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The Cutest House on the Block

August 27, 2015

Location: Houston, Texas. We never know what neighborhood to claim! We’re somewhere between Upper Kirby and Montrose.
Built in: 1930, and since then has continued to become more and more “charming.”
Renters: Allyson, Maricarolyn and Christina (since Fall 2013) – all San Antonio natives.
Decor inspiration: To be honest, we aren’t exactly sure what to say our design inspiration is. We have been really fortunate to “inherit” furniture, accessories and art from both our families…so I guess you could say that we have taken advice from the one-and-only Tim Gunn who famously challenges his design students to “make it work!”  
Describe your place: Eclectic, colorful, cozy and we would hope inviting to all our friends!
What we love most about this house: It’s just as they describe it above. We love how eclectic it is and vouch for it being quite inviting, especially when being offered a glass of wine upon entering. And of course, the bedroom turned closet.

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Front door wreath created by Christina and Maricarolyn’s mom.

HoustonHouse 035Their gallery wall is a collection of trinkets from all their travels. The picture of red & gold dress is a sketch of Allyson’s mother’s coronation dress that she wore when presented during Fiesta in San Antonio, Texas in 1975-ish. The over-sized porcelain lamps belonged to Christina and Maricarolyn’s great-great Aunt whom they believed had impeccable taste.

HoustonHouse 002The deer mount is Christina’s first shot and first kill. “We have named him Hank, and he is the man of the house.”

house001HoustonHouse 004Chinese Calligraphy Paintbrush with Jadeite Handle – hunted down in Round Top, Texas.

HoustonHouse 005HoustonHouse 009The blue, green, yellow floral painting was a gift to Maricarolyn, found at Round Top Antique Show.

HoustonHouse 011Another object hunted for at the Round Top Antiques Show – the brass pineapples.

house003The bar is an old armour that they installed lighting in to showcase our obsession with barware. The silver goblets were a gift from an estate sale. The etched Mexican wine glasses and hand-blown, beer glasses were purchased in Cabo San Lucas. The Martini glasses and champagne flutes were purchased in a pinch before an improptu NYE gathering.

HoustonHouse 012The mini liquor bottles are a “vintage” collection bequeathed to the bar by Christina and Maricarolyn’s dad.

HoustonHouse 015house005Built in’s with various books, picture memories and knick-knacks. “Also where we sit, sip coffee and watch the news every morning.”

HoustonHouse 010Hop-Scotch down the hall “because Allyson is the best, most fun roommate ever!”

house002“The closet came to be one afternoon when my mom was in town and I was lamenting about the size of the closets in ‘this old house’. One particular frustration I was having was that I felt as though I was not wearing as many of my clothes as I should be, simply because I could not see them. As I am sure most every girl can relate, we had been creative with storage for shoes, jewelry, special occasion pieces, etc. But that often meant they were in boxes way up high in the closet or stored under beds…out of sight, out of mind. As ideas tend to escalate quickly with me and my mom, we soon began to lay out what merging my bedroom with Maricarolyn’s and transforming what was my bedroom into a “walk-in closet” would look like. We thought it looked pretty good, so with a quick call for MC’s approval, the re-arranging began. A few rolling racks, jewelry bars, and an ottoman later…we had ourselves the closet room. It also didn’t hurt that Maricarolyn and I can share clothes, so although our pieces were kept separate, we were really able to combine our wardrobes into a space where we could see most all our options at once! We think it’s brilliant and it certainly makes getting ready in the morning a little easier!”

HoustonHouse 027The old door was found at an antique store and now serves as a display for Marcarolyn’s necklace collection.

house007HoustonHouse 028HoustonHouse 026Photo of Bill Cunningham: Taken by Caroline Fontenot (hey, that’s me!) on a trip to NYC. “Mr. Cunningham is a legendary street photographer whose passion is capturing the fashion that really comes to life on the street and off the runway. When I saw this picture, I thought what great inspiration to have in the closet room…to be encouraged and challenged to get dressed every morning with the idea that you just might capture the attention of someone so keen on fashion. After all, as Mr. Cunningham says: ‘fashion is the armor to survive everyday life’… and I agree.”

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Filed Under: Homes

Take Me Home – Jess Graves

October 14, 2014

I’m excited to share some of my favorite images I shot of Jess Graves‘ house, styled by Ginny Branch.
You can visit Apartment Therapy to get the details on her beautiful living room and dining room!

