AD PRO Directory While looking for a new home in Houston, designer Paloma Contreras became frustrated with the abundance of new buildings with open-plan spaces decorated with trendy finishes. So when a real estate agent showed her an off-market listing for her 3,700-square-foot home, built in 1987 and with a classic floor plan revolving around a central hall, Contreras jumped on the property. I did. “I'm a traditionalist at heart,” she points out. “I collect art, so I like walls and I like to decorate rooms with personality.”
Ms. Contreras and her husband, Fabian, director of hospitality and contracts for Visual Comfort, relocated from the bustling Museum District to the more family-friendly University of the West district (although they still have offices in Mr. Contreras' office and home base at Paloma). (Conveniently located nearby) Founded a decoration shop in 2019) and with young daughter Margot in 2023.
The previous owners had made impressive renovations, and Contreras noted that details such as a factory in the entryway and Versailles-patterned floors “made the house feel older than it actually was,” but not enough renovations. was necessary. There were also strict move-in and move-out dates, giving Contreras only a month to oversee the renovations.
The red brick facade was painted, the gray ceramic paving was replaced with bluestone, and the shutters were removed. And inside, Contreras was keen to embrace color, moving away from the more neutral last home. The dining room features corner banquettes perfect for relaxing with an aperitif. Its starting point, located just off the entrance, was de Gournay's lush Portobello wallpaper, one of Contreras' favorite designs of his. She paired it with spring green curtains “to add a sense of energy,” she says. She first fell in love with the peonies when she displayed them in the sunroom she designed for her 2022 Kipps Bay Palm Beach Decorator show home.
The 1930s Andre Albas chair, found on Contreras' trip to Paris, has been reupholstered in treated mauve-toned suede and holds two stately host chairs around a fluted-base pedestal table she designed. are combined. Like many of the light fixtures throughout the home, this chandelier comes from Contreras' collection of her Visual Comfort & Co.
In the living room across from the front door, Contreras enjoys the look of the original double-hung windows, but because the windows are shallow, she opted for “old-fashioned balloon shades, something more formal and inviting.” she explains. She blended it with a box-pleated sofa and a console inherited from her parents because “it felt so cute and fresh,” and lacquered it a rich chocolate color to give the room a sense of solidity. provided. She also remodeled the hearth and fireplace surround with honed Nero Marquina marble, which feels more graphic than its glossy hunter green predecessor, and was designed by Birmingham, Alabama-based artist Jane Timberlake. We exhibited a series of plaster, charcoal and pencil works by Cooper.
Beyond the 19th-century Louis XVI commode in the hallway (the first antique Contrera purchased) is a powder room that shows off marble salvaged from the kitchen countertop, and Contrera fine-painted the bar area. There's a reimagined bar that was converted into a closet by an old owner. European Prussian Blue.
