House Envy: London

On gray drizzly February days, it can be hard to muster up the willpower to actually get things done around the office. And so, on days like today, I often find myself perusing the "Great Homes and Destinations" section of The New York Times, wishing I were somewhere else. While I suspect the weather in London today looks a lot like Houston's does (but about 30 degrees colder), living in a beautiful century-old row house like the one above (located in Fulham, a neighborhood in southwest London near Chelsea) would conquer my midwinter blahs.

The owner of this house is a finance attorney (like me!) with a large law firm in London (not like me). At almost 2,500 sq. feet, I would imagine a home like this in London would cost upward of a million pounds and the extensive renovations the homeowner undertook have probably pushed the home's value well over that even in a very depressed real estate market. This is the owner's sitting room -- notice the detailing in the bay window, which I would assume is original to the house. I think this room does a beautiful job of blending traditional details like the window with more modern ones (like that sleek and minimalist fireplace). Love the built-ins as well. On the whole, I like how the owner has decorated the room, though I swap out the too-small glass coffee table for a leather ottoman, which could play triple-duty as a coffee table, footrest and extra seating.

I'm sure this kitchen is the end-result of a huge gut-job as it's far bigger than what you would've found in an Edwardian home. I love the large center island with built-in wine storage. And again, all the storage is amazing. I'm not entirely sure how I feel about the cream cabinets -- while they look amazing with the wide-plank floors, I'm not sure how well they work with the black (presumably granite) countertops or the green walls. I also would've added a backsplash (or as the Brits call it, a splashback) -- kitchens always look unfinished to me without one.

The bedroom is lovely. I like the choice of a modern fixture with the traditional ceiling plaster and the fireplace is nice. That said, I'm surprised how unstaged the room feels -- they didn't even both to remove the humidifier sitting on the floor before taking the picture. I also feel like there's a lot of empty space here. I'm all for an uncluttered look, but a nice seating area near the fireplace would help take advantage of the feature and the undersized oriental rug at the foot of the oversized bed just seems to highlight the poor layout. On the whole, this room would've been well-served by the aid of a decorator -- lots of unrealized potential.

Here's a shot of the master bathroom -- beautiful, isn't it? I particularly love the basin sinks atop the wood vanity (which looks like a piece of real furniture). The modern faucets are also beautiful. As with the kitchen, I think the wall behind the vanity would've been well served by a backsplash (even if just carrying over the tiles used around the bathtub and shower areas). I'm also very envious of the towel warmer in the bathtub, it adds that extra touch of luxury. All in all, very sleek and modern, but the warm beige of the tiles and dark wood vanity keep it from feeling cold.

This patio is absolutely gargantuan for a London row house. I'd love to see this patio come spring -- hopefully the owner has a few flowering plants to liven things up. I also see that she has an outdoor heater, a necessity for chilly London days and nights.

There Goes The Neighborhood...

A few weeks ago I looked out from the window to see this staring back at me:

One of the most basic tenets in microeconomics is de gustibus non est disputandum (there's no accounting for taste). And yet, I still can't help but shake my head in wonder. Who on earth thought that red brick, yellow stucco and white stone would work well together? I believe this is one of those examples of more being just way too much.

Fortunately though, there are two empty lots between us and them and in but a few short years (perhaps even less), I won't have to look at it. After all, even if I advocate a live and let live attitude towards design, I can't help but feel a bit disappointed that I also have to live with it.

When Decorators Go Bad

My good friend Christina sent me a link to the real estate listing for this home here in Houston earlier this week and I couldn't resist sharing it with you all. If you'd like to take a look at the full listing, see HERE. Located on one of the nicest streets in town just minutes away from downtown, right near Rice University campus, this lovely 5,000sf. home is on the market for just under $2M and would be a dream home for just about every Houstonian I know.

That is until you go inside and get a load of the decor. There's a lot here in this house that's "on trend" (the gray and blue color palette, dark hardwood floors, limed furniture) and yet somehow I think most of these rooms miss the mark -- and some by quite a lot. It's a bit hard for me to put my finger on exactly why I think this house is so "off", but I think it just looks over designed, overwrought and, well, just a bit over. In light of the obvious time and money that went into decorating this house, I'd consider that a real tragedy.

