This penthouse combines breathtaking views of Houston’s upscale Post Oak Boulevard and a luxurious, gallery-style interior design.
The kitchen island from Eggersmann is a wow-factor. Photography by Julie Soefer
THE CLIENT
When they decided it was time to experience the elegance of urban living, the art-loving couple chose the penthouse at the Astoria in the heart of Galleria and Uptown Park as their new home and sought Jennifer Burgess Loh, ASID, of Burgess Loh Interiors to create a fine living space. “The clients were moving from the Suburbs and wanted to be able to move in with just their suitcase,” says Jennifer. “They wanted a glamorous space that would allow them to showcase art and still keep an open concept.”
The living room showcases modern midcentury inspired upholstery with Holly Hunt tables. Photography by Julie Soefer
THE PROJECT
A primary goal was to achieve maximum wall space for art without sacrificing the views while designing the optimal flow of the unit. Overcoming obstacles with creative solutions in the overall design of the penthouse, Jennifer and her team aimed to give their clients the luxurious, gallerystyle living they desired, with a harmonious view from almost every room in the home, allowing the outdoors in, and expanding the walls of their living space by taking advantage of the 360-degree view from the 29th floor. “We were able to take a more standardized floor plan and completely customized it to create an amazing, jaw-dropping space,” she says. “When we say customized, we mean completely custom. The entire penthouse showcases the great teamwork between our firm, the clients, and all the amazing trades and vendors we worked with.”
THE DETAILS
Here, it was all about taupes, champagnes, neutrals and, of course, glam. “The entire scheme for the unit started with the client’s request for a neutral but chic palette,” says Jennifer. “The 360-degree balcony and view really dictated how we laid out the spaces to make the most of it.”
Let’s start with the wow factor of the entry, which includes a silverleafed “oval dome” on the ceiling layered with five crystal chandeliers. And a sculptural feature wall cleverly designed to conceal mechanicals and elevator. In the dining room, the table base was one of the few items the client brought with them. “We incorporated acrylic pedestals in our design for the custom table top with a snow-white semi-precious quartz top that is backlit,” she says. “The Hudson chandelier with its elegant drape of chains evoked art deco glam and is paired with a beautiful custom rug from the Scotts Group Studio. The area is divided by a spectacular fireplace clad in real pyrite, silver-leafed limestone, and mirrored tile. The living room is where the building turns, so it has a radius that we mimicked with the custom rug from Stark. It showcases modern midcentury inspired upholstery with Holly Hunt tables.”
The home’s hidden gem is the “jewel box” powder room. Photography by Julie Soefer
Adjacent to the living room is a bar. “We wanted to create something sculptural, so for the seating area, we designed a raised table that overlaps the countertop of the bar,” she adds. “The table is meant to resemble jewelry with a 'cuff' base and art deco-styled glass top made from Italian glass by Sicis.” In the kitchen, everything is hidden except for the cooking corner. “We combined elegant Macassar wood and high gloss lacquer from Eggersmann with a high-polished black quartz with mirror flecks that tied in the custom mirror and glass backsplash,” Jennifer notes. “It’s sexy, sleek, and glamorous.” The home’s hidden gem is the "jewel box” powder room. A very special Antolini marble with gold glitter inlay wraps floor to ceiling almost melting over the cabinetry and inspired everything else in the space.
In the primary bedroom, space was a challenge. “We wanted to have the bed face the outside view while maintaining privacy,” she explains. “A private entry was designed and constructed behind the bed, creating an intimate space that faces the skyline, while providing overflow storage and a dramatic headboard. Early on in the design process, our client fell in love with a particular slab that we used as art hung above the bed.”
THE OUTCOME
“It was a labor of love,” says Jennifer. “We knew it had to reflect the personalities of our clients, and that’s where we started. They really let us express our creativity and embraced it. The house oozes refined glamour that provides the backdrop for incredible art. I could talk for hours about it!”
“THE HOUSE OOZES REFINED GLAMOUR THAT PROVIDES THE BACKDROP FOR INCREDIBLE ART.” –JENNIFER BURGESS LOH
A private entry was designed and constructed behind the bed. Photography by Julie Soefer
DESIGN DETAILS
LOCATION
Houston
DESIGNER Burgess Loh Interiors,
burgessloh.com
ARCHITECT & BUILDER
Architect: Chris Lewis Architecture,
chrislewisarchitecture.com
Builder: GT Leach, gtleach.com
The dining area is divided by a spectacular fireplace. Photography by Julie Soefer
RESOURCES
Ann Sacks
Living area fireplace covered in Pyrite and leafed limestone, annsacks.com
Antolini
Powder room accent wall and front apron of the sink, antolini.com
Bill Meeks
Entry, living room/bar and primary bedroom vestibule sculptures, meekgallery.com
Brand van Egmond
All custom lighting in the unit, brandvanegmond.com
Clarence House
Custom fabric for living room furniture, clarencehouse.com
Cosentino Group
Crema Marfil marble flooring in entry, living room, kitchen and bathrooms; Silestone countertops, cosentino.com
Eggersmann
Cabinets throughout, primary bed and dressers, eggersmannusa.com
Holly Hunt
Living room tables, hollyhunt.com
Jonathan Brown
Kitchen pendants, jonathanbrowninginc.com
Laura Rathe Fine Art, Stallman Studio
Living room art, laurarathe.com
Miele
Kitchen appliances, mieleusa.com
Pierre Frey
Custom fabric for living room furniture, pierrefrey.com
Scott Group
Dining room lighting, scottgroupstudio.com
Sicis
Bar table, sicis.com
Stark
Rugs throughout, showroom, starkcarpet.com
