Houston home gets a roberts remix: tradition meets midcentury flair
Markham Roberts, the designer known for his spirited embrace of classicism, has delivered a startlingly fresh renovation of a 1940s Houston home, proving that a reverence for the past doesn’t preclude a bold leap into the present. The project, for a longtime client relocating from New York City, isn't just a remodel; it’s a conversation between eras, a playful dialogue between heritage and modernity.
A staub legacy, a roberts vision
The house itself, designed by the renowned architect John F. Staub, is a relative anomaly within his body of work. While Staub is celebrated for his traditionally styled homes, particularly in Houston's River Oaks neighborhood (Bayou Bend, the former home of Ima Hogg, stands as his most iconic achievement), this late-’40s brick residence possesses an unexpectedly modern sensibility. Roberts’s client, drawn to the property’s unassuming street presence and the enchanting walled garden, recognized the potential for a space that defied easy categorization.
“The house only reveals itself up close and after you get inside,” Roberts observes, a sentiment echoed by visitors who often remark on its unique character. It’s a quality the client clearly cherishes.
Eclectic harmony: a collector’s eye
Roberts's approach wasn’t to erase the past, but to amplify it, layering in pieces from the client's New York apartment—a collection built over years—with bespoke creations and carefully sourced vintage finds. The living room, for instance, is a testament to this approach. Custom jewel-toned velvets cloak the sofas, while a Karl Springer parchment cocktail table anchors the space. A Louis XVI bergère sits comfortably alongside Milo Baughman lounge chairs, and a quirky, wool-wrapped floor lamp rises like a sculptural accent. Above it all, a 19th-century French chandelier casts a warm glow on a ceiling lacquered in a lustrous blue-gray.
But the true magic lies in the juxtapositions. An antique Baule mask commands attention above the fireplace, while works by Anthony Prud’homme—his swampy landscapes particularly evocative—and inherited pieces by Alexander Calder and Alex Katz create a rich artistic tapestry. Roberts’s own carpet design ties the disparate elements together, a subtle anchor in a room brimming with personality. “They didn’t want some ridiculous, check-the-boxes rich person’s house,” Roberts affirmed, and the result is anything but predictable.
Beyond the living room: whimsy and functionality
The bar, a playful space featuring a Tyler Shields photograph paired with a custom Napoleon III–style sofa, exemplifies Roberts’s ability to infuse a space with both sophistication and humor. Lamps by Pamela Sunday and a Japanese burl root table add further layers of intrigue. And throughout the house, functionality isn’t sacrificed for style. A custom-built filing cabinet in the living room caters to the client’s passion for needlework, and multiple games tables—one in the bar wrapped in striking lilac shagreen—encourage social interaction.
Even the dining room joins the revelry, enveloped in a whimsical woodland wallpaper named “Rabbit Hole,” a nod to the family’s pet bunny, who freely roams the house, alongside two dogs, two turtles, and four chickens residing in the lush gardens designed by Leslie Cooper of Cosmos Garden Design.
Roberts’s work here is a reminder that true luxury isn't about ostentation, but about creating a space that reflects the unique passions and priorities of its inhabitants. As he succinctly puts it, “It looks different from other things I’ve done. I like that.”
Sourcebook
Here’s a curated selection of items inspired by the Houston renovation, to bring a touch of Roberts’s eclectic style to your own home:
- Gusto Turkish Tulip Chest: $4,200 at getthegusto.com
- Loewe Watering Can Bag: $1,990 at Loewe
- Elizabeth Sofa by Barrie Benson for Highland House Shop: highlandhousefurniture.com
- Boheme Autumn Rug by Ward and Gray: bohemeshop.com
- Abask Fioravola Tulips Majolica Ceramic Lidded Serving Dish: $1,450 at abask.com
- Van Cleef & Arpels Perlée Toi & Moi Secret Watch
- Lindsey Adelman Branching Disc Chandelier: $40,700 at lindseyadelman.com