Houston House & Home Magazine July 2018 Issue by Get Lost Houston

house& home | July 2018 | www.houstonhouseandhome.net

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J U LY 2 0 1 8

CONTENTS

8 14 18 24 30 68 72 76

Editor’s Note Calendar Project: Pro Tips for Kitchen Remodeling Product: Task Lighting Recipe: Frozen Treats to Beat the Heat Editor’s Picks: Grilling and Chilling Gardening: Artful Gardens Pet of the Month: Coal

38 FEATURES 38 Ranch Living 48 12 Practical Tips for a Successful Remodel 52 Couple Invests in Bad House in Good Area 58 Spring Swankienda Gets Luxe Updates 64 Life Made Easier with “ADA Plus” Design ON THE COVER

58 6

house& home | July 2018 | www.houstonhouseandhome.net

Designer’s Final Touches Add Sparkle and Luster to Spring Swankienda

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EDITOR’S NOTE

hen it comes to functionality, design doesn’t have to go out the window. Don’t miss our look at an “ADA plus” project that includes a lazy river, a creative ceiling track system and an overall aesthetic that’s a far cry from hospital drab. The month’s copy of Houston House & Home is also our big remodeling issue. Not only do we have practical tips to help big dreamers avoid pitfalls and perils, but we’re also taking a closer look at some actual projects by local homeowners. There’s the young couple that took a chance on buying a bad house in a good neighborhood. The investment turned out to be a big project with a few surprises along the way, but they rolled up their sleeves, did the work, and the results are amazing. We also covered a house in Spring that was already done, it just needed some pizzazz. A local designer knew exactly how to get that added “wow” by adding sparkle, luster and a touch of glitz. If redoing your kitchen is on your “to do” list, don’t overlook our Project section. Local experts have weighed in on the latest trends in cabinets, storage, appliances, finishes and fixtures. And we’ve put the spotlight on

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task lighting where LED is king. Our Product section digs keep into how best to turn impossible tasks into achievable chores. We have a wonderful feature on ranch living, where rustic decor blends with natural textures to create a style that’s comfortably eclectic. We interviewed a few design experts for their tips and tricks then went a step further to help you find, finance and landscape your own Texas ranch hacienda. Design junkies won’t want to miss the summer exhibit over at MFAH. The museum is presenting a showcase of contemporary Dutch design, including sleek objects from the collective Droog Design; discover more in our calendar. Heat got you down? Then get out of the kitchen and don’t miss our Editor’s Picks for the best in grilling and chilling. And be sure to turn to our handy guide for locally-made frozen treats. We wrap up this issue with artful gardening, a technique that borrows from the artist’s toolbox, and a look at Coal, our pet of the month. This young Labrador mix is kind, smart and just wants to feel important. From our home to yours, Susie Tommaney

PUBLISHER ............................Mike Harrison, Ph.D. ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER ............Susie Reisenbigler EDITOR ........................................Susie Tommaney CONTRIBUTING WRITERS ........................................ Shirley Barr, Anne Breux, Sam Byrd, Barbara Canetti, Lindsay Canright, Marsha Canright, Mary Chavoustie, Natalie de la Garza, Barbara Kuntz, Susan Fox, Linda B. Gay, Joshua Kornegay, Paris Permenter & John Bigley, Whitney Radley, Robin Barr Sussman CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS........................ Brad Coleman, Miro Dvorscak, Linda B. Gay, Kohanowski Studio, Dragana Harris, Ben Hill, Katya Horner, Illumine Photographic Services, Joshua Kornegay, Morris Malakoff, Paula Murphy, Julie Soefer, Becca Wright ART DIRECTOR ................................Robert Coplin ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES ........................................ ..Christina Garza, Gia Montalto, Colleen Sugarman SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR ................Catherine Butler PRINTING ............................................RR Donnelly

Blue Thumb Inc., dba Houston House & Home ("HH&H"), is a news magazine with emphasis on interior design and remodeling. HH&H does not knowingly accept false or misleading advertising or editorial content, nor does HH&H or its staff assume responsibility should such advertising or editorial content appear in any publication. HH&H has not independently tested any services or products advertised herein and has not verified claims made by its advertisers regarding those services or products. HH&H makes no warranties or representations and assumes no liability for any claims regarding those services or products or claims made by advertisers. Readers are advised to consult with the advertiser and/or other home repair and renovation professionals regarding the suitability of an advertiser’s products. No reproduction is permitted without the written consent of the Publisher. Copyright 2018, all rights reserved. HH&H is distributed at most Houston area Randalls and HEB stores.

P.O. Box 131845 • Houston, Texas 77219 (713) 523-6523 • info@houseandhomeonline.com

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J U LY 2 0 1 8

BY SUSIE TOMMANEY

CALENDAR

Head out to Longview for the Great Texas Balloon Race with live music, the popular Balloon Glow and three days of fun, July 27-29. Photo by Getty Images

DESIGN/INTERIORS JULY 18: MEET AND GREET WITH ABBY VASEK, 3:30-6:30 p.m. Interior designer and HGTV Design Star veteran Abby Vasek (season 8) is making a stop at High Fashion Home for this meet and greet sponsored by Reveal Home Staging. Vasek stays busy educating real estate professionals on architecture, building materials, staging and more. Light bites will be served. High Fashion Home, 3100 Travis, 281-755-6335, facebook.com/WCRHouston THROUGH NOVEMBER 25: “CONTEMPORARY DUTCH DESIGN: SELECTIONS FROM THE MUSEUM’S COLLECTION,” closed Mondays The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston opens its vaults in this showcase of contemporary design featuring objects from the collective Droog

Design, as well as by emerging designers who are building upon the radical ideas of early 20th century innovators De Stijl and the Bauhaus. Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Caroline Wiess Law Building, 1001 Bissonnet, 713-639-7300, mfah.org

ANTIQUES/VINTAGE JULY 8: EADO FEST, 12-6 p.m. When the weather heats up, it’s time to head east for the second Sunday EaDo Fest, an afternoon of vintage, art, vinyl and local craft beer. 4009 Polk, facebook.com/eadovintagefest JULY 19: THIRD THURSDAYS SIP & STROLL, 5-9 p.m. Peruse the curated wares at this eclectic collection of shops that decorates historic 19th Street in the Heights. Sip, stroll, and explore the

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clothing, antiques, handmade jewelry, art galleries and more. 19th Street, 19thstreetheights.com JULY 29, SHOP LOCAL ART MARKET IN THE BIERGARTEN, 12-5 p.m. Head out to Karbach Brewing Co. for its monthly art market featuring local artists, makers and vintage curators. Karbach Brewing Co., 2032 Karbach, 713-680-2739, karbachbrewing.com

EVENTS THROUGH AUGUST 4: “LIGHT IN THE WINDOW,” 2-7 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays Austin-based visual artist Caitlin G McCollom is exhibiting her latest collection of orbs, teardrops and hearts to represent the moon and channels for understanding spirituality, the experience of suffering, and the feelings of the heart. The show will close with an artist

talk on August 4 from 1-3 p.m. BLUEorange Contemporary Art Gallery, 1208 West Gray, 713527-0030, blueorangehouston.com JULY 2-31: “HABITANTES,” closed Sundays Artist Justin Earl Grant strives to paint what vibrates the human being through an implicit agreement of colors, lines and shapes. “Habitantes” places the human figure in an urban context to represent sensory and emotional intensity. Houston Public Library, 500 McKinney, 832-393-1313, houstonlibrary.org/location/centrallibrary-jesse-h-jones-building JULY 7-AUGUST 2: TENTH ANNUAL JURIED EXHIBITION, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. MondaysSaturdays, 1-5 p.m. Sundays Diane Griffin Gregory is juror for Archway Gallery’s tenth annual exhibition of works by

area artists. This year’s charity partner is Rescue Bank. Archway Gallery, 2305 Dunlavy, 713-522-2409, archwaygallery.com JULY 11: CANDLES WITH ESSENTIAL OILS, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Join Pop Shop America for this DIY class hosted by the Downtown District. Ticket includes light bites from Local Foods, sweet treats from Phoenicia, adult beverages and a chance to create a soothing and relaxing candle or two. Le Meridien, 1121 Walker, 713222-7777, downtownhouston.org JULY 13-14, MANET: PORTRAYING LIFE, 3 p.m. Get your culture fix this summer inside the air-conditioned Brown Auditorium at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Next up for its popular Armchair Travel: Exhibition on Screen film series is an inside look at the Manet exhibition from the Royal Academy of Arts in London. MFAH, 1001 Bissonnet, 713639-7515, mfah.org/films JULY 18-22, HOUSTON WORLD SERIES OF DOG SHOWS, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Don’t miss this opportunity to admire thousands of dogs, shop all the vendor booths and catch the exciting action with flyball, Frisbee® dogs, the canine musical freestyle and so much more. NRG Center, 1 NRG Park, 281536-0528, houstondogshows.com JULY 19: LIVE ART BAR, 6-9 p.m. Watch a live painting demo by IconiColor’s Patti LennonPotter and enjoy cocktail specials during this interactive

summer series presented by Four Seasons Hotel Houston in partnership with Disegno. Four Seasons Hotel Houston, 1300 Lamar, 713-650-1300, fourseaons.com JULY 27: MARBLED CLAY COASTERS, 7-9:30 p.m. Join Pop Shop America for this Energy Corridor area class on making marbled clay coasters and ring dishes out of fun and ultra-relaxing polymer clay. Art Cellar Houston, 1460 Eldridge Parkway, popshopamerica.com/event/energy-corridor-marbled-clay-coasters JULY 27-28: “MILITARY INSPIRED ART,” 6-8 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday Veterans and active duty men and women will be showcasing their artistic talents at the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum in an exhibition unveiling that includes a commemoration of Buffalo Soldiers Day on Saturday. Buffalo Soldiers National Museum, 3816 Caroline, 713-942-8920, buffalosoldiermuseum.com JULY 27-28, CÉZANNE: PORTRAITS OF A LIFE, 3 p.m. One of the hottest international art exhibits over the past few years was the retrospective of Cézanne’s portraits that opened at the Musée d’Orsay, Paris and then traveled to London and Washington, D.C.’s National Gallery of Art. This next offering from the Armchair Travel: Exhibition on Screen film series sheds light on this artistic genius through those museum exhibits. MFAH, 1001 Bissonnet, 713639-7515, mfah.org/films 15

Fort Bend County Libraries explore Impressionism this month. Public domain

Clute celebrates the mighty mosquito. Photo courtesy of Brazosport Area Chamber of Commerce

JULY 28, GALLERY CONCERT AT MFAH, 5-6 p.m. Stay after the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston’s Cézanne film screening for a gallery concert by harpist Susanna Campbell, featuring French music by Debussy, Fauré Grandjany and more. MFAH, 1001 Bissonnet, harpandpiano.com/concerts

demos, freestyle dance and wheelchair tennis), this is the can’t miss expo of the year. NRG Center, 1 NRG Park, abilities.com/houston

Mexican folk art including masks, ceramics, textiles and trees of life. AMSET, 500 Main, Beaumont, 409-832-3432, amset.org