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Filed Under: Homes

Take Me To Louisiana

May 8, 2014

For as long as I can remember, my [Mark’s] family has gotten together in my parents hometown of Rayne, Louisiana for an Easter crawfish boil. I don’t know when the tradition started but it is understood that regardless of if everyone can make it, there will be 200 lbs of locally grown crawfish waiting for us at my Pappy’s camp to end the Lenten season. It started with immediate family but as the kids have grown up and gotten married it has grown to include friends, extended family, and in-laws. I have been absent for more Christmas mornings with my family than crawfish boils. Caroline and I make the 10 hour drive for 36 hours of gluttony and laughter every year and don’t anticipate ever stopping.

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One of our favorite road trip stops – The Abita Brew Pub for a beer and a po’ boy. If you’ve never visited Abita Springs we highly recommend it. Make sure to save time (and eat before you go) to make a visit to the Abita Brewery Tasting Room. It’s free, you pour your own glasses, and it’s unlimited. Pretty much the best tasting room ever.

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Dessert stop in Baton Rouge for a plate of beignet fingers at Coffee Call. If you’ve been to Cafe Du Monde in New Orleans, never go back. Coffee Call puts the New Orleans tourist trap to shame.

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Welcome to Rayne, Lousiana – Frog Capitol of the World.

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The Camp – Mark’s grandfathers 40 acre property. The camp was built out of the old Lafayette Parish Court House that was located in down town Lafayette. Pappy and one of his brother-in-laws purchased all the wood when the court house was being torn down. They built the camp on weekends and holidays until it was finished in 1959. Some minor improvements have been made over the years to keep it maintained.

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Pappy!

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The green walls in the kitchen were originally mahogany from the courthouse judges paneling. 

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The utensils are from Mark’s great-great Grandparents house. The pictures in the camp were given by different people. The picture just above the banner is one Mark’s aunt made when she was young. “Saw someone do it so I tried. Pappy liked it so he hung there because really, Granny didn’t want it in her house.”

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The Coonass sticker was given to Pappy by a friend. Granny hated it but couldn’t keep Pappy from putting it up because “The Camp is Pappy’s house.”

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Pappy started the bottle collection years ago. His friends and family know he collects so they pick up bottles for him.

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“The Camp” isn’t located in a town. It’s in Lafayette Parish, and the nearest town is Indian Bayou, about 4 miles away (population: about 30).

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Pappy built the smokehouse with the help of the next door neighbor. The telephone sign was added about 10 years ago.

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The 200 lbs of crawfish comes from Mark’s great uncle’s (Uncle Keke) crawfish farm a few miles down the road, where Granny grew up.

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Filed Under: Adventures, Homes

Take Me Home – Scott’s House

December 18, 2013

Location: Cypress, Texas
Built in:
2012
Owner: Scott Pharr
Decor inspiration: Mid Century Modern mixed with personal artifacts from around the world. I am an avid reader of design magazines and have always liked the contrast between generations and cultures coming together.
Describe your home: Given my location requirements, I was limited on what I could do with the exterior of the home in order to stay consistent with the neighborhood. I have always loved the idea of incorporating decking into the backyard, especially if there was a big enough space to do it. If it matched with the colour scheme and the design outside, grey colour composite decking may be the best choice for homeowners to consider when making the necessary arrangements for their exterior. But I’m not sure if this would fit in with the consistency of the neighbourhood. So, I put the design effort into the interior to bring the uniqueness that I wanted to have. I’d really been itching to get modern iron doors that looked utterly beautiful in my home, but as I said, I was focussing on the interior at this point. Perhaps in the future, I’ll be able to install these gorgeous products. I wanted to bring together modern and antiquities from my travels in a way that brought contrast, but not so much that things look out of place or cluttered. I like things to feel very clean and in place, but not so much that it is uncomfortable. The furniture in the main living is mostly mid-century modern. This furniture was passed down from my fiancé’s grandmother. She was very much into the California art and design scene and collected hundreds of books you will see dispersed throughout the house. I selected all suspension lighting hoping to bring a modern feel as you enter each room. Lastly, you will see many artifacts either hanging or sitting on shelves throughout the house from my travels around the world. I don’t think I have anything that that wasn’t bought from abroad or that you would find in a U.S. shop. The influence is primarily a bit of the Orient and Middle East as well.
What we love most about this house: Learning about the world through Scott’s decor, and the fact that when we’re in his home, we’re with family (Scott is Mark’s cousin).

