Moodboard Monday: The Unique Interior Design of The River Oaks

A patterned box, with white and shades of blue accents at The River Oaks in Houston

Our mission with every project is to curate a unique interior design that is completely one-of-a-kind. The clients inspire every decision, so that the home is entirely theirs – it looks like them, it feels like them, and it speaks to them. For this pied-à-terre in The River Oaks, our clients requested pattern and personality. Friendly pairs of color dance around the home…in one of our boldest projects to date!

Recently gracing the cover of Houston’s Luxe Interiors + Design, this space took a lot of design risks. None were installed without the clients’ full blessing and enthusiastic support. A colorful exploration that pushes the boundaries of pattern-on-pattern, this is how we conceptualized The River Oaks.

Our client’s primary residence is in The Woodlands. As empty nesters who frequently travel, they were looking for a pied-à-terre in Houston. They fell in love with a residence at The River Oaks condominium building with its lush grounds and stunning views. The residence features beautiful millwork and hard finishes, but our client wanted to put their own personal touch on the space. Since the home wouldn’t be the client’s primary residence, they were incredibly open to using vibrant colors and bold patterns in the design. In fact, the bolder the better.

concept board of dining room design by Laura U Interior Design for River Oaks project
Concept board of the dining room design. The finished interior is featured on the cover of Luxe Magazine’s Houston 2019 November/ December issue

Unique Interior Design Inspiration

The inspiration phase is a critical first step in our design process. Considering that our client was once a successful interior designer herself, we knew that we had to think a little outside of the box. Blair and Lexie, paired up for this unique design project and after collaborating for several weeks, they delivered a design presentation that actually didn’t push the envelope far enough!

Our clients’ love of color was always there, but living in Asia for six years really strengthened their affection. They wanted a space that transformed the people residing within it. We knew that we had a challenge before us, but this is where the fun really begins.

“We shared a lot of inspiration images with the client, but it was Kit Kemp that truly resonated with her. The fun pattern on pattern was the perfect fit for our client’s vibrant tastes”, said Blair and Lexie. Kit Kemp is a successful textile designer, whose patterns grace the Firmdale Hotels, of which she is co-owner and Creative Director. The mix of intense color with playful designs speak to our client’s fun, funky design aesthetic.

The energy of the home is electric with unexpected pairings of color becoming the focus of every room. We made sure to keep the design rules of proportion and scale in mind to balance out the hard-to-ignore contrasting colors. To layer more of the client’s personality into the interior design, we made their fabulous art collection a focal point. The pieces add the perfect finishing touch to the room, while helping to tie the colors used throughout the home together.

Layered textures, patterns, and vibrant colors make an unexpected statement
Millwork detail as it meets the ceiling and wall, covered in Lindsay Cowles paper.
Lindsay Cowles wallpaper meets custom millwork in this ceiling detail

Color Palette

Bold, vibrant color was the driving force behind this custom interior design project. Our clients desired a color-saturated interior, but it was important to have the design feel cohesive as a whole. We were give much creative freedom, but they did have one request. Each color we chose needed to have a partner somewhere else in the space. You won’t see a pop of cobalt just once. That color is thoughtfully sprinkled throughout the home’s interior.

Color is Just the Beginning…

Seamlessly blending all these bold colors wasn’t an easy task. We didn’t know it at the time, but we were preparing to take a big design risk. At the end of our next design presentation, we would unveil a completely custom chair. This one-of-a-kind chair would act as the centerpoint for all those unexpected color pairings.

concept board by Laura U Interior Design for a high rise project in the River Oaks
Strategically placed prints and patterns fill this living room with a vibrant energy
chair detail in interior design project by Laura U
As striking as it is stunning, this gorgeous Kravet fabric from GP&J ties this room together

Stay tuned for more details about how we transformed this luxurious pied-à-terre and check out the fall 2019 edition of Luxe Interiors + Design Magazine!

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