Jill Brown--An Inspiration!!

I’m fortunate in my line of work to run into so many wonderful women at different stages in their lives, some just out of school looking for their niche, some with young kids juggling a hectic schedule and others who are looking to focus their attention on something new now that they are empty nesters. While I can share my story with them, I wanted to talk with other women who have followed their passions and turned what they love to do into a business. Meeting with my first spotlight on women, Jill Brown, the owner of Brown, a premier lighting and antiques store in Houston, I found so much more than a successful shop creating a design buzz after only 5 years.  I took my daughter with me to photograph the store.  Great job, Kirby!!!

 

Here are Jill and I now having a bit of girl time!! Jill grew up in the farmlands of Ohio, a childhood that certainly influenced her down-to-earth perspective and impressive work ethic. She met her husband, Foster, in Kentucky, got married when she was 25 and had two sons, Sam and John. Using her degree in marketing and retailing, Jill worked in merchandising and product developement as a young adult.   She always had a strong love for antiques, instilled in her at an early age by her mother – they would often go together to scout out antiques and treasures.

 

In 1997, her life suddenly changed when Foster announced that they were all moving to Belgium. For the next few months, the family adjusted to their new life abroad. Foster kept rather late hours at his job, and Jill, for the first time, was out of her comfort zone - amid three different languages, she found it difficult to get around and felt like an outsider, but she shortly learned to love the country for all of its unique treasures.

Jill is certainly a master of display!!  I love the little chalk boards she uses for pricing.  This would be so cute as place settings or menu boards for a dinner party.

 

Jill began buying light fixtures, industrial pieces, and antiques during her time in Belgium.  The garage was the first thing to fill up, then the home, then storage units. She amassed a huge collection of unusual things – a mix of French, Belgian and Flemish items. Jill and I shared a similar experience when we first started out: we both had to reassure our husbands that we were not absolutely nuts! When Foster asked what she planned to do with all these products, she responded, “I might not make any money with this, but I promise I will not lose any.”  Showing his support, he insisted that she treat this as a business, not a hobby.

 

In 2001, after four happy years abroad, the family returned to Houston with all Jill’s goods in tow.  She became known among designers as a secret source for unusual items, and Jill began to show her pieces at Skelton St. John, and later opened Brown. Sharon Skelton was a mentor to Jill and very supportive and helpful!!  I have found so many guardian angles out there as well. Never be afraid to ask for help or advice!

These days of new beginnings for Jill were unexpectedly shattered by Foster’s sudden death. Losing her biggest supporter and best friend, Jill poured herself into the store while raising the boys on her own.  Her hard work and perseverance through a difficult time turned into success, as the business continued to grow. In talking to Jill, I felt that Foster was still with her every step of the way - telling her she could do anything.  This great love affair she references, was inspirational  to me in itself.

 

Brown, now at the forefront of major design trends, provides stylish Houstonians with unusual European lighting and antiques with an industrial slant. The business is always evolving as Jill follows her instincts and does what feels right in her heart. She adds and subtracts categories anticipating the next design trend. Of course, sometimes she makes mistakes: “I make so many of them that I can hardly believe it. That’s how I learn, and I would encourage other women to just let it rip. Allow yourself to make mistakes.”

 

Jill always keeps the business true to herself, and it’s grown into a family affair, with her sons now helping. Her oldest, Sam, works full time since he graduated from college learning all facets of the business. Jill still touches and hand picks every product, believing it’s “the only way to sense finish, weight and even color. I am extremely affected by color. I love color.” No wonder we bonded!

 

Her passion for the business continues to grow with the goal to treat her clients as if she were shopping for herself and to give them an interesting product that they won’t find elsewhere. She takes pride in the fact that each item in the store is uniquely edited for her clients. She loves to learn and is drawn to anything educational.  These antique learning maps, hand-drawn and colored are some of her favorites. 