AUGUST 4, CITY CRITTERS, 5:30-7:30 p.m. It’s time to stop hating and learn to appreciate the amazing urban animals that share our parks, downtown streets and even our back yards. Folks from the Texas Wildlife Rehabilitation Center will be on hand to share these critters’ stories of survival, and the 21-and-up crowd can partake in suds from Saint Arnold Brewing Company. Houston Arboretum & Nature Center, 4501 Woodway, 713-6818433, houstonarboretum.org

JULY 14: ART & CULTURE: IMPRESSIONISM, 1-3 p.m. Architecture expert Sheba Akhtar presents a fascinating history of Impressionism. This is the last of a three part series by the author of Art and Architecture. Fort Bend County Libraries, George Memorial Library, 1001 Golfview, Richmond, 281-633-4734, fortbend.lib.tx.us/branches/gm.html

JULY 28, DRAGONFLIES AND DAMSELFLIES, 9:30-11:30 a.m. Not just the stuff of fairy tales, join the Houston Arboretum for its popular Nature Revealed series to learn more about these beautiful, but voracious, raptors of the insect world. Houston Arboretum & Nature Center, 4501 Woodway, 713-6818433, houstonarboretum.org AUGUST 3-5: ABILITIES EXPO, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday Join the “can do” generation and explore this wonderland of resources for the disability community. From workshops (accessible home design, living with chronic pain) to events and activities (service dog

OUT OF TOWN THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2: “PARAÍSO Y PRESA (PARADISE AND PREY),” open daily until 5 p.m. Former Texas A&M architectural design professor John G. Fairey, founder of Peckerwood Garden in Hempstead, gifted the Art Museum of Southeast Texas with more than 500 pieces of

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JULY 26-28: THE GREAT TEXAS MOSQUITO FESTIVAL, 5-10 p.m. Thursday, 5 p.m.-12 a.m. Friday, 9 a.m.-1 a.m. Saturday Love ‘em or hate ‘em, you won’t want to miss this threeday shebang that includes a Mosquito Chase 5k run, a BBQ cook-off, haystack dives, carnival rides and a chance to take a selfie next to the world’s largest mosquito that stands 26 feet tall. Extroverts might want to sign up for the Mosquito Calling or Mosquito Legs contests. Clute Parks & Recreation, 100

Parkview, Clute, 979-265-8392, 800-371-2971, mosquitofestival.com JULY 27-29: GREAT TEXAS BALLOON RACE, 6:30 a.m.-12 a.m. Friday, 5:45 a.m.-12 a.m. Saturday, 5:45 a.m. start on Sunday Is there anything more exciting than a hot air balloon? Probably not, which is why so many folks have Longview plugged into their trip planner. The fun includes competitive flights, the amazing Balloon Glow and plenty of live music. East Texas Regional Airport, 269 Terminal Circle, Longview, 903753-3281, gtbr.net AUGUST 2-SEPTEMBER 2: “FREE-RANGE CATTLE ROUNDUP,” 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays If heading out to The Hill Country is on your radar, stop by this downtown Kerrville art center to see pastels and oils by BURL. Concurrent exhibits include Photoquest and an annual judged show for KACC member artists. Kerr Arts and Cultural Center, 228 Earl Garrett, 830-8952911, kacckerrville.com

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GET INSPIRED Consult With the Pros to Get the Most Out of Your Kitchen Space By Natalie de la Garza

pring may be the time for cleaning but summer is the time for remodeling and — with so many ways to increase storage space, upgrade and beautify — the kitchen is the perfect place to start. To fully take advantage of cabinets, look for unique remedies to common problems. Are all your Tupperware lids piled into a box? Try a pull-out drawer with dividers, perfect for lids, pots, pans, big bowls and glassware. Got a spice cabinet so crowded you’ve accidentally purchased three jars of paprika? Consider installing a drawer box underneath your stovetop to keep all your spices visible and close at hand while you cook. Big hole in the back of your corner cabinet that’s only good for things you use once a year? Try a lazy Susan or the

18 house& home | July 2018 | www.houstonhouseandhome.net

Blind Corner Cabinet solution from ShelfGenie, which boasts two sliding, perpendicular shelves. “Not only does it help you utilize your space more, but it actually helps you be more aware of what you have in your kitchen and hopefully be able to use your items more,” says Linda Creswell, the owner of ShelfGenie of Greater Houston. If you still need more room, frameless cabinets do away with the wasted space behind traditional face frames. “It’s all about picking up an inch here, an inch there,” says Randy Godeau, who owns Bay Area Kitchens. “Pretty soon you’ve come up with several feet of additional cabinet space that [homeowners] didn’t even have before.” Equally important is the pantry, which Godeau says nine

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times out of ten can be improved by incorporating storage solutions like pull-out shelves and roll-out racks. “We’re not making the pantry any larger, we’re just making it work better,” says Godeau. “We can pull that depth out to where you can reach it without having to crawl in.” But don’t let the ease of reaching your canned, dried and packaged foods distract you from the upgrades available for the pantry door, such as frosted glass, different etch designs or even the addition of sliding barn doors, which Door Clearance Center’s Jason Salvaggio says are popular right now for good reason. “If you have the right set up, sliding barn doors can look really nice in the kitchen,” says Salvaggio. “You can do either a modern look, a more rustic look or even a blending of the two.” In terms of color, white and gray are not only trendy, but timeless. Godeau says white and light-colored marble countertops are attractive though not very practical, but engineered quartz countertops “look quite real, but are much lower in maintenance.” Whatever look you choose, appliances are always evolving to fit your practical needs. Many new high-end refrigerators, like those from Sub-Zero, offer filtration systems that remove ethylene gas so fruits and vegetables last longer. American Standard's MeasureFill feature allows you to use a dial on your faucet to select the amount of water dispensed. And handsfree options like pedal valves or the antimicrobial coatings offered by Colonial Bronze cut down on the spread of bacteria. Though gas cooktops and ranges have long been the go-to choice for stoves and ovens, induction is gaining traction with homeowners for its smooth top, energy efficiency and responsiveness. “It’s got all of the sensitivity of gas, but the cleanliness of electric without the heat,” says Metro Wholesale’s Showroom Manager Don Jameson. Convection ovens are increasing in popularity for their ability to distribute heat evenly, but for those who don’t want to ditch tradition completely, the single oven plus convection microwave or speed oven is a combo appearing in more and more kitchens. “They have a lot of the capability of a double oven, but a lot more practical usefulness on a day-to-day basis,” adds Jameson. Stainless steel is still the most popular choice when it comes to appearance, but black stainless and black slate are good alternatives for homeowners who want their kitchens to stand out from the crowd. Another way to differentiate and personalize your kitchen is through fixtures, knobs and pulls. Lighting — under mount, pendant or accent — offers yet another opportunity to make kitchens unique. In terms of finishes, Westheimer Plumbing & Hardware’s Tracy Cooper Wilson says satin brass and matte

Bay Area Kitchens created this dark and dramatic look by contrasting the simple, clean lines of Shaker style cabinets with white subway tiles.

RESOURCES Bay Area Kitchens 800-546-0417 17306 Hwy 3, Webster bayareakitchens.com Door Clearance Center 713-937-9132 8245 North Freeway doorclearancecenter.com Metro Wholesale Appliance 713-433-7248 2014 Almeda-Genoa metrowholesale.net

PLM Remodel & Restoration 281-435-4346 6422 Highway 6 North plmremodelandrestoration.com ShelfGenie of Greater Houston 888-903-8839 shelfgenie.com/houston Westheimer Plumbing & Hardware 713-942-9519 3600 Kirby 713-956-0090 3590 East T.C. Jester westheimerplumbing.com

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Photo by Randy Godeau

black are in, but don’t be afraid to mix finishes to give kitchens even more character. PLM Remodel & Restoration’s Deedra Chavez says “updating your backsplash is also a nice way to give [your kitchen] a fresh new look, and matching your floor tile with that backsplash is also a nice complement.” If you do update your backsplash, look into placing power strips underneath the cabinet to avoid breaking it up with electrical outlets and switches. You can also use an air switch for the garbage disposal instead of a switch on the wall. There are lots of ideas for upgrading an existing kitchen, but always start with a plan. Whether it’s cabinetry, counters or appliances, ask for suggestions and get recommendations before making a final decision.

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Transform your living space with dramatic and practical task lighting — it’s a decorator’s secret weapon. Photo by Getty Images

FROM DRAB TO FAB Task Lighting is There When You Need It — And Barely Noticeable When You Don’t By Sam Byrd

he right kind of lighting scenario can turn a house from drab to fab, and the secret is something known as “task lighting.” Task lighting can be anything from spotlights that highlight artwork to lighting underneath or above cabinets. It can be the lighting that shines on your work desk, or the type of illumination for your sewing or craft table that gives you that oh-so-clear vision. In all its various incarnations, it turns dull into delicious and it's any decorator's secret weapon. We took a dive to find out more about how best to light up a room and the results were, well, spot on. Big things come in small packages and, thanks to advances in technology with LED, the ways to accent a home are innu-

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merable and conveniently compact. Daniel Sperry from The Lighting Gallery says it's a great way to perk up a home. “It gives that additional flair that wouldn’t be in the older homes. Before it was hard to get 120 volts out to that area. Now, using LED technology, we just run a line to where it’s needed and it’s paper thin.” Task lighting is there when you need it: Can lights, the type that shines from above in areas like the kitchen, can be pin-point precise for jobs like cutting vegetables; or it can be rope lighting that provides a pathway to the restroom in the middle of an otherwise dark night. “[They are] not on 24/seven, but they’re there when you need them,” he says. That's truth and comfort to anybody's ears.

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Task lighting turns dull into delicious. It can be anything from spotlights that highlight artwork to lighting underneath or above cabinets. Photo by Getty Images

“Under cabinet lighting has evolved. It allows you to accomplish what you need to do.” — Amy Margolen Amy Margolen from M&M Lighting expands on the subject. “Task lighting is a way for people to use their space to maximum advantage. It can be anything from your child being able to study their school work in the kitchen space to cooking. “Generally, we think of ambient lighting or a sense of brightness when it comes to lighting. Customers' most common requests we get are for under cabinet lighting. Things like food prep, reading or doing bills,” says Margolen. “Under cabinet lighting has evolved, and it involved into LED lighting. It allows you to accomplish what you need to do.” The evolution of light emitting diodes is certainly buzzworthy. “LED is the secret resource in this place. It has transitioned what used to be an almost impossible test into an everyday achievable chore. LED technology is super fascinating. It’s a field we’re blessed to work with. It can replace incandescent bulbs,” says Margolen. “Let loose, incandescent fans. Welcome to a whole new world!” Let loose, we did. It's lit up our whole mindset. Out with the incandescent, and in with the LED. Circa Lighting's Matt McGarrity also has some intel on the matter. “You can create light for a home in a million different ways and you can do it at different price points. Creating light for a room is a small part of the equation. It’s about the quality and the design of the lighting,” the sales director says.

