Decorating Updates at Cote de Texas

 

 

My client’s curtains that made me want some just like hers!

 

You know the old adage – don’t start redecorating unless you are ready to redo the whole place.   Updating one thing makes everything else look dated.   That’s exactly what happened when, on a whim, I decided to change out the tile countertops in my kitchen for white marble.  While the new gleaming marble looked great, everything else then looked … not so great.  At the time all my walls were painted a light, warm yellow with gray trim and my entire downstairs décor was designed around those yellowish walls.   Once the marble countertops arrived, everything else in the house was out of sync:  yellow paint and white marble doesn’t look all that great together.  It drove me crazy.   It’s been a slow process to rectify since I couldn’t afford to just redo everything all at once and truthfully, I wasn’t mentally ready to do that either.  I hadn’t a clue what I wanted or which direction to go, but, it was obvious the yellow paint had to go, immediately.   After testing about 15 gray samples, the downstairs and upstairs landing were painted a soft, taupe-ish gray (Pratt and Lambert Feathered Gray.)  Afterwards, the family room and kitchen looked a little better, but the living room and dining room with their yellow fabrics made no sense.   I’m still working on those front rooms, but I’ll show you what I’ve done to the back ones. 

 

 

 

The dog door:  for 17 years, the door was right next to the window, prohibiting any curtains which would have blocked it.

 

I finally had the brainstorm that in order to have curtains,  I would have to move the door to the breakfast room!   Took me 17 years to come to this conclusion. 

 

The new dog door:  Raul added the concrete stairs on which we carved out the dogs names.  Now, how do we keep possums and other critters out of the house?

Ever since I worked on my neighbor’s house last year and added curtains to her family room, I’ve been wanting to do the same to mine.  Our two rooms are similar with windows all along the back of our houses and seeing hers looking so good made me just a little jealous.     When we moved into our house about 17 years ago, I wasn’t as into curtains as I am now.  I installed them only in my bedroom upstairs and in the nursery.   For the rest of the house, we couldn’t afford wooden or even faux wooden shutters, which were so popular then, so we settled for the much cheaper faux wood blinds instead.   Truthfully, we couldn’t afford the faux blinds either and had to put the entire purchase on a credit card.    As time went by and I became a huge curtain fan, I added yellow silk ticking curtains to my dining room and living room.   Those curtains made a huge difference and even Ben liked them, which was shocking because he was so against getting them.    I eventually added more curtains upstairs and one by one, every single faux wooden blind was removed from the house.   I would have loved curtains along the family room’s back wall as well  , but there was the problem of the dog door.   The dog door was installed right next to the windows and any curtains placed there would have become filthy dirty with the two pups running in and out 24/7.   That misplaced dog door ruled my interior design!   While I was busy insisting all my clients get curtains, I made my own excuses not to get them because of that stupid dog door.   After lusting over my neighbor’s curtains, I finally admitted to myself that in order to move forward, I would have to find a new home for that dreaded dog door.  In the end, it was ridiculous how something that took just two days to rectify – had taken me years to act on!   In the breakfast room, my painter, Raul, expertly put a hole in our sheetrock through to the brick leading out to the back yard.  He even added two concrete steps for the dogs to be able to reach their new entry.   The pups quickly acclimated to their changed routine and, finally, after all this time, I was able to get curtains in my family and breakfast room.    Here’s how the room looked before  - with the yellow walls and no curtains:

 

 

Before:  yellow walls and no curtains.  The old dog door is hiding right behind the lamp table on the right side.

 

 

The new gray paint and the new curtains!  I used a Pindlar and Pindlar linen in white with a thin gray pinstripe.  The woven shades are pulled up to the molding to visually elongate the line.

 

We made one long rod from left to right by connecting five smaller ones.  The discounted brown shades were ordered and installed by Monica who does all my curtains, bedding and installations for clients.  For details on the shades, email her at custcrea@sbcglobal.net

 

 

And a view of the entire room.  It’s so much quieter now with the curtains.  It’s like all the sound is muffled.