 

As if she isn’t busy enough, Jill takes time to help others. Adding her love of philanthropy into the business, she enjoys throwing fundraising events at the store and, with grace, does all of the cooking herself! She loves to cook and has taught her boys how to make her famous buckeyes!!! Last year, she supported Yellowstone Academy, a faith based nonprofit school giving a top rate education to children from a severely financially depressed environment. www.yellowstoneacademy.org  This Chandelier and Champagne event, in which she hosted the party and donated all items in a  auction, was just one of her charitable functions she put on last year. This year she is hosting an event on October 11th to benefit Lamar High School. She gives back to the community, not just through money, but through following a cause as passionately as she follows her dreams.

 

I love that Jill incorporates her many loves – design, scouting for unusual items, learning, merchandising, love of people, cooking, and event planning– all into this creative outlet that’s become her dream job.  Every one of us has so many wonderful talents, and things we are passionate about doing. I think writing down your strengths and favorite things to do is a great starting point to see if you want to start a new career and where that direction should be.

 

Her final advice to other women interested in following their passions? “I would tell women to be prepared to work harder than one can imagine.  I would also tell them not to beat themselves up too much for mistakes, to follow their instincts and to pray for direction.  I pray literally and figuratively that the Lord opens my eyes.” 

 

It’s incredible to see all that Jill’s accomplished. And, of course, I love, love, love the store! Brown is located at 2940 Ferndale in Houston (713-522-2151, www.shopbybrown.com). You can also find her items on 1st Dibs - Brown was one of the original Houston shops chosen my Michael Bruno when he expanded to Houston.  Thanks Jill for sharing your story with us!  I not only had so much fun shopping at your store, but found a new friend.

Archictecture and design working hand in hand!!

Since I have always admired architect Tom Wilson's www.tomwilsonarchitect.com work, I was so excited when designer Lisa Dalton brought me in to look at a home that she and Tom worked on.  The architecture makes this beautifully decorated home all the more spectacular - the large windows in almost every room bring in great natural light and each space has a purpose so that even the hallways and nooks are special.  Asking new clients to give both written information and pictures that show which aspects of a home they find appealing, Tom discovers, through an in-depth process, what his clients are really looking for in a home.  He wants to know how they will use the house - who cooks; where do they eat; do they have full time help; how do they entertain; are either of the adults light sleepers; do the adults tend to have the same sleep patterns; where do they watch TV; do they like to be outside; etc.  Often with couples, one will prepare the notes for Tom and, when the other one reads them, they discover that they have very different ideas about the new house.

To the left of the entrance, this combo living room and dining room space offers a warm and inviting welcome. It is unusual in the sense that while it's close to the kitchen, it's not adjoining it.  This is a rule that Tom breaks a lot because very few people entertain formally, and even when the dining room is used, guests often serve themselves.  If someone is working in the kitchen, you don’t want to hear all the noise while you’re seated at the dinner table. Tom's wife likes to run a load of dishes during dinner and doesn’t want the guests to hear the noise. I personally love this concept.  Although my home has a formal dining room, we love the openness of the breakfast-den area better at our home so we typically aslo use our dining table with larger parties as a buffet. This way, the guests can serve themselves and have plenty of places to sit and visit.

 

Lisa adores this house and had such a great time with the furnishings and accessories!  “The natural light in several of the rooms is wonderful," Lisa states. "The large French doors with transoms on three sides brings a fabulous feel to the living room late in the day, and the simplicity of the house allows the accessories and artwork to really shine".  The painting above the fireplace by Houston artist Greta Zimmerman provides a brilliant pop of color while tying in beautifully with the fabrics and accessories!  

 Hunting for interesting pieces with personality is Lisas fortay - finding unusual objects and grouping them simply.  The round wooden objects were formerly an industrial gear and wheel, and the painted wooden vessel is actually an antique bowling pin in its original condition.  Wow who would have guessed!! 

Because the coffee table is so large, Lisa chose to do smaller groupings on it. The use of  baskets in these instances work perfectly, giving a bit more definition to a large surface area.  She also uses succulents, like those above from Thompson + Hanson, in accessorizing.  Their wonderful colors and textures become an interesting addition that complements both the modern and the natural feel of the home.  Hopefully, Segreto: Secrets to Finishing Beautiful Interiors will make it onto some lovely coffee tables like these. It is at the press now!!  Yippee!  

