modern Cape Cod home is their latest endeavor but certainly not their last. Over the past 17 years, Lumpkins has designed several homes for Duncan, including a beautiful Hamptons-style mansion at 4337 Westway Ave. and a beautiful French Classic at 3518 Armstrong Ave.

When Duncan found this 1.1-acre lot in the Lobello Estates neighborhood of Preston Hollow, she was ready for something different.

“I love a house when they are not deep,” she said. “I like to stretch them out to get natural light from front and back. With this wide lot, we were lucky to be able to do that.”

Duncan wanted the home to feel like there was an existing, older structure in the middle with glass walkways going to modern wings on each side. Lumpkins was on board immediately.

“We basically took the idea of a Hamptons shingle-style house and made it modern,” he said. 
 

Every home I’ve built has a little piece of me. I’d move back to any of them in a heartbeat.

Jennifer Duncan

Natural light was an enormous factor, but they still wanted it to feel warm and cozy. Duncan accomplished that through whimsical wallpapers and dark colors in the pub area. Duncan’s husband Greg actually discovered the wallpaper used in the bathroom outside the pub room. It’s called Drunk Monkeys! Monkeys are pictured slugging vodka, sipping martinis, and smoking cigars. Bras are hanging from the tree limbs. I mean, if you cannot have fun in a bathroom, where can you have fun?  

Duncan’s favorite part of this 9,061-square-foot Modern Cape Cod is the deep green pub room with Lindsay Cowel wallpaper on the ceiling. Since the kitchen is the hub of the house, she opened the rooms up. People can now easily move between the kitchen and the pub room, which features a bar lacquered in a beautiful shade of lavender. Yes, lavender.

“I feel like during the construction and design process, I take way bigger risks on myself,” Duncan said. “When you go to a client, and you say, ‘Let’s do a lavender lacquer bar,’ they may think you are crazy. When a client can’t see the whole thing coming together, it’s hard to convince them. It’s why I like doing my own projects.  I can be more creative.”

The layout of the kitchen and pub room has worked well for the family. Duncan’s college-age daughter brings friends back to hang out here, and any parent knows that’s a big win.

The left side of the home has the formal living room with Duncan’s study. Behind that is the principal suite overlooking the enormous backyard.

“We built a 10-foot wall off the principal suite onto the backyard that creates a private green space off the bathroom,” Lumpkins said. “The French doors open to a trellised courtyard and an outdoor shower.”

The right side of the house has the family room, the gigantic kitchen with three islands, and a guest suite. The second floor features a guest wing, a living area,  two sitting areas, and three additional ensuite bedrooms.

Duncan designed this Modern Cape Cod for her entire family, and that’s why she and her husband are willing to part with it and move on to the next project now. The kids are grown and it’s a lot of house for two people. 

Duncan and Lumpkins are on to the next big project, and we will absolutely keep you up to date on their collaboration.

But for now, there’s a terrific Modern Cape Cod created by two of the most talented people in Dallas available with everything you need, including a pool and pickleball court! 

Compass Realtor Gianna Cerullo has this Modern Cape Cod at 5515 Palomar Lane listed for $10.65 million.