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The wonderful thing is that, to create this type of lighting, it takes almost no space. It can be a paper-thin wire running directly to the bulb that is almost unnoticeable. It's unbelievably stealthy — almost like a ninja. “You can scale it up or down but ultimately the choice is yours,” he says. McGarrity says the focus should be about “quiet lighting.” Translation: It's not about the vertical but rather the horizontal fixtures. It avoids the glare and the irritation, and it makes it so much easier on the eyes of the homeowner. “We recess the light source to be above the plane view of the ceiling so RESOURCES that we don’t see the glare. We know it creates a beautiful light, but we Circa Lighting 713-526-4100 don’t want to see where it’s coming 2427 Westheimer from. The other thing we do is we circalighting.com want to light vertical surfaces instead of lighting horizontal surfaces. We The Lighting Gallery don’t want to light a table or floor. We 281-444-9299 light the art, the walls, fireplaces and 6265 Cypress Creek Parkway the like instead of a countertop or lightinghouston.com floor,” says McGarrity. So, there you have it, folks. Find M&M Lighting your price point and see what works 713-469-3002 best for you. It's a purchase that will 5620 S. Rice Avenue pay off in the end. mmlighting.com

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LEFT: Dolce Neve believes in the slow food movement and builds relationships with farmers and producers, both locally and from around the world. Photo courtesy of Dolce Neve. RIGHT: The Oreo cookies n’ cream shake at Hopdoddy Burger Bar keeps good company; there’s also s’mores, malted root beer, strawberry shortbread and other cool flavors. Photo courtesy of Hopdoddy Burger Bar

CHILL OUT Ice Cream, Sorbet, Gelato and Popsicles Take the Edge Off Houston’s Scorching Summer Heat By roBiN Barr SuSSmaN

es, the mercury is rising but there’s no reason to sweat the small stuff. These frozen treat shops scattered around town are here to save the day. Just feel like staying home and cooling off? We’ve got the recipe for that, too! CLOUD 10 CREAMERY They heard our screams for more ice cream so a second location launched in the Heights last summer. Dreamy flavors like goat cheese with milk chocolate, strawberry with blackberry jam, pineapple chili sorbet and other frozen treats will put you on cloud nine. 713-434-6129, 5216 Morningside; 713-485-5106, 711 Heights; cloud10creamery.com

30 house& home | July 2018 | www.houstonhouseandhome.net

CREAMISTRY ® This family-friendly destination now has three locations in the area and recently added inventive ice cream sandwiches to its roster. The showy made-on-the-spot liquid nitrogen ice cream is incredibly fresh, soft and creamy. 713-750-9039, 5000 Westheimer; 832-742-9858, 791 Town & Country Boulevard; 281-394-9668, 24515 Katy Freeway (Katy); creamistry.com DOLCE NEVE This cool emporium will lift you out of the summer doldrums with its ever-changing lineup of rich Italian gelato. Tonguetingling choices like salted caramel, custard with lemon zest, and the vegan coconut milk with black raspberry jam make choosing almost impossible. 4721 North Main, 832-767-2183, dolcenevegelato.com

HOPDODDY BURGER BAR Those notoriously long lines might be due to the sinful shakes on offer this time of year. Slurp up s’mores, strawberry shortbread, Oreo cookies n’ cream, malted root beer and more. Save a little room for the creative, multi-layered burgers and crispy fries. 281-557-2337, 5510 Morningside; 713-227-2337, 4444 Westheimer; 281-554-2337, 142 Vintage Park Boulevard; hopdoddy.com SPRINKLES This hot cupcake shop is scooping seasonal flavors, like salted pistachio ice cream, into decadent waffle cones. Or try the cute mini sundaes, Sprinkles shot or generously stuffed ice cream sandwiches prepared with house-baked cookies. 713-871-9929, 4014 Westheimer, sprinkles.com STEEL CITY POPS This Atlanta import is set to open another shop in Rice Village this summer. Natural, healthy and delicious — Steel City’s bright popsicles have so much to offer. Choose from fruity, creamy or custom flavor your own with myriad dips and toppings. 832-497-1471, 420 East 20th; 832-500-5737, 16155 City Walk (Sugar Land); 713-893-0440, 2565 Amherst (coming soon); steelcitypops.com

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The top layer packs a punch with these colorful fruit and yogurt popsicles infused with Woodbridge cabernet. Photo by Woodbridge Wines BELOW: Zoku Classic Pop Molds. Photo courtesy of Sur la Table

Patriotic Frozen Pops molds from the freezer and fill each another one-third of the way. Freeze until firm, another 30 minutes.

hese fresh and fruity red, white and blue popsicles will make any occasion festive. For kid-friendly pops, just substitute two tablespoons of grape juice for the cabernet. For similar recipes, visit woodbridgewines.com.

Ingredients

Popsicle molds for the freezer Red layer 2 cups halved, hulled strawberries 1 tablespoon sugar 2 tablespoons Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon

Place all ingredients in a blender. Puree until smooth. Fill the popsicle molds one-third of the way with the

mixture and insert popsicle sticks. Freeze until firm, about 30 minutes. White layer 1 cup Greek yogurt 2 tablespoons heavy cream 2 tablespoons granulated sugar 2 tablespoons lime juice

Place all ingredients in a blender. Blend until combined. Remove the

32 house& home | July 2018 | www.houstonhouseandhome.net

Blue layer 2 cups blueberries Â˝ cup blackberries 2 tablespoons granulated sugar 2 tablespoons lime juice

Place all ingredients in a blender. Blend until combined. Remove the molds from the freezer and fill each another one-third of the way. Leave about one quarter inch of space at the

top of the mold. Freeze until solid, about 5 hours. Yield: Six three-ounce popsicles

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LEFT: The pueblo-style Los Portales accommodations at the Gage Hotel in Marathon feature unique décor and refined Western furnishings. Photo by Laura Schulte, RIGHT: The Arrangement, with stores in Houston and Dallas, offers a unique style that balances the casual and the elegant. Photo courtesy of The Arrangement

Goodworks.

THE LOOK, THE LAND, THE LANDSCAPE Experts Share Tips on Rustic Ranch Style, Plus How to Get It and Landscape It By MARSHA CANRIGHT

DESIGN EXPERTS SHARE THEIR SECRETS

rustic Western design can create a welcoming homestead as comfortable and classic as a pair of hand-sewn cowboy boots. Nowadays the spirit and style of the American West is reappearing in the interiors of expansive Texas ranch houses, country homes, upscale lodgings and even log cabins throughout the Lone Star State. “It’s a style with a timeworn quality, a feeling of authenticity, and it continues to evolve,” says Katherine Snedeker, owner of The Arrangement stores in Dallas and Houston, who also designs and produces original furnishings. “It’s midcentury meets ranch style with hints of modernism and Art Nouveau; it’s a bit like pairing a T-shirt and an Armani jacket. There's a balance between the casual and the elegant that makes you feel at home,” she says. Snedeker recently orchestrated the design for a 50,000square-foot country home with 30-foot ceilings and grandiose rooms on a sprawling acreage. “You walk into these gigantic spaces and the challenge is:

38 house& home | July 2018 | www.houstonhouseandhome.net

How do you make it feel warm and intimate with these castle proportions? How do you make each room sing?” she says. For her, the answer is with superb craftsmanship and a director’s eye. “We cast each room like a movie with stars and supporting players. It’s an art to get all the pieces to work together in harmony,” Snedeker says. Rooted in the pragmatic life of the early West and Southwest, rustic design is the original homespun minimalism. “The style is spare; I love that,” says Carol Hicks Bolton, owner of the eponymous Fredericksburg boutique that specializes in original furnishings, housewares, bedding, antiques and curiosities. “For me, it’s big fat armchairs covered in old hemp rugs with piled-up pillows made of threadbare woven rugs. It’s flat, swept limestone floors and walls with rough-cut fir planks covered in painted cheesecloth,” she says. Bolton uses a lush blend of natural fabrics, reclaimed wood, hammered copper, supple leather, found artifacts and just the right antiques. Repurposed objects with interesting shapes figure prominently in her projects. To add texture and flair she suggests

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LEFT: Carol Hicks Bolton Antiqüités Laboratøire de Design offers this artisan bedstead created from a windmill vane. Photo courtesy of Carol Hicks Bolton. RIGHT: The Arrangement’s Katherine Snedeker knows how to make large spaces with castle proportions feel warm and intimate. Photo courtesy of The Arrangement

“There's a balance between the casual and the elegant that makes you feel at home.”

suspending a gargantuan tumble“We’re best known for cusweed on a heavy rope or mounttom furniture and our rugs: ing a goat skull with black wiggly everything from tribal to tradihorns on a clean white wall. tional,” says Jan, who prefers an Bolton’s artisan bedsteads are updated Western style but works created from windmill vanes, with customers who want tradi— Katherine Snedeker metal gates, chiseled ornamental tional rustic, contemporary, or woods and reclaimed shutters. even Tuscan design. For a recent project she paired a cluster of old wire fencing “I want every room to feel happy to the person who’s living with a bare bulb to create a handsome chandelier over a huge there,” she says. farm table and used primitive chopping blocks from Eastern Jan recently designed a home at Boot Ranch, a masterEurope as end tables. planned community just north of Fredericksburg. “These accents are both rustic and contemporary. They “We did a beautiful sectional in rust leather and added pilcatch the eye and create a one-of-a-kind interior,” she says. lows made of cowhide, Tibetan materials and even a zebra patA blend of rustic styles with modern flair also can be found tern to blend,” she says. at Rustic Elegance, a Kerrville shop owned by Jan and Steve Customers who have second homes are usually looking for a Lynch. Theirs is a novel mix of custom furnishings, artistic more laid back look. They already have a traditional home and woven rugs and surprising pieces like an alpaca chair that keep they want something cozy and rustic without a lot of cows, customers coming back to see what’s next. says Jan. The couple has a prominent presence at the Houston But others are “all in” when it comes to cowboy style. Livestock Show and Rodeo where they design and furnish sev“We did the interior designs for a 33-year-old Houston man eral suites and have a stadium showcase featuring western ruswho had a new home and wanted no frills. We did it all: the tic design, mostly traditional, and some with more modern lamps, the artwork, and he asked us to come back and decotouches. rate for Christmas — with antlers,” she says. 40 house& home | July 2018 | www.houstonhouseandhome.net

