Some homes introduce themselves with a sense of grandeur, engulfing guests in architectural awe as soon as they enter. This young couple’s new Houston residence could easily command such presence, with its tall windows and vast swaths of light. But when interior designer Julie Dodson Webster first stepped inside the abode, she was struck the most not by its structural scope but by her clients’ cheery Bernese mountain dog, Cabo. “She met us at the door on each and every one of our visits, wanting to show off her toys,” the designer recalls with a laugh.
That endearing greeting prefaced what these homeowners wanted most of all: spaces that encapsulate a welcoming and intimate atmosphere, with a dose of sophistication. As recent California transplants, they navigate hectic careers by day. So, for their next chapter of life in Texas, “This house needed to be a laid-back respite,” the designer explains. “The couple didn’t want anything over the top. They cared more about spending quality time together.”
With that in mind, Webster and her design assistant, Patty Henriquez, pivoted the home toward a warm, human-centered design. They introduced lounge-worthy gathering areas for visiting family and friends, serene corners of solitude and, of course, various plush surfaces where the couple’s beloved four-legged family member can sunbathe. Cultivating such comfort called for an aesthetic that feels as good as it looks. To that end, notes Webster, “It was all about creating a textural experience.”
The clients only brought a few pieces from their life on the West Coast, so Webster essentially had free rein to start from scratch—and she began by diffusing the home’s expansive envelope with layers of tactility. Wool rugs in every room carve out close-knit seating areas within the larger footprint, fostering conversation while adding softness underfoot. Custom pleated draperies adorned with a matching valance or patterned trim help to bring movement and color to the walls and windows. Finishes on wood furniture remain rich and varied in tone, from the ebonized dining table to the unvarnished natural grain of handmade accent stools.
New pieces overall lean transitional, featuring “clean, simple lines that mix in well with various textures,” Webster explains. “I wanted furnishings that have an ease about them.” Think deep-set sectionals dotted with cushions, oversize armchairs covered in buttery leathers and plush upholstered headboards ready-made for reading in bed. The study’s languid chaise lounge is a particularly dreamy find covered in blue velvet. And because Cabo “is allowed on everything, choosing textiles that are pet-friendly was also very important,” adds Webster, who incorporated hardy performance fabrics for stress-free lounging.
At first, the color scheme trended subdued. A procession of cream walls runs throughout the main living areas, taking advantage of the home’s light. In turn, deeper shades of gray conjure a cocoon-like atmosphere in the more private realms. Webster reserved the darkest gray for the wife’s study, creating “a little spot where she can read and relax,” the designer notes. This reserved palette continues through to the main furnishings with delicate stripes and windowpane patterns adding subtle dimension. However, as the couple’s personal art collection grew during the design process, “We began bringing in fabrics and pillows that pull shades from the pieces,” Webster says. A classic Hunt Slonem bird painting, for example, inspired the dining room’s notes of blue, while the signature abstract swirls of Texas artist Sydney Yeager spurred the guest bedroom’s eclectic blues and yellows.
Among the plethora of new art and furniture, the designer preserved personal touches to imbue cozy familiarity. The study is perhaps home to the owners’ most sentimental items, one being a framed blueprint of their first residence together in California. Enjoying pride of place, another is a portrait by artist Anke Schofield of their dear pup. The couple “fell in love with her whimsical animal paintings,” Webster says. “She custom made this piece incorporating their own dog.” With a squirrel perched on her back, the painted version proves as playful as her real-life counterpart.
In similar fashion, the designer sees her own creative process as a form of portraiture. Rooms should do more than impress; they should radiate with life, embodying the distinct character of their occupants. “When you truly capture the client in a space, that is design to me,” Webster explains. “We are the artists, and our clients are the muse.”
