Text Alice Welsh Doyle
Photography Julie Soefer Photography
Styling Jessica Holtam
It really is a Champagne toast of a house,” says Courtnay Tartt Elias of Creative Tonic Design when describing the historic 1925 house designed by noted Houston architect Birdsall P. Briscoe. “It reflects a love of entertaining and my client’s effervescent personality.” The iconic Houston property, affectionally known as the “Redbird” house, due to detailing on the original wrought iron front gates, was one of nine speculative houses in the original and now much-desired River Oaks neighborhood.
Elias and her client had both worked on a Briscoe home together, so the storied pedigree was a joyful part of the process, not a hurdle. With architect Ken Newberry on board, the team set about enhancing history with some bold but thoughtful moves. The original pink stucco façade with green trim, however, was one iconic element that was never debated; while updated, the classic tropical pairing remained.
5. A 1925 River Oaks Landmark by Birdsall Briscoe Reimagined with Bold Color and Entertaining Style
4. A 1925 River Oaks Landmark by Birdsall Briscoe Reimagined with Bold Color and Entertaining Style
3. A 1925 River Oaks Landmark by Birdsall Briscoe Reimagined with Bold Color and Entertaining Style
2. A 1925 River Oaks Landmark by Birdsall Briscoe Reimagined with Bold Color and Entertaining Style
1. A 1925 River Oaks Landmark by Birdsall Briscoe Reimagined with Bold Color and Entertaining Style
Inside, the house read somewhat dark in places, which was dispatched with all new steel windows and French doors, a large window over the kitchen sink, and a new front door. Other renovations included a totally new and chic kitchen, a library turned destination, the “Redbird Bar” and lounge, and an upstairs office that is now unrecognizable as an ultimate closet and dressing room.
Elias also enhanced walls and floors with specialized paint applications. In the cocktail lounge, for example, Leslie Sinclair of Segreto Finishes crafted Venetian plaster walls finished in high-gloss lacquer, while the floor is an engaging marbleized diamond pattern. “For some reason, this house reminded me of my childhood (I grew up nearby) and the 1980s and all those faux finishes. I wanted to explore more refined applications that make your house so distinctive beyond just wallpaper,” says Elias.
Not that the designer eschewed wallpaper—it shows up throughout—but nowhere is it more compelling than in the dining room. “When de Gournay showed me this paper, I knew it was perfect for this client and this space!” she adds. “The wallcovering is whimsical with birds and monkeys in the mix and had all the shades of pink, her favorite color. Because it is hand-painted, we were able to customize it, so one of the monkeys is holding an envelope that is addressed to her daughter.”
The designer also put dancing tulips Scalamandré paper on the back shelves of a black built-in pantry in the kitchen and a large-scale tropical print on a saturated shocking pink base by Christian Lacroix in the powder room. When it came to the palette, pink and its progeny were givens, but the striking and complementary raspberry that drenches the lounge and links to the living room was plucked from the marble used for the bar and from another French fashion designer, a Jean Paul Gaultier for Scalamandré. The jaunty floral perks up a built-in bench and lines a nearby window treatment. Elias chose green to accompany the raspberry in the living room, inspired by the exterior’s green trim and the lush vegetation outside. “When people feel stymied by color, I always tell them to look to nature, the greatest colorist of all!” she says.
In the family room, the designer added in a fresh lavender and grassy green combination for the light-filled space in contrast to the moodier lounge. While there is plenty of pink upstairs as well, Elias extended the family room palette to a guest suite with the purply shade found in the botanical striped wallpaper, floral fabric from Manuel Canovas, and a geometric patterned rug.
A rich green joined in with ikat used for the headboard and curtains, both accented with a Samuel & Sons thick tape trim. The furnishings throughout the home reveal pieces from the client’s impressive collection of French antiques tempered with more contemporary selections to lessen the formality of the home. “My client is very fashionable and sophisticated, but she is also exuberant and fun-loving, and this house reflects that,” says Elias. Whether it’s a themed spend-the-night party or a pre-gala gathering, this house offers up a host of possibilities for festive entertaining along with plenty of joy.