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bringing color and texture to an otherwise boring room,” adds Garcia. Ingenuity and adaptive reuse runs deep in Western design, a product of its lineage. One hundred and fifty years ago in Texas, supplies were slow to arrive and survival depended on being self-reliant and resourceful. Settlements throughout Texas were not easy to reach. “There was a certain level of creativity due to circumstance. Imagine what it was like to get fabric from the East. When they didn’t have access to traditional materials to reupholster a Victorian couch they used cowhide or Rio Grande blankets. They figured it out and made it happen,” The Arrangement’s Snedeker says. The Gage Hotel was built in 1927 by architect Henry Trost. Photo by Laura Schulte, Goodworks One of her unusual requests was for an exterior cigar room. Snedeker built three teepees This year Jan noticed a lot of dusty rose and pinks as the to serve as smoking areas because the owners didn’t want hot featured colors at home markets. guests to smoke on their wide front porch. “I don't think that's something the average cowboy is going “They were made by the Teepee Canvas Company and I to want to come home to so I'm staying with neutral tones had artists paint them so they have a weathered, antique along with woven rugs for color,” she says. look. The stonemason came and put in fire pits; we built Sometimes home design is a negotiation, Jan says. “One of chairs from mesquite wood. The final touch was stringing my favorite clients has a husband who is interested in interior colorful flags that blew in the wind,” she says. design, which is great. The trouble is he likes brown, only Her goal is to always give the owner something completely brown, and his wife doesn’t want any more brown in the unique. “When it’s finished I want to see their eyes come house,” she says. alive,” she says. “We were able to work out a compromise. He selected Her mission now is to make heirlooms by designing “small brown swivel chairs and she got a beautiful blue sofa. It all batch” handcrafted furnishings — only so many of a kind. looked great together.” As for current materials, she likes copper reclaimed from Ranch style can be clean and crisp with a focus on natural and copper wiring. “We face beds and drawers with it. We do a unrefined elements, but warm, earthy colors are also a staple. mix of wood and copper table tops that are beautiful and “For us, the most requested accent color is our signature durable; it will last forever,” she says. rustico, an antique red, and also a turquoise shabby chic finSnedeker takes inspiration from the products of the past. ish,” says Liz Garcia of El Tapanco Rustic Furniture in “I look at a 100-year-old saddle and see the remarkable Houston. craftsmanship. People took enormous pride in what they El Tapanco specializes in custom Mexican furniture includmade. To me, that’s stunning and it still resonates.” ing tables, beds, cabinets and mirrors that work well in rustic décor. Trending materials include copper in a traditional orange finish with hints of brown and leather furnishings that are honey-colored or dark brown. “Hacienda style never changes but it’s becoming more versatile. I do see a mix of modern and farmhouse furniture along with industrial looking iron frames and bases of old natural wood,” says Garcia. “Also shiplap continues to be popular and customers want furniture that serves a dual purpose, providing storage while 42 house& home | July 2018 | www.houstonhouseandhome.net

HOW TO FIND AND FINANCE YOUR OWN TEXAS RANCH If you’re in the market for Texas ranch land — small or large — Kent Savage, vice president of Capital Farm Credit, has five quick tips for easing the process. Capital Farm Credit is one of the state’s eight farm banks, which specialize in rural properties such as farms, ranches and recreational land.

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Notice how the mission-style Gage Hotel blends timeworn textiles, carved wood detailing, animal hides and antlers to create a comfortable, cozy environment. Photo by Laura Schulte, Goodworks

1. Pre-approval and Down Payment. Almost all banks will require at least 20 percent down on property along with good credit and financials that show the ability to repay the new debt. It’s good to know before you start looking what your budget will be. Getting a conditional commitment letter from your lender will speed up the process once you find a property you want to purchase. 2. Find a good reputable real estate agent. If you’re buying a small tract of land from ten to 50 acres or a sizable one with thousands of acres, it’s important to find a reputable agent. There are brokers that specialize in different size tracts of land. Savage recommends that people visit the websites of Land Broker Co-Op or Lands of Texas, part of the Lands of America Network. Look at what individual agents are listing. A good agent can set you on the right path with the least amount of work on your part. 3. Take your time. Go look at the property. First impressions are good. If you like what you see, arrange a second visit. On subsequent visits, you will see more things, good and bad. Remember, if you don’t love the property, you aren’t going to want to spend

44 house& home | July 2018 | www.houstonhouseandhome.net

time there. Consider these questions: How remote is this property? How close to a town? Who are the neighbors? A good agent can help out with much of this and should provide a past history of the property. Talk to others who have purchased property in the area. 4. Be aware of flood zones and any history of flooding on the land. Check out the topography. Also be aware of mineral rights and surface rights that may or may not be conveyed with the sale of the property. This can affect land values; another reason it’s important to have a seasoned farm and ranch real estate broker/agent. 5. Financing improvements. Keep in mind that any raw property will likely need improvements, and plan for those. Roads, fences, a water well and a septic system may or may not be present. All of this can be financed but it’s important to know what necessities will be part of the equation so you aren’t caught off guard. Savage says that farm credit banks were established in 1916 by the Federal Farm Loan Act to make sure farmers and ranchers had a reliable source of agricultural credit such as rural property improvements and construction, livestock and equipment, operating loans and farm and ranch property.

Hien Lam Upholstery “Where quality, service and price make a difference” Phone: (713) 523-3416 Fax: (713) 523-8610 819 West Drew St. • Houston, TX 77006 www.hienlamupholstery.net • hlupholstery@yahoo.com

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Each piece plays a part in making this space unique: the simple but rustic railroad tie-inspired table legs, pottery with a tall and slender silhouette, and one-of-a-kind tabletop accessories. Photo courtesy of The Arrangement

RESOURCES RANCH LIVING The Arrangement 713-627-9009 1721 Post Oak Boulevard 214-748-4540 13710 Dallas Parkway, Dallas thearrangement.com Carol Hicks Bolton Antiqüités Laboratøire de Design 830-997-5551 301 South Lincoln, Fredericksburg, TX carolhicksbolton.com El Tapanco Rustic Furniture 713-349-9198 7125 Atwell eltapancorusticfurniture.com Rustic Elegance 830-257-4716 411 Junction Highway, Kerrville, TX rusticelegancetx.com FINDING AND FINANCING Capital Farm Credit 281-232-6080 26611 Southwest Freeway, Rosenberg

281-392-3060 1260 Pin Oak, Katy 936-494-1600 1801 West White Oak Terrace, Conroe capitalfarmcredit.com Land Broker Co-op 208-681-7709 15602 Singapore Lane, Jersey Village, TX landbrokermls.com Lands of America Network Lands of Texas 512-263-5600 landsoftexas.com LANDSCAPING The Antique Rose Emporium 800-441-0002 9300 Lueckemeyer, Brenham 979-836-5548 10000 FM 50, Brenham antiqueroseemporium.com Washington County Landscapes 979-353-0955 4579 Highway 290 West, Brenham washingtoncountyland scapes.com

46 house& home | July 2018 | www.houstonhouseandhome.net

Now that you’ve found and decorated your own Texas ranch hacienda, it’s time to look toward the great outdoors. These properties, oftentimes with expansive acreage, can be both a joy and a challenge when it comes to landscaping. Lucas Stroech knows his way around native landscapes. He and his wife ChrisAnn own Washington County Landscapes, a landscape architect and contracting company based out of Washington County. “We deal with all kinds of projects — many ranches and second homes — some with a Southwestern design, even log cabins,” says Lucas. When it comes to selecting appropriate landscaping, some clients want a little, some want a lot, but minimal maintenance is always a popular option. Because native plants and grasses are stylish, hardy and drought tolerant, they are the go-to selections for arid climates. “We also use sages, salvias and lantana because they grow, they flourish, they almost always work well,” he says. In a Southwestern style home, he might recommend a display of agave or yucca. Rocks also can add shape and texture. Found objects and farm implements are often incorporated in his overall design. “There are usually some existing elements, like ponds and trees, that we accent. When there is a lot of acreage I find that less is more but it all depends on what the client wants,” says Lucas. Log cabins are an interesting challenge to Lucas because, he says, they need a more traditional landscape; a softer line against the roughhewn wood. “Antique climbing roses, certain varieties of day lilies and dwarf bottlebrush all work well for cabins; they can frame it in blooms even when the weather is hot,” he says. The nearby Antique Rose Emporium also offers selections for every terrain. Stroech recently completed a landscaping project for a large ranch house in central Texas. It has river rock mulch with sparse plantings and a line of Texas mountain laurels, truly a minimalistic design. “It looks very nice. The owners wanted to let the house speak for itself with some well-placed native accents.”

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BETTER BY THE DOZEN 12 Practical Tips for a Successful Remodel BY SUSIE TOMMANEY

here’s no shortage of reality television shows that mine the idea that it’s better to remodel than relocate. It makes sense to keep kids in the same school district and in the same neighborhood as their friends. Plus, you’ve already learned the fastest commute to work and you’ve most likely spent considerable time and effort customizing the home to meet your family’s needs. We want your next remodeling project to go well so here are 12 practical tips for a successful remodel.

3. Avoid Remodeling Regrets Once your finances are in place and you know your home is in good working order, it’s time to dream big. Time and again we’ve heard from homeowners who made upgrades when preparing to sell their home and almost all of them regretted not making the investment sooner. Why pay all that money for somebody else to enjoy your new flooring, expanded kitchen or updated fixtures? Your general contractor can guide you in product selection and will supervise subcontractors so you don’t have to.

Photo by Getty Images

It’s often overlooked, but one of the fastest ways to get more space is by organizing, cleaning up, donating unwanted goods and making the most of your current footprint. The pros at Closet Factory, Dixie Overhead Shelving and Ideal Garage Solutions of Texas have some amazing systems to put everything in its place and, with whatever’s left over, just call Junk King to magically make it all disappear. Voila!

1. Run the Numbers

2. Wants Versus Needs There’s no point embarking on a whiz-bang-boom overhaul of your interior if your air conditioner goes kablooey and you’re too strapped for cash to replace it. At some point during the life of your home the big ticket items will all need to be replaced, so look at the age of your HVAC system, appliances, water heater and roof before making any remodeling decisions. It’s better to be safe than sorry, so invest in a seasonal check-up from a professional. 48 house& home | July 2018 | www.houstonhouseandhome.net

5. Return on Investment It’s not news that remodeling a kitchen or bathroom gives the biggest bang for the buck, sometimes returning more than 100 percent of the investment. But it’s a slippery slope and no time to invoke Pantone’s color of the year. Keep your palette classic, timeless and sophisticated, avoid gimmicky flashin-the-pan trends and let the professionals help navigate the plethora of available materials and finishes. Photo by Brasswerks Specialty Sink Store

Establish a budget first. Whether you’ve got the cash to fund the project yourself or plan on working with a lender, it’s best to know up front how much you can safely spend. Credit unions and farm banks bring a personal touch: TDECU has helpful software like their proprietary construction loan road map, First Community can help you decide between a home equity or a home improvement loan, and Capital Farm Credit has flexible financing options.

Photo by Rubbermaid Products via CC

4. Make Order Out of Chaos

6. Making a Good First Impression In social settings we only get one chance to make a good first impression. Photo by Spencer Means via CC

When it comes to your home, the front door and garage door are some of the first design features that your guests will encounter and these upgrades are an easy way to add drama and style to your home.

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7. Functionality When physical circumstances change, it doesn’t mean it’s time to find a new home. If your mother-in-law is coming to stay after too Photo by Getty Images many falls, certain areas need to be retrofitted for a disabled family member, or you’re just planning ahead for aging in place, there are plenty of ways to modify a home. ShelfGenie has Glide-Out™ shelving for existing cabinets that are great for wheelchair accessibility.

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8. Feet First Perhaps you inherited a midcentury parquet floor, or you’re so over that Saltillo tile you selected during your Spanish design phase. Changing out your Photo by Timber Floors Pty Ltd via CC flooring can have a tremendous impact on the overall look of your home. Whether you go with hardwoods, engineered products, tile, carpeting or a magnificent Oriental rug, an upgrade to your flooring is never a bad investment.

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9. Windows and Window Coverings

10. Curb Appeal If the yard is looking more crabby than lush, or your tired old bushes just don’t seem to cut it any-

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New windows will pay for themselves soon enough, bringing overall comfort and energy efficiency. Window coverings help block out the sun’s rays and bring nighttime privacy, but they also are an opportunity to creatively transform a space. From custom blinds and shades to drapes and valances, there are a variety of options from which to choose. It’s best to take into account the style of your home, however, and let a professional design team offer suggestions.