In the living room, I actually quite like the sofa and chairs, though I wish the chairs were upholstered in a different fabric (a print would have been nice or even just a nice chocolate brown leather for some contrast to the light gray sofa, light gray walls, light gray curtains...). The zebra pelt draped across the coffee table really irks me though. I'll admit that I'm just not a fan of animal prints -- especially ones that look so freshly separated from the animal. But draping it across the coffee table? Ick. Generally though, this room just needs some more color (and I'm not talking anything too bold either -- just some deeper tones and/or patterns). I'd also swap out the white deer on the fireplace with a beautiful piece of art (with some color!) or a mirror over the fireplace.

Both Christina and I agreed that this dining room bordered on the bizarre. While I am reluctant to criticize the large painting (love the scale and the fact that it has some color), it just seems out of place in this very minimal room. The sky mural in the ceiling reminds me an awful lot of the Cheesecake Factory. I suspect a lot of pieces may actually have been removed from this room (and the house generally) to get it ready to show and I think this is a lesson in how decorating and selling your house don't always mix. By taking away the layers of accessories, lighting, rugs, etc. that would make these pieces work in this room, the end result looks like you ended up stopping midway through the design process. But then again, maybe this was the intended end result, in which case I can only say (in my sweetest Southern drawl) -- oh honey no!

The breakfast room looks like it got a fresh coat of white-wash just in time for the open house. Yawn. Shabby chic at its worst, in my book.

The layout of this kitchen looks great actually -- and it's got all the modern bells and whistles from the double oven to an island sink (and the copper farmhouse sink!) to a pot-filler over the stove. These modern conveniences also suggest this kitchen was recently redone. Too bad the limed cabinets make it look like a throwback to the '90s. Ah well, nothing a little white paint couldn't fix. ...Actually, now that I think about it, how great would this kitchen look if the only thing you did was repaint the cabinets white (well and redecorate the adjourning breakfast nook)?

This room is actually my favorite. The blue-gray walls are a lot deeper here than elsewhere, the furniture looks comfortable and the art on the walls is gorgeous. My only concern here is the furniture arrangement -- what precisely does one do in this room other than sit around and stare at other people? It's been labeled a library/study by the realtor but I don't see any bookshelves and that desk at the far end looks entirely too tiny to get any real work done. This room may be a victim of form over function. Also, and this is me nitpicking here, but I think the rug is too large for this space. I prefer 12-18" of exposed floor on all sides and this looks like less than 6".

This house has 5 bedrooms, four of which all look roughly the same, though the picture on top is of the master bedroom. I think the headboard in the master bedroom is spot-on, but I detest the animal hide on the floor (which reappears in just about every bedroom). The chandelier in the master also looks like it would be better suited to a dining room and I think I would've gone for something lighter and airier here, maybe clear or smoked glass. Generally though, like the public spaces in the house, the bedrooms just look far too cold and monochromatic for my taste. I think if you're going to stick with neutrals, warmer tones work better.

This must be the coldest, saddest nursery ever. I just hope the owners moved a lot out of here for the photographs because it's positively spartan.

The house also comes with a fully decked out "carriage house" -- presumably for your in-laws or your live-in nanny. All in all, I think it's really cute and it comes off a lot cozier (probably due to its smaller scale and lower, more intimate ceilings) than the main house, despite employing the same cool color palette and traditional-meets-shabby chic style.

So what do you think? Do you agree with me or do you like the look here?

A Change of Address

This past weekend my parents moved from their home of 22 years to a new (but nearby) house they built and customized themselves. While I'm excited for my parents, I'm a bit sad that "going home" no longer means going to visit the house I grew up in and their move has drive home more than ever that my childhood is long over. Meanwhile, the seemingly perverse realities that my (unborn) children will never experience Christmas in my childhood home or swim in my parents' backyard haven't really fully registered. For now though, I'm still having trouble remembering that I need to take an earlier exit when I head out to the suburbs for a visit -- and still having trouble finding a place for all the childhood through college mementos that up til recently had been stored at my parents'.

