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.

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

Shaw placed the home along the western edge of the deep, narrow lot, a decision that enabled the couple to maximize eastern views and privacy, and create a lengthy courtyard garden and lawn that runs alongside the home, forming a continuous indoor/outdoor environment.

But letting life “unfold quietly” there wasn’t the only motive. Kari and Mark also wanted a home “that feels alive,” says Kari. The couple splurged on large windows, allowing the house to open generously to the garden, where they frequently gather, dine, and spend time with friends. “Natural light changes everything,” Kari says. “We were disciplined elsewhere—choosing materials that delivered impact without excess and flashy finishes.” Central to this living landscape is the screened porch, which has become the social heart of the house and a place where Shaw says the home moves comfortably “between shelter and sky.” In the living area, a dedicated wall with custom-built speakers for Mark’s record collection, too, brings a lively energy to the home.

One of the project’s most notable features is its monolithic concrete wall partially shielding the interior from the street. The wall is an homage to the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, where the couple finds inspiration and stillness, and serves multiple functions as an enclosure, a threshold, and a deliberate transition from public to private life. At the entry, wooden ceiling beams are an attractive load bearing element that form a row of clerestories that terminate at a wall-height window, all of which bring light into the living area.

A monolithic concrete wall forming the entry acts as not only as an enclosure, but also a threshold—a deliberate transition from public to private life." layout="wide" credit="Photo by Dror Baldinger" photoUserId="6133585122997895168"/>

Elsewhere, the 2,600-square-foot house is finished with fiber cement panels, an inexpensive cladding that allowed resources to be concentrated where they mattered most, while emphasizing the tactile weight of the textured concrete and warm wood. “We chose materials that would age with dignity, because they value things that deepen over time,” Shaw explains of the couple.

Furthermore, the Sehers partnered with their close friend, a mechanical engineer, on the construction to achieve a building cost under $200 per square foot. “Working with a friend brought honesty and clarity,” Kari says. “They steered us away from unnecessary splurges, and because they know us well, they could push back when needed.”

The design was distilled down and most significantly shaped by the couple’s seminal rituals, among them their knack for entertaining. Whether it’s an intimate Sunday supper or a gathering of more than 50 friends, the Sehers pride themselves on being perpetual hosts. “Ultimately, the best moments are when the house is full,” Kari says. “People gather in the kitchen, so we designed it for that.” The open layout has custom white oak cabinetry, quartz counters, and a contrasting black sink, along with double ovens and a gas range.

Much like the sweet treats they sell, life for the couple is a fleeting experience they want to relish. “It’s fragile being human, but we get to choose these joyful moments to be inspired, to live to the fullest, and to celebrate,” Kari says. “The house reflects that: thoughtful, sensory, and built for gathering…it celebrates our travels and adventures, reminding us to always hold on to the memories, and savor life.”

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Project Credits:

Architect of Record: Ibañez Shaw Architecture / @ibanez_shaw