It’s In The Basket

April 13, 2017October 20, 2017Taylor Byrne Dodge

Our family celebrates together several times in the spring – Easter, Mother’s Day, birthdays and the occasional graduation – but my tablescapes sometimes become a little stale. In an effort to improve my table decorating skills, I recently took at class at Thompson + Hanson to learn how to make a...

Make It Official: Is Your Home Historic?

January 23, 2017October 20, 2017Teresa Byrne-Dodge

Did you know that the City of Houston has 22 Historic Districts? On a map, these districts appear clumped, mostly in The Heights, as well as the east Montrose area, the Boulevard Oaks/Broadacres area north of West University and just west of downtown in the High First Ward and Old Sixth...

A Peek at Peckerwood

November 17, 2016October 20, 2017Teresa Byrne-Dodge

After years of benign neglect, several of Houston’s major public parks and gardens are being transformed. The Memorial Park Master Plan, for example, is a complete revamp of the city’s most-used and largest (nearly 1500 acres) urban-center park. The plans were approved by Houston City Council in April 2015, and work...

Big Opportunity for A Small Space

September 16, 2016October 20, 2017Teresa Byrne-Dodge

A powder room may be the tiniest room in the house, but its impact can be – and should be – huge. Designers often suggest ways to make small rooms seem larger and airier. You can ignore that advice for the powder room. Instead, embrace the intimacy. Think jewel box. Here...

Dark Corners: Why Men Love Libraries

August 16, 2016October 20, 2017Cameron Ansari

I am still rather fond of our marriage. So when my wife and I embarked on the complete restoration of our 1920s house, I was determined to participate in the decision-making process only to the extent of nodding my agreement to anything she selected. Years of professional observation in the real...

X Marks the Spot: How to Begin a Map Collection

August 16, 2016October 20, 2017Teresa Byrne-Dodge

Intrigued by a collection of beautiful old maps of Persia that Cameron’s father has entrusted to us, we recently sought the advice of Ed Grusnis, owner of The Antiquarium on Kirby Drive. Grusnis, who bought the shop from its founders in 2014, deals in vintage maps, as well as antique prints,...

Double-Duty Davenports

June 13, 2016October 20, 2017Teresa Byrne-Dodge

Cameron and I visit both the Blue Bird Circle and the Guild Shop – two of Houston’s best resale shops – every week or so. We’re not hoarders, but we do like to find old stuff for our old house: vintage light fixtures, brass hardware, old art books, blotchy antique mirrors,...

Pick Some Peppers!

May 26, 2016November 2, 2017Diane Blazek, National Garden Bureau

Click images for source Peppers and chiles, a highlight in any garden, are among the easiest plants to grow. Bringing a rainbow of colors, a plethora of shapes and different degrees of heat to your table, peppers are an attractive addition to any garden or patio container. It’s easy to value...

What to Pour at Your Daughter’s Wedding

May 12, 2016November 2, 2017Antonio Gianola, Houston Wine Merchant

Photos courtesy of wine makers On a wedding day, friends and families come together to witness the joining of two people in love. And there is nothing more apropos to the magic of the day than bubbles. Whether you wish it to be a pleasantly fruity aperitif style like Italian Prosecco...

How to Don a Derby Hat

May 2, 2016October 20, 2017Teresa Byrne-Dodge

This Saturday, May 7, marks the 142nd running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville. It’s a minor holiday at our house, complete with bourbon cocktails and a Southern menu at dinner. Besides mint juleps and “My Old Kentucky Home,” what else do you commonly associate with “the run...