Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/338972
W O R D S B Y PA T R I C I A M O R A . P R O D U C E D B Y M I C H E L L E A V I Ñ A . P H O T O G R A P H Y S H A Y N A F O N T A N A . H A I R A N D M A K E U P K A T E Y A N C E Y. of CLAIR PARKER TOMPKINS C lair Parker Tompkins, partner in the highly successful interior design firm Tompkins Lloyd Interiors, has designed her home in ways that are fabulous on many counts. Its elegance and contemporary sheen afford guests the ultimate luxury: an invitation to thoroughly jettison the outside world. Just past the heavy, pivoting metal front door, a Zen-like aura induces a mode of soothing damage control that makes the city, by contrast, seem hopped up and overly laden with visual chatter. Just a short distance from White Rock Lake, the 4,000- square-foot home is a reminder of what can be done when a talented, well-traveled designer indulges in a simple yet artful combination of textures, color and light. Tompkins, you see, lists London, New York and the infinitely fascinating terrain of North Africa among her favorite destinations. Ergo, this is the closest you'll come to a Casbah sensibility within the confines of North Texas. An apt analogue for Tompkins' home in the realm of aperitifs would surely be Lillet. It reliably conjures the zone for which we most ardently long — the blurred and buzzy, not to mention oft celebrated luxury of a time outside of time. Let it be known that a home deserves massive kudos when it encompasses serious booty without resorting to stuffily daunting swagger. In fact, isn't it great when spaces make you take in the angle of sunlight striking walls and the toothy texture of a sofa? Natural light streams comfortably through a multitude of windows, while ample space allows for an ideal hybrid of privacy and revelatory views of an aqua pool flanked by pared-back deck chairs and an outdoor dining table. The latter accommodates an undulating piece of driftwood with broad indentations for bromeliads — the perfect touch. After all, less exotic specimens would hardly suit this chic oasis, which is obviously the result of l'oeil du maître, or the eye of the master — or, in this case, maîtres. Tompkins says that she and her husband, David, "found the property when it was still being framed. That made it a perfect fit, because I was able to make adjustments and work with the builder, Randy Kienast, until it was exactly what we wanted." Apparently what she wanted was something impeccable. She defines space masterfully with rugs that pull rooms together as reliably as compasses point to true north. She is especially fond of a Beni Ouarain rug from Morocco that delineates a living area; it resonates with an amalgam of design books, glass, metal, rich fabric and an ambiance that is irrevocably hip without relinquishing its ambitious dose of elegance. If rooms have theme songs, this one would surely be Shirley Bassey's "Get The Party Started," as the space is ideally suited to both low-key conversation and ambitious entertaining. Chic Casbah Achingly The