Architectural Cases

In this Houston residence, the interior design journey began with an unexpected source of inspiration: squirrels. The homeowners' deep affection for nature, particularly these lively creatures, became a central theme in the transformation of their traditional River Oaks home. Designed by Virginia Tupker, the house, a late-1930s creation by Birdsall P. Briscoe, now boasts a unique charm that gracefully bridges its historic grandeur with a touch of modern playfulness.

Tupker's approach involved weaving natural motifs throughout the house, ensuring each space held an element of surprise and personality. The powder room's vestibule, for instance, features antique Audubon prints of woodland animals, including squirrels, creating an enchanting forest-like ambiance. Beyond these whimsical touches, Tupker also fulfilled specific homeowner requests, such as a custom home bar echoing the elegance of London's 5 Hertford Street club, a retro telephone closet inspired by Diana Vreeland's iconic red living room, and a bespoke beauty salon that evokes the charm of an Italian original. The dining room is adorned with unique mirrored panels, while a family room showcases a pendant light reflected in a custom grid mirror, emphasizing meticulous craftsmanship.

Complementing these personalized elements, the design thoughtfully acknowledges the home's architectural heritage. Working with architect Roger M. Cooner, Tupker introduced plaster relief details and intricate ceiling moldings, particularly in the octagonal foyer and study. These additions enhance the property's inherent gravitas, making new elements feel as if they have always belonged. The oak leaf motif, a subtle homage to the River Oaks neighborhood, appears throughout the house, from chandeliers to embroidered fabrics, further solidifying the connection to nature. Even strict design elements, like hand-painted strié and striped plaster walls, serve to highlight the more playful floral patterns and a striking diamond motif plaster wall in the living room, which frames a majestic pygmy date palm. These details illustrate a harmonious blend of sophisticated design and whimsical accents, transforming a historical house into a vibrant, engaging home.

Ultimately, this Houston home is more than just a living space; it is a dynamic stage where daily life unfolds with both character and joy. From children's playful antics in the phone booth to friends gathering in the beauty salon, the house invites interaction and celebrates unique experiences. Each corner reveals a thoughtful detail, ensuring that while the aesthetics are captivating, comfort and functionality remain paramount. It stands as a testament to the idea that a home can be a magical place, imbued with personality and a sense of wonder, reflecting the lives and passions of those who inhabit it.

Extended Savings: Your Chance to Redesign Your Space

Pottery Barn: Timeless Designs at Unbeatable Prices

Pottery Barn is currently offering an abundance of clearance deals, with discounts up to 60% off. You can find investment-worthy items such as elegant wooden bed frames with cane detailing and sleek entryway cabinets with clever storage solutions.

Design Within Reach: Elevate Your Home with Modern Aesthetics

For those seeking to cultivate a sophisticated, design-focused ambiance, Design Within Reach is the perfect destination. Their Memorial Day sale includes up to 30% off select furniture, with an additional 25% off already discounted items using the code EXTRA25. Explore stylish bed frames for weekend relaxation and versatile sleeper sofas perfect for accommodating guests.

Arhaus: Transform Your Rooms with Impressive Markdowns

If you're looking to revitalize an underutilized space in your home, Arhaus offers compelling deals. Last year's Memorial Day discounts reached up to 70%, and currently, in-stock favorites are up to 50% off. Discover modern sofas like the Goodall, designed to make a statement, along with a variety of other discounted pieces.

Serena & Lily: Coastal Elegance for Your Summer Home

Embrace the summer season by infusing your home with a dreamy coastal cottage aesthetic, or any space with a coastal-inspired touch, with Serena & Lily. Their site-wide sale offers up to 40% off, including popular items like the Pacifica sofa and the breezy Headlands pendant. You can also find deals on alfresco dining accessories and additional discounts in their clearance section.

Lulu and Georgia: Designer Collaborations and Stylish Finds

Lulu and Georgia, a favorite among our team and a hub for designer collaborations, continues to feature enticing deals on furniture and home decor. Explore bedroom pieces, outdoor essentials, and ceramics to enhance any area. This is an excellent chance to add a sculptural sideboard to your entryway or build a new living room around a unique accent chair.

Albany Park: Simplified Sofa Shopping with Great Savings

For anyone searching for a new sofa, Albany Park offers up to 40% off select seating. The brand simplifies the couch-buying process with a curated selection of versatile options, such as the Kova sectional with over 30 upholstery choices and the sleek Lido armchair.

McGee & Co.: Timeless Pieces for Every Home

Shea McGee’s modern interpretations of classic designs offer enduring style. In celebration of Memorial Day, McGee & Co. is providing up to 30% off their entire inventory, with even deeper discounts in the sale section. Consider the charming Bodin desk to refresh your home office or the elegant Wilton dining table crafted from white oak.

Wayfair: Instant Home Upgrades at Reduced Prices

Wayfair is an excellent resource for quick furniture needs and holiday sales. The major retailer is offering substantial Memorial Day deals on items like area rugs and sectional sofas, both personally tested by our team. Take advantage of these significant markdowns on essential pieces such as bed frames, dressers, and more.

Saatva: Luxurious Mattresses and Bedding Offers

If you're already purchasing new sheets, consider upgrading your mattress with Saatva's limited-time sale. Enjoy $300 off any mattress purchase of $1,000 or more, plus an additional $100 off when bundling with a bed frame. The Loom & Leaf memory foam mattress, praised for its breathability and comfort, is a highly recommended option.