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RESOURCES RUN THE NUMBERS Capital Farm Credit 281-232-6080 26611 Southwest Freeway, Rosenberg capitalfarmcredit.com First Community Credit Union Multiple locations fccu.org/homeloans TDECU Mortgage 877-774-2657 Multiple locations tdecu.org/mortgage

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more, it’s nature’s way of telling you that it’s time for a landscaping plan. The pros know how to hide unsightly items like electrical boxes, can build in drainage where it’s needed, and will select plants and grasses based on height, color, sun needs and durability.

11. Don’t Overlook the Garden Whether you’re longing for a tasteful water feature or you’re ready to go all out with a magical, whimsical garden oasis, there are all sorts of ways to add creative décor to your outdoor living space. Statuary, topiaries, fountains, metal objects and palapas are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to decorating for the outdoors.

12. Resilience

Photo by Getty Images

Resilience is the key to preserving your home against disasters and extreme weather events. If your area is prone to flooding, or hearing the news about how 500-year floods are the new 100-year floods, then consider shoring up your foundation or even elevating the property. Don’t overlook windows, which can be in jeopardy during tropical storms and high winds; protective coverings or shutters are smart ways to reinforce glass against weather or intruders. Mosquitoes are not a problem in other parts of the country, but they’re a huge nuisance here and the new mosquitofree outdoor curtains can be a lifesaver.And lastly make sure that your home will retain power in the event the electricity goes out; generators come in a variety of sizes to meet all types of needs. 50 house& home | July 2018 | www.houstonhouseandhome.net

WANTS VERSUS NEEDS Air Depot Air Conditioning Heating 281-477-3700 12920 Cypress North Houston, Cypress airdepot.com Air-Mart of Texas 281-830-5752 airmartoftx.com Expressions Home Gallery 713-861-2343 6867 Wynnwood Lane 713-781-2222 7071 Southwest Freeway expressionshomegallery.com Home Exterior Systems 281-797-8367 homeexteriorsystems.com Hot Water Guys 832-673-0909 hotwaterguys.com Houston Heights Roofers 713-385-1576 houstonheightsroofers.com Metro Wholesale Appliance 713-433-7248 2014 Almeda-Genoa metrowholesale.net Shamrock Roofing of Spring, Texas 281-393-7777 shamrockroofingtx.com U-Plumb-It 713-942-2277 1424 Montrose AVOID REMODELING REGRETS Bob Jackson Painting & Remodeling 713-464-2600

bobjacksonremodeling.com Colony Builders Inc. 713-272-6224 colonybuildersinc.com Floor Designz & Remodeling 832-593-9500 832-593-9503 6424 Highway 6 North floorspringdesignz.net Lewis Construction 713-944-5257 yourcompletehomecare.com PLM Remodel & Restoration 281-435-4346 6422 Highway 6 North plmremodelandrestoration.com MAKE ORDER OUT OF CHAOS Closet Factory 281-810-9070 closetfactory.com Dixie Overhead Shelving 713-294-4168 944 Fisher dixieoverheadshelving.com Ideal Garage Solutions of Texas 713-454-7084 houstongaragestorage.com Junk King 1-800-995-5865 houston.junk-king.com RETURN ON INVESTMENT ASIA Cabinetry 713-690-8885 7885 Northcourt asiacabinetry.com Bay Area Kitchens 281-338-2737 17306 Highway 3, Webster bayareakitchens.com Brasswerks Specialty Sink Store 832-790-3037 9820 Tanner brasswerks-sinks.com C&D Hardware 713-861-3551 314 East 11th canddhw.com Cabinets & Designs Incorporated 713-627-8970 1022 Wirt cabinetsanddesigns.net deSola Glass Art & Frame Gallery 281-763-2500 7770 Louetta

showerdoorshouston.com Houston Glass Block houstonglassblock.com Houston Hardwoods Incorporated 713-686-6176 4910 West 34th houstonhardwoods.com K&N Sales 713-868-3611 1401 Shepherd knsales.com Marathon Spa & Bath 281-342-8775 866-808-8827 1549 Highway 36 North, Rosenberg marathonspaandbath.com Marble & Tile Collection 713-956-8444 1285 North Post Oak, Suite 100 poolsidetile-mtc.com Shower Designers 346-205-1502 21414 Julie Marie Lane, Katy showerdesigners.com Southern Mirror and Shower Door 713-823-7914 2035 Pech southernmirrorandshowerdoor.com Southland Hardware 713-529-4743 1822 Westheimer southlandhardware.com Tile Center 713-944-8453 8907 Gulf Freeway 9730 Southwest Freeway 9810 North Freeway tilecenterusa.com Westheimer Plumbing & Hardware 713-956-0090 3600 Kirby 3590 East T.C. Jester westheimerplumbing.com MAKING A GOOD FIRST IMPRESSION A1 Garage Door Service 281-817-6474 713-766-5585 a1garage.com/Houston Cambridge Doors, Windows & More 281-530-8100 12999 Murphy, Stafford cambridgedoors.com

Door Clearance Center 713-937-9132 8245 North Freeway doorcc.com Durango Doors of Houston 713-680-3435 7026 Old Katy Road durangodoors.com February’s Glass & Door Designers 281-367-6921 26440 I-45 North, Spring februarysglassdesigners.com Ricks Front Door 713-427-2487 aprettydoor.com Southern Front Doors 281-890-5860 11234 Jones Road West southernfront.com Suncatcher Stained Glass 832-771-5134 104 South Johnson, Alvin FUNCTIONALITY ShelfGenie 832-924-7501 shelfgenie.com/houston FEET FIRST Clark’s Hardwood Lumber Co. 713-862-6628 700 East 5 1/2 clarkshardwood.com David Oriental Rugs 713-266-7772 3215 Fondren davidorientalrugs.com EZ Floors 713-465-6747 Eight locations ezfloorsonline.com The Great Rug Company 713-789-3666 3415 Fondren greatrug.com Rubin’s Custom Rugs and Fine Carpet 713-784-1180 3130 Rogerdale rubinscustomrugs.com Timberline Flooring Houston 713-785-0889 3209 Fondren timberlinehouston.com

WINDOWS AND WINDOW COVERINGS B. de Vine in Vintage Park 832-717-0299 122 Vintage Park bdevineinteriors.com Best Investments Siding & Windows 281-852-1866 12314 FM 1960 bestinvestmentssidingandwindows.com City Blind Repair 713-664-0444 cityblind.com Window Magic Blind & Draperies 281-955-5676 17743 State Highway 249 shadeshouston.com CURB APPEAL Four Seasons Tree Services 281-590-3043 4treesservice.com Gail Hartz & Associates, Inc. 713-661-4278 hartzland.com Smelek Design Golf Course & Landscape Architects 832-717-2722 smelekdesign.com Washington County Landscapes 979-353-0955 washingtoncountylandscapes.com DON’T OVERLOOK THE GARDEN The Arbor Gate 281-351-8851 15635 FM 2920, Tomball arborgate.com BayTec Containers 281-559-2334 4761 Highway 146, Bailiff baytec.net

15131 FM 2920, Tomball gardenaccentsinc.com Joshua’s Native Plants & Garden Antiques, Inc. 713-862-7444 502 West 18th joshuasnativeplants.net Statue Makers 713-467-9082 2003 Blalock statuemakers.com RESILIENCE Abry Brothers Foundation & Structural Solutions 800-787-8288 abrybros.com Armor Glass 713-213-5080 12926 Dairy Ashford, Sugar Land armorglass.com Generators of Houston 713-812-7285 generatorsofhouston.com Kiss Generators 832-723-6030 kissgenerators.com Mosquito Free Outdoor Curtains 281-236-6989 mosquitofreeoutdoors.com Rolltex Shutters LLC 281-991-9200 3004 Beverly, Pasadena rolltexshutters.com Titan Foundations & Elevation 1-800-885-5438 titanfoundations.com Windstorm Services, LLC 832-818-7873

Fountains & Statuary 713-957-3672 11804 Hempstead fountainsandstatuary.com Fraziers Concrete 979-921-2906 23200 Highway 6, North of Hempstead fraziersconcrete.com Garden Accents Inc. 281-351-4804 51

A DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH Finding a Bad House in a Good Neighborhood Can Yield Fabulous Results By BarBara Canetti

Alex Pitre covered the ceiling of the family room with cedar-stained wood and then extended that look to the exterior overhang. Photo by Meredith Grant

The original hardwood flooring was in fairly good shape and only needed refinishing. Imaginative lighting and a barn door complete this breakfast room. Photo by Meredith Grant

Photo by Alex Pitre

oni Pitre had an idea. Why not find a bad house in a good neighborhood and flip it as an investment? Lots of folks were doing that and it looked rather simple. But she had no idea it would become an 18-month-long journey for her and husband Alex. It was worth it, however, as the results are stunning. The brick house, built in 1955, is near the University of Houston and sits at the curve of a tree-lined street. It had a confining fence close to the house and just looked tired — both inside and out. So the young couple rolled up their sleeves and started working. They ripped out walls, relocated windows, updated bathrooms and gave the enormous family room — with its eye-catching vaulted ceiling — a facelift that changed the personality of the house on Rockwood Drive. “That window and that room was what made us buy this house,” says Toni Pitre, a pharmacist and mother of two little boys. “I was about to walk away but I really loved this room.” They started the process by covering the red brick exterior with a white mortar wash (slurry) that is applied in several layers, giving the house a stucco appearance but with the brick texture still showing. This updated the exterior, giving the house a rustic but modern look. Neighbors in the BEFORE University Oaks area were perplexed by the changes, but watched with interest as Alex, who is a speech therapist, replaced the columns with cedar beams to really give the house a different look. The living room didn’t need many changes — just updating the marble and slate fireplace and adding an interesting chandelier. The original hardwoods in the living room and throughout the house were in pretty good shape, needing only to be refinished and sealed. “The house had a confused layout. A big family room was added on in the 1960s and, although it was nice, it needed change,” says Toni. 52 house& home | July 2018 | www.houstonhouseandhome.net

The red brick exterior was treated with a white mortar wash and cedar beams were installed as columns, giving this home an updated and modern look. Photo by Meredith Grant

BEFORE

One look at this magnificent living room with its eye-catching vaulted ceiling and Toni Pitre knew this was the house for them. The three large beams were stripped to match the cedar-stained ceiling. Photo by Meredith Grant

Photo by Alex Pitre

A long and narrow kitchen was widened and stainless steel appliances were installed. The white Shaker style cabinet doors and white quartz countertops combine to create a pristine new space that flows out to the breakfast room. Photo by Meredith Grant

The marble and slate fireplace in the living room has a fresh new look. Photo by Meredith Grant

BEFORE

54 house& home | July 2018 | www.houstonhouseandhome.net

A private enclosed stairway leads up to the second floor and the master suite. The room is large and also has several windows for natural light. The Pitres attacked the adjacent attic space to carve out a modern full bath with a honed marble shower and an enviable walk-in closet with nooks for shoes and bags. “We pushed this as far as we could into the attic to take advantage of the space. We just couldn’t go any further — the ceiling would be too low,” says Alex. As the couple finished the project, they still had a jungle of a yard to conquer. Once all the debris and rubble were removed, grass had to be planted. Alex transformed the front garden with native grasses and a footpath with concrete patio stones. “Before we started, it was like walking in a cave but with lots of doors. So many doors. It was all closed off and had low ceilings,” says Toni. “We started out with a plan but, as we progressed, it took on a life of its own. There were surprises every day but it all worked out.” Photo by Alex Pitre

The room, which opens onto the large fence-enclosed yard, has three glass doors and three geometric windows reaching to the high ceiling. Alex covered the ceiling with cedar-stained wood and extended that look to the exterior overhang. He hand stripped three large beams and stained them to match. “When you look at this room and that ceiling, it is almost like bringing the outside inside,” says Toni. Perhaps the biggest challenge was the kitchen. The original was only seven feet wide, but it was 30 feet long. They widened the area and replaced the cabinets with white Shaker style doors and stainless steel appliances. They chose a white quartz countertop to give the room a pristine look. A breakfast room flows from the kitchen, while a utility room and full bathroom were constructed at the end of the house. “The hardest part was trying to tie the old house to the new addition, without making it look like an old-new layout. We just wanted to make it flow naturally,” she says. Two good size bedrooms were updated with molding and new fixtures. Because of all the windows, the rooms are bright and sunny. A full bath shared by those rooms was restored and modernized with marble counters and a travertine shower.

