Warm, whimsical tones, touchable textures and out-of-the-box design details flourish in this thoughtfully done Tomball home by Lauren Grumbles Interior Design.
The wine room has a relaxed yet sophisticated living room-like feel, with dramatic, black metallic plaster and green velvet furnishings setting the tone.
THE PROJECT
When interior designer Lauren Grumbles met with her clients— recent empty-nesters Paul and Jana McCarver—to discuss building a new home from the ground up, the project started as a simple design consultation. “Initially, they had no plans to bring on an Interior Designer full time, so I helped them get started and then bid them farewell,” shares Grumbles. “Fast forward several months, construction had begun quickly and then came to a complete standstill due to indecision and angst over the possibility of making mistakes. Jana then asked me to come back on board and oversee all design and construction selections. From that point onward, progress resumed, and a wonderful collaboration developed.”
The office’s custom live edge and acrylic desk by Vieux Interiors mingles with the lavish light fixture from Lighting Inc. and whimsical JAB Anstoetz drapery
Designer Lauren Grumbles carefully designed a Willow Creek Ranch home by H4 Architects.
THE PLAN
Once the bones were set on the four-bed, four-bath Willow Creek Ranch home, Grumbles leaned into the aesthetic, focusing on what the clients yearned for most: an inviting, hassle-free abode with ample room for gathering and entertaining. “One of the key priorities for these empty nesters was that visually, their home was low stimulation. They desired soft colors, minimal patterns and low visual contrast between elements,” she explains. Hues of greens, blues and taupes create a continuous color story throughout the space, while a unique assortment of patterns and materials give the home a surprising texture. “The initial color palate of the home was inspired by its Lueders limestone front façade, which transitioned to the interior space as large format cladding on the living room fireplace and mantle.”
“In the family room, Paul and Jana never wanted family and friends to feel like their home was too fancy to put their feet up,” says Grumbles. “One of the custom elements designed to meet that ‘feet up’ desire was the cocktail table, which conceals two pull-out leather ottomans.”
THE DETAILS
“I never glaze over the reality that life is messy and our home needs to support our lifestyle, not demand something from it. If I create a home that looks beautiful but doesn’t wear well, then I haven’t done my duty to create a supportive environment for my clients to live in,” says Grumbles, who incorporated an array of sleek yet functional design elements in the home. Beyond low-sheen flooring options, easy-to-re-touch matte wall paint and upholstered fabrics, creative custom twists are also sprinkled throughout the space. The family room stands out with its savvy white-oak cocktail table that hides not one but two leather ottomans for guests to kick back and relax on. And, we can’t forget about the dog—on top of the two doggie doors installed in the primary bedroom and breakfast rooms, Grumbles also added a hidden feeding station in the kitchen areas, which allows easy access to food and water, without all the mess.
In the breakfast room, exposed plank and a standout chandelier draw the eye, while Pollack drapery and patterned chairs give the space a light, airy feel.
THE HIGHLIGHTS
Nestled nicely between the game room and bar area, the wine room bursts with sophistication and creative edge. “In sharp contrast to the calming energy of the house, the wine room utilizes a black metallic plaster to create a cozy and dramatic vibe,” explains Grumbles. “Used for both private gathering and entertaining, his space has quickly become the favorite hangout space for the homeowners.” Here, materials and colors effortlessly play off one another—from the four swivel chairs upholstered in luxe green velvet (with a coordinating embossed Italian leather) to the hair on the hide rug with metallic accents.
It’s game on in the bar area with a luxe pool table, Ferguson appliances and a fully-stocked wine fridge.
THE OUTCOME
“I truly loved working with Paul and Jana on their custom home,” says Grumbles of the two-year project. “I could see in their faces when we first met how stressed out this process was making them; like most first-time custom homeowners, they had no idea how many decisions they would be inundated with on an almost day-to-day basis. Knowing that I could come alongside them to help navigate this with them to ease stress and create a home that truly reflects them and supports their lifestyle was a joy for me.”
Surrounded by lush greenery from all angles, the property’s outdoor oasis comes alive with a swimming pool, grill station and ample space to lounge about.
Elegance abounds in the kitchen, featuring Walker Zanger backsplash, Arizona Tile marble countertops and more.
The equestrian artwork from Leftbank Art plays off the metallic plaster in the wine room.
DESIGN DETAILS
TYPE
Single-family home
LOCATION
Tomball
INTERIOR DESIGN
Lauren Grumbles
laurengrumbles.com
ARCHITECTURE
H4 Architects
h4architects.com
BUILDER
Brickland Homes
bricklandhomes.com
LANDSCAPE & POOL DESIGN
Carnahans
carnahanlandscaping.com
RESOURCES
LIGHTING INC.
Lighting throughout
lightinginc.com
POLLACK
Drapery throughout
pollackassociates.com
LUXE FINE FINISHES
Wine room plaster walls and ceiling, primary bedroom walls and kitchen range hood
luxefinefinishes.com
JAMES CRAIG FURNISHING
Living room swivel chairs, bar stools and primary bedroom bed
jamescraigfurnishings.com
CREATIVE STYLE FURNITURE, INC.
Living Room cocktail ottomans
creativestylefurniture.com
ALYSON JON INTERIORS
Living Room end table
alysonjon.com
VIEUX INTERIORS
Office live edge and acrylic desk
vieuxinteriors.com
JAB ANSTOETZ
Office drapery fabric
jab.de
LEFTBANK ART
Artwork throughout
leftbankart.com
