Old Cottage Comfort

Built in 1906, this home's respectful redesign reflects its small town's name and culture.

- WRITTEN BY Meryl Schoenbaum

If you're lucky enough to be living in a historic home, you already know you've found a gem among stones. But when that architectural gem needs to bring back its shine and add new diamonds to its setting, it can be a daunting task to know how to proceed with a respectful redesign. Homeowners Caliste and Deke Burt were faced with that challenge. They loved living in their 1906-built cottage nestled in a small Texas town with the charming name of Comfort, but they knew it needed modern modifications — and they also knew they needed help on how to proceed with the redesign. So, they reached out to their longtime friend Sarah Hardin, owner/designer of Sarah Hardin Design.

“They started on the project without a designer. We were visiting one day and Caliste asked me if I could come over to help her make sure she didn’t pick the wrong tile. The next thing we knew, I was working on the entire project with them, from early remodeling through furniture designs and install,” Sarah explains. “They were both very involved throughout the process. Their biggest request was to incorporate pieces from their family. We had so much fun dreaming up ways to breathe new life into this old home and create a space their family can enjoy for years to come.”