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H O U S TO N G L A S S C L U B For more information, contact Nancy Norman 281-240-0382 l www.houstonglassclub.org 55

“There were surprises every day but it all worked out.” — Toni Pitre

RESOURCES

14335 South Denker, Gardena, CA amalfidecor.com

INTERIOR Door Clearance Center (Barn door, entry door) 8245 North Freeway 713-937-9132 doorclearancecenter.com Floor & Decor (Stone tile) 713-944-1989 11542 Gulf Freeway Additional locations throughout Houston flooranddecor.com

Natural light flows into the master suite. Photo by Meredith Grant

Home Staging for Houston (Furnishings) 832-301-5696 homestagingforhouston.com J J Custom Floors (Hardwood floor refinishing) 832-433-4350 Pacific Kitchen & Home (Kitchen appliances) 713-552-1512 5133 Richmond pacificsales.com Annexing attic space helped expand the master bath. Photo by Meredith Grant

Preferred Air & Plumbing of Houston (HVAC) 281-978-2665 2422 East Sam Houston Parkway South preferredairofhouston.com Shower Doors of Houston 281-220-6886 1655 Townhurst houstonshowerdoors.com Tomas Carrillo (Master plumber) 281-777-6137 LIGHTING/ELECTRICAL Photo by Meredith Grant

56 house& home | July 2018 | www.houstonhouseandhome.net

Amalfi Décor 213-458-7740

Golden Lighting 800-277-0979 2100 Stemmons Freeway, Dallas goldenlighting.com Kirkwood & Hunter Electric Co., Inc. 713-526-3445 So Chandy’lous etsy.com/shop/SoChandylous EXTERIOR Aber Fence and Supply (Cedar gates) 281-931-1600 281-601-1495 12239 Mosielee aberfence.com Bayou City Lumber (Cedar columns) 713-991-2377 11106 Telephone bayoucitylumber.com Bellard's House Leveling LLC (Foundation Repair) 281-324-0442 bellardfoundations.com DrainXperts (Drainage) 832-776-8003 626 County Road 948A, Alvin backyarddrains.com Stringline Construction (Driveway) 713-823-0790 Western Brick Company 713-393-3400 7620 Washington western-brick.com

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PUTTING ON THE GLITZ Designer’s Final Touches Add Sparkle and Luster to Spring Swankienda By BarBara Canetti

ackie Podgurny says she has loved her house for all of the 14 years she has lived there. But even after a wideranging renovation in 2016, she still felt it lacked something. She wasn’t sure what was missing but knew it needed something special. She contacted Yessica Chacon, a designer with Charbonneau Interiors, whose youthful and fresh ideas helped give the Podgurny’s expansive home in Bender’s Landing in Spring a new and renewed look. “It was a team effort,” says Podgurny. “And now I re-love my home.” The house sits at the end of a cul-de-sac and in the center of a two acre plot. Guests entering through the decorative double doors are greeted by a large foyer with a massive chandelier and a winding staircase to the second floor. On the right is a cozy study, which Chacon says she accessorized with textured yet blingy items, placed among a special selection of family photos. The two suede club chairs that were already there give the room a calm demeanor, which the designer contrasted with the art and artifacts. Podgurny says she steps into this room to make phone calls when her two children are home and she seeks quiet time. Across the hall is the dining room, anchored by Podgurny’s favorite piece of furniture: a wine rack that stores 50 bottles with all of them being entirely visible. “I just love this piece,” she says. It covers an entire wall and dwarfs the long wood dining table, where ten could comfortably gather for a meal. Chacon says she wanted to set the mood in the home, starting with the entryway with a bit of glitzy art and an interesting glass and metal console table with brown leather straps on its base. She found decorative pieces that gave the area a “wow” feeling, adding sparkle and luster. The art behind the table as well as the triptych in the stairwell are adorned with glitter, giving the area a shiny bright feeling. In the living

Art and furnishings imbue the foyer with sparkle and luster. Photo by Texas Home Photo

Curated accessories frame the television in the living room. Photo by Texas Home Photo

room the height of the tall ceiling is enhanced with the floor to ceiling windows, framed in lush geometrically-designed 58 house& home | July 2018 | www.houstonhouseandhome.net

A neutral color palette is sophisticated and elegant. Photo by Texas Home Photo

The open concept living room features floor to ceiling windows with magnificent views of the yard and pool. Photo by Texas Home Photo

Viking appliances and steel gray granite countertops complement the Cambria Summerhill quartz island. Photo by Texas Home Photo

The wine rack in the dining room can store up to 50 bottles of wine — all with visible labels. Photo by Texas Home Photo

drapes but allowing for sunlight and a daylong view of the yard and pool. “Actually, the focal point of the living room is the outside,” says Chacon. The open concept from the living area feeds into the newly renovated kitchen. Although Podgurny admits she doesn’t like to cook, she likes to be in the kitchen. In the center of the room is a formidable island — made of Cambria Summerhill quartz — a dramatic yet serene cloud-like countertop above a gray-green colored cabinet. The Podgurnys selected Viking appliances for the kitchen: double-door refrigerator, dishwashers, six burner stove, and other items built into the counters. The perimeter work spaces are covered in a steel gray granite with a leather-look finish. But it is here Podgurny spends her day. The couple owns two businesses in the nearby communities, but she frequently works from home. She says she sits at the island where she is both comfortable and productive, rather than sitting behind a desk. The master suite is on the main floor where Chacon again inspired the decorating with sparkles to offset the neutral fabrics and wall color. She continued the drapery design, with its 60 house& home | July 2018 | www.houstonhouseandhome.net

geometric scheme, adding two gold symmetrical bedside mirrors with interesting gold markings. The whiteness of the large ensuite bathroom is counterbalanced with a tufted teal vanity stool. A delightful slipper tub sits adjacent to a marble enclosed shower with brass fixtures, glass bricks and Burano Bianco Valetta tile that resembles marble. Gary Bielamowicz of Simmons Custom Granite, who installed the kitchen and bath-

“You can buy another house, but this is a home.” — Jackie Podgurny room countertops and flooring, says the marbled tile is actually ceramic. Upstairs in their teenage daughter’s suite of rooms are a bedroom, bathroom and lounge area. Their son’s bedroom is across the hall and features special display shelves for his athletic shoes. His room is next to a large family room and a media room for watching movies in comfortable chairs. Down

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The kitchen’s island has become a favorite workspace for the homeowner. Photo by Texas Home Photo

the hall is Dion Podgurny’s office, where he sometimes conducts business. One of the home’s special features is the outdoor space. A large pool and spa are surrounded with boulders and paths that lead to an outdoor kitchen and dining area. A pizza oven and voice-activated barbecue grill (“time to turn over your steaks!”) are embedded into stone counters and sit next to two bistro tables and chairs for outdoor dining. “The patio lights at night transform this into a resort almost,” says Podgurny, adding that the family spends a lot of time outdoors. “This is our home and this is where we raised our kids,” she says. “You can buy another house, but this is a home.”

RESOURCES DESIGN Charbonneau Interiors 281-419-0419 11200 Cox, Conroe charbonneauinteriors.com Simmons Custom Granite 936-756-0714 5611 West Davis, Conroe simmonscustomgranite.com SOFT GOODS Bradburn Home (Hall console) 404-355-8624 Atlanta, GA bradburnhome.com Designers Hardware & Supply (Drapery hardware) 281-419-7749 11200 Cox, Conroe designers-hardware.com Bellacor (Dimond Home mirrors) 877-723-5522 251 1st Avenue N, MN bellacor.com

Photo by Texas Home Photo

62 house& home | July 2018 | www.houstonhouseandhome.net

Leftbank Art 800-888-7004 14930 Alondra, La Mirada, CA leftbankart.com Lili Alessandra (Bedding) 210-534-6800 12899 Wetmore, San Antonio lilialessandra.com LIGHTING Currey & Company 877-768-6428 50 Best Friend Road, Atlanta, GA curreycodealers.com Restoration Hardware 713-328-3100 4030 Westheimer restorationhardware.com Z Gallerie 713-622-2952 3920 Westheimer 713-470-4635 818 Town & Country Boulevard zgallerie.com

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LIFE MADE EASIER New Construction Utilizes ADA Standards With a Designer’s Aesthetic BY Natalie de la Garza photos BY texas home photo, llC

or David Whiteley, the principal designer of Whiteley & Whiteley Design Group, the task at hand was clear: Design the Brackett family’s next home to be both aesthetically beautiful and 100 percent accessible for their 11-yearold daughter, Natalie, who is in a wheelchair. Natalie’s mother, Julie Brackett, says they saw plenty of designs prior to meeting with Whiteley and, while functional, they shared the sterile feeling of a hospital which is not what they wanted. “They wanted a beautiful home,” says Whiteley adding that, despite taking an “ADA plus” approach to his design — meaning he began with standards set by the Americans with Disabilities Act and expanded them to meet Natalie’s specific

A 36" opening makes it easy to roll in and out of the shower.

“Here, things are easier for Natalie to access and she just has more control over her environment.” — Julie Brackett needs — only one percent of the house would have to be altered if you were to convert it back to a standard home. In the kitchen the Bracketts chose not to lower the countertops to the ADA standard of 34 inches because Natalie will never be their primary cook. But she does like to help, so a wheelchair-accessible prep station was built at the end of one counter. It features a small sink, touch faucet on the side to accommodate Natalie’s difficulties with reach and grip, and an electrical outlet. Whiteley also placed two 18-inch-wide doors instead of one 36-inch door on the pantry, and a barn door on the linen closet instead of a standard or pocket door, which allow Natalie easier access to both. The racks in Natalie’s closet were lowered so Natalie can dress herself and extra outlets were added to a large closet in the playroom to accommodate any additional equipment Natalie will require in the future. 64 house& home | July 2018 | www.houstonhouseandhome.net

ABOVE: The faucet, receptacles and switches are all within reach in this ADA compliant sink. The track system's turnstile allows access to three different areas within the bathroom. BELOW: The track system's turnstile allows access to three different areas within the bathroom’s ADA compliant sink.

