A new house in Houston taps into all things fresh, fancy, and French-inspired.
ButFrench styleis such an umbrella term that its looks can go in many directions.
Clarification was in order.
The chateau-style house was built in 2019.Credit: Julie Soefer
A second option was Louis XV rococo, which would have embraced lavishly carved frames and heavy gilding.
“They were so drawn to the idea of formal interiors,” Cummings says.
“But the spaces needed to be fresh and include visual interest without the visual fuss.
Credit: Julie Soefer
This is a young couple who are well-dressed and well-traveled.
We wanted the interiors to represent their taste in an updated way.”
“Furniture would have been much darker and fabrics would have been heavier.
Credit: Julie Soefer
We went for an American in Paris theme instead of one that took French style literally.”
But this house had two additional goals.
First, it had to withstand the traffic and activity of young children.
Credit: Julie Soefer
When the project started, the homeowners had two kids and a third on the way.
Designer Eleanor Cummings
The spaces needed to include visual interest without the visual fuss.
Next, the layout needed to work well for entertaining.
Credit: Julie Soefer
Easy flow throughout the rooms and comfortable spots to sit and enjoy conversation were must-haves too.
The entrance hall serves as a perfect example of merging antiques with a fresh architectural foundation.
The designers modernized classic French sensibilities.
Credit: Julie Soefer
Tucked into one alcove, a marble-top table displays traditional blue-and-white porcelain and a modern abstract.
The foyer wall contrasts a gilded fragment with a modern demilune table.
Two arrangements furnish the large space.
Credit: Julie Soefer
One is intended for conversation and before-dinner cocktails.
To achieve the goal ofParisian chic, the living room shows off key architectural elements.
An oval wreath carved into the stone fireplace suggests the traditional placement of a mirror.
Credit: Julie Soefer
A paneled ceiling caps the all-white room that is punctuated with matching sofas covered in blue mohair.
An armchair wears the color, too, but in a lighter shade.
Most spaces in the house boast large dimensions, but thedining room is intimate in scale.
Cummings and Phillips opted for light and airy elements to make it visually expansive.
The raw oak floor was laid to create angles pointing in multiple directions.
It’s utilitarian but can easily be altered with colorful accents.
Polished marble gleams on the island and backsplash.
Silver accents on pendant lights and the range and hood add sparkle.
The kitchen offers space for the homeowner to practice her love of cooking and baking with her children.
Credit: Julie Soefer
A French range is topped with a custom hood lined in steel that was built to coordinate.
Glass-front cabinetry extends the airiness of the all-white palette.
Coated performance linen was used to upholster the counter stools.
Credit: Julie Soefer
This is a house of contrasts, with clients who were open to our vision.
A medley of pale fabrics splashes the primary bedroom in delicate color.
Especially noteworthy is the tufted sofa upholstered in blush velvet.
The thick back of the sofa houses a television that rises from it for easy viewing from the bed.
Just steps outside the primary bedroom, a private balcony mixes furniture that’s both delicate and hefty.
A custom daybed was made to extend the French concept of the interiors but with a durable outdoor presence.
Rose-color travertine slabs in sculptural geometric forms, bought from a local shop, are used as tables.
The pool is home to swim competitions that the owners host for friends.
Used regularly for alfresco entertaining, the outdoor dining space references the pool with cushions in sky blue.
A pair of outdoor wing chairs provide comfortable spots to relax by the fireplace.
An open architectural fragment was fitted with a mirror that reflects light and the exterior spaces.
“We’ve never tackled a house that was quite this formal,” Cummings says.
“This is a house of contrasts with clients who were open to our vision.
We love what we delivered.”
The right mix is what makes the look.