This cozy study, opposite the living and dining area, provides more space when entertaining and functions as a great retreat to curl up with a book.  With floor to ceiling bookshelves and one of those great library ladders, this room has so much charm. I love how the small shelves on either side of the fireplace and windows house one accessory each, creating an artful display that nicely frames the fireplace and painting.  

This kitchen-breakfast area is a wonderful multi-use space. While large, the kitchen itself has a small footprint, but with great design efficiency.  There are multiple pantry areas behind the doors as well as a coffee bar pull-out and hidden service areas.  Lisa uses a lavender plant on the table in a similar way to the succulents we saw earlier.  When picking plants, look at their composition - they're most interesting when there's a bit of an architectural element to them. 

 I love the additional seating that the banquet provides in this area - comfortable, cozy, built right into the staircase and full of extra storage underneath!!

These unexpected interior windows on three sides of the stairwell overlook the space and bring in such an open, airy feeling!  The architectural interest Tom's design provides in the rooms and hallways is a welcome change to the closed-off feel of most stairwells - each space feels much larger.

Spending a lot of time with the homeowners to see how they want to use the home, Tom always tries to tailor his houses to his clients' lifestyles. When the household includes children, he also tries to zone the house in a way that controls noise so that the adult areas remain calm and quiet. This is the upstairs game room that serves as the division between the children's area and the adults'.  The TV sits across from the sofa, and a table and bench rest to the right of the chair in front of even more windows. The rooms on the side of this TV space are the kids’ rooms, while the parents' retreat lies behind the staircase!  

Entering the master suite, you get a very calm feeling.  The height of the dark, wood-clad ceiling, blended with the openness of the beautiful windows, creates a wonderful sanctuary. 

The minimalistic furnishings in a soft color palette enhances the room's architecture, carrying a spa feel through the room.  This painting by artist Charles Schorre offers the only splash of color, drawing the eyes in with its unexpected bright hues.

 

This hallway that leads to the kid's bedrooms is functional, comfortable and beautiful.  During Tom's modernist education, he was taught that halls are wasted space and should be minimized. Most 50’s era ranch houses reflect this philosophy clearly. But Tom's viewpoint has completely changed over the years with his realization that large entries can provide great stand up party space and allow the other rooms to be more intimate. When hallways have room for furniture, they become more humane and can provide functional additional spaces.  He even implemented a kids' study area, not shown.  One cubby. given a great window, housed two desks, offering a functional work space in a small area. 

 

The windows in this room are wonderful, but how do you furnish a space like this? Lisa's arrangement is genius!!  Rather than place the bed on the wall opposite of the built-ins which provide such great storage, she pushed the bed against them and let them serve as the headboard and lamp tables. This allows additional space on the wall to the left for a desk and opposite the bed for a chest and TV.  

This college age daughter’s bedroom is furnished with great heirloom furniture from her grandmother.  Although difficult to see in the photograph, the organza overlay on the bed skirt gives such a soft romantic look and completes the sentimental pieces.

Even in the heat of Houston, this is outdoor living at its best.  The beautiful gardens were created by Thompson + Hanson Landscaping, and Lisa purchased clean line teak furniture for the outdoors to continue the modern and natural feel of the inside. With temperatures that neared 105 last week, that pool looks pretty amazing! gardens created by Thompson + Hanson Landscaping  

This screened-in porch that rests off the kitchen and adjacent to the pool holds the outdoor kitchen, perfect for enjoying the outside bug free!!! The outdoor furniture here came from Restoration Hardware.     Great job, Tom and Lisa!!  Thanks for sharing this wonderful home with me!  The only thing I would suggest for the next owners is some plaster -  with its natural light, stone and wood elements, the depth and reflective qualities of natural gypsum plaster on walls and ceilings would give this home a whole new dimension.   Currently for sale in the Tanglewood area,  this gorgeous house is listed by Ruthie Porterfield of Martha Turner Properties. Go to the following link to see more wonderful photographs of the home: http://search.har.com/engine/dispGallery.cfm?mlnum=3099626

Have a great week!!  And join me next week for a highlight on the amazing Jill Brown of Brown, a wonderful lighting and antiques store.  Sporadically throughout the year, I will feature inspiring women who followed their passions, started a business and became great design influencers locally and otherwise.       