ABOVE: A sloped roll-in entry to the swimming pool makes physical therapy possible without bulky hydraulic lifts. BELOW LEFT: The walk-in tub makes for an easy transition from the wheelchair. BELOW RIGHT: Natalie has her own prep area in the kitchen.

BELOW: The toilet's grab bars can be swung up and out of the way when not in use.

The transition from driveway to front door is seamless, smooth, and without any steps.

RESOURCES Allstate Brick & Stone 281-447-8564 2930 Lincoln allstatebrick.com BMC (Doors, windows, molding, trusses) 281-440-9090 844-487-8625 16002 Tomball Parkway Locations in Houston, Conroe, Sugar Land and Rosenberg buildwithbmc.com Builders FirstSource/ProBuild Lumber 281-768-0802 936-321-6800 15543 I-45 South, Conroe Locations in Houston, The Woodlands, Katy, Manvel bldr.com Carol’s Lighting 281-363-0114 27132 I-45 North, Conroe 281-446-7613 1710 Humble Place, Humble carolslighting.com Factory Builder’s Direct (Appliances, cabinets, tubs) 281-477-6464 8700 Fallbrook 713-572-4242 4242 Richmond factorybuilderstores.com Ferguson Enterprises (Plumbing, HVAC) 936-273-0205 16590 I-45 South, Conroe Locations in Houston, Bellaire, Spring, Katy ferguson.com

Final Touch Granite Kristin Wences 936-447-4346 12684 FM 149, Montgomery finaltouchgranite.com Milstead Glass & Home Décor 936-321-3300 710 Honea Egypt, Magnolia milsteadglass.com Overhead Door Company 936-756-0100 118 Commercial Circle, Conroe ohdconroe.com Pella Window and Door Showroom of Houston 832-916-8885 281-807-4222 8700 Fallbrook Multiple locations pella.com Perkins Carpet 936-756-8833 1200 North Frazier, Conroe perkinscarpetco.com Quality Insulation & Roofing 936-539-9739 2323 North Frazier, Conroe qualityinsulationandroofing.com Town & Country Pools 281-252-6337 32403 FM 2978, Magnolia townandcountrypoolso ftexas.com Whiteley & Whiteley Design Group, Inc. 936-582-6888 16955 Walden, Montgomery whiteleydesign.com

66 house& home | July 2018 | www.houstonhouseandhome.net

Much needed space in the bathroom is one reason Brackett says they chose to build new and the large Hollywood bath Natalie shares with her sister boasts a dressing area, two accessible sinks (again with touch faucets on the side), a “walk-in” tub and a roll-in shower. The shower has a 36-inch opening and no door which allows Natalie to easily transition in, along with two shower heads: one handheld for Natalie and one standard for her sister. Moveable grab bars flank the toilet, with one doubling as a toilet paper holder, and a removable bidet sits on top of the seat. A track system runs flush along the nine-foot ceiling from Natalie’s bed to the bathroom, where a turnstile allows easy access to the shower, tub or toilet. To keep the system inconspicuous, Whiteley used an eight-foot door and installed a casing high against the ceiling, leaving a 12-inch opening at the top that resembles a transom. The two doors leading into the bathroom use magnetic door stops so they won’t accidentally close while the track is running, and every doorway in the home has ADA thresholds. The garage door has been extended to eight feet in height with an extra few feet on one side to welcome a future purchase: an accessible van with rear entry. Whiteley used a gable to mask the size difference. And although all the floors appear to be wood — with the exception of the hard tile in the showers — the floors are actually continuous, seamless vinyl because uneven surfaces cause Natalie pain. The wood look gives a warm feel to the entire home, a far cry from hospital drab. “That’s the whole idea,” says Whiteley, “to create a home that doesn’t look like it’s accessible.” Natalie’s primary form of physical therapy is aquatic but the Bracketts didn’t want the bulky hydraulic or electric lifts commonly used in swimming pools, opting instead for a ramp system with an ADA-required 1:12 slope. Whiteley utilized the required length to create a curve that Brackett describes as “a little lazy river.” “Everybody really likes the ramp and it is one of those things that when people look at it, they don’t really realize the function of it until they see it,” says Brackett. Brackett admits she wasn’t sure the two years they spent planning would be worth it, but now believes it was, and getting a designer that understood their needs is a big reason why. “We never had to explain why something was important,” says Brackett. “Here, things are easier for Natalie to access and she just has more control over her environment. “It’s subtle, but it makes a big difference with Natalie’s independence.”

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8. Monogrammed Forged Steak Brand, $49.95 Williams Sonoma; 713-212-0346, 4060 Westheimer; 713-827-8056, 12850 Memorial; williams-sonoma.com 2

68 house& home | July 2018 | www.houstonhouseandhome.net

COME ON IN.

SIT ANYWHERE. 52 Models available and on display. Have a seat in any of them to find your perfect fit. • Factory Direct • Acrylic Whirlpools and Air Baths • Shower Bases • Custom Cultured Marble Products • Granite Countertops Walk-in tubs available Call for information

Houston Area Distributor for Finlandia Saunas

Serving the building industry over 30 years

1549 Hwy 36 North • Rosenberg, Texas • 281.342.8775 • 866.808.8827

www.marathonspaandbath.com

ALVIN ANTIQUE CENTER & OLD ALVIN EMPORIUM

UPHOLSTERY SINCE 1945

Christmas in July July 1– July 31, 2018 10 to 50% OFF in selected booths Over 300 Dealers 55,000 sq. ft. of Antiques & Collectibles

Visit Alvin Antique Center & Marketplace for Treasures Galore! New Items Arriving Every Day! Store Hours: Tues-Sat. 10-6, Sun. 12-5

Also Visit Old Alvin Emporium 314 S. Gordon • Alvin, TX 77511 Mon-Sat: 10-6 • Sun: 12-5

2500 S. Loop 35 • Alvin, TX • 281-388-0537 • www.AlvinAntiqueCenter.com

Custom Furniture & Upholstery by Houston’s Finest Furniture Builders 904 W. 34th Street • 713-688-1323 • castilianupholstery.com

We Stock Metallic Epoxies! Color Hardeners • Releases • Acid Stains Premium Sealers • Polyurethanes & Epoxies Counter Top Mix • Self Leveling Overlays • Stamps Tools • Training & Support • Seminars The Original

Come See Our

Showroom

Serving Texas and the U.S. Since 1990

8310 Castleford St. #250 • Houston, TX 77040 713-462-8884 • www.decorativecs.com

MILITARY DISCOUNT ACTIVE & RETIRED 69

e know how to survive

1. On-Ice Serving Set, $40 2. Cuisinart The Fruit Scoop Ice Cream Maker, $99.95

Houston’s heat. Wine glasses with proprietary

cooling gel technology, six-speed remote-controlled dimmable fans and

Sur la Table, multiple locations, surlatable.com

a host of products 3. Party Tub, $8.99 The Container Store, multiple locations, containerstore.com

for keeping food and beverages icy cold. Bering’s new patented MiniMister

4. Cool Draft MiniMister, $399.99 5. Telescope Casual Furniture, American-made (sling chairs, table, umbrella and stand), $3,200 8. YETI Tundra® 35, $249.99

refreshes for up to eight hours and from 15 feet away. That’s chill. 4

Bering’s; 713-785-6400, 6102 Westheimer; 713-665-0500, 3900 Bissonnet; berings.com

6. YETI Cooler, Texas-made with weathered barnwood, $595 Haggards Rustic Goods, 936-894-2810, 17527 Highway 105, Plantersville, haggardsrusticgoods.com

7. 66” Outdoor Porch Fan, 6 speeds, remote controlled, available in 6 different finishes, $569 The Lighting Gallery, 281-444-9299, lightinghouston.com

9. Wine FREEZE™ in assorted colors, $13.99, $27.99 (set of 2) or $42.99 (set of 4) 5

C&D Hardware & Gifts, 713-861-3551, 314 East 11th, canddhw.com

70 house& home | July 2018 | www.houstonhouseandhome.net

Not Quite Ready to Buy a House? Why Not Rent a Luxury Apartment First? We Can Find You the Perfect Place Apartmentlivinglocators.com FREE SERVICE SINCE 1971! CALL 713-783-1441 or Fill out our Form on our Website to get started All Areas & Price Ranges in Houston SERVING HOUSTON FOR OVER 27 YEARS

DISH WAREHOUSE Dish Warehouse is Texas’ largest Fiesta® outlet. Come shop in our 4000 sq ft showroom, that showcases both first & second quality Fiesta® dinnerware as well as Tervis® & Bentley®

est. 1991

Name Brand Quality Pre-owned Home Furnishings Consignment * Estate Purchases * Salvage Freight

903-567-7733 • 19249 Interstate 20• canton, tx www.dishwarehousecantontx.com 71

STory and phoToS by JoShua Kornegay

GARDENING

ABOVE: If left untrimmed, walls of black-leafed Ebony & Ivory crape myrtle will reach ten feet in height. Shown here are Sunshine Ligustrum with Chinese witch hazel and neon-colored Hamelia in the foreground. BELOW: The white Pteris fern accentuates the darker eggplant color of the Francis Oxalis for those shady areas of the garden.

ARTFUL GARDENS Creatively Transform Your Garden With Color and Intensity

masterful artist understands that complementary colors and a nice contrast between dark and light can really make a painting pop off the canvas. Artful gardeners can use some of these concepts when landscaping a yard — think of the plant colors as your personal painter’s palette — and add in some texture and varying heights to become the envy of the neighborhood. If you’ve already added a row of boxwoods in front of the house or a wall of bamboo around the perimeter, that’s a great start and here are a few ways to expand on those ideas.

In terms of color, the black and gold look has become all the rage. The colors are sophisticated and contrast well with each other, and we can get a similar look in the garden by pairing chartreuse and burgundy. Both the Black Diamond® crape myrtle and the Ebony & Ivory crape myrtle (same clones of Lagerstroemia indica under different names) offer jet black leaves. These small, sturdy trees — generally about ten feet tall — feature clusters of neon red, pure white and even purple blooms that seemingly float above it all. Add even more pizzazz by planting Sunshine Ligustrum at the base of your crape myrtles.

Joshua Kornegay is owner and president of Joshua's Native Plants & Garden Antiques in the Heights. 72 house& home | July 2018 | www.houstonhouseandhome.net

FREDERICK BUILDERS & REMODELERS, INC.

SER HOUSVING FOR TON YEAR S

SMALL JOBS & REPAIRS Kitchen & Bathroom Remodeling Room Additions Patio Covers & Enclosure Replacement Windows

Siding & Repairs Flooring • Wood • Tile • Carpeting Painting & Repairs Insurance Claims

frederickbuilders@icloud.com For Prompt Professional Service •

281-392-9111 Frederick Cilurso

Tiering and layering different species is easy. Just keep in mind their different heights and girths, as well as sun and water requirements. Group plants together that play well together. The rest is up to your imagination and style.

Fireworks Pennisetum, a new addition to the Graceful Grasses® collection, makes a nice backdrop for the lighter colors of the Lime Sizzler™ Firebush.