While this is perhaps a bit superficial, I find some comfort in the fact that the new house is drop dead gorgeous. Certainly, change is a good bit easier to handle when it's not only for the best (which this move was), but it's to a prettier place. I think my favorite feature is the gorgeous slate roof, which works so well with the brick and stone exterior. Since I thought you all might enjoy a few pictures of the new place, I asked my mom take some shots yesterday to share here with everyone.

The house is entered through an outdoor passageway that opens out onto a side courtyard, complete with outdoor fireplace. My sister jokingly refers to this part of the house as the Cloisters, with its narrow passageway and brick and stone archways. Personally, I really love the intimate atmosphere this space gives you immediately upon entering the house.

I just love the new outdoor fireplace -- too bad the family won't really get to enjoy it for another 6 months or so! My mother plans to install two large planters on either side of the fireplace for some additional color. I'd also love to see something decorative over the mantle; perhaps some decorative metalwork or even a star of Texas?

The side courtyard is flanked on one side by a small guest house (or casita, as my mom refers to it), which is just a guest room and bathroom. The separateness though of this space is excellent for anyone who hosts a lot of out-of-town relatives. If my sister and I weren't both in town, I'm sure we'd be fighting over who got to stay out here whenever we all came to visit.

This is the view of the side courtyard and outdoor fireplace from the yard. My mother has big plans for the landscaping here and I can't wait to see it. My hope is that in a few years my dad will capitulate and put in a pool.

The back of the house opens out onto a second large covered patio. Since the house is oriented on a roughly north-south direction, this part of the yard receives significantly less sun than the west-facing side courtyard, making it ideal for hot Houston summers. Fans underneath the patio will also help keep this patio cool and comfortable, even in 90 degree weather.

Since the back patio is just off the kitchen, my mother had an outdoor barbecue and mini-fridge installed here. Dave can't wait to start grilling and I can't wait to sit outside and enjoy the shade and a nice margarita.

While I didn't intend to leave y'all with a cliff hanger, I'll have to save a tour of the inside for another day as things are (understandably) still a bit unsettled on the inside. Once my mother unpacks and gets things more in order, I promise to finish this up with a tour of the inside. Just wait until you see her new kitchen; it's incredible.

So what about you? Do your parents still live in the house they grew up in? If not, how did you feel when they moved?

Houston Goes Green

Via my good friend Maple, I recently learned that Chief Justice Adele and Dan Hedges, a high-powered Houston legal couple here in Houston, have just recently completed the first LEED platinum home in the Bayou City. [Adele Hedges is the Chief Justice of the 14th Court of Appeals and Dan Hedges is a named partner of a top-notch local law firm.] Designed by the local husband-wife team of Adams Architects, the 3700-square foot house is in Upper Kirby, a neighborhood in Houston not 5 minutes from my own. The interior is designed by Marlys Tokerud, lead designer of the Houston-based design firm Tokerud & Co.

The house harnesses energy from a multitude of sources, from geothermal radiant heating and cooling below ground to solar panels covering every square inch of the roof (see above). During daylight hours, the house is powered entirely by the 140 solar panels. At night, the house runs off the power grid, with a back-up battery available in case the grid go down (a very smart investment for Houston's hurricane-prone summers).

The galley-style kitchen is flooded with light from the large windows, which largely eliminates the need for artificial light during the day (and bring in great views of all the mature oaks on the property). Bamboo cabinets are topped with Richlite, a durable and nonporous composite countertop made from FSC-certified and/or recycled paper products. I'm not sure what material the mosaic-tile backsplash is, but I would guess recycled glass.

I love how the living room is divided into a multistory sitting area and a cozier, low-slung library around the perimeter. By varying the height of the room, the architects were able to delineate between public and private zones within the same space. The window seats underneath each window provide extra storage and welcome nooks for readers.

