Before they purchased their new home in Oak Tree, Michael and Casey Hale could already picture themselves living there. As they toured the home on the market, the appealing outdoor living area, located just off the living room, sealed the deal.
“We saw that patio, and we were just like, ‘Dang it, we’re buying this,’” said Michael.
The Hales purchased the home in 2024 and worked with interior designer Jenna Snow on new and custom furnishings to truly make it their own. However, it was the thoughtful attic build-out—converting the unused space into a multi-purpose retreat—that made this home a perfect match for the family of four and their lifestyle.
Photos By Ely Fair
The first floor includes the bedrooms, living rooms, dining room, kitchen and office. The Hales were doubling their space from their previous home, so they asked Snow to find all new furniture to fit. From the start, Casey and Michael had a design direction in mind.
“We both had the same vision,” Casey said. “We like more neutral tones—contemporary but not super modern.”
The 2019 home already had an elegant black-and-white theme, which provided a nice, blank foundation on which to build, but the Hales wanted the rooms to feel more hospitable. Snow warmed up the home by layering soft furnishings, custom drapes, natural accents and hues such as olive green and tans.
“It’s definitely a ‘warm modern’—lived-in, comfortable, approachable,” said Snow, adding that personalized details were important. “Michael works in geology, so we incorporated some of his interests in styling.”
Given their interests, the Hales were immediately drawn to the home’s exterior with its rock facade. To carry such appreciations of nature inside, Snow sourced a petrified tree trunk for a side table. She also styled shelves to display Michael’s rock collection. (“Almost every geologist has a collection of gems, minerals and fossils,” he explained.)
Photos By Ely Fair
Snow added wooden shelving and a unique chandelier to the living room, along with a sturdy leather sofa—one the cat can’t harm. Extra-cushy furniture was placed in the outdoor living room (“Very nap-able,” confirmed Michael.) The primary bedroom features custom draperies with a subtle, organic tie-dye pattern. The Hales’ twin 8-year-old girls share a charming bedroom with pink and floral details. New barstools and matte black light fixtures elevate the kitchen design.
As rooms were coming together downstairs, the Hales began imagining possibilities for the vast attic space upstairs. Soon, build-out plans were drawn and Snow coordinated an exciting and cohesive design for these rooms, too.
“The downstairs is more on the neutral side. We did inject a little bit of color, but then upstairs, we kind of went a little bit off the wall. We grounded the upstairs in the same tones, but we just gave it a little bit more funk,” said Snow. “It really blends really seamlessly. Now, I can’t even imagine the house without the upstairs.”
The attic conversion allowed the Hales to add a reading nook, pool table, workout room, wet bar, full bathroom and cozy hangout space—perfect for family fun.
“It’s a dream,” Casey said.
With proper planning and the right creative talent, sometimes those visions of your future home evolve into your everyday reality.
“I mean, I say this a lot, but I can’t believe I get to live here,” said Michael.
