Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: Playful Luxury Infuses a 1929 Houston House
Understated elegance gets an update with thoughtful splashes of color, pattern and glamour in a gracious Texas family home
When interior designers Laura Umansky and Kristina Wilson of Laura U, Inc. came upon this house, it was in great condition. Built in 1929 by noted Houston architect John Staub, the house had undergone a fairly recent redo by a prominent interior designer. But the new owners were a young family who wanted a more open plan for the kitchen and the breakfast room, an updated master suite and interiors that reflected their own style. The results balance luxury and comfort, sophistication and coziness, muted tones and bold hues, elegance and fun.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A family of 7
Size: 4 bedrooms, 6 full and 2 half bathrooms
Location: Houston
Year built: 1929
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A family of 7
Size: 4 bedrooms, 6 full and 2 half bathrooms
Location: Houston
Year built: 1929
The home is located in the tony Houston neighborhood of River Oaks. Architect John Staub, well known for his understated elegance, designed many houses there, including this one. This home's features include original floor-to-ceiling windows, a glass sunporch and a grand pool pavilion.
Throughout the interiors, the designers at Laura U Interior Design continued the tradition of understated elegance, ramping up the luxury in the more adult rooms while focusing on colorful playfulness in the more kidcentric rooms.
This formal living room's neutral color palette is accented by luxe metal finishes and rich textures. "We love to mix our metals!" exclaims Umansky. "This room features nickel sconces, gold rope frame chairs from Annie Selke for Vanguard and custom pillows in platinum fabric."
Settees: Donghia
This formal living room's neutral color palette is accented by luxe metal finishes and rich textures. "We love to mix our metals!" exclaims Umansky. "This room features nickel sconces, gold rope frame chairs from Annie Selke for Vanguard and custom pillows in platinum fabric."
Settees: Donghia
The original windows were carefully restored and outfitted in tailored, custom drapery, Umansky says.
Hardware: Bradley
Hardware: Bradley
In the dining room, Umansky enlisted the talents of local artisans at Imago Dei to paint a trompe l'oeil design on the ceiling.
"We love mixing patterns and using unexpected color," she says, referring to the purple silk curtains. "The client owned the zebra-patterned chairs, so we knew this was a match made in design heaven."
The hair-on-hide carpet by Kyle Bunting adds more texture on the floor and plays off the geometry of the ceiling mural.
"We love mixing patterns and using unexpected color," she says, referring to the purple silk curtains. "The client owned the zebra-patterned chairs, so we knew this was a match made in design heaven."
The hair-on-hide carpet by Kyle Bunting adds more texture on the floor and plays off the geometry of the ceiling mural.
This room functions as the family room and screening room; a recessed, motorized screen is located in the ceiling above the fireplace. "It's the perfect space for piling onto the sofa and watching movies," says Umansky.
"We lacquered the paneling in this library in a rich brown with fuchsia and gold accents," she says. "The color palette makes this a close, comfy room."
Sofa: B&B Italia; shades: Lutron; custom art: McClain Gallery
"We lacquered the paneling in this library in a rich brown with fuchsia and gold accents," she says. "The color palette makes this a close, comfy room."
Sofa: B&B Italia; shades: Lutron; custom art: McClain Gallery
Next to the dark and cozy library is this light and vibrant sunroom. The floor borrows its color palette from the library, rendering the hues in a bold checkerboard pattern. Because this is a kids' domain, carpet tiles by Flor were a great choice.
"The persimmon color on the ceiling and in the accent pillows is a fun foil to the otherwise muted palette," says Umansky.
Sofa: Vanguard; ottoman: Ralph Lauren Home; table, chairs: Michael Aram
"The persimmon color on the ceiling and in the accent pillows is a fun foil to the otherwise muted palette," says Umansky.
Sofa: Vanguard; ottoman: Ralph Lauren Home; table, chairs: Michael Aram
"The muted color palette in this master bedroom set the stage for the drama that is the Hudson chandelier," says Umanksy. The result is a restful yet glamorous space.
Automatic drapery: Lutron; bench: Christopher Guy (through Laura U Collection)
Automatic drapery: Lutron; bench: Christopher Guy (through Laura U Collection)
"We love to use a writing desk in a bedroom, often as an alternative to a night table," says Umansky. "We find the lost art of handwriting letters to be romantic and perfect for the boudoir."
Calacatta gold marble is reflected in layers of mirrors in the master en suite. Venetian mirrors were layered over a wall of custom-cut antiqued mirror. Custom vanities bring the mirror out into new dimensions.
The mom's dressing area is a fun meeting spot for all the girls in the house. "Her dressing room connects to the master suite and also to the room her daughters share, making this a great space for them to hang out together," explains Umansky. The room is playfully fashionable; you can see that bolder colors and prints reappear in this shared adult and kid space.
Ceiling wallpaper: Maya Romanoff
Ceiling wallpaper: Maya Romanoff
Two young daughters share this room. "We floated the bunk beds because of the locations of all of the doors and windows," explains Umansky. Each bed has a recessed reading light at the head.
Mirrored desks: Bungalow 5
Mirrored desks: Bungalow 5
In a teen boy's room, the custom splatter-painted ceiling steals center stage. A deep blue accent wall grounds the bed.
Art: Collaboration between Natalie Davis and Saba Jawda
Art: Collaboration between Natalie Davis and Saba Jawda
A sleek homework and laptop station is composed of a glossy black parson's desk from West Elm and a futuristic chair from the Phillips Collection.
One existing element from the former homeowners inspired this entire room: the fun, colorful, striped Stark carpet. Low Togo Chairs are a comfortable choice for little ones and fit the scale of the attic playroom.
Moving outdoors, Umansky added an unexpected jolt of electric orange poolside via ceramic Chinese garden stools. The curvacious wicker furniture is by Janus et Cie. A black and white umbrella adds a crisp graphic element.
More crisp black and white continues on the pool pavilion's terrace. "The pool pavilion is equally suited for elegant entertaining as it is for children's birthday parties," says Umansky. Philippe Starck's Bubble Club Chairs provide a fun element, while the black and white palette keeps things sophisticated.
"The pool pavilion was designed for the previous homeowner. We furnished the space for our client, keeping in mind that the room would be used for entertaining adults but would have to stand up to wet bathing suits," says Umansky. "All of the upholstery fabrics are either commercial or indoor-outdoor."
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