TEXARKANA MAGAZINE
layers of plaster by hand and restored the mortar using a technique called piping. “These walls date back to the 1880s,” Dodson explained. “They told me all the missing mortar had to be replaced by hand.” Preserving rather than covering the imperfections revealed traces of the building’s layered past—archways that once opened to neighboring buildings and marks where structural beams had been attached. Dodson’s research found that the building once housed a billiard saloon upstairs and sold dry goods and clothing below. Over time, it evolved into a general store, a hardware store, and eventually a printing company. The open-concept kitchen and living area showcase a lot of Dodson’s art and other collectibles, which continue down the hallway, adding an upscale gallery feel. The artwork is a combination of playful sculptures and photographs, as well as meaningful pieces of custom art. “My favorite piece is one my mother painted,” Dodson recalled. “She started it and then tried to complete it before she passed away in 2016.” A recurrent design theme sprinkled throughout is monkeys, sometimes refined but often mischievous. The monkeys on the powder bath wallpaper are drinking, smoking cigars, and being astutely naughty, while the chimpanzee art in the guest bath shows a refined fellow in a green floral suit and sitting cross-legged in a red velvet armchair. All are a nod to Dodson’s childhood nickname, “Curious George,” and a glance into his fun-loving personality. Scattered throughout, there are also pieces central to Dodson’s life. The light fixture in the half bath once hung in his childhood home. There is a pair of beautiful crosses that sat atop his parents’ caskets. And a piece of pottery he once made for his dad as a joke can be found mixed among the antiques and more contemporary furniture. Dodson’s home is more than just a structure, it’s a living work of art and a deeply personal expression of creativity, The lights over the kitchen island were handmade to order in Israel by Shimale Peleg. Panoramic folding doors open the courtyard to the main living space, creating a seamless indoor–outdoor flow.
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COMMUNITY & CULTURE
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