Texas Rancher Revives 1950s Family Home with Heartfelt Renovation

Stepdaughter designer Marynn Udvarhelyi helps Carl Childress breathe new life into his longtime East Texas ranch.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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After his wife passed away, Carl Childress worked with his stepdaughter, interior designer Marynn Udvarhelyi, to revive his 1954 Colonial-style ranch in East Texas. While preserving original architectural elements like the red brick exterior and yellow bathroom tile, Marynn led a room-by-room refresh that blended Carl's love of travel, antiques, and Texas-friendly style. The result is a renewed sense of life in the home Carl has lived in since 1987.

Why it matters

This renovation story highlights how thoughtful design can help honor the past while creating a home that reflects the owner's personality and lifestyle. In an era of rapid redevelopment, the project shows how updating a longtime family home can preserve meaningful memories and architectural character.

The details

Marynn Udvarhelyi, Carl's stepdaughter and an interior designer, led the renovation. She preserved original features like the red brick exterior, yellow bathroom tile, and kitchen's swinging door, while updating other areas. In the living room, she added paneled wainscoting and a mural wallpaper to add historical context. The kitchen was gutted and redesigned with new cabinets, countertops, and appliances, but in a style that feels like it's always been there. Marynn also incorporated Carl's existing furniture and collections throughout the home.

  • Carl Childress has lived in the 1954 home since 1987.
  • The renovation project began after Carl's wife, Patricia Binkley-Childress, passed away a few years ago.

The players

Carl Childress

The homeowner, an optometrist and retired Navy captain who has lived in the 1954 East Texas ranch home since 1987.

Marynn Udvarhelyi

Carl's stepdaughter and an interior designer who led the renovation project to revive the family home.

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What they’re saying

“It speaks to me. Every room looks like it wants to be lived in. I always thought it was a beautiful house that needed some change, but it has been simply a joy to no end.”

— Carl Childress, Homeowner (Country Living)

“It had just kind of lost its way over the years, so it was sort of a reconciliation to honor the house and the materials, to bring it back to the way it should have always been.”

— Marynn Udvarhelyi, Interior Designer (Country Living)

The takeaway

This renovation project demonstrates how thoughtful design can breathe new life into a longtime family home, preserving its architectural character and meaningful memories while updating it to reflect the owner's personal style and needs. It's a heartwarming example of how a home can be revived through a collaborative, values-driven approach.