 

So, did you notice I haven’t shown the breakfast room yet?    Well…remember my obsession with Koobo wicker chairs? 

 

 

I’ve been debating back and forth whether I wanted to get the Koobo chairs for my breakfast room.   While I love the French chairs I got from Tara Shaw, I just really wanted to try the wicker ones.  I thought that if they didn’t work out, I needed some for my backyard anyway….so….

 

I ended up getting the Koobo chairs and loving them.  But, it’s a long story from there to here, and maybe you can learn from my HUGE mistakes.

 

Originally, I couldn’t decide between the Koobo chairs from Pottery Barn or from Cost Plus World Market.   My thinking was that I should order the Pottery Barn chairs since they were a little bit bigger than the Cost Plus World Market chairs, plus PB delivers and I didn’t want to schlep the chairs back to my house.  So many things were wrong with my thinking.  First, the PB chairs are three times more expensive at $349. versus Cost Plus at $129.00 (on sale.)  Second, yes the PB chairs are bigger, but I needed smaller ones for my space!  I have no idea what I was thinking!!!!  Comparing the two chairs – the PB chair does have a nicer, thicker woven trim than the Cost Plus chair, BUT their seats are unfinished!  You have to use cushions with the PB chairs, while with the Cost Plus you either can or not use the cushions, your decision.   Plus, I waited over four weeks to get my PB chairs – while I could have had the Cost Plus chairs that same day.  

 

This is what the PB chair looks like under the cushion.  I know – shocking!  At three times the price, too!!!!  Why did they leave the seat unfinished?   It’s ridiculous.

 

 

These are the Pottery Barn chairs.  You can see the trim is somewhat nicer and thicker, but this is the only visible difference.  They are a tad bit bigger than the Cost Plus, but it’s not that noticeable at all.  And, of course their bottoms are not finished out.  Plus they are three times the price of the Cost Plus chairs.   IMO, there is absolutely NO reason to buy these chairs over the Cost Plus chairs.   I just wish I knew all this, then.

 

 

In the end, I lived the too big PB chairs for a week and then went to Cost Plus to check out their chairs.  I  ended up schlepping the four chairs home, something I had tried to avoid in the beginning.  These chairs fit around the table much better than the PB ones.  Two of the extra PB chairs went outside where I needed them, and the other two went into my guest room and office.  

 

 

 

 

Here’s a view of the curtains from the breakfast room looking towards the family room.  I can’t tell you how much better the back of the house looks now with the curtains.  They add so much warmth and coziness, it’s a huge difference.  Even Ben was stunned when he came home.   I probably should have never told him of the change before hand because he was so negative about me adding the curtains.   It would have saved me a lot of grief to just surprise him!!!

 

 

Here’s a close up of the P&P linen – you can see the pinstripe here.  Looking at the fabric from afar, the stripe is really too subtle to make out.   It took me months to decide on this fabric.  I couldn’t make up my mind if I wanted a pattern or a solid.   I was hooked on an ikat and then a damask for awhile.  I even considered a toile.   But, I kept coming back to this fabric, so I decided I must really like it.    We used a black out lining to keep the sun from shining through the fabric and fading out the stripe.   We also used two widths per panel for fullness.  There are no ironed in pleats and the drape is  puddled just an inch or two on the floor.

 

The cushions that come with the Cost Plus chairs are adequate, but one day I will need to make covers for them so that I can keep them clean looking.

 

 

Looking at the row of windows towards the breakfast room.

 

 

I’m really happy with the results and there are just a few things on my wish list that will probably never happene.  I would love to add doors to my shelves just like Jill Brinson’s HERE.    And one day, I would love to get a stone mantel.  I still need to refinish my wood floors, or paint them, something I am dreading and keep putting off.    As for the living room and dining room, those changes are coming along and hopefully I’ll show their modest updates in the next few months.

 

Coming soon – three really great giveaways – so be sure and watch for them!!