The extremely bright golden foliage of this versatile plant makes for an eye-popping contrast. It’s a tough plant that doesn’t produce flowers — so it’s allergy free — and reaches full growth as a four or five foot mound. For a jaw-dropping effect, consider planting the Kaleidoscope abelia or Twist of Lime™ abelia in front of Princess Caroline, an ornamental grass. Pair these versatile, variegated shrubs with Lime Sizzler™ Firebush, a Hamelia covered in nectar-rich blooms atop fluorescent variegated leaves. For shadier spots, mix variegated Pteris fern with dark Francis Oxalis, a purple shamrock plant with triangularshaped leaves. Staying under 18 inches, these plants work well together to bring a boring dark area back to life. So, for the bold gardener, or for those who want the Joneses to try and keep up with them, these fabulous combinations will bring drama and appeal to any artful garden. “Remember, work less, enjoy more!” LEFT: The Princess Caroline fountain grass serves as the perfect backdrop for the Lime Sizzler™ Firebush hamelia. For added wow and pizzazz, position mounds of chartreuse Hummingbird bush (Hamelia patens) in front.

74 house& home | July 2018 | www.houstonhouseandhome.net

Take an ordinary journey to an extraordinary place

PET OF THE MONTH

The Arbor Gate 15635 FM 2920 • Tomball, Texas 77377

Uxtâàç9XvÉÇÉÅç

www.arborgate.com • 281-351-8851

Manufacturers of spiral stairways in wood, metal, stainless steel, aluminum and brass. Stock or Custom-Built to any size. Shipped Worldwide • Free Brochure

www.StairwaysInc.com

4166 Pinemont Houston, TX 77433 713-680-3110 800-231-0793

Enhance your home with ageless beauty, inviting elegance and unsurpassed luxury.

611 Martin, Houston TX 77018 713.426.1400 www.zarzastone.com

MY NAME IS COAL! Coal is kind, Coal is smart, and Coal just wants to feel important. This two-year-old Labrador mix was returned when his owner could no longer care for him. Coal lived in a home with cats and they ruled the roost, but he got along great with those finicky felines. He is house trained and does fine when he’s home alone during the day — he just sleeps and plays with his toys. He knows how to “sit,” “wait” and “lay down,” so he already comes with a full skill set! Coal is a mellow guy who enjoys playing but is also content to lounge around with his family. Won’t you adopt Coal and make him feel important again? MALE ID# 301206 2 years old Labrador mix

The Houston SPCA, 900 Portway Drive, is open seven days a week, Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. to make choosing the adoption option as easy as possible. 76 house& home | July 2018 | www.houstonhouseandhome.net

281-830-5680

www.vollmercustompools.com 77

78 house& home | July 2018 | www.houstonhouseandhome.net

www.houstonglassblock.com

Fabulous Granite & Marble

Granite, Marble & Quartz Countertops Fabrication & Installation

713-409-4515 â&#x20AC;˘ fabulousgraniteandmarble.com 79

By George Szontagh TREC License #2212 Prepurchase/Slab/Pier & Beam Since 1990

Wood Floor Water Damage Installation, Sand & Finish

281.376.6262

WHY REPLACE WHEN YOU CAN RESTORE? TUBS • TILE • GROUT $ & Chip Repair 25 OFF Crack Counters & Cabinets with this ad

ANY JOB Rust Holes & Spots

18 YEARS EXP. • FREE ESTIMATES WE DO REMODELING!

Fiberglass

TUBS & TOPS 713.932.6090

www.tubsandtops.com

Sophies’ Upholstery & Draperies

• Custom Cabinets • Siding • Remodeling • Framing • Painting • Trim • Decks • Granite & Tile • Fencework • Pressure Washing • Sheetrock • Tape & Float • Wood & Laminate Floors FREE Estimates • Small Jobs Welcome www.residentialrenovationshouston.com • 832.651.7061

Gallaway Porcelain Works Reconditioning

Repair

Refinishing Porcelain Acrylics ■ Simulated Marble ■ Fiberglass ■ Tub Chips ■ Antique Clawfoot Tubs Refinisher for the Emporium ■

• Custom Drapes • Mini Blinds • Slip Covers • Custom Furniture • Cornices • Shades • Bedding • Pillows Fine Quality • Great Prices • Work Done on Premises Open to the Public • Trade Welcome Serving Southwest Houston & Fort Bend County

11925 Southwest Fwy. #2 • 281.879.6300

Money Makers Flags, Banners, Poles

Windsocks and Pennants www.moneymakersflags.com 1517 Blalock Houston, TX 77080

713-461-1153 800-838-1153

AMAZING FENCES & BURGLAR BARS

Beating the competition for years! Free Estimates 281-467-1898 • 281-397-8354 fax

Iron • Wood • Chain Link • Automatic Gate Openers

BRAZOS BEND TREE FARM Quality Container Grown Trees

BUY FARM DIRECT AND SAVE

Open To The Public

23111 FM 1462 Damon, TX • 979-553-3441 • 979-553-3756 fax

w w w. b r a z o s b e n d t r e e f a r m . c o m ELEVEN-TIME AWARD WINNER

Katy

COMPLETE KITCHEN REMODELS

• CABINETS • FIXTURES • COUNTERTOPS

Kitchen Bath

281.391.6279 www.KatyKitchen.com

Reflection Pools & Spas

713-559-1100

Beautiful Pools at Affordable Prices

www.reflection poolsandspas.com

Bright Landscape Designs Inc. Bright Ideas for Landscaping 281.496.3576

■

281-304-9300

TexasTubs.com

WAYNE’S HARDWOOD • CARPET • TILE (1-10 @Kirkwood)

281-596-8187

www.brightlandscapedesigns.com Custom Landscaping • Stonework Lighting • Maintenance Water Features • Irrigation Design & Installation • Consultation Serving greater Houston and surrounding areas since 1982!

CREATIVE CONTOURS L . ANDSCAPE CO

• Underground Drainage Systems • Brick, Brick Paver, & Stone Patios • Landscape

• Landscape Lighting • Sprinkler Systems • Soil pH Testing • Design • Installation

832-722-0130 www.creativecontourslandscapingLLC.com

M-F 10-5 • Sat 10-6 • Sun 12-5 or Appoint.

Russell Budnick

$50 OFF

Grad. Texas A&M

ADDITIONS • CARPENTRY • PAINTING GRANITE • CABINETS • STUCCO O.B.R. REMODELING SERVICES Octavio Ramirez,

kleinwoodfloors@gmail.com

C REATIVE I MPROVEMENTS, LLC. Residential & Commercial FREE ESTIMATES

281-804-3108

Contractor

OVER 20 YEARS EXPERIENCE • LICENSED & INSURED

With This Ad

Phone

REFERRALS AVAILABLE www.creativeimprovementsllc.com

713.828.0725 • @

Room Additions • Roofing • Painting • Carpentry • Electrical • Plumbing Doors • Siding • Decks • Interior & Exterior Repairs. Remodel Kitchens and Bathrooms. Granite Countertops.

TATCO CONSTRUCTION & REMODELING

BOB’S RENOVATIONS

FREE ESTIMATES

OBREMODELING

YAHOO.COM

Servicing River Oaks and Surrounding Areas For Over 40 Years Construction / Cabinetry / Painting Full Service Contracting Rick Tatum

mobile

713.695.4084 | 713.304.4179

rickydtatum@aol.com

Julie Downey, ASID, NCIDQ, RID

Downey Design

713.240.5377 julie@downeydesignllc.com

Paint Color Confusion? Call today for the solution to your paint color selections

downeydesignllc.com

• Painting Interior & Exterior “Quality You Can Trust One Call Does It All” • Kitchen & Bath Remodeling Family Owned & Operated 22 Years Exp. Complete Home Repairs

713-557-3310

• • • • • •

Cultured Marble Tops & Kitchen Countertops Whirlpool Tub Repair Sheetrock Repairs Carpentry Repairs Siding Rental Property Make Readys

EDRIC CONSTRUCTION Granite Countertops, Cabinets and House Remodeling. LOW PRICE AND GOOD WORK

832-738-9550

YOUR ONE STOP SHOP FOR ALL YOUR HOME GAME ROOM NEEDS New & Used Pinball Machines, Arcade Video Games & Foosball Large Showroom–Over 300 Machines on Display Sales, Rentals & Repairs

Downtown across from Minute Maid Park 1820 Franklin St., Suite B • www.joystixgames.com

713.224.2225 OUR SHOWROOM IS ALSO AVAILABLE FOR PRIVATE EVENTS.

Retail & Wholesale Authorized Dealer For Personal or Commercial Use Popular Products: Barrels, Drums, Buckets, Jugs, Jars, Pumps, Cans, Pails, Lids, Bottles, IBC;s, Tanks, & Bags.

Popular Use: Rain Water Harvesting, Food Storage, Composting, Fuel, Water Storage Flotation, & Garden Use.

Servicing the Houston Area for 35 years

4761 Hwy. 146 • Bacliff, TX (281) 559-2334 • (800) 560-2334 or Order Online #1 Rain Barrel Seller on Internet

www.baytec.net Also at our Retail Location:

EZ FLOORS P R O U D T O S E R V E YO U

AS K US Ab ou t Ou r L I FE T I M E WA R RA NT Y o n I n s t a l l a t i o n ! CARPET • AREA RUGS • TILE & STONE • HARDWOOD • LAMINATE • RESILIENT COUNTERTOPS

JULY SPECIALS

$100 OFF

HANDSCRAPED HARDWOOD Starting from $3.79 Sq. Ft.

HANDSCRAPED LAMINATE - 12mm Starting from $2.59 Sq. Ft.

PURCHASE OF $1500 OR MORE

Installed. All trim included. Limited time offer.

Installed. All trim & pad included. Limited time offer.

Present this ad at time of purchase. Not valid with any other specials.

TILE Starting from $2.69 Sq. Ft.

GRANITE COUNTERTOPS Starting from $27.99 Sq. Ft.

Includes installation. Limited time offer.

Installed including 1.5” bullnose. Limited time offer.

CARPET Starting from $1.09 Sq. Ft.

LAMINATE Starting from $2.29 Sq. Ft.

Includes installation, padding and removal of all carpet. Limited time offer.

Includes installation trim & pad. Limited time offer.

20x20 PORCELAIN TILE Starting from $3.19 Sq. Ft.

ANDERSEN HANDSCRAPED HARDWOODS Starting from $4.99 Sq. Ft.

Includes installation. Limited time offer.

Installed. All trim included. Limited time offer.

All hardwood & laminate installations include: Quarter-round, Transitional Trim, Pad & Glue

Up to 12 MONTHS NO INTEREST FINANCING

MEMORIAL CITY/SPRING BRANCH 1557 W Sam Houston Pkwy N Ste 110 713-465-6747

CYPRESS 24150 Highway 290 Ste 270 281-758-2980

COPPERFIELD 17111 West Rd Ste 105 281-656-2224

MONTGOMERY/CONROE 18024 Highway 105 Ste 200 936-582-4000

TOMBALL 16945 N Eldridge Pkwy Ste 100 281-257-5955

KATY/CINCO RANCH Katy, TX 77450-6231 281-647-0777

SPRING 5015 FM 2920 Rd 281-288-2300

KATY WEST/FIRETHORNE 2721 FM 1463 Ste # 100 832-437-5305