Interior design

Galveston's Carr Mansion

September 09, 2018 in Interior Design, Historic Preservation

I recently became a member of Preservation Houston, and have since been increasingly interested in preservation efforts in and around the city. One exciting historic renovation triumph is Carr Mansion, a new little boutique bed and breakfast in Galveston. Built in 1866, it is one of the last remaining landmarks of the island's original building boom in the mid 1800s.

*Photo by Maggie Kloss / Source: Carr Mansion*

Just after the Civil War, the Greek Revival mansion was built by Lewis W. Carr. In 1870, Texas governor Richard Coke, who founded A&M, purchased the house as a summer home. Over the span of 150 years, the home has endured a lot. From surviving the devastating hurricane in 1900 (the deadliest natural disaster in US history) to being used as a home, church, boarding house and more, the mansion has had many owners and its ups and downs of both TLC and disrepair.

In 1889, Herman and Bertha Marwitz purchased the home as a gift to their daughter and her husband, Ida and John Gross. John worked with Galveston architect Nicholas Clayton, who was well known at the time, to remodel and expand the property. A new ballroom with a turret and bay window were added. A new front entrance with French doors, ornate fireplace mantles imported from Europe, along with plumbing and electricity, were just a few of the major additions.

"This suite is called The Newlyweds for John & Ida Gross, who were given the estate as a wedding gift by Ida's parents, Herman & Bertha Marwitz." Photo by Maggie Kloss / Source: Carr Mansion — *"This suite is called The Newlyweds for John & Ida Gross, who were given the estate as a wedding gift by Ida's parents, Herman & Bertha Marwitz." Photo by Maggie Kloss / Source: Carr Mansion*

In 2017, the estate was purchased by Clay Carter, who runs an Austin-based investment team. Carter, who grew up in Houston, saw potential in the mansion and wanted to create a destination in Galveston that travelers would be excited about visiting.

“One of the values that drove me to revitalize this house," Carter says, "is a desire to be a part of good things being redeemed and resurrected. We’re thrilled to be able to breathe new life into this beautiful, historic home and provide memorable experiences to tourists and the Galveston community.” Austin-based Shannon Eddings was selected as the interior designer, and the team went to work renovating the historic home.

Each of the rooms are thoughtfully named after historically significant people to the mansion's past: The Preacher, The Church Lady, The Socialite, The Newlyweds, The Merchant, The Grocer, and the Governor, as well as The Carriage House -- a later addition to the home that used to house a horse-drawn carriage.

"This room, aptly named The Preacher, is a token to the pastor and his wife who lived upstairs in this room during the 1950's and led a church on the main floor of the estate for local Galveston residents." Photo by Maggie Kloss / Source: Carr … — "This room, aptly named The Preacher, is a token to the pastor and his wife who lived upstairs in this room during the 1950's and led a church on the main floor of the estate for local Galveston residents." Photo by Maggie Kloss / Source: Carr Mansion

Eddings filled the home with a mix of antiques and pops of mid-century, giving it a welcoming, colorfully eclectic feel. The designer says that Carr Mansion "combined two of [her] passions, history and design, and got [her] seriously interested in 1800's Texas architecture."

Throughout the hotel, guests will find nods to the mansion's past, from historic maps to framed postcards from the bygone era. Eddings told the Houston Chronicle that it was "exciting to juxtapose the historic woodwork and molding of the place with clean-lined, contemporary furniture and lighting."

*Hestia, Greek Goddess of the Hearth, is an ivory carving detail over the antique fireplace in the pub. Photo by Maggie Kloss / Source: Carr Mansion*

Only an hour from Houston, Carr Mansion is beckoning to me as a local oasis -- one where historic preservation meets fresh design, and I'm looking forward to visiting the beach again to see this beautiful mansion in person.

Design Soulmate: Jenny Wolf Interiors

September 21, 2017 in Interior Design

I first became familiar with Jenny Wolf Interiors when I was a junior at Wofford. My passion for interior design was swelling, and I'd reached out to the college's career counselor to discuss my design interests and job opportunities. I learned about Dakota Willimon, a Wofford alumna and fellow Art History major, who was working in New York City for Jenny. It was a powerful feeling seeing another Wofford Art History major go on to be so successful working for such an incredible firm. I quickly became absolutely enamored with their work and an admirer from afar, and it's not hard to see why.

