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Used with permission, Midlothian NOW. -Sandra McIntosh

When building their new four-bedroom, three-and-one- half-bath home, Stony and Kim Halbrook had specific ideas in mind from the very beginning. The builder, John Houston of J. Houston Homes, was able to successfully take Kim's ideas and incorporate them into the beautiful abode the couple shares today with their three daughters, Lauren, Brittany and Lindsey, ages 18, 16 and 11, respectively. "It's amazing what he and his crew were able to do," Stony said. "The attention to detail throughout the house truly is a work of art."

Stony will be the first to admit that he had very little to do with the decisions made during the construction process of the single-story, traditional-style home. Leaving it with Kim meant he had left it in very capable hands. "I was here every day, nonstop throughout the process," Kim said. "John was unbelievable to deal with and incredible to work with." Customer service is one of the most important aspects in a venture of this magnitude, and John did not let the Halbrooks down. In fact, his work ethic rendered the experience, in retrospect, easy and pain-free. "The customer service was second to none," Stony said, referring to how they were treated before, during and following the completion of the home. "We've been in the house for 18 months, and if there are any problems or concerns, we still get the same great service."

The first home Stony and Kim designed, contracted out and had built was located in Ovilla. Stony would commute, as he still does, to and from his job in Arlington, while Kim, a busy, stay-at-home mom, spent her days running to and from school. The main reason they decided to relocate to Midlothian was so the girls would be closer to their schools, as well as their friends and their extracurricular activity - cheerleading, both at school and at the competitive level. When it came time to find a builder to take the ideas, which Kim had secured in a binder known simply as "the book," Stony looked to John, whom he had met through the lumber business he is in. "I just can't say enough good things about John and his staff of workers," Stony added. "They are a special group of guys."

The crew of eight to 10 construction workers, of whom Stony referred, is not merely skilled with a hammer and a bag of nails.

"They are artists," Kim said, agreeing wholeheartedly with her husband of 19 years. "I had a specific idea for the entryway. One of the guys grabbed a piece of 12" x 12" MDF and started drawing on it." As a visitor sitting on the leather sofa in the family room, you can see in all its grander what that guy drew according to Kim's description.

Wood barreling is the focal point of the ceiling, which measures 15 feet above the floor. An oversized floral arrangement takes its rightful place atop the lighted art niche. The Scripture verse directly above the niche was hand painted by Julie Law, better known in these parts as the Painted Lady. The hand-scraped hardwood floors, resembling salvaged barn wood with years of character, are found in the entryway, as well as the study, the kitchen and the family room. "The dents and scrapes add personality to the floor," Kim said, "while removing the stress of dropping something and marring the floors."

The dark, clear, alder wood cabinetry found in the study, located to the left of the entry, blends warmly with walls treated in a soft shade of gold. The formal dining area, on the opposite side of the entry, is bathed in a deep, brick red. A curio cabinet in one corner is home to some very special memorabilia. "The old violin belonged to my great-great-grandfather," Kim said. Lindsey pointed to a large, clear glass vase on the bottom shelf. "That's a memory jar the kids made me," Kim added, with a smile.

The family room, kitchen and breakfast nook are open to one another, giving the area the appearance of a great room. Kim loves the kitchen because of the magnetic pull it has on family and friends.

"Everyone seems to end up at the bar," she said, "or in the kitchen." Ideas Kim had for the kitchen were incorporated, and have since become conversation starters. The refrigerator is hard to locate since it blends in beautifully with the cabinets reaching from floor to ceiling. The clue is to look for the antique handle. Learning from their first home, Stony and Kim decided to do something different with the cabinets. "The old house had open space above the cabinets," Kim said. "The top shelf with its lights and glass doors is the perfect place for my collection of Silvercrest Fenton China that dates back to the 1940s."

Another of Kim's collections is displayed on one full wall in the breakfast nook. "I've been collecting crosses for about seven years," she explained. "The cross I made Mom at Mosaic Madness started it all," Lindsey said, smiling. Austin stone was used freely in the kitchen, as well as on the bar and the fireplace. "The wood mantle took four full days to construct," Stony said. "They installed it piece by piece."

The master bedroom has a great view of the backyard. As a family, they look forward to the colder temperatures winter provides. "It's the best time of year to jump in the hot tub," Kim said, adding that Stony will light the see-through fireplace to add ambiance and a bit more warmth. No fewer than six girls will spend the night at the Halbrook home on Friday night. "It's a place where everyone is welcome," Brittany said. "Everyone loves our parents, because they are willing to do anything for anyone." Sunday afternoon will find Stony in the media room watching sports.

Stony and Kim are not only well-liked parents; they are also unique individuals, who strongly believe in the power of prayer, and feel as if they have been blessed beyond measure. Lauren, Brittany and Lindsey are learning values the best way - by watching their parents lead by example. "All the bedrooms and the media room are carpeted," Kim said. "We took permanent markers and wrote Scriptures that meant something to us as a family on the concrete."

Building a home upon a firm foundation is key to the long life of any structure, including a new home. Adding faith, prayer and a few Scriptures can only make the staying power that much stronger. The Scripture - Philippians 4:13 - found under the carpet in Brittany's room may say it best for the whole family, "I can do everything through Him who gives me strength."