Neutral by Nature: A New Build Gets A Modern Makeover

A commercial homebuilder and his wife look to Cantoni design consultant Josh Delafuente to furnish their airy new Dallas home.

Nataliya and Todd Rehnquist wanted a light, bright and airy home. So, they sold their home in Dallas and all the furniture with it, and decided to build the space of their dreams farther north. “We wanted to have a house full of natural light, and positioned it on the lot so that it would get an abundance of sunshine,” Nataliya says. “We wanted the interior design to reflect this vision.”

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They ended up at Cantoni. “Todd had shopped at Cantoni before and loved it, so we decided to visit again,” Nataliya says. “We loved the clean lines and contemporary look, which we knew would work perfectly with our floor plan.” That’s when they met design consultant Josh Delafuente, and a design team was born.

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While the home was under construction, Josh assisted with interior finishes, space planning, lighting, fine art and furnishings selection, to give the space a polished, cohesive flow. “We wanted to create a home that was beautiful but livable and functional, and fitting for their family,” he says. “The home backs up to a greenbelt, so we also wanted to keep a low-profile in furnishings to allow visibility of trees through the windows.”

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To keep it fresh and bright, Josh intermixed gray and white tones on walls and in furnishings — and nearly every item was custom-ordered from Italy. In the family room, he brought in the leather Marino sectional and a set of Carrie swivel chairs to pair with a custom-made media center. “We wanted to keep the spaces sophisticated, but also fun,” Josh says.

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In the dining room, white One and Only dining chairs pop against the high-gloss One and Only dining table and One and Only buffet. “They are a classic couple, but they don’t mind pushing the envelope with some pops of color here and there,” he says. To that end, he hung works of art aptly named “Illuminessence” and “Illuminated,” both vibrant and abstract.

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Perhaps the most serene room in the home is the master bedroom, bathed in creams and grays, and a SILK wallpaper Josh applied. He combined the cream leather M Place bed with the high-gloss M Place nightstands and M Place dresser. “In the construction phase, it was hard to imagine everything when working around studs with patches of color,” Nataliya says, “but it all pulled together beautifully. Josh is fantastic. He’s such an excellent designer and visionary with a good balance of professionalism, listening, and knowing exactly what the customer wants.”

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Josh echoes Nataliya’s sentiments. “Todd and Nataliya were very involved throughout the entire process, and that’s what makes it fun,” he says. “They are some of the nicest clients I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with.” Good vibes, all around.

Photos by David DeLeon


Learn more about design consultant, Josh Delafuente, by checking out his entire portfolio here. Whether you are building a new home or simply shopping for the perfect piece of modern furniture to complete a room, a complimentary one-on-one consultation with our design team can help you create a space you’ll love. Click here to book your appointment!

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