A Color-Forward Houston Family Home Designed for Growth

Working with architect L. Barry Davidson and with the homeowner’s father serving as the general contractor, the early planning stages focused on the floor plan with particular thought given to maximizing family togetherness. For example, they opted for the primary suite to be on the second floor, just down the hall from the children’s rooms. Additionally, rather than a playroom for kids and a formal living room for adults, a centrally located family room is the main gathering spot for everyone with its footprint leading into the breakfast room and kitchen. These more private, everyday spaces are located in the back of the home, while the front portion of the ground level offers welcoming rooms to host friends and family, including a study and bar as well as the dining room.

Part of the inviting feel lies in the use of color. “Isn’t blue everyone’s favorite?” the homeowner says of the study’s main hue, which resonates with so many. With comfortable lounge chairs, contemporary art, and a doorway that leads to a speakeasy-like bar, the room is an ideal gathering place when the couple hosts friends. “I like that it is funky and modern, but then you have these feminine curtains that soften the whole space,” Giuffre says of the mix. Across the entry, the dining room has cheerful shades of pink and coral, while the couple’s bedroom dons a lighter blush hue. “My husband wanted the design to be a surprise, but I did ask him about the feminine pink and floral pattern in the bedroom,” the homeowner says. “He said, ‘If you like it, I’ll like it,’ so we ran with it.”

Throughout the house, the couple’s art collection deftly weaves in more color and personality, drawing the eye and reminding the homeowners of shared experiences and travels. Case in point, the portrait of David Bowie in the bar was a piece the husband tracked down and purchased after spying it on a trip to Cliff Lede Vineyards. Similarly, pieces in the entry are by Australian Jenny McIntosh and were purchased after seeing her work during a hotel stay on the continent. Two standout pieces—one seen over the family room mantel and the one in the dining room—are both by Petra Cortright, who allowed the couple to come on a studio tour and then took the commission for the vivid dining room painting that is set in the same palette as the room’s chairs and draperies.

Throughout the project, Giuffre was mindful of materials and budget. “They have three kids, and nothing is off-limits in the house. It’s bulletproof but pretty,” she says. “There’s a sense of traditional style, but there are also quirky elements that keep it youthful,” she adds, pointing to the mix of classic walnut flooring with a layer of geometric decorative painting in both the entry and breakfast room. Save for a wingback chair, all the pieces from their former living room makeover made the move to the new family room, and Giuffre notes they have staying power that would allow them to be recovered and move throughout the house as needed through the years. “I like for things to make sense and will err on the side of practical rather than something that’s trendy,” Giuffre says. “To create a house that flows and makes sense is always my goal. This home looks like them, and every inch is lived in.”