A Houston Home Goes from Glam to New Trad

Most of the furnishings in the Houston home are new, though the clients “did have a handful of pieces that were meaningful to them that we integrated into the spaces,” Katie says. “The art in the dining room specifically was a piece they loved. They brought those bigger, important ‘we’re going to live here for eight to ten years and we want to see this’ art pieces.”

While she describes the aesthetic of the home as New Traditional, Katie says that “style-wise, the clients were super open.” But they did know what they wanted—or rather, what they didn’t. “They did not like the modern style of the furnishings that were in the home previously—everything in the house was white, black, and a bit too glam. We made small changes that had a big impact.” In the dining room, for instance, they replaced the black trim of the white curtains with a blue design; in the kitchen, they swapped out the black light fixtures and hardware for brass.

One of the biggest challenges was “transforming the entry into a more inviting, casual space,” Katie says. “The stairs at the entrance are very curvy and grand. However, the clients are not ‘grand entry’ people.” She persuaded the homeowners to replace the existing black stair runner with a sisal one to create a warmer first impression. As for the foyer and the space under the stairs, “we thought instead of a formal pass-through space, we could create a gathering spot for when people arrive. The client had that antique daybed, and we pivoted off that.”