Couch, Fabric and Pillow Shopping!!!

Suddenly, after 24 years of marriage, my husband John decided that he wants to be involved in every design decision!! This unexpected change of heart must have some reason behind it: I think the real motivation rests in the fact that the couch I had custom made 15 years ago was apparently never very comfortable to him. While a seasoned upholsterer would be able make our existing couch more comfortable and stylish with a few changes, John wouldn’t hear of it!!  This time around, he wants to buy a couch that he has sat in and approved. Sacrificing a Saturday of tennis or golf, John and I headed off to the stores!!!  Our first stop - Meredith O’Donnell, located at 1751 Post Oak Blvd.

We were immediately greeted by designer Tim Weaver who did a wonderful job walking us through the store and listening to John talk about what his desires are in a cozy man’s couch.  This comfortable sofa was covered in a new fabric that felt like cashmere.  Although extremely soft,  it was a bit more than we were aiming to spend, and I was concerned that it wouldn’t hold up to our pets that always seem to find their way onto the furniture!!!

Here was another beautiful option!!  I loved the lines of this couch. Though I was hoping to find more taupes or grays, I could see how this creamy color would work beautifully with blue grays.

The braid design on the back of this model has a wonderful flair.  I considered replacing my two chairs by the window with this couch and also buying the couch above.

Always remember to bring either paint decks or fabrics with you that have the colors that the room will be - it's the best way to ensure that you pick up on all the color tones of the room!  Since stores are typically lit with florescent lights, your perception of what you remember the colors in your home being may change while you're at the store.  Sherwin Williams has a great new color deck that's small, compact and filled with lots of beautiful colors that suit today's interiors.

After checking out the cushions to see how they would look at home, I was ready for the next store.  John, of course, grumbled, "What another store!  We're not done yet?"  Thanks, Tim, for putting up with us - you were very helpful and had a great selection.

Our next stop - Hien Lam Home, located at 2032 West Alabama, www.hienlamupolstery.com.  While researching the sources for my upcoming book, Segreto: Secrets to Finishing Beautiful Interiors, available in September, I had learned that Hien Lam upholsterers built and covered much of the furniture for my designer's clients.  They recently opened a big, spacious showroom that has a large selection of linen-covered, upholstered pieces in the neutral tones I was searching for.

Hien Lam was established over 20 years ago and has always been a family effort - here is Patrick who joined his parents' business. Opening the showroom and growing up in the business,  he was very knowledgeable and helpful when it came to discussing all the various styles, fabric choices and durability factors.  His cute wife Cathy helps in the showroom as well!! Congratulations to them on their new baby!! Brother Henry also works at Hien Lam, on the upholstery side.

I just love that ottoman but had to remind myself that I already have a coffee table!!! Hien Lam carries basic fabric, mostly linen, canvas, velvet, microfiber, mohair and silk, as well as an amazing selection of pillows and accessories.  In October 2011, they will open a 5,000 square foot design center on the second floor that will feature fabric from Kravet, Pindler and Pindler, Brunschwig and Fils, Schumacher and Donghia. How wonderful!!! 

This is the one that we settled on! The upholstery comes with a two year protection provided by Paulette of Fiber Protech. If there is a problem, Paulette will come out and service the furniture. This is a must in our family with kids and pets.  We left our fun shopping day with fabric in hand and ran by Boxwood Interiors to check out their pillows, then off to Glicks Textiles and High Fashion Home to look at different fabric choices. Sorry, John, no sports today!

 

High Fashion Fabrics, located at 3101 Louisiana Street www.highfashionfabrics.com, is a great place to look for fabrics.  Although there are so many choices that it can get confusing, it's very nice being able to buy the fabrics right off the bolts. Even if you are not working with a designer, you can still purchase the fabrics there as well.  I found a gorgeous Sumbrella fabric there that looks and feels like velvet. For $65 dollars a yard, this fabric has an 8-year outdoor wear rating!!!  So that I would have two different looks, I decided to buy this fabric for a slipcover for the new couch.  Unfortunately though, I needed 20 yards so it's going to take a couple months before I receive that large of a quantity. 

