“
Every single fabric that we
HE FIRST TIME Sarah Sammis’ oldest daughter,
Perri, saw this house (which would eventually
become her family’s home) in the Highland
Park neighborhood of Dallas, she balked,
saying “It’s gross!” And then she retreated to
the car and waited for her mother to finish
the tour with the real estate agent.
Luckily, on a second-chance visit to the house, this time
with husband Bruce in tow, Sarah saw beyond the warped
floors and overgrown landscaping and admired the ample
outdoor space, sky-high ceilings, and fairly open layout—all
quite rare for a home built in the early 1900s. They were sold.
Twelve years later, when the home was due for a major
refresh, Perri proved to be much more involved in the
process. She was responsible for
finding Amy Berry on Instagram
and recommending the designer
to her parents. Then, at Berry’s first
meeting with the Sammises, they
discovered that they had actually
met before at the Dallas hospital
where both Berry and Perri were
born—on the exact same day.JUNE 2017 / SOUTHERNLIVING.COM
86Fully upholstered
outdoor furniture is an
option. This plush
Restoration Hardware
sofa has foam cushions
and a marine-grade
wood frame. rh.comCABANA COOKING
While this kitchenette
hosts the necessary
amenities (a grill,
ice-maker, and sink),
Berry says it’s the
Walker Zanger tile that
“makes a glamorous
impact in such an
easygoing space.”