 

 

 

A Houston Talent

Last March, Traditional Home ran an story on “20 Young Designers We’ve Got Our Eye On.”   Two were from Texas, one from Houston.

The Traditional Home Story on Julie Dodson

The young Houston designer given the Traditional Home honors was Julie Dodson.   Dodson, a graduate of Ole Miss, worked for several well known design firms until 2003, when she and her mother, noted Houston designer Trisha Dodson, came together to form “Dodson and Daughter Interiors.”   Their interiors are noted for being classic and timeless, and typically very elegant.  A few weeks ago, I ran into Julie at the George Cameron Nash showroom while she was gathering fabrics together for her latest project.  At gunpoint, Julie most kindly offered to share her portfolio with Cote de Texas readers.   Ok, Ok, I’m kidding, but I really was very pushy!  I have long admired Julie’s work which I had seen at the Pink Ribbon Showcase Houses.  So, I was thrilled when she agreed to this story!   I know I’ve been accused of only showing Houston interiors with white slipcovers and seagrass, but trust me, there is a lot more to Houston design than just those two design elements.  As you will see, Julie’s interiors are filled with beautiful rugs, modern art work, contemporary and antique furniture, and linen, silk and velvet fabrics.   Many of her rooms are filled with pieces that she designed and had custom made.    Her designs run the gamut from casual to dressy, from traditional to contemporary.   Looking at her portfolio, I can easily understand why Traditional Home chose Julie - her designs show a remarkably mature talent for someone in her early 30s. 

I hope you enjoy these beautiful pictures, most of which were taken by photographer Julie Soefer.  

The bedroom that Traditional Home used in their article is actually a guest room.  My eye went straight to the curtains and the tufted settee.  What craftsmanship!  I love the small rolled arms and back.   Such a cute bedroom!

This next project is a home in West University.  Julie used the client’s rug as the starting point to bring in the colors – a soft turquoise and the deep orange.  Notice how she used two different chairs at the table.   Also, notice the trim she added to bring in a design element to the upholstered chairs.  Love the mirror! 

In this view, you can see the front of the French host chairs, which was kept plain in contrast to their backs. 

Across from the dining room, the living room continues with the same orange accents, this time mixed with brown.  Again, the art work set the room’s color scheme.

The curtains in brown and white repeat the same coloring in the polka dot pillows.   Julie mixed classic with contemporary in this room – these painted chairs with brown leather are so beautiful!

In another West University house, this master bedroom was originally done in reds.  Julie was hired to update the room and create a serene environment.  Here the only pattern is in the 100% wool rug from Creative Flooring.  The room is large and very long, so a seating area was added to fill up the space.  A row of builder grade windows are given distinction by the beautiful curtains.

In this picture, you can see the contemporary art work upon which the room’s color scheme was based. 

Julie was given the honor of decorating the master suite in this year’s Pink Ribbon Showcase House.   Setting the tone is the gorgeous wall treatment hand painted by Segreto Finishes.  Wow!  It looks like Gracie wallpapering.  Soooo beautiful!!!!   The décor is a mix of traditional and antique furnishings.  

At the windows, Julie added a soft cornice to the shorter French doors to visually pull them higher, matching the taller windows on the right.  She added brown trim to the cotton twill curtains, adding extra interest.  I love the touch of pink silk in the ivory chair.

The bed was designed by Julie and made by The Joseph Company.  She used vinyl to cover the headboard AND the doors that lead to the bathroom.  The painting over the desk was done by an artist from Segreto’s Studio.

  

The master bathroom has a stunning marble flooring from Walker Zanger.  Around the bath, the same marble is found in 1” tiles.  Notice the studded door leading to the room. 

Another view of the bathroom.  I like how Julie used the black countertops, picking up the darker shade of marble. 

For this project, a model home on Sunset, Julie had a strict budget to work with.   I love the half round skirted tables that flank the fireplace.  