 For my drapes, I wanted a simple linen with a braid going down the side so we visited Glicks Textiles located at 2327 Southwest Freeway, www.glicktextiles.com.  Needing 60 yards of linen for drapes and a table skirt, I was very excited to find it at Glicks for $26 per yard!!  Other great places to find fabric in stock at reasonable prices include Interior Fabrics on Fondren (the best prices in town if you can find something you like!!) and Best Fabrics at the corner of Westheimer and Fondren.

Ok this is what I chose!!  I love the new pillows from Boxwood--they're so soft!!!  You can see the Sumbrella velvet. The linen to the left is the drapery fabric.  Because I saved on this material, I wanted to dress it up with some custom trim from Samuel and Sons.  The braid on the left is for the kitchen window and the one to the right is for the den.  I splurged on the thick blue-gray linen on the right from Rogers & Goffigon.  All of these designer fabrics and trims can be found through your designer at George Cameron Nash.  The colors are perfect with my new cabinets!

      I'm also looking for a bench fabric for the piece in front of the TV.  To update the look, I'm going to skirt it.

I think a cow skin for the bench by the window to throw in a bit of fun would be great!!  A good place to find these at reasonable prices is from Mary O’Neal at Mustang Alley Antiques in Cat Springs (not too far from Round Top) www.mustangalleyantiques.com.  

This rug at Oriental Rug Gallery of Texas, located at 5620 Westheimer at Chimney Rock http://www.rugstudio.com/houston-showroom.aspx has wonderfully muted tones that will be a perfect complement with the new decor.  I wanted a 10x14 this time so it would be able to go underneath all the furniture.  I considered a Jute rug because the great look is so much less expensive, but I don't like the feel and was worried about how hard it would be to clean up their pet hair and food.  Since I saved money on the drapery fabric, I justified this splurge!  To make sure it's perfect, I'm going to check out the rug in a smaller size once I get the other fabrics in place. Howard and Joseph are so nice there - and Howard knows all the wear and tear this rooms gets.  He suggested, since the rug is lighter in color, that we clean and protect it yearly.  Good suggestion!!!! 

I'm so excited to show you the finished product once it all comes together!  I really did enjoy having my hubby with me in the hunt!!  Great job, John--xoxo.   Have a great week and stay cool -- Houston heat is back!!!

Guess what I got for my Birthday? A Room Makeover!!

      

While working on my upcoming book, Segreto: Secrets to Finishing Beautiful Interiors---which it off to the printer--Yayyyy!!!-- I was surrounded by images of all the incredibly beautiful homes that Segreto's been a part of, and I wanted to give my own kitchen-den area a makeover!!!  I had already picked out colors in case the team ever had a gap... so bright and early on my birthday morning my staff and husband organized a surprise. 

   

This was my kitchen area after completing the redo 10 years ago.  A golden-toned sheetrock mud covered the walls, and a faux wood finish on the trim outlined the room.  For the new look, I wanted to bring in a softer feel by fading the trim into the walls and using plaster as the primary product instead of sheetrock mud. While I loved the three different colors on the kitchen cabinets because they bring in a furniture feel, I decided to soften the colors.

And the mess begins!!  Whenever we plaster a home, we spend quite a bit of time taping off the trim and ensuring that all floors, furnishings and moldings are well protected.

Here we go!  The walls are primed and bonded first before the plaster is applied.  In a new construction, plaster can go directly over the raw sheetrock, but in existing homes, primer must be applied over painted wall surfaces before plaster application can begin.  Because my walls had texture from the sheetrock mud, I chose a textured plaster to avoid the extra work and cost of refloating the walls or applying two coats of plaster. Because the divots are recessed into the wall, textured plaster still gives you that smooth, cold feel and reflects the light.  Sheetrock mud, on the other hand, is raised in texture, producing a rougher feel to the touch.     

     

The left picture showcases a sheetrock mud finish, while the one to the right features a lightly textured plaster. 

Since my late 60s home often feels boxy because all the rooms are square or rectangular,  I had painted a design on the ceiling creating the illusion of an oval room. 

 

In this makeover, I wanted to maintain the oval effect the design created, but both fade the design and lighten the ceiling color to match the new plastered walls.  By sealing the ceiling first to seal the surface, I could control the glaze applications better.  then applying  two layers of a lighter glaze softened the design and lightened the color.  When all the fabrics are in I may add hints of their colors to the ceiling. 

