Lauren Grumbles Design infuses a Woodlands retreat with warmth, whimsy and subtle sophistication.

073WEB_Laurieperez_com_D5A1602.jpg“Originally the living room had multiple door units, passageways and windows all at different heights and shapes,” shares Grumbles. “This visual imbalance was corrected by a combination of closing off the entrance to an unused atrium, mirroring a hallway opening and built-ins to a matching height with eyebrow arches to mimic the French doors.”

After making a major move from Dallas to the Woodlands to be closer to her daughter and grandchildren, the homeowner—a retired rancher and former Rodeo queen—called upon Lauren Grumbles Design to breathe new life into her recently purchased 90’s patio home in Panther Creek. “The homeowner, a recent widow, was excited for the opportunity to make a home designed only around her personal aesthetic after a lifetime of putting the needs and wants of others ahead of her own,” shares Grumbles. “Although the overall design goal was to create an open concept space suitable for entertaining her family, we were mindful to still incorporate cozy and intimate spaces just for her that felt inviting and cozy.”

THE PRIORITY

From the very beginning, the client made her vision clear: a personality-packed space sprinkled with durable yet snug furnishings that could withstand and welcome buzzy grandchildren and large-scale family gatherings. “One of the few specific requests that the homeowner had was that she wanted blue glass pendants in her kitchen,” says Grumbles. “While there are many blue glass fixtures on the market today, many of them have a mass-produced feel and a more contemporary aesthetic. LGD searched high and low to find just the right selection and landed on a custom-blown glass pendant from an artisan in Washington. The steel blue color was the inspiration for other blue-toned elements in the kitchen.

003_Laurieperez_com.jpgTo expand the kitchen’s presence, Grumbles opened the wall between the kitchen and dining room, then reconfigured the entire space to take advantage of the square footage. She adds, “By incorporating a large seating area within the island, the homeowner was able to have room for more storage and display without compromising the space needed to entertain her grandchildren.”

THE CHALLENGE

Before the team could indulge in aesthetics, Grumbles had to solve a major issue with the house’s then-mass-produced layout: unity and flow. “The original home had so many elements that were in conflict with each other that the goal of a calming space couldn’t be realized through furnishings alone,” she explains. “We had to fix the shell of the home first, by unifying and simplifying the doorways, cabinets, windows, ceilings and flooring.” Once the stage was set, Grumbles masterfully layered soft furnishing atop the neutral color scheme that runs throughout the space. “The color palate always starts with the area rug selection for us. The handmade rug we selected is where the soft pink and blue color palate was born.” She continues, “From there, we made sure to balance the softer colors with a few masculine elements… the scale and material of the custom cocktail table and ottoman and the black herringbone firebox are two examples of that balance between feminine and masculine.”

036_Laurieperez_com.jpgThe C&G Furniture custom dining table grounds the space, while plush pink seating adds layers of personality and flair.

THE DESIGN

“The goal for LGD is always to provide a home that looks as if it was curated over time. Oftentimes this comes through a mix of furnishings that have a variety of finishes, origin dates and style to create character and charm.” The key to this home’s whimsical and welcoming vibes centered around the built-in cabinetry, which in some cases, took on more of a furniture-like feel. This can be seen in the white oak and bleached kitchen display hutches, the living room’s expansive display cabinet, the guest bath’s wall paneling and, our personal favorite, the charming reading book built-ins. For the finishing touch, Grumbles effortlessly fused a bevy of rare baubles and trinkets to bring harmony to each room (think a butterfly chandelier over the custom dining table, handcrafted fireplace screen from Claire Crowe and the scalloped blue glass tile in the Primary Bath).

056WEB_Laurieperez_com_D5A8702.jpgThe primary bedroom was designed as a place to relax, featuring a serene color palette and soft accents throughout

THE DETAILS

“The only way to describe the original primary bath was chaotic,” jokes Grumbles. “Dual vanities with low functioning storage, odd ceiling angles and narrow passage doors and a sunken tub surrounded by carpet made this the most obvious space in need of a complete renovation,” she explains. “By incorporating a shared wet space for the bathtub and walk-in shower, I was able to install a frosted glass wall that gave access to both the bathing area and the water closet. One of the two oversized closets was minimized to create a built-in linen closet that takes full advantage of the newly heightened and leveled ceiling.”

THE OUTCOME

“The success of this home lies all in the balancing act between light and dark, feminine and masculine, whimsical and classic,” she reflects. “The home feels harmonious and calm. The homeowner has seen an influx of overnight guests and lingering visitors… the feeling is hard to put into words, but great design does that. It just feels good to be in this space.”

105_Laurieperez_com.jpgSmall details, like the scalloped blue glass tile in the primary bath, make up larger moments around the home