Windows, Sustainable Building, LULA Total Designed Exterior, Windows and Doors, Dave & Jenny Marrs Partnership, All Things Stone Veneer, As Seen on HGTV
This wasn’t about building a safe room,” Dave explains. “It was about building a safe house.
As extreme weather events become more common across the U.S., homeowners and builders are rethinking what it means to build for protection. Traditionally, residential safety has centered around one reinforced space — the safe room. But true resilience goes beyond a single room.
The Safe House Project, a passion project led by Dave and Jenny Marrs in Northwest Arkansas, reflects a new mindset: moving from safe room to safe house. Built using insulated concrete forms and featuring Lula Trade Inc products on the exterior, the home demonstrates how structural performance and elevated design can work together in one cohesive system.
“This house is proof that safety and design can go hand in hand,” says Dave Marrs.
At the core of the project is a reinforced concrete wall system insulated on both sides, selected to support structural integrity and long-term efficiency. Rather than focusing protection in one room, the approach reinforces the home as a whole.
“This wasn’t about building a safe room,” Dave explains. “It was about building a safe house.”
To complement the strength of the wall system, the home features LULA® 1570 Series Impact Casement and 1500 Collection Picture Windows, finished in black on the exterior with a white interior. Built with laminated impact-resistant glass and reinforced framing, these windows are engineered to meet stringent impact performance standards while supporting clean architectural lines and natural light.
“These are impact-rated windows with laminated glass and reinforced framing,” Dave says. “They’re built to stand up to hurricane-force winds.”
From Jenny’s perspective, performance and design go hand in hand. “I love how clean they look,” she says. “They bring in so much natural light, and the slim frames keep everything feeling open.”
With narrow sightlines, multi-point locking hardware and energy-efficient Low-E insulated glass, the windows support comfort, durability and modern design in one solution.
This house also features the LULA® Perspective® 4-Panel Bi-Parting Patio Door, designed to create a seamless indoor-outdoor connection while meeting rigorous impact performance requirements.
Built with reinforced framing, laminated impact-resistant glass and an integrated T-lock system designed to help hold door panels in place during high-wind events, the Perspective door helps meet stringent building codes, including Missile D and HVHZ (High Velocity Hurricane Zone) impact resistance where applicable. Heavy-duty rollers and dual-seal weatherstripping provide smooth operation and superior weatherability for a door system of this scale.
“We wanted this house to feel connected to the outdoors,” Dave says. “That’s why we chose the LULA Perspective door. It gives you that huge opening, but it’s still engineered for durability and weather performance.”
“When that door is open, the whole house feels brighter,” Jenny adds. “It changes the way the space lives.”
To add warmth and texture to the exterior, Dave and Jenny selected StoneWorks® Grezzo Stone in San Domino. The profile delivers a refined yet rugged appearance that complements the home’s clean lines and reinforces its strong architectural presence.
“I wanted the exterior to feel grounded,” Jenny says. “The Grezzo stone brings warmth and texture, and it gives the home that strong, timeless character.”
StoneWorks provides a fully managed turnkey solution — from design coordination and production through delivery and professional installation. By managing and installing the stone as part of a complete system, the StoneWorks team helps streamline execution for builders while ensuring a consistent, high-quality finished result.
“That kind of coordination makes a huge difference,” Dave says. “It’s one less thing you have to manage, and the finished product looks incredible.”
What makes this house a powerful example of resilient home design is the way each element contributes to a complete exterior solution. From the reinforced wall system to the impact-rated LULA windows and doors, to the StoneWorks installed stone system, the home was designed as a cohesive performance package.
“We used impact-rated LULA windows and doors and StoneWorks Grezzo stone to create a full exterior package,” says Dave. “Everything supports the same goal.”
The Safe House Project demonstrates what’s possible when strength, sustainability and design are built into every decision — and why resilience is quickly becoming the new standard in homebuilding.
Whether you’re a homeowner looking for a professional to help with installation or a pro interested in purchasing LULA brands and product lines, we’ve got you covered.