 

To maintain a consistent color from batch to batch, it's important to carefully measure and mix the pigments into the plaster.  I love that plaster provides an insulating factor, sound barrier and fire retardant.  The product also holds up better and lasts longer than a painted finish.  Practical and beautiful!!!

During the plastering process, full scaffolding has to be set up because the craftsmen need to work at shoulder level to the wall or ceiling in order to produce the proper pressure and create the most beautiful product. The plaster goes up 3-5 shades darker than the final color... I can’t tell you the number of calls I get late at night—Oh no, Leslie, the color doesn’t match the sample!! But once the plaster dries in 24-48 hours, it's perfect.

Next, we focused on the cabinets and trim.  The side cabinets were formerly glazed to blend with the color of the previous walls.  To save time, money and the hassle of repainting, I simply put a new glaze over the top to change the color without losing the distressing underneath.  You will not believe the simple difference one glaze can make!!! I did end up changing the color of the green kitchen cabinets to SW Dorian Gray.  This new color, detailed with an edging and dry brushing technique, was lovely while still being cost effective.

Applying the same treatment to the French design that was on the refrigerator panels, toned down the color, while not taking away the design, cause I still do love it!!!  I plan to add more grays into the design at a later date. 

 

I did end up changing the color of the green kitchen cabinets to SW Dorian Gray.  This new color, cooler in tone, detailed with an edging and dry brushing technique, was lovely while still being cost effective since a full glaze wasn't applied first.  Because I want to continue to use a green antique piece that rests in front of the bar, we left the inset designs of the bar in their original color to coordinate with the antique.  You can really see the difference here between the old green and the newer color. 

 

 And the finished product of the paint and plaster!!! The Sherwin Williams color Stucco painted on the trim in the kitchen, breakfast and adjoining den area blends in beautifully with the plastered walls. Here's Chrissy in the new kitchen, happy to have the mess cleaned up.  Once I've redone the window treatments and recovered the furniture and accessories, I may need paint the green part of the tile backsplash to neutralize it.  While I've never done this technique due to tile's durability, what better guinea pig than my own home! I will give it a try and let you know if it lasts.  I did purchase these indoor outdoor rugs (which I love the practicality of for high traffic, casual areas) for the kitchen and breakfast area on Rue lala, which is a discount shopping site.  I think when I finish everything they will be great.

 

If you look at the top of the photo you can see a bit of the now faded ceiling.  Next stop.... new couch, fabric, and rug shopping!  Looking at this couch now, I can’t believe we have kept it so long.  It's certainly gotten worn over the last 15 years with three kids, two dogs and a cat. I'm sure my searching will take you to some new places and show you where I decide to save money and where I choose to splurge!  Have a wonderful Memorial day and a great week!! 

Elegant Eclectic

This home was truly one of those favorite projects for me.  After living in many different places, homeowner Tracy was excited about the prospect of building her own home and incorporating all the things her family loved about their previous homes as well as some personal touches to make the house suit their lifestyle. Tracy and I had a great time working together on the finishes and surfaces five months before move-in.  As soon as she turned her attention to the interiors, a friend introduced her designer Cindy Witmer.  Tracy appreciated how Cindy "stayed true to [her] vision and managed to pull it all together beautifully."

Inspired by the wall sample boards at my workshop and the beautiful flooring samples at Custom Floors Unlimited, Tracy began developing the backdrop of her home once the building process started. A sophisticated, creamy neutral plaster coats the walls of the main areas while the living room and dining room pull in soothing blue tones. These plasters serve as a connecting factor throughout the home, allowing flooring to change in pattern and surface without making the house feel disjointed.  The soft curve of the stairwell, lined with aqua-framed Greek god sketches, greets you in this dramatic entrance. Offsetting the old European feel imparted by the stunning iron lantern from Annette Schatte Antiques, the sleek baby grand piano and custom acrylic bench elegantly modernize the look. 

