Whether you just purchased a new home or you are looking to refresh the interior of your current home, renovations are a great way to create the functionality you need. In addition to upgrading your home’s value, home renovation or remodeling is a great way to bring new life to your house.

For our River Oaks Contemporary project, our team handled every detail of their home renovation. Situated in one of the most desired areas of Houston, this home balances high-contrast drama with curated warmth. For this River Oaks Renovation, we curated the perfect blend of functionality and bespoke details.

Below, we take a look at our recent Houston home remodel to give you some ideas for your project. 

River Oaks Home Renovation: Create an Intimate Dining Room

For the homeowners of this River Oaks home, sharing their culture and love of art with friends and family is what they value most. With this in mind, the design team knew the dining room would be the central hub for stylish dinner parties and cocktail hours.

Originally with an open layout, our team enclosed the room to create a more intimate atmosphere. Located adjacent to the home’s handsome bar, the dining area was highly curated to match the homeowners’ worldly interests and growing art collection. As soon as you walk into the home, the eye is brought into the dining room by the magenta Jeff Koons sculpture, a daringly playful foil to the room’s more abstract pieces. The work by the inventive Paul Guiragossian is a top the custom black lacquered Roberta Schilling sideboard. One can’t ignore the Baccarat Solstice Chandelier that the family brought from their home in Damascus. With its innovative silhouette and plant-like shape, it watches over this much-loved space.

To match the gorgeous marble in the home, marble was selected for the dining table. The sculptural Meridiani Plinto table was designed by Andrea Parisio and features an imaginatively architectural design. The glossy Calacatta Black Marble stands firm, while the bronzed brass metal base adds a glamorous touch. As not to overshadow its shine, we paired the dining table with Ligne Roset Facett chairs. The minimalist, yet sophisticated design is pure perfection and allows eight guests to dine comfortably and in style.

River Oaks Home Renovation: Create a Moody Home Bar

Remodeling or adding a home bar is a fun way to create a handsome or playful space. In our recent post, “How to Design the Perfect Home Bar,” we highlight 16 secrets to a stunning home bar setup. Renovation tip number 3, is investing in custom mill work. Investing in custom mill work can turn a regular bar into a special area that honors natural materials, local artisans and traditional craftsmanship. Custom mill work elevates any space, but is particularly effective in a home bar where storage is key and bespoke elements truly shine. 

The Laura U Design Collective transformed the River Oaks Contemporary home bar into a sophisticated space with vintage touches. This Houston bar’s remodel was inspired by the homeowners’ history in France and Damascus. Both destinations are celebrated for their rich histories and vibrant cultural influence. Connecting the entry to the living room, the romantic, handsome bar creates a warm welcome for guests. We adore the lustrous, deep gold velvet bench made barstools, the rich walnut backdrop, and the smoky Nero Marquina marble. Each of these elements make it easy to mistake this space for a chic Parisian café.

The custom black and white marble flooring was hand drawn by our team and water jet cut on site. The bold design choice of black and white marble flooring complements the walnut mill work with its brass accents. A butler’s pantry in the hall offers the perfect place for their collection of wine bottles, crystal and glassware. Everything has its own space thanks to the bespoke storage in this stunning home bar.

River Oaks Home Renovation: Pack a Punch with Your Powder Room

The powder room is a highly trafficked space, and is a great way to make a first impression on your guests. We love going bold in powder rooms. If you’re not looking for a complete over-haul, there are some easy ways to refresh this space. In our “Unique Home Renovation Ideas to Refresh Your Home” post, we go into detail on how to update your space without a full renovation.

For our River Oaks Contemporary remodel, the powder room was an addition to the house. Previously, its location was not ideal. We nestled it between the bar and dining room. This location is more conducive for entertaining family and friends.

We consider the powder room the crown jewel of the home for many reasons! With lacquered-like black walls and trim and the timeless, one-of-a-kind marble floating sink, this small space is oh-so glam. The marble floor is a combination of Hones and Polishes Nero Marquina and Easterne White Polished Marble.

River Oaks Home Renovation: Formal Living Room Addition

For this home renovation, we built an addition on the back of the home. The addition serves as the families’ formal lounge. The new floor to ceiling window system allows for majestic views of the beautifully landscaped backyard and pool. Our team designed custom built-in bookshelves. For cohesiveness, we carried over the walnut with beautiful brass inlays. In addition, the surround of the fireplace was created with matching marble that can also be seen in the home’s bar.

There are a ton of home renovation ideas to update your home. You may be looking for a more functional kitchen, an upgraded bathroom, or added storage. Or, you may not know what you want to update, but know you are ready to make a change. If you’re looking for help and are interested in working with the best design firm to renovate your home, we’d love to chat!