Welcome to Dumbarton! Today, we’re introducing you to a fun new project in Braeswood Place. Close to Rice University and Rice Village, this well-placed community is home to tree-lined boulevards and several family-friendly parks. With terrific schools and a friendly atmosphere, Braeswood Place is one of the best areas in Houston to raise a family.

And that’s where Dumbarton comes in. This beautiful home features a calming color palette of blue and white, a perfect foil to the home’s four boys in residence. Today, we’re taking you inside the design inspiration for this Braeswood Place home.

Dumbarton Project

Dumbarton is a new construction home. The build team included W. Travis Mattingly, AIA LEED AP, from Architectural Solutions, Inc. and Scott Frasier of Frasier Homes. This contemporary home features five bedrooms, three full baths, and three half baths. We worked hand in hand with the build team to design an interior that that was cohesive and unified. The interior marries our client’s love of family and sports with the beauty of the Emerald Isle (more on this later). Thoughtfully mixing furnishings and accessories in bold, contrasting and timeless ways, this family-friendly, blue and white home transports you to another place.

Interior Design Inspiration

The homeowners are a fun, active family who wanted an interior that paid homage to their Irish heritage, while providing a space for them to gather together as a family. And when they do gather, they share a singular passion: sports.

Both the husband and wife were college athletes. Each of their four sons is named after a Hall of Fame baseball player. To foster their kids’ love of the game, the homeowners even added a pitching mound in the backyard! Connecting their ancestry to their modern day passions became central to our design. With an evocative color palette and high-performing furnishings built to withstand all sorts of competitive play, there’s something they can’t live without at the heart of every room.

Color Palette Inspiration: Blue and White

Blue and white has been a classic color combination since the days of Ancient Greece. It’s a light and sophisticated pairing evoking the sand and the sea. In the ninth century, this timeless combination became synonymous with the iconic chinoiserie style – one of Laura’s favorites! It continues to be a popular color palette for ceramic motifs today. As a combo, the look doesn’t skew overtly masculine or feminine – there is a perfect balance.

Emerald green is another focus at Dumbarton. Our clients are proud of their Irish heritage. They adore the sapphire and emerald hues associated with Ireland. The home’s jewel tone color palette pays homage to their cultural roots, calling to mind the rolling green hills and endlessly blue skies. Together, these colors remind us of the Irish coast.

Sapphire Blue and White Master Bedroom

Our client’s blue and white bedroom seamlessly blends masculine and feminine styles. That’s why blue and white work well in this master retreat. The combination of sapphire blue with clean white has a powerful, calming effect.

One of my favorite design elements of our client’s blue and white bedroom is the sapphire blue wainscoting. It creates a beautiful focal point in the room, adding a subtle layer of visual texture behind the bed. I love how the polished chrome edge on the headboard really shines against the sapphire blue wainscoting! The gentle curve of our client’s existing settee softens the strong vertical lines of the wainscoting.

A rich espresso finish on the settee frame adds warmth to the bedroom’s cool toned color palette. We selected a Jaipur rug in beautiful shades of blue and white. The design is reminiscent of waves crashing against the rugged sea cliffs dotting the country’s shoreline.

A Currey and Company chandelier brings a subtle touch of feminine glamour and softens the design. Organic shapes in the pattern of the Jim Thompson Gemstone fabric provide a welcome contrast to the room’s crisp vertical lines. This serene blue and white bedroom offers the homeowners a respite from their busy schedule.

Sapphire Blue and White Kitchen

Sapphire blue cabinets impart a soothing tone to our client’s sun drenched kitchen. Glossy white counters and white walls brighten up the kitchen and allow the blue cabinets to pop. The honeycomb tiles in shades of white we selected for our client’s blue and white kitchen bring dimension to the room. Hints of gray in the tile soften the dramatic contrast of the blue and white.

This blue and white kitchen provides a beautiful backdrop for the mixed metals in this space to shine. We love the look of warm gold against the blue and white kitchen color palette. Having that touch of metallic flair in the sink fixture draws your attention to it. To complement the cool sapphire blue cabinets, we selected a stainless steel range. An aged iron Restoration Hardware light fixture and industrial bar stools infuse a beautiful natural texture into this modern blue and white kitchen.

Emerald Pub Room

Emerald takes center stage in the pub room of our client’s Dumbarton home. Just beyond the living room lies a secret area, made for competition of all kinds. With a fully stocked bar, a pool table, piano, and plenty of places to lounge, the family can enjoy their favorite hobbies in a public house hidden with their own home!

As we prepared the design, we considered accents of sapphire to create cohesion with the rest of the home. Layering natural elements like wood, brick, and concrete give the pub a rustic, Old World feel. Polished metallic accents beautifully contrast with the rough brick. It’s a warm, welcoming space that brings the essence of our client’s favorite Irish pubs into their home.

Coming Up Next

The home’s elevated blue and white bedroom and bold blue and white kitchen provide the perfect backdrop for this family-friendly home. Crafting a few spoke interior design details was the perfect way for our client’s to put their own personal touch on the design. Stay tuned as we reveal more about the bespoke interior design details of this blue and white Braeswood Place home on Dumbarton.

Photography by Kerry Kirk.