The living room posed a bit of a challenge because it is not a large room, yet its positioning within the house makes it so very important to the overall feel of the home. When Cindy took over the project, they tried to work in the gorgeous, custom silk sofa made for Tracy's last household, but as hard as they tried, it was just too big for the room and blocked the beautiful fireplace.  The new daybed was a better solution for the space, allowing one to see across the room without any obstruction.  I love the subtle variations in texture - the fabulous, ball gown-like curtains have a handmade trim while the two French chairs are upholstered in a painted velvet that Cindy had been dying to use for years.  The "urns" flanking the fireplace are really pieces of folk art created with pressed paper that has an amazing texture and painted finish.  The chandelier was the last thing Cindy and Tracy purchased for the room -  it feels like a piece of jewelry hanging from the ceiling.

In previous spaces, Tracy would have said that she was traditional in style.  With this home, she aimed to integrate contemporary elements to add interest, fun and a bit of the unexpected.  "I wanted this home to feel very calm and cool," smiles Tracy, "a respite from the heat and humidity of Houston. That's why I chose shades of white and cool blues!"  Adjoining the living room with its luxurious drapes and architectural chandelier, this dining room plays up a fun, eclectic style with the two end chairs covered in pale gray and white velvet zebra fabric and the patterned jute rug. While still formal, these fun pieces keep the room inviting. 

The ornate powder room is a lovely example of the influence that living abroad in the far east had on Tracy's design style.  Gold leafing and painting a Gracie-inspired design on one wall develops an original focal point that pays homage to Tracy's love of art.  The remaining walls were matched to the blue-gray flowers in the mural.

The family room, while traditional in nature, mixes in contemporary art and fabrics.  I love the artwork shown here by local Houston artist Debbie Mosely. While this piece was purchased at AREA, her work is shown at my gallery as well.  Debbie's as cute and friendly as she is talented! All of the soft and comfortable fabrics complement the pale blues and silvers in the painting while the velvet material ties in with the velvets used in the rest of their home. Another jute rug gives the space definition and adds to the casual climate of the room.

 Here's Tracy's favorite room of the home... the kitchen!  "I love how the different elements blend together seamlessly in a serene and effortless manner - from the reclaimed Italian tile floors to the gray veins in the white marble, the soothing plastered walls and glazed French blue cabinets to the island, made from 100 year-old French white oak." This wonderful French blue is difficult to achieve in one step, so the basecoat on the cabinets was followed by two glazes, edging and dry brushing. The very functional and beautiful island from Custom Floors Unlimited incorporates a virtually indestructible surface on which kids can do homework while Tracy cooks. 

 

The game/media room is simply wonderful!!!  The wood paneling brings an English pub feel to the space, making it a great hangout place for all ages.  Stenciling the walls in a tight paisley pattern with a cross hatch glaze on top gives the look of a Rose Tarlow worn fabric.  With all the fur downs and pop up ceilings, this was certainly hard to do, but the finished effect was well worth the time.  The area is warm, charming, interesting and different.  An old photograph of Tracy's grandfather on a horse completes the room, adding a very personal touch.   

Adding to the English pub atmosphere, Cindy found this really wonderful bench and made it even more unique with blue velvet upholstery on the back.

Carrying through the same finish to the media room enhances the flow of these upstairs spaces.  I really like the customized feel brought in by the monograms on the blackout shades!!!  

The game room bath features the cross hatch topcoat technique used in the adjoining room and media room but without the paisley pattern, giving a unique yet complementary look.

As this is Tracy's first home to design and build, she found that "the learning curve is so STEEP!  There are just so many details and decisions, and it can be incredibly  stressful.  I was fortunate to be surrounded by very talented individuals who gave generously of their talent and time.  And to all of those individuals I say, 'Thank you!  We love our home.'  I am also blessed to have an extremely patient, generous and loving husband. Honestly - How lucky am I?"  

Tracy was such a ball to work with. I loved having the opportunity to go back and see how she and Cindy finished off the house! Hat's off to you two - beautiful job!!!

And here's Jerry now, working on our next project - the master bedroom.  Adding some cool blue tones, Jerry is aging this lovely chandelier so that it complements the chosen fabrics for this room.  I just can't wait to see how Cindy and Tracy complete the project!  Hope everyone has a great week and congratulations to all those graduating seniors!!