French Design in Houston: Pam Pierce

The living room: note the thickness of the doorway arches. Mirrors, iron tables, linen fabrics, down cushions - all add to Pierce's style.

This is the home of Pam Pierce, a well-known Houston designer who does French, Houston style. These photos come from the cover story of the May 2006 issue of Veranda. Pierce uses gorgeous period pieces along with non-period pieces, but, certainly, you will find no cheap reproductions here. Authenticity is the key. The look is spare, the accessories are highly edited, the mood is calm. Pierce uses lots of gold mirrors, peeling painted pieces, Santos, limestone, Swedish antiques sprinkled here and there along with an Italian piece or two, iron tables, down cushions, seagrass, stucco, and other details that when mixed together produce a visual that is breathtaking. She eschews any pattern in her fabrics and favors linens and checks.

The house is a gorgeous old Mediterranean in a very fashionable area of town within walking distance of all the great museums and the heady Rice University. Huge live oak trees, ancient hedges, and overgrown ivy all add to the Southern mystique and beauty of her circular street that lies behind an original, stately entrance. Pierce completely remodeled the house, using architectural antiques imported from France and Europe, mostly purchased by Chateau Domingue which is owned by her friend and client Ruth Gay. (Watch here for a future entry on her home to note Gay's version of French, Houston style.)

More living room: french day bed, the popular, must-have crowns on the side table.

Pierce and a small number of other interior designers from Houston have carved a niche out for themselves with this style. Their clients tend to be younger couples with enormous wealth who can afford this look. It doesn't come cheap. Several stores (mostly owned by these same said designers) provide the french antiques to fill the mansions (some are Mac-mansions) these young people inhabit. The oil & gas business which is headquartered here in Houston has been very good to us and these upper level designers have ridden the waves of this industry's ups and down. When the price of oil is low, they are scratching for clients. When oil is high, these designers are living in gorgeous Mediterrean villas themselves.

This indulgence does not stop in the house, it continues outside, of course. Pierce's yard is small by any one's standards, yet every square inch is manicured and furnished with centuries old pots and statues and with a small army of faux bois and curly iron work. Danny McNair is her landscape architect, and there are several other companies who do this look just as well: Thompson+Hansen for one. Truth be told, Gardens in Austin, led the way for these others to follow. Pierce is at the top of her game; these photos are the proof.

Chelsea Edition checks on slipcovers. That touch of pink. Layers of linen frame the bookcases.

Original large Santos greet visitors. Truly antique limestone fireplace from France. The photostylist is moving the pink flowers around.

The breakfast room: note how she thickly she framed out the shelves. Large, vintage apothecary jars - the real thing.

The charming newly remodeled kitchen.

Outside with old faux bois, french fountain and gravel (probably imported from France?)

A secret garden lies behind the antique door.

Just a Touch of Pink

Pink is everywhere these days. Southern Accents reported that at the spring home show in Paris, the deeper pinks - the berry pinks - overtook everything and if you didn't have something in this color yet, you will by next year. Patricia Gray has a beautiful blog on pink today, so be sure to visit her!

Sometimes, though, all you need is a touch of pink to get the soothing effect that light pink gives or the pop of a brighter pink. Here are some pictures with just that touch.

Pink shows up on an accent wall and in the flowers.

Pink pillows on brown upholstery with the same pink caladiums that have overtaken my yard.

Charlotte Moss' gorgeous pink velvet settee with pink chairs flanking the fireplace.

Houstonian designer Pam Pierce uses pink, but just barely.

Ah, my favorite house by Kurt Aichler (see previous post): a daughter's bedroom with a darling Indulge headboard and pink wainscoting wrapped round.

Deeper tones on the ottoman/coffee table juxtaposed against all white.

Charlotte Moss brings out pink in the flowers and pillow.

Pink and yellow, a beautiful combination.

Note how the flowers pick up the hue in the atrium. Good photostylist.

Ha - my porch! Styled with pink flowers. Now THIS is the work of a great photostylist!!

Pale pink flowers to tie in the pale pink slipcover and drapes.

Peonies and blue and white porcelain, the best combination.

> Wow! A home for sale in Houston. Those are some azaleas! I love the blue pool against the pink. Do you think they keep those gorgeous daybeds out there all summer? Beautiful.