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124 out of his," Bolke says. "I don't think this looks like any other project he's ever done." L ionel Morrison, a r e d u c t i o n i s t w h o s e a u s t e r e white boxes are known for their celebration of light and space, designed some of the first modern residences along the Katy Trail in the 1980s. Decades later, the one now owned by Bolke and Halum is one of many that stood the test of time and remain in the area. "We knew the potential of such a clean space," Bueno says. "It was easy to see what could be done with it." A few original elements needed updating, such as the 1980s white tubular staircase, which Bueno redesigned in sleek metal and glass. A new pivoting blackened steel front door introduces a bit of industrial vibe — a longtime favorite design style at Forty Five Ten. A blackened steel-clad wall was added in the foyer so that the house would unfold slowly as you enter, and the original white- brick exterior was repainted dark gray, and the massive storefront windows were repainted black. "It was such a big decision to go from light to dark," Bolke says. "But I love how it changes the feeling of the house." With windows on all four sides, natural light floods the interiors throughout the day, adding to the mood and drama. "It's one of the things I loved about the house when we first walked in," Bolke says. "I care deeply about natural light. It's one of those subliminal things that probably make the house as comfortable as it is." Bolke got the new minimalist kitchen he always wanted, and with views to the Zen-like courtyard, the space — designed in collaboration with Olavo Faria and Ornare — has become a preferred spot for working on his laptop in the mornings. The bronze mirror backsplash and open floating shelves make the kitchen an ideal bar during parties. "It's not a kitchen that would work for anyone else," Bolke says. "But we don't really cook at all, so it works out perfect for us." Upstairs, Bolke and Halum each have roomy Poliform closets — but most people are surprised to see that given Bolke's background in fashion, Halum's closet is actually the larger of the two. "It's easily twice the size of mine," Bolke says with a smile. "He has to wear suits every day to work, and I'm pretty lucky. I wear a lot of cardigans and T-shirts and jeans that don't take up much room. Plus, I'm always editing down." The original master bath was gutted and redesigned. As with everything, they went with their personal preferences rather than trying to design something for future resale. "We played with putting in a tub in a thousand different ways," Bolke says. "But in the end, we decided just to go with this massive shower, which I love." The bath's striking Porto black marble was one of the first things purchased for the house, long before they even knew what to do with it. Bolke loved the black marble so much that he insisted on cladding the entire room in it, a decision that Bueno ultimately overruled. Instead, the black marble was used more sparingly, and Bianco Alanur marble was installed on the floors and shower walls. "Now that I see the finished space, I know he was right," Bolke says. "Gonzalo was a voice of reason about so many things and kept us from making a lot of mistakes." W h e n y o u r i n t e r i o r d e s i g n e r doubles as y o u r b e s t friend, the term collaboration takes on a new level of meaning. The potential for challenge is great when everyone involved has different tastes. "Gonzalo loves really beautiful things, and Faisal loves very simple, pure, and honest things. I tend to like weird things," Bolke says. "Figuring out how something can be beautiful, honest, pure, quirky, and weird at the same time is a balancing act." A perfect example of successfully blending their disparate styles is the foyer's limited edition, solid- bronze Holly Hunt chair. One of the first purchases made for the house, it appears to be nothing more than a typical metal folding chair. Upon closer inspection, you'll find it weighs a ton and Custom steel door design is by Ten Plus Three. Bega sconces. Vintage Capricorn lounge chairs by Vladimir Kagan. Courtyard design by Hocker Design Group.