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Scott found the rug for this room in Istanbul, Turkey (made by Dokuh). “Their collection is distinct and amazing and the quality is differentiated from all the other rugs you may find in Turkey.” If you’re looking for top-quality rugs for your own home, be sure to check out Bazaar Velvet – Visit Website.

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On the left – this Bambara Wood Antelope Head Dress of the Tchi-Wara (Mali), is hand carved, and dates to the early 1900’s. “If you are lucky you can find both the male and female as a pair. The one is the female. On the opposite wall sits the male which is the greatest of the pair.”
On the right – “this is probably the most valuable piece of my collection given the age and condition. Used to ward off evil spirits, it is a Yombe nailed power figure Nkisi Nkonde with a cavity in the abdomen.”

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On the left – the Male version of the Bambara Wood Antelope Head Dress of the Tchi-Wara, Mali (female above).
On the right – Igbo Mask of Maiden Spirit Mmwo, Nigeria.

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Scott picked up the 3 antique rifles on various trips to the Middle East. The top and bottom one originated in Afghanistan and the middle one is from Oman.

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Kitchen lighting by Belux designed by the modern architect Frank Gehry. The giant face 3D mixed media piece is from S.D. Meadows and was purchased at the Houston Bayou City Arts Festival in 2012.

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QLOCKTWO clock.

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The zebra Scott got in South Africa. “It took me a week to get it out of customs because I wasn’t aware of the process to import such things but I finally got it and am happy to have it.”

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The african mask on the left was bought in South Africa although it comes from the African Baule Tribe in Côte d’Ivoire (5 feet tall). Scott got the Mexican door while in Santa Fe on a ski trip.

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Suspension light by LZF Lamps. Massive and made completely from wood veneer which is amazing.

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The 8 foot Giraffe on the left was picked up in the United Arab Emirates and was hand carved there. “I checked it as a piece of luggage on the way back and the airline was not too happy.”
On the right – a life size kneeling replica of the terracotta warrior from China.

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“I get more compliments on the painting by Gabe Leonard than anything else in the house. Something about the boldness of it and having it above the master bed. Gabe did a special rendition of this painting for Quentin Tarantino. The bedding is Hotel Collection. The piece of art on top of the dresser is by Ruth Asawa who died this year. She was very famous for her wire art but also her plaster commissions in California. One of her larger pieces recently sold for over $1M at auction.” Lisa, Scott’s fiancé, inherited it from her grandmother.

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On the left – a colorful Baule mask from the Côte d’Ivoire.
On the right – copper lamp from Scott’s grandparent’s house, Jonathan Adler elephant, and Duck’s Unlimited by Kincaid side table.

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Scott’s office is situated off the back of the Master bedrrom with a complete view of the neighborhood pond. Having a home office makes it easier to separate yourself from the distractions of everyday home life. A dedicated workspace is conducive to getting your head down. In a house like this, it is important to find office furniture that matches the overall aesthetic. Those converting a room into an office may want to search the internet, using sites like Office Monster, for suitable items that match their own interior design. It’s important not to overlook having a good supply of stationery to have access to from your desk.
The egg chair in cow hide and desk from Restoration Hardware. The wood carving of the horse on the desk is 18th century carving from a carriage. “I got it on a trip to southern India and a very obscure market shop.”

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Jonathan Adler baboon. The picture in the background is of penguins that Scott took on a trip to South Africa. “First time to see wild penguins, which was super cool.”

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All of the art in this hallway was done by Scott’s 3 kids – Katie, Snapper, and Henry.

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Henry and Scott about to start a light saber war.

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On the left – an Igbo mask, Nigeria.
On the right – a Bakota Mahongwe Reliquary Figure from Gabon, Africa.

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“I always end up with currency from the locations I have been and gradually it has made quite a pile. Unfortunately, I don’t think it amounts to much but it is nice to be able to compare the different styles, paper and color.” Behind the money is a Native American mask Scott picked up in Alaska.
On the right – “probably my favorite mask, with a monkey on top holding on, from the Igbo tribe in Nigeria.”

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Antique trunk was bought at an antique store somewhere around the Tennessee and Georgia border. The saddle is from the 19th century and came from Afghanistan.

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The “playroom” is filled with a ton of things from Scott’s travels. The painting on the left was done by an Iraqi artist that had fled to Jordan during the second Gulf War. It was given to Scott by a friend’s family in Jordan as a welcome gift. The bronze horse sculpture was acquired in Nigeria. “It weighs a ton and I remember having to buy a suitcase as well and get a certificate from the government that I could take it out of the country. I think this was just a way to get money out of visitors.” The table was inherited from Scott’s grandfather who actually studied on this table as a child. The tall vase (with the Elf in it) is from Dubai.
On the right – signed George Rodrique print from Louisiana. “It is nice to have a bit of my parents culture and my mom always liked this particular painting.”