Joybird: Exceptional Comfort and Modular Designs

Joybird's best-selling couch collection is ideal for those seeking a high-quality replacement for a well-loved sofa. The brand is offering up to 40% off site-wide, including the Sebastian sofa, known for its supreme napping comfort due to easily removable back cushions. Their semi-annual sales also provide significant savings on this comfortable model.

Sans: Streamlined Air and Water Purification Solutions

Sans excels in attractive air and water purifiers with sleek designs. For Memorial Day, they are offering $120 off their full-size air purifier and water filter. Bundles are also available at 35% off, allowing you to save time and money while ensuring a clean home environment.

Branch: Ergonomic Office Furniture for Enhanced Productivity

Investing in a quality office chair is crucial, especially for those working from home. Branch is offering up to 15% off their pieces, including the highly-rated Branch Ergonomic Chair Pro and their popular standing desk. These products are designed with human-centric elements, promoting comfort and a productive workspace.

Rejuvenation: Classic Outdoor Furniture and Versatile Pieces

Rejuvenation features discounts on classic, traditionally-styled outdoor furniture, with savings up to 50% during their Memorial Day promotions. Focus on versatile pieces like a comfortable lounge chair that can serve multiple purposes, from filling an empty corner in your home office to replacing a less comfortable living room love seat.

Nordstrom: Unbeatable Deals on Premium Home Brands

Nordstrom offers exclusive deals on beloved home brands during its Half-Yearly Sale. Discover rare discounts on items that are not typically on sale, such as a large Dutch oven and a stylish mirror at 25% off. This is an excellent opportunity to acquire premium homeware at reduced prices.

Castlery: Dining and Living Room Enhancements with Big Savings

For those looking to furnish their dining room, home office, or living areas, Castlery's Memorial Day sale provides up to $500 off. The Jonathan chaise sectional sofa is a favorite, and you can also find a Jonathan leather sofa with an ottoman at nearly $700 off, making it an ideal time for significant furniture upgrades.

West Elm: Contemporary Furniture and Decor Essentials

West Elm, known for its elevated furniture and decor, is offering up to 50% off items in its sale section. This includes outdoor sofas perfect for the upcoming hosting season and discounted throw pillows to refresh indoor seating or bedding. Their collaborations with designers like Emma Chamberlain and esteemed firms ensure on-trend and high-quality selections.

Burrow: Modular Sofas and Direct-to-Consumer Savings

Enjoy up to 40% off site-wide at Burrow, a direct-to-consumer brand renowned for its modular furniture. The Arch Nomad sofa, praised for its quality and appearance, is an excellent choice for a comfortable living room setup. Reviewers highlight the sofa's aesthetic appeal and robust construction.

Sundays: Thoughtfully Designed Furniture for Every Room

Sundays features furniture pieces of all sizes for every area of your home, with discounts up to 30% on everything. The Wind Down sectional, a best-seller, is noted for its clean lines, deep cushions, and perfect balance of softness and structure. The collection also includes a sofa version for smaller spaces, along with outdoor finds and decorative items.

Joon Loloi: Textured Home Goods with Vintage Appeal

Joon Loloi offers excellent choices for adding texture to your home, including vintage-inspired area rugs, block-print throw pillows, modern dining fixtures, and bedroom pieces. Their Memorial Day weekend discounts are up to 30% across all categories, with some sale items reaching 65% off their original prices.

CB2: Modern Seating and Storage Solutions

CB2, Crate & Barrel's sister brand, is known for its collaborations with innovators like Gwyneth Paltrow and Lenny Kravitz. They are currently offering up to 50% off spring furnishings, including sleek seating and storage solutions that provide a sophisticated upgrade to any space.

Soho Home: Exclusive Discounts on Luxurious Home Decor

While Soho Home isn't hosting a formal Memorial Day sale, they are offering rare and deep discounts on select furniture and home decor. The Arcus rug, with its heirloom potential, can accent modern spaces or enliven neutral palettes. The Lachlan dining chair, with its curved back, offers a perfect spot for family meals or a quiet cup of tea.

Jayson Home: Curated Closeout Deals for Interior Enthusiasts

Jayson Home, a favorite among interior designers and AD staffers, is currently featuring numerous closeout clearance gems. Their current sales cycle includes the elegant Kennedy sofa, known for its sophisticated silhouette and agile wheeled legs, as well as a vintage-inspired armchair upholstered in a contemporary fabric.

Koala: Comfortable Sleeper Sofas and Modular Designs

Investing in a sleeper sofa from Koala is ideal for holiday guests, with savings up to $1,000 site-wide. The Wanda sofa bed offers hidden storage, a reversible chaise, and a stylish curvy design suitable for various spaces. Koala also provides a 120-day trial period for added peace of mind.

Ballard Designs: Traditional Wares with Significant Markdowns

Ballard Designs is holding sales on a wide range of traditional home items, including furniture, bedding, lighting, decor, kitchenware, and rugs, with discounts up to 75% off. Enjoy free shipping on all outdoor items using the code BD6Y9P4C. Highlights include the Veda bed with its playful rattan frame and the Venice outdoor sectional, which adds a vibrant touch with its bright frame.