Text: Courtney duQuesnay
Photos: Claudia Casbarian of Julie Soeffer Photography
Styling: Walker Wright
Houston, Texas, interior designer Jennifer Burgess Loh approaches each new project with a magic recipe of collaboration, conversation, and creativity. And that tactic worked again in 2019, when she was contacted by a couple who had recently moved into a luxury mid-rise condominium bordering Houston’s River Oaks neighborhood.
A year or so after purchasing, the couple visited another home in their building that Loh had designed. The husband was so impressed by the flow, color, and composition of the home that he asked their friend for the name of the designer, and another collaboration was born.
Before embarking on a new project, Loh likes to visit clients in their current environment to get an idea of their lifestyle and to discuss their needs surrounding family size, entertaining preferences, pets, and more. These clients were looking to invest in their space and to add bespoke finishes that would make it feel more personalized. They mostly entertain friends but also host children and grandchildren on occasion, so they needed a space that was refined yet welcoming and flexible for visiting family members.
Prior to working with Loh, the wife’s style was very neutral and subdued. The husband craved color, and with a simple flip through a design magazine, they were able to identify a color palette of blues, grays, copper, and rose that they both loved.
From there, the renovation commenced in two phases. To kick off the first phase, Loh started with the entrance. “Before we began, you would walk in through the front door and there was another door directly across from you,” said Loh. To add visual interest and camouflage the door, Loh and her team designed beautiful wall panels and worked with Wood Essence to build, fabricate, and paint the panels with a blue faux finish.
In the formal living room, the existing fireplace was narrow, and the adjacent wall was uninteresting. Loh expanded the fireplace and added a stone facade that gives the room character. Textured wallpaper adds more dimension, and Loh was able to incorporate some of the clients’ artwork into the design.
With a functional kitchen layout already in place, Loh upped the wow factor by adding a stunning modern light fixture over the island. The seats on the clients’ existing barstools were reupholstered in beautiful and durable blue eco leather, which adds a pop of color to the otherwise subdued space. Even the light switches received a designer upgrade.
In phase two, Loh converted a rarely used extra bedroom to a flex space where the homeowners can hang out and watch television, and it can also accommodate overnight guests. Loh’s team designed cabinets to house electronics, books, and grandkids’ toys, and added a comfortable sleeper sofa. The homeowners now spend a lot of time relaxing in that room.
Drop ceilings, support columns, and ductwork are just a few of the spatial challenges that are typical of high- and mid-rise spaces. Loh focuses on employing solutions such as creative built-ins, paneling, or breathable cabinetry. “Designers are there not only to beautify the space but also to create functional solutions when a space isn’t working and to do it in a way that betters the home.”