*A brass train rack, like the one used above as an entry catchall, is a nice alternative to boring hooks. I spy one of my favorite Urban Electric fixtures!*

A lot of designers love the quote "God is in the details." But not all designers are masters of this. Like most people, I'm a sucker for the details, and Jenny Wolf nails them. In all of her projects, the attention to the small things is what elevates her spaces into rooms with endless depth and character.

New Orleans born, Jenny opened her firm in 2011 after working for Ralph Lauren and earning a degree in Interior Design from Parsons. She believes "a home should reflect the sensibilities of the people living in it, showcasing the things they love and have collected over time." She also echoes one of my own beliefs: "When you buy things you love, they always find a way to work together."

Layering is key. The secret to visually appealing details is a variety — of height, material, textures, new and old. — *Layering is key. The secret to visually appealing details is a variety* — *of height, material, textures, new and old.*

It's no secret that blue grays and whale blues and whale grays and all the combinations thereof make me weak in the knees —but I'm also inexplicably drawn to European mounts (I'll owe that one to my brother's influence.) Several of Jenny's spaces utlize both, which gets a giant two-thumbs up from me.

Blue gray STRIPES?  Gold-framed nude sketches?? I might faint!  Perfection. — *Blue gray STRIPES? Gold-framed nude sketches?? I might faint! Perfection.*

*There they are! There's just something about a collection of European mounts that feels so...right.*

*Let it be known that this is the paint color of my future closet.*

I could go on and on about what makes her work so amazing, but I'll let it speak for itself:

*The vintage -looking powder blue Smeg refrigerator and the built-in chalkboard make the kitchen feel playful and casual, the perfect family gathering spot.*

*One of my favorite bathroom vignettes. So masculine...then wham! Those vivid orange roses.*

Sari's Arbitrary Design Rule: Every house should have a gold, round convex mirror.  And probably a Le Tigre silk velvet lumbar pillow, too, if we're being serious. — *Sari's Arbitrary Design Rule: Every house should have a gold, round convex mirror. And probably a Le Tigre silk velvet lumbar pillow, too, if we're being serious.*

Trying to capture this eclectic feel in your own apartment or home? Go antique shopping! Mixing in antique paintings, accessories and furniture makes a space so much more interesting than using all squeaky clean West Elm or Ikea.

*You might think black doesn't belong in a little girl's room, but Jenny just proved you wrong. It so, so belongs.*

I'm also a  big fan of vintage trunks used as coffee tables. — *I'm also a big fan of vintage trunks used as coffee tables.*

*If you want a bathroom you don't have to remodel in 10 years, white subway tile will never go out of style. Black and brass accents make this monochromatic powder feel so clean and fresh.*

Design tip: if you often use your coffee table for snacks, board games, or to kick your feet up on, keeping your accessories on a tray helps keep the surface clear at a moment's notice (and sure is pretty to look at!)

Love Jenny's taste as much as I do? Check out some of my inspired finds below. Lastly, I spy a Paule Marrot print in this living room above. Stay tuned for my next post — I'll tell you a little more about the Parisian textile artist and show you which print I purchased for myself — one of my first big design purchases!

1. Gold Convex Mirror $89.90/  2. Cire Trudon Candle $55 / 3. Scalamandre Le Tigre Pillow Cover $249 / 4. Mini Vintage Match Bottle $10 / 5. Vintage Mounted Horns $52 — 1. Gold Convex Mirror $89.90/ 2. Cire Trudon Candle $55 / 3. S calamandre Le Tigre Pillow Cove r $249 / 4. Mini Vintage Match Bottle $10 / 5. Vintage Mounted Horns $52

Design Soulmate: Bailey McCarthy

January 14, 2017 in Interior Design

Working for Courtney Hill Interiors, I see a lot of inspiring design on a daily basis. Floating around in my head are images of brass inlaid floors, striped velvet trims, navy lacquered dens, intricate marble tilework, and antique decorative hardware — it's pretty dizzying. I’ve been wanting to start a design blog of my own for quite sometime to get it out of my head and into writing (After all, I authored the L/E Journal design blog for over a year), but never quite had the right inspiration to kick start things. Until last week. At home sick as a dog, I stumbled upon Bailey McCarthy’s Instagram and blog and found myself completely enamored. A total design crush was born.

