Text by Bethany Adams
For Texas-based designer Minnette Jackson, being brought on to help update this historic Houston home was an exciting prospect. The homeowners had already hired well-known local architect Dillon Kyle to help expand the footprint of the home, and Minnette was eager to join the team and help “make the house more functional, more livable, but still obviously [consistent] with the original spirit of the house.”
As the homeowners were only the second family to live in the house after the original family, the structure was filled with original features, including shiplap walls the homeowners stained a restful blue-gray that Minnette says informed the palette of the whole house. From front to back, the shade is paired with a variety of earthier and warmer tones, each space complementing the hue in its own way. “It’s subtle, and I don’t think the house appears monochromatic at all, but that was a really beautiful element,” she says.
Another perk of the project was the homeowners’ appreciation of old things, which included a sizeable collection of antiques the designer was able to add to. “They have some really lovely French and Swedish pieces, and then some of the pieces I had made I actually modeled after antique and vintage Swedish items,” she says, “because sometimes the proportions of older pieces don’t always work.”
Working with the homeowners’ belongings and the home’s existing features, Minnette wove in new elements to make the design more practical for a young family. Napoleonic chairs were recovered in a textured fabric for the formal living room and paired with a custom sofa and ottoman. As the space was originally the dining room, the built-in cabinet in one corner still features a pass-through to the kitchen.
With its blue shiplap backdrop and marble countertops that were only a few years old, the kitchen didn’t need a significant overhaul. The design team replaced an eyesore of a range hood, added new lighting and hardware, and pulled together the last details to give the room a fresh look. “[The homeowner] had this set of antique botanical pressings,” Minnette says of the collection of French herbariums that now hangs over the range, serving as a charming finishing touch to the space.
A departure from the sky blue shiplap, the newly built dining room is painted a neutral tone with just a hint of peach, resulting in a dreamy glow that perfectly showcases an assemblage of antique furniture. The French trestle table sits beneath an ornate chandelier that the homeowner already owned, and a French sideboard was stripped of its original finish, softening its formal look just enough to suit the relaxed nature of the space.
The family room strikes a stark contrast, boasting a bold green shade that makes evenings spent in the space even cozier. Minnette had the custom sofas made long and deep to encourage lounging while watching the TV that’s concealed in a Swedish cabinet. The same hue as the rest of the room, the built-in shelves on one wall frame the dining room for a striking introduction to dinner.
Because of the age and footprint of the home, the primary bedroom remained a cozy spot for relaxation. “They wanted it to be moody but also sort of serene,” Minnette says, noting the use of creamy linens and light-colored furnishings backed by a saturated wall color. The Euro shams were passed down from the homeowner’s mother and made from antique linens, “So, they were a nice little starting point,” she adds.
“I just love this whole house,” Minnette says, reiterating her enjoyment of working with clients who appreciate timeworn beauty. Fortunately for the homeowners, Minnette knew exactly how to honor the history of the home and its furnishings. With the rest of the design team, she introduced updated elements and refreshed the old for a finished design that’s serene, seamless, and perfect for this young Houston family.
