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).
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.
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.”
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.
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.
QLOCKTWO clock.
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.”
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.
Suspension light by LZF Lamps. Massive and made completely from wood veneer which is amazing.
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.
“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.
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.
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.”
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.”
All of the art in this hallway was done by Scott’s 3 kids – Katie, Snapper, and Henry.
Henry and Scott about to start a light saber war.
On the left – an Igbo mask, Nigeria.
On the right – a Bakota Mahongwe Reliquary Figure from Gabon, Africa.
“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.”
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.
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.”
Johnny Manziel autographed football from his Heisman year. “Let’s hope this isn’t one he got paid for!”
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.
Snapper and Katie in Snapper’s room.
Another Yombe nailed power figure Nkisi Nkonde (3 feet tall) that Scott found in a Cape Town market.
