Design Meets Desire With This Houston Humble Abode

By Jane Humphrey By Jane Humphrey | August 29, 2022 | Home & Real Estate, Home & Real Estate, Home & Real Estate Feature,

The kitchen touts a colorful mix of patterns, bold textiles and fancy fixtures.

Entertaining and quality time were key factors in creating this young family’s forever home.

The living room features a collection of china plates hung as a gallery wall.

The buffet holds sentimental value as it is a family heirloom.

“The aesthetic of this project can be described as a riff on the traditional—some vintage pieces mixed with classic, contemporary fixtures, and a muted but happy color palette that all evokes a relaxed, family-centric home,” shares Jennifer Hunter (jenniferhunterdesign.com), who was tapped to help this young family of four create their dream home. “While the clients have two young boys, we wanted the spaces to feel warm with a little feminine flair to represent the wife’s sensibility.” Having originally met as sorority sisters at the University of Texas Austin, Hunter was already privy to her friend’s sense of style, yet the homeowners offered Hunter free rein as it pertained to design. “This was a dream client that gave me full creative freedom. Those clients are truly a gift because they trust you implicitly and the outcome is just magic,” shares Hunter. One key request that rang as music to Hunter’s ears was that they wanted wallpaper for almost every room. Ensconced in the West University area of Houston, the house sits pretty at 4,700 square feet, featuring four bedrooms and 3 ½ baths. Form and function were top of mind as the homeowners love to roll out the warmest of welcomes—offering guests the perfect spot to enjoy conversation, toast cocktails alfresco or share a meal with friends. “My two favorite spaces are the dining room and family room,” notes Hunter. “There is this boldness yet subtleness about each of them. You have these wow moments, but with just the right amount of softness that makes the rooms feel approachable and comfortable. You can really imagine and see the family living in these spaces on the day to day.” Wanting the space to exude a classic Southern charm yet be equally relaxed at the same time, Hunter weaved in traditional elements such as family heirloom pieces like the buffet in the dining room—which was the client’s grandmother’s—and a treasure trove of antiques mixed with pops of color and contemporary flair, which included the selection of commissioned art, including a piece from Florida-based artist Caleb Mahoney. Every nook and corner of this home was meticulously thought through—ultimately creating the perfect balance for the family to enjoy.

The family loves to entertain