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A fluid indoor/outdoor plan makes it easy for a Fort Worth family to host and make memories with loved ones.
Kari and Mark Seher are in the business of serving joy. Since 2014, the duo behind Melt Ice Creams has served the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex, one scoop at a time, yet their sweetest project to date hits closer to home.
"After years of building storefronts focused on financial ROI, we wanted a return measured in joy," Kari says of building their Fort Worth home. The couple spent years searching for a residence to renovate, but ultimately decided to build, settling on a quiet neighborhood near the city’s Trinity Trails where they enjoy running, backpacking, and biking. "It’s where we train, reset, and watch sunrises and sunsets," she says.
Ibañez Shaw Architecture designed a family home for the founders of Melt Ice Creams, Kari and Mark Seher, that splits the depth of its lot into indoor and outdoor areas.
Photo: Dror Baldinger
Glass sliders off the kitchen lead to a screened porch.
Photo: Dror Baldinger
The couple enlisted the expertise of Bart Shaw of Ibañez Shaw Architecture to design a house that felt modern and bold, playful and peaceful. "Kari and Mark spoke first about restraint, then about refuge," Shaw explains of the couple’s early ethos. "More than anything, they wanted a protected oasis within the city, a place where the life of the street would fall away, and the rituals of home could unfold quietly."
| $90,000 Land | $20,050 Site Work | $48,465 Foundation |
| $75,190 Structural | $48,910 Wall Finishes | $12,846 Flooring |
| $24,000 Roofing | $21,854 Electrical | $18,500 Plumbing |
| $16,000 HVAC Equipment | $2,000 Landscaping | $8,208 Kitchen & Bath Fixtures |
| $3,048 Lighting | $15,000 Cabinetry | $8,030 Countertops |
| $14,000 Appliances | $50,000 Windows & Glazing | $29,026 Doors |
| $15,000 Millwork | $18,673 Tilework | $6,000 Metalwork |
| $20,000 Furnishings & Decor | $2,500 Permitting | $69,656 General Contractor Fee |
| $20,000 Architect/Design Fee | $2,425 Waste/Debris Removal | |
| Grand Total: $659,381 | ||
The entry, which is open to the living area, features a seating zone and Mark’s music-listening setup. Wooden beams form clerestories that bring light into the space.
Photo: Dror Baldinger
See the full story on Dwell.com: Budget Breakdown: After Building an Ice Cream Business, They Built a Sweet Texas Home for $660K
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Read More
By: Sallie Lewis
Title: Budget Breakdown: After Building an Ice Cream Business, They Built a Sweet Texas Home for $660K
Sourced From: www.dwell.com/article/budget-breakdown-house-of-sweet-dreams-ibanez-shaw-architecture-family-home-326f16f8
Published Date: Mon, 16 Mar 2026 16:49:35 GMT
