Sarah Esfahani Tringhese
Matt Camron Rugs & Tapestries
Houston native Sarah Esfahani Tringhese has always had an interest in design. How could she not, having grown up in a family that’s made a name in the industry? Tringhese plays a key role in the family-run Matt Camron Rugs & Tapestries, the luxury textile company founded by her father 37 years ago that now operates five showrooms across the country, including in Houston and Dallas. Armed with degrees in both business and art history, Tringhese became the brand’s creative director in 2009, continuing the company’s success alongside her mother, father and sister. “I always knew I wanted to work with my parents, and I love textiles,” she says–so much so that she designs a flat-woven and a Scandinavian rug collection for Matt Camron. Here, the design darling shares her must-see spots for discovering Houston.
9 a.m. Start the day with a jog around historic Rice University, which is home to a beautiful canopy of old oak trees.
10 a.m. Grab breakfast at Common Bond Cafe & Bakery in Montrose. I always order a cappuccino and the avocado-and-bacon toast.
11 a.m. Stop by Galerie Novella to check out the latest haul of 20th-century European design. This shop is new to Houston and is amazing–there is nothing else like it in town.
11:30 a.m. Nearby, pop in William Reaves | Sarah Foltz Fine Art, a cool, ever-changing gallery space. I love how it showcases only Texas artists, both contemporary and historic.
12 p.m. Head to my two favorite boutiques in Houston: Kick Pleat for trendy modern pieces and Cakewalk Style Shop for the best denim in town. You can usually find Cakewalk owners Jen Grigsby and Gina Cartwright in the shop, and they will style you.
1 p.m. Grab lunch on the patio at Giacomo’s Cibo e Vino, where the owner and chef, Lynette Hawkins, makes all her pastas by hand. Order the tortelli stuffed with Swiss chard, ricotta and goat cheese, plus a glass of prosecco.
2 p.m. Leave plenty of time to explore The Menil Collection, my favorite museum. It features an extensive collection of pop and contemporary art, including works by Andy Warhol and Jackson Pollock, and I often find color inspiration for my own designs there. Don’t miss the Rothko Chapel, which is home to 14 large canvases by abstract expressionist Mark Rothko. It’s an incredible space.
5 p.m. Sip a craft cocktail at Anvil Bar & Refuge, which has both a classic drink menu and a seasonal menu.
6 p.m. Enjoy a lovely dinner at State of Grace. Start with a dozen oysters and a Buffalo Speedster, which is a Texas knockoff of an old fashioned. And you can’t go wrong with my favorite entree, the snapper.
8 p.m. Head back to Rice University to watch the sunset at James Turrell’s “Twilight Epiphany” Skyspace light installation. It begins at dawn and dusk every day, and it’s so beautiful.