The electric fireplace is cleaner and more energy efficient than traditional gas or wood-burning ones. The house's steel frame is left exposed throughout the house, lending an industrial feeling to the rooms. While I appreciate the restraint the interior designer (and clients) used in decorating their rooms (the place is completely devoid of clutter and chotkies), I wish they wouldn't been a little bit more venturesome color-wise than the beige, steel gray, and white color palette.

The Hedges' large two-story master bedroom is definitely a "less is more" kind of space. I particularly love the Venetian plaster on the far wall where the chaise lounges sit -- the traditional architectural feature is a stunning contrast to very modern room. Unadorned clerestory windows let in plenty of light during the day, yet are high enough not to become a nuisance should the couple sleep in.

The screened-in porch runs the length of the home and -- while I think I would like this even more if it were a wee bit wider -- the modern skylights, natural wood decking and sparsely modern furniture are lovely. I can just imagine dining al fresco here on a spring day. Delightful. I am left wondering though what the large gray conical piece is in the corner -- is it sculpture or does it perform some other function? Any ideas?

For more information on Houston's greenest home, go to the full-story as it appeared in the Houston Chronicle HERE. All photographs courtesy of Aker/Zvonkovic Photography.

LiveStrong. LiveLuxuriously.

You've got to check out Lance Armstrong's 448 acre ranch in Dripping Springs (outside Austin, TX) along the Pedernales River. Lance is currently selling the vacation home for whopping $12M (see the listing here).

The 5 bedroom/5 bath main house (there's also a small 1/1 guest house) is a relatively modest 4241 sf. The surrounding property has (naturally) 7 miles worth of bike trails and it's own swimming hole. I've hiked around Pedernales State Park during my time in Austin and it's a lovely area -- right in the heart of the hill country. If it turns out that Lance can't get his asking price (which wouldn't surprise me in this economy), I'd suggest he open it up as a B&B (a la Tori Spelling, but without the accompanying reality TV show). I know I'd happily spend a long weekend there, particularly this time of year. Besides, once he retires for real, he'll need something to do.

Falling in Love

Over the weekend my husband Dave and I went to a few open houses in the Heights with Dave's brother and his wife, who are contemplating a move to Houston (and the Heights specifically) from south Florida. During our tour, we stumbled upon this house:

Although not yet completed, the house is on the market and hosted an open house on Sunday. I couldn't resist -- I had to take a peak inside. Unfortunately, I'll never look at my own house the same way again. It's absolutely stunning inside. If God truly is in the details, than this house must be holy. Here are a few snapshots I took on my tour:

This is the wine closet (yeah, I know) off the formal dining room. I absolutely adore the chandelier (can you tell I'm a bit lighting obsessed of late?). The brick back splash is great, too, and gets picked up elsewhere in the house (e.g., the floor of the utility room).

This is the butler's pantry that connects the kitchen and the formal dining room. It stretches on for ages and the other side (not pictured) opens up into a huge walk-in pantry. Completely envious of all the built-in storage.

Oh the kitchen. This is probably my favorite room in the house (unless the wine closet counts as a room). I love how the cabinets extend up to the very high ceiling and how the upper cabinets over the island have glass on both sides, allowing more light into the kitchen from the backyard. I think my favorite part though is the faucet and sink. After living with a divided sink for 2.5 years, I would kill for a giant single basin like this one. Too bad the view out the window is of another house -- a house like this should have a window looking out into a courtyard or garden. At the back of the house past the kitchen is the giant mudroom (with even more storage surrounding a built-in bench) and utility room. There's a formal living room (with fireplace), a powder room, and master bedroom/bathroom on the first floor as well. These rooms are all lovely and I encourage you to check out pictures on the listing, but by far the most unique feature of the home is the staircase and landing:

I have no words. Beautiful built-in bookshelves with custom moldings flanking a beautiful stained glass window? Fantastic. Now, I only need to win the lottery (unlikely since I don't even play) or inherit millions from some distant and long forgotten relative. Ah well, sometimes it's fun just to dream.

[New?!] House Stalking in the Heights

They just don't build homes like they used to...or do they?