Julie lucked out with the chairs in orange ultrasuede that she found at the Guild shop.  To save money on the dining room table, she used a skirt – with brown trim to dress it up.

In the breakfast area, she used a tufted banquette and a zinc table. 

For this large custom home in Memorial, Julie chose a wool patterned rug from Creative Flooring to anchor the furniture.   Again, the rug and the pillows provide the only pattern.   She found the oversized angel wings in Highpoint.   The Joseph Company made the custom furniture. 

In the dining room, Julie used beadboard on the ceiling and then had it antiqued.  The chairs are covered in two fabrics, the velvet is a Mokum fabric.  The silk curtains are just gorgeous and perfectly match the Mokum fabric.

Above the table is the beautiful David Iatesta chandelier – one of my personal favorites!  I love it so much!!!!  It also comes in a celadon color and has matching sconces.  HERE.

The kitchen continues the elegant feel of the house, with upholstered barstools and an area rug. 

The powder room – notice the carvings on the cabinet!  

In the master bedroom, Julie wanted a quiet atmosphere with pops of color coming from the art work.  The mirrored night stands add a reflective quality to the room.

In the master bathroom, Julie used Sienna Silver, a travertine, from Walker Zanger.   It creates a great linear feel to the room.  

In 2008, Julie again was given the master bedroom suite of the Pink Ribbon Showcase House.  Here she used an iron bed with brown linen curtains. 

The bed helped bring the room’s high ceiling down to a more human scale.   I really love this room with its mix of antique and traditional furnishings.   On either side of the bed, she placed large pieces of art work instead of the more typical mirrors.  So pretty!!!!!

Showing that she does more than traditional interiors, Julie designed a very contemporary custom house in River Oaks.  

The living area is one large room with the dining area on one side.  The client’s family is large and they needed much room for entertaining.   The owner requested two triangular tables which Julie commissioned Bill Peck to make.  Julie took the color scheme from the owner’s art work.  A user friendly vinyl was used on the chairs.

At the other side of the room is the sitting area.  These great acrylic tables were custom designed by Julie and made by Muniz Plastics out of Florida.

The kitchen – notice the beautiful carpentry on the right!   The barstools have acrylic legs. Great light fixtures.

For this house, in Memorial, Julie designed the two cabinets on either side of the fireplace and had them custom made.  So much prettier than the typical built in cabinets.  

In the same house, the kitchen leads off the family room.  Here, a zinc top table came from Joyce Horn Antiques and the light fixture is by Restoration Hardware.

And, another view of the kitchen shows the darling bar stools, designed by Julie and made by The Joseph Company.

In this new construction house in Tanglewood, Julie used a rug from Creative Flooring.  The beautiful silk curtains are a light blue, taken from the rug’s colors.  The antique mirror came from Watkins Culver and the chandelier is by Niermann Weeks. 

Another view of the library.  I love that coffee table with its marble top and gilt legs. 

And finally, in the same house as the library, across from the family room was this open space.  The owners wanted something pretty to look at and instead of buying just a mirror,  Julie added art work from Cavalier Fine Arts, lamps with Fortuny shades from The Gray Door, and the ultimate – a gilt wooden bow from  Kay O’Toole!   I am so in love with that bow!!!!    I think she did such a great job, taking an insignificant corner and turning it into a wonderful place to rest your eye.   If I ever found a bow like that, hmmm….!

A special thank you to Julie Dodson from Dodson and Daughter.  To visit their web site, go HERE.  Julie promises some new photographs of two big projects in the near future and I can’t wait to see them!  Photographer:  Julie Soefer at 713.529.4700.

AND FOR HOUSTONIANS:  Monique Topping returns with a house full of antique furniture:

Besides the antiques, Liz Sloss’s jewelry will be featured.

And, Kathy Slater’s beautiful coffee tables will be there too.  To visit Kathy’s wonderful New Orleans shop, go HERE. 

Be sure to drop by this Thursday – Saturday to see all the merchandise AND the beautiful house!