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Johnny Manziel autographed football from his Heisman year. “Let’s hope this isn’t one he got paid for!”

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On the left – African Burkina Faso/Mali Gurunsi Mask.
On the right – another face by S.D. Meadows and a stack of Garden & Gun, Scott’s favorite Southern magazine.

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Snapper and Katie in Snapper’s room.

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Another Yombe nailed power figure Nkisi Nkonde (3 feet tall) that Scott found in a Cape Town market.

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Filed Under: Homes

Take Me Home – Hull’s House

October 15, 2013

Welcome to our newest series, Take Me Home.

Mark likes HGTV almost as much as ESPN, and I like watching him turn tree trunks into side tables, pallets into TV stands, and pipes into bookshelves. This series was his vision, and one that I loved the minute he pitched it. We love houses, old and new. We love antiques, repurposed items, and shiny new things. We love decorating. We love stories. And we love how all of these things together encompass home. To be honest, it wasn’t until we moved to Georgia that I fell hard for this word. When we moved here, we became home owners, visited my first antique store, and everything changed. I thank the South for a lot of things, and among the frontrunners is my fascination with home – as a noun and a verb.

So here we go…

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Location: Birmingham, Alabama
Built in:
1909
Owner: Andrew Hull
Purchased in: May 2009 – on it’s 100th anniversary.
Decor inspiration: My decor, for lack of a better word, is very eclectic. I love Victorian furniture and design and Art Nouveau paintings and detail. I am very interested in the history of Americana, primarily the American South, but have many eastern influences as well. My chandeliers are hand punched bronze fixtures from Cairo (purchased from eBay). I have always been a massive fan of chandeliers so I knew I would want to include them from the off. I find inspiration by visiting the websites of lots of popular lighting companies who sell different chandelier styles (find out more here). My backsplash in the kitchen is Mexican tile, and I have many fabrics and textiles from India, Pakistan, China, and Africa. Most all of these originated from my Aunt, Susan Hull Walker, who is an artist, weaver, traveler, collector, and all-around mystic guru. She weaved the four pieces hanging in the dining room. I found some gorgeous peel and stick wallpaper to go in my bedroom then I chose to paint the living room and bathrooms. When I first decorated it, I was so pleased with how it looks. I still feel exactly the same now!!
Describe your home: I’m not sure how I would describe my house. Immediately I loved it because it felt like me. I have never been one to describe art, my own or others’, and that’s exactly what I think it is, a piece of art. I read an article recently that said that when a home is finished, it is dead. So, I guess that is how I would describe it. It is a working piece of art, maybe an artful piece of work, that I have the pleasure and privilege of enjoying and trying to improve for the future.
Improvements in any house are needed, we need to be aware that a house can’t survive hundreds and hundreds of years without some renovation. So, if you’re renovating your bathroom shower, don’t compromise on glass quality, if you are renovating your living room, make sure your wooden flooring is treated beforehand, etc. Be aware! No matter what renovations you are doing to your home, from the top to the bottom, there will be a lot of mess and debris that will need to be taken away and disposed of properly. You may want to call a Junk removal Melbourne service or a service closer to where you are, so that you aren’t making multiple trips in the process.
What we love most about this house: The fact that everything we said “I love that” to had an epic story, the family photo wall (covered with his immediate and extended family dating back to the turn of the century), and his sweet dog.

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The 20′ American flag was purchased at What’s On Second in downtown Birmingham.

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MII_2153The pillow on the chair below was made by Andrew’s Aunt from fabrics she brought back from Afghanistan. Her company, Illominata, sells both her own creations as well as those of native artisans from around the world.

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Andrew built this table from a window he removed from the kitchen during renovation, with antique columns for legs. Everything under the window on display are things that he collected on a 2 month visit to Europe (a collection of beer coasters, stickers, patches, museum tickets).

MII_2182MII_2190Untitled-4MII_2172MII_2192The “Hulls House” sign was made by Andrew’s grandfather. He made it for his grandparents when he was 14.

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A huge thank you to Andrew for letting us into his home and telling us great stories.
A second thank you to Nick Barnes for introducing us to Andrew.

Filed Under: Homes

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