COTE DE TEXAS: Paris in Houston, Part Deux

Paris in Houston, Part Deux



My favorite landscaping company in Houston, pictured above, is Thompson + Hanson. Yes, you read that correctly, I said landscaping! The best part about shopping for plants at T+H is their antiques. OK, that sounds strange, I know, but believe me, their antiques are more gorgeous than their plants. Culled from trips overseas to France, their assortment of goods includes: armoires, chandeliers, settees, chairs, mirrors, bath goods, candles, and books, among other things. New or old, there is something here for every part of your home and body. The building, an old, restored stone-clad structure - is a delight in itself. If I were to start over and build a house today, I would base it on this design. It is a gorgeous space, the ceiling is raised to the rafters, the windows are all steel french doors that open onto an outdoor pergola-covered patio. The floor is stripped to its bare concrete foundation - cool on a typical hot Houston day. I want to live here, I say every time I come.

Outside, the walkways are paved in small crushed stone, just as is done in France - the basis of their design sensibility. Because the landscaping is French in feel, you won't find a lot of bright, blooming plants here. The focus is more on grasses and succulents than on azaleas and crepe myrtles, the typical mainstays of Houston landscaping. Large pots made of stone or tin are filled with grasses that quietly sway in the breeze. A large fountain is pouring water into what appears to be a huge animal bath, made of iron, not the usual stone. Nothing is typical here, nothing is expected. And no one does this better than Thompson + Hanson. Located on Saint Street in the hot, new upcoming design area of town. Neighbors include Indulge, Design District, Pile, Chateau Domingue, Krispin, and the soon to relocate, M. Naeve, featured yesterday.


The gorgeous interiors - hard to believe their main business is landscaping!

French antiques are everywhere - I love this daybed.

My reason for coming back time and time again: the up to date collection of Betaplus books, the only place in town you can buy them.

This gorgeous screen would look so good over a sofa.

Swedish antiques peek out amongst the French ones.

Typical elements of Thompson + Hanson design: stones, succulents, and perennials.


Their plants take on a contemporary feel, as do their landscapes.

No bright colors or new gauche pots, the simple - the better.

Modern pedestals contrast with antique urns.

Massed for effect.


The wildly inventive fountain.

Entry to the nursery is through a pergola holding up a water tower.

Evergreen wisteria climbs up the patio's pergola.

The best part: picnic table and wicker chairs set under a gorgeous antique chandelier. Takers, anyone?

31 comments :

  1. Wow, what a beautiful place! Thanks for the tour. :)

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  2. Wow, what a place! I love the decor & of course the outside merchandise is incredible.
    Thanks for sharing the wonderful eye candy! Wish i had been with you.......:) Bonnie

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  3. Wonderful . I would love a " jardinerie " like that in France

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  4. Such great eye candy! I love it all. You have such great resources there. Our landscaping place is called "Plant World"! Not very inspiring.
    Jackie

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  5. That is a beautiful store, plants and antiques! I'd spend a whole day in there, I especially love that screen!

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  6. Yowza. Can I move in there with you? And pls, pls, can we share that daybed?

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  7. I have a trip to Houston coming up, and I will put both of these stores on my list of places to visit (Chuy's is high on the list too)! Can't wait to see part III.

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  8. Hi Joni, I love T+H what a treat! Have they opened the restaurant yet? They have such great style. Thanks for the gorgeous photos.

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  9. Great post, Joni. I like these shop features. A little vicarious shopping never hurt anyone, right? This place looks very inspiring...I love nurseries!

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  10. Beautiful images. And lucky you to have a Beta-Plus pubs source nearby!

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  11. Gorgeous!!!! Simply wonderful! Thanks for sharing!

    Jan at Rosemary Cottage

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  12. I went away a few days and almost missed these last posts. O my goodness!! What a beautiful landscaping place. The antiques are exquisite.

    I enjoyed both these beautiful entries, Joni!

    Pat

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  13. Well I can certainly understand why you like this store Joni! So many great and fun things!!!! Perhaps I need to make a trip to see all of these great shops firsthand :)

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  14. What a fantastic shop. The muted pallette allows the colorful plants to be the stars of the show.

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  15. Fabulous photographs; thanks for the inspiring tour!

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  16. Hello!

    What a lovely blog with such a clever name. I found you on someone else's favorites list and the name alone drew me in. Now I will be checking back often for a little fix. :)

    I own a French-inspired shop in Ohio and blog about it, plus about female entrepreneurship on a sister blog I have. Please stop by and say hello!

    --Abby from The Blissful

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  17. so gorgeous!! Love all your photos. I want to visit!! :)

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  18. I wish we could have succulents all year long. I love the look. This company is so innovative. Original.

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  19. this is all so beautitiful but i pinched the photo with the water tower. that will definitely be a part of my next house!

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  20. Yay! You're on my blogroll:

    http://www.designformankind.blogspot.com

    See you soon!

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  21. I hope you do Kay O" Tooles's shop...John Salindino declared it "As French as it Gets"

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  22. What a fabulous place! Inside and out. I love the antique urns on the modern pedestals. I am going to steal that idea for my own yard.

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  23. So Chic!

    Do me a favor Joni and post shots of your house.

    Thanks

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  24. This was a visual treat Joni! Such beautiful and unique pieces..
    Thanks for sharing!

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  25. I'll be in Houston for most of November, I must check these stores out!!!

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  26. What an amazing resource for inspiration!

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  27. Diane from T + H spruced up our back yard this sumer. She is fantastic!

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