For the month of August, we have been sharing the details of our latest mid-century home design project, Green Tree. Today, we are giving you a full home tour of this traditional ranch-style home in Houston’s Tanglewood neighborhood.
The area is well-known for its collection of maintained and much-loved mid-century modern homes. Built in 1957, Green Tree is a lovely example of this beautiful architectural style. At just over 3,000 square feet, the home has three bedrooms with three full baths, and a private courtyard. With the help of Rod and Bob Jackson, the build team on this project, we set out to design a home that both honored the home’s historic roots and modernized the flow for the new homeowners.
Our clients are a lovely couple with two playful and much-adored poodles. They are avid travelers and possess a personal collection of art from all over the world. Their love for mid-century modern style started early, and by the time they purchased Green Tree, they had amassed an enviable collection of furnishings.
Timeless, Not Time Capsule
Our clients purchased this mid-century home for its historical feel and wanted us to renovate it while honoring the home’s architecture. We hoped to marry their personal style with a more practical flow, improving the functionality of the home for modern living. We added unique elements like a double-sided fireplace. We poured new terrazzo flooring. And with the help of the build team, dseigned custom built-ins and handsome millwork.
Throughout the home, the highest quality brands in the design industry take center stage. Poggenpohl, the oldest kitchen brand in the world, contributed to the sleek and modern kitchen. Ann Sacks, our go-to tile source, played a major role in giving dimension and visual interest to the kitchen and bathrooms. Benchmade furnishings from House and Town and Iron Accents helped in defining the overall look of the home.
Room-by-Room Mid-Century Home Design
Let us now show you this historic house photographed by ace photographer Jack Thompson.
The Entry
The foyer welcomes you with a modern moment, courtesy of an antique Danish-style console from Reeves Antiques paired with Arteriors’ sconces. The play on symmetry sets the mood for this mid-century modern home. The exquisite and bold mirror that elevates the look of this foyer is from client’s existing collection. The hand knotted antique Persian cotton rug from Matt Camron looks enticing in this bright foyer.
The Dining Room
We gave the dining room a modern touch while staying true to the home’s mid-century architecture. The dining table from Century Furniture is a mix of modern and contemporary style with subtly splayed legs. The classic dining chairs from Cantoni were upholstered in Ian Sanderson’s Gara Fabric (back) and TDC Millenium fabric (seat), both from EC Dicken . The Bar Cart in antique brass finish from Arteriors is functional while striking a balance with the chandelier.
One of the unique elements we added in the house is the double-sided fireplace. On the dining side, it is covered with wood veneer, adding warmth to the cooler blue tones. Another attraction of the dining room is the ceiling in a high lacquer finish. It sets a moody tone while matching with the front door color.
The Living Room
This living room exudes a warm, inviting, and cozy feeling. The main highlight is the ample seating area with a House and Town sofa upholstered in ID Collection fabric. The Caracole Elemental Arm Chair is selected twice and upholstered in a luxe fabric. This textural contrast is relaxed and elegant, and if you sit in one of these chairs, you will find a hard time getting back up.
The fireplace behind the luxurious daybed from Mr.Brown is one of the unique creations of our design team. It adds light and brings contrast to the rooms on both sides. The living room side of the fireplace is made with marble accentuating the living room wall. This brilliant design gives each room a unique look that is perfect for entertaining guests.
The Kitchen and Breakfast Room
We understand our clients’ love for entertaining. This is why we updated the kitchen with Poggenpohl. The look is incredibly modern – clean lines, a lack of hardware, and flush corners. In contrast, the Ann sacks tiles are accentuated with a shimmering grout that makes the room feel dynamic and cool.
The adjacent breakfast room is one of our favorite spots in the house. The brick wall is existing and fabulous. We added a functional custom-made cabinet that matches with the kitchen wood work to bring the two spaces together. The mid-century vibes come with the Eero Saarinen designed breakfast table and chairs from DWR. The lovely Hudson Valley Lighting chandelier is a statement-making piece that further elevates the room. We refinished the light fixture and painted it this striking Seaworthy shade from Sherwin Williams.
The Study
The clients have a very exclusive collection of books and wanted us to incorporate a library in the house. With the help of their builders, we redesigned the millwork, along with two functional desks to come up with an exclusive library space. Some of the couple’s favorite mid-century pieces, like the accent chair, have also been refinished and reupholstered. These pieces make the study a refined, yet comfortable space for them. The blue and green Turkish vintage rug by Kilim and the colorful accent pillows by Culp Associates add color to this mid-century room.
The Master Bedroom
Our design team had brainstorming sessions to come up with interesting ideas to replace the aging shelves in the master bedroom. We modernized the built-in shelves with the Vetrazzo Fair Pearl from Laura’s collection. The classic brick wall was added to create a coordinated design with the kitchen.
The bed with a channel tufted headboard along with Caracole bedside tables looks like a match made in heaven. The comfy and stylish bedding from Plush Homes further accentuates the scene. A waterfall console table with its smooth texture and color further elevates the look of this warm and inviting bedroom. With a great blend of straight lines and sensuous curves, this room artfully marries his and hers styles.
The Master Bathroom
Upon entry, the soaking tub beckons with its rounded edges and call for the relaxation you’re looking for. The custom wooden cabinets in dark brown shade accentuate the look of this master bath. The Ann Sacks tiles on the mirror wall and floor add a magical touch. The Integrated LED Mirrored Sconce from Boyd Lighting look sophisticated and stylish. A single trip to this master bath is an experience in itself. Our clients loved this bathroom. Both love to travel and have demanding positions, so the peace of mind of this spa-like retreat was a must.
The Guest Bedroom
The guest room had to be warm and inviting while also showcasing a pop of mid-century color. We achieved this with neutral and subdued shades and the clients’ existing mid-century furnishings. The super comfy bed along with bedding from Kassatex and colorful pillows upholstered in plush Fabricut fabrics are a major attraction in the room. The sconces by Arteriors in a white opal and antique brass finish are contrasting with the brown side tables with white table top. This room is a comfortable and unforgettable experience for guests.
The Guest Bathroom
The Custom Mirror by Iron Accents welcomes guests with an exotic look. The bathroom accessories by Pigeon and Poodle in antique brass go perfectly with the aged brass sconces from HVL. The Ann Sacks tiles uplift the spirit of this bathroom while the Madison Lily Rug and Bath Mat by Kassatex add a cherished feeling.