*McCarthy's work is fun, colorful, chic and sophisticated all at once.*

Scrolling through her enormously popular blog Peppermint Bliss, it doesn't take long to discover just how funny and lovable Bailey is. She and her husband Peter, who are based in Houston, call their house in the countryside "The Shmamptons", for example.

*The always cheerful Paint Wall at Bailey's home goods store, Biscuit.*

I’ve followed Bailey on Instagram for years, and I’ve frequented her vibrant and beautiful store Biscuit since I moved to Houston, but it wasn’t until last week that I really delved into her "creative legacy." House Beautiful has called her style "quirky chic," which I think really nails it.

*Left: The giant glittering work of art at the entrance to one of her previous homes is by one of my favorite artists, Ashley Longshore.*

I felt this kinship with her colorful, humorous style — an aesthetic I’ve appreciated myself for as long as I can remember. As I lay in bed surrounded by crumpled-up tissues, my nose redder than Rudolph's, I could feel her fantastic design work slowly bringing me to life, one sparkly bar at a time.

*Right: McCarthy's own jewel box of a bar was just published in House Beautiful this month. Can I live in there?*

Above left, the moss-green leather-wrapped counter top, the nail head detail and the tortoiseshell wallpaper have me drooling. Below left, the giraffe head above the fireplace is exactly the sort of quirky surprise I love about McCarthy's interiors. Shout-out to you, Bailey — you're cool beans, and my new idol.

Right: A sheep, a walrus, a vintage trunk, and antelope print carpet? Honestly, it doesn't get any better.

*Left: I love everything about this little boy's room. Right: Oh, and I love everything about this little girl's room.*

If you've been on Pinterest, you've seen her incredibly fun monochrome dog powder room below. No matter how many times it pops up, it always makes me happy. On the right is her guest room, currently featured in House Beautiful. The vibrant Zoffany wallpaper frames the bed's niche, which manages to perfectly balance traditional and elegant with cozy and welcoming. That's Bailey again and again — her interiors are just so chic and sophisticated while somehow staying completely unpretentious and playful.

*Left: Everyone needs a powder room with dog wallpaper, in my opinion.*

One of the reasons I adore McCarthy's work is because I see a few similarities in my own design style. Like her, I try to infuse my personality, travels and a good sense of humor in my interiors.

“My style is traditional with a sense of humor. I don’t like items that just sit there. Your surroundings should engage you, make you laugh, make you smile — otherwise, what’s the point?”

— Bailey McCarthy

*Pieces from the gallery wall above my sofa have been collected over the span of many years. (Note to self: buy candles for sconces.)*

Above my sofa, antique sconces found at Paris on Ponce in Atlanta flank a collection of eclectic and playful art. The map of Paris was given to me before my semester abroad there. The "deer gentlemen" paintings were purchased from an artist in a Parisian flea market. The Boston Terrier head was gifted to me by my best friend (Terriers are my alma mater's very fierce mascot, if you can believe it). And, I have a confession. Mr. Squirrel was purchased from Urban Outfitters in 8th grade — the art historian in me is crying — but he makes me smile. It's not serious — and that's the point. It's a collection of things that make me laugh, and to me, that's the mark of a well-decorated home.

*I'm also fond of collecting coffee table books, particularly ones that have personal meaning or make me laugh.*

Below left, holding my giant collection of photo booth memories, is an antique German mug from Uncommon Objects in Austin that reads "I'm not greedy / I just like a lot". The monkey on the right was a birthday card from my brother years ago. Inside the card reads: Happy Birthday! Enjoy this photo of a monkey in a hat. Oh, I'll enjoy it alright. I'll even frame it in a (deliberately) cheap gold frame and place him in my bathroom to greet me every morning.

♫♪ These are a few of my silliest things ♫♪ — ♫♪ *These are a few of my silliest things* ♫♪

Do I think that when I'm an "adult" (not sure what that really means) I'll still have a framed monkey in my house? Maybe. Okay, probably not. My design taste will evolve and mature, but for now, these things make my apartment a very happy place, one that resonates with the core of who I am — and to me, that's exactly the point of good interior design.

“An interior is the natural projection of the soul.”

— Coco Chanel

If you're ever in Houston, Bailey's store Biscuit truly is a must-visit.

My wish list is growing:

The Architect’s Daughter

Featured posts:

Galveston's Carr Mansion

Design Soulmate: Jenny Wolf Interiors

Design Soulmate: Bailey McCarthy