Over the weekend my husband, his brother, and I went to a bar in the Heights, one of Houston's oldest neighborhoods. Driving through the neighborhood, I was struck by how well the neighborhood had managed to rebuild while still staying true to its Craftsman and Victorian roots. In fact, the new builds are barely distinguishable from the old builds. My neighborhood (Montrose) on the other hand is a mishmash of 1920s Arts and Crafts bungalows, 1960s apartments and modern townhomes (some of which are very, very modern). While the variety could be deemed eclectic, it makes the neighborhood feel less...well...like a neighborhood and more like a bunch of random homes that just happened to find themselves situated on the same block.

But I'm not here to whine about the "lost charm" of my neighborhood -- I'm here to share some pictures from my virtual stalking. Can you believe the house to the right was built in 2007? Even the size (a moderate 2300sf.) is more in line with original builds and -- unlike new construction in my neighborhood -- this hasn't been built out to the lot line. Why can't they do this where I live?

[Actually, that's a rhetorical question with a depressing answer: because builders aren't required by law to. You see, while Montrose is roughly the same age as the Heights -- and in very close proximity to it -- the diverging fates of the neighborhoods is largely the result of the fact that the Heights is a designated historic district and Montrose is not. Thus, it's not that homeowners in the Heights have some greater sense of history or style -- it's just that, by law, all new construction has to comply with a ton of restrictions from lot size to style that are not similarly imposed on most Houston neighborhoods.]

Fortunately, the inside of this house is just as wonderful. Just look at that detailing! This house isn't just dressed up like a Craftsman from the outside: from floor to ceiling, it is one. Just look at the inlaid border in the wood floor! To quote Rachel Zoe -- I die. The master bedroom even boasts a double tray ceiling. And thanks to the falling oil prices and the swooning economy, the house can be yours for under $500k. We never found a deal that good two years ago when my husband and I were house hunting. But then again, it looks like this house has been sitting empty since it was built in 2007. Perusing HAR.com (a thorough and completely addicting housing resource for Houston that almost renders Realtors useless), it looks like there are quite a few completely adorable Craftsman/Arts and Crafts bungalows sitting empty in the Heights just looking for a home. Above is another one I found particularly appealing -- and at $469,000 and over 2900sf., it looks like an even better deal (though I do think the interior is not quite as exquisitely finished). But that's a matter of taste -- I vastly prefer dark wood and more masculine interiors to the "light and bright" spaces Realtors often blather on about.

If Craftsman isn't your style, never fear. The large percentage of the houses (both new and old) in the Heights are Victorian in style. For roughly the same price, you can buy a brand new 2400sf. Victorian on a corner lot with an absolutely beautiful front/side porch. This particular house is forcing me to revise my opinion on Victorian houses (too stuffy, too ornate, choppy rooms, etc.). Love the yard in particular, which is absolutely covetable "inside the loop". Unfortunately, the interior pictures of the house were horrible shot (perhaps to make up for a mediocre interior?). If I were the owner or listing agent, I would take more pictures immediately. You can't sell a house in this market with too-dark pictures that aren't even formatted correctly. I also noticed that the Heights is starting to build some New Orleans style homes as well -- perhaps an acknowledgment of the many 'Nawlins transplants that now call Houston home post-Katrina? In any case, I am absolutely loving the red paint on this house. I do wish more folks in my neighborhood would paint their homes something other than white, gray or pale blue. If my house weren't brick (bleh), I think I would either go for red like the house on the right or a very dark blue-gray (like Benjamin Moore's "Phillipsburg Blue", which I have in my master bedroom, and am still completely in love with 2.5 years after painting it).

In general, what attracts me to all of these houses -- and the Heights neighborhood as a whole -- is the detail that is so often missing in modern construction (particularly modern suburban construction). Unless a house is a custom build, you just don't get detailed woodwork, stained glass, elaborate tile work, etc. in most modern homes -- and I think that's a shame. I think most people would sacrifice a little bit of square footage for some personal detail and quality that makes the house feel special. But perhaps even more importantly, you're giving your neighbors something pretty to look at and something to take pride in. Who wouldn't want to walk their dog down a tree-lined street filled with houses whose styles have stood the test of time? Talk about keeping your neighborhood desirable.