Designer-Realtor Duo Champion Home Preservation
Designer guides renovations for historically significant homes
Photographs documenting an ugly duckling transformation guided by Hillary Littlejohn left many guests surprised the “before” photos came from the same home they were touring.
The graduate of SMU and The New School’s Parsons School of Design in New York opened her namesake design studio in 2005 and recently partnered with Holly Davis of Allie Beth Allman & Associates for the inaugural presentation of The Black Swan Series: Buying, Selling, Updating an Ugly Duckling.


The late 2024 event highlighted the overhauled 4036 McFarlin Blvd. residence, where visitors explored their favorite rooms, including the revamped, fully equipped kitchen.
The space featured Bianco Carrera countertops, Waterworks faucets and hardware, Hector lighting, and an adjacent breakfast room with double doors opening to an outdoor courtyard, complete with lemon trees, perfectly pruned shrubs, and a gurgling stone fountain.
The University Park property, built in 1929, had retained its sound bones and old school charm, but needed more than a few coats of paint to bring it up to date.

Littlejohn, with her old soul personality and dedication to preserving the important residences, was undaunted.
Even the green carpet proved only a temporary eyesore in her vision for the property.
Small components make grand results possible, she said, explaining her resolve to handle the details and make the renovating an uncomplicated process for the homeowner.

“I believe there is a lack of information about how to go about preserving old homes,” Littlejohn said. “Most builders will encourage homeowners to demolition as there are less contingencies, and a new build is often more lucrative for them than a thoughtful renovation.”
She wants homeowners to consider the benefits of preserving a home and feel confident in taking the leap into realizing their vision.
The client should be in control of the project and feel encouraged to bring a range of ideas to design meetings, while the designer provides transparency and acts as an adviser, “so the process does not become a discordant rumble, an orchestra without a conductor,” Littlejohn said.

“Clients don’t often know how much things cost — the price of a Porsche Targa maybe, but the price of a luxury kitchen gives people sticker shock,” she said.
The designer finds inspiration tucked deep in the bones of historically significant residences but often encounters homeowners reluctant to peel back the layers and take on what she calls an “aesthetically ugly duckling,” even one structurally sound.

Littlejohn hopes to alter that frame of thought and persuade hesitant homeowners to dive in.
“Renovating an entire house is easier than a single room,” she said. “I know that sounds surprising, but a full house renovation has the benefits of the designer being able to create a lifestyle, outlining cohesive spaces that relate to one another.”
At a recent Preservation Park Cities meeting at the Belclaire Avenue home of Cheryl and Sam Chantilis, Littlejohn realized she’d be preaching to the choir but shared her signature optimism and candor with the group.
“Black Swan homes are often rare but extraordinary,” the designer said as she focused on proactive solutions to changing the mindset of homebuyers.
“There are a limited number of Hal Thompson homes — he is never going to design another,” Littlejohn said. “And these beauties should not be destroyed.”
Ah, the Black Swan Series—a testament to the transformative power of preservation. Breathing new life into architectural relics not only honors our past but enriches our present. Kudos to those who see beauty where others see decay; your vision ensures history’s elegance endures.
Who but a former “Inside Dallas Design” decorator like Claudia Carson-Habeeb can better champion home renovations? It takes a special talent to see what needs keeping from old traditions and a fresh artistic perspective on when to use modern improvements. Old beauty is brought back into view under the light of renovations.