The Nero Chronicles: When Trad feels Rad

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

When Trad feels Rad

Here at Ground Nero, we prefer not to be pigeonholed into one clearly defined decorating style or niche look. For it is certainly more enlightening to broaden one's horizons and glean a little bit from here, a snippet from there, honing a general impression of life by looking and learning everywhere. A favorite pastime of mine involves the perusing of real estate listings and with any luck striking on a gem of a home. I then play at Nero-fying the place in my head -- tweaking and prepping it for an imminent, fantasy move-in.

The home below, a custom-build in one of Houston's most lovely and family-friendly neighborhoods, has long been the object of many a drive-by. Back when the dervish was only prone to nodding off by force, the two of us would circumnavigate this 'hood, a teary-eyed and frazzled Nero at the helm of our SUV, hoping against hope that the wild and woolly imp would be hypnotized by the identical Little Tike swings bobbing to and fro in almost every front yard.

This house, situated on an expansive corner lot, always boasted a quality and curb appeal that set it apart from many of its counterparts. Nero longed to peer inside, but the protective courtyard wall impeded any attempts at voyeurism. As fate would have it, the home is now up for grabs.

The interiors, while more traditional than Nero's usual blogging fodder, boast a look that decorating doyenne Joni Webb has helped champion over at Cote de Texas. Exceedingly popular with the Houston set, this breezy, hybridized species of Southern-French patois goes over well with pet owners and parents alike, and generally translates to the approving public as a well-appointed and fine home. While beautiful and pleasing in its own right (the master suite is certainly comely), if Nero were to repo this beautiful box of bricks, things would perhaps veer a touch more eclectic. But what lovely bones, and oh the things I would do on that distressed concrete flooring. Anyone in the market for a six-bedroom mini-manse, as opposed to the more standard McMansion, should apply here.

Labels: All images via har.com

7 comments:

Glamour Drops said...: The floors steal the show, don't they? From the glorious polished concrete to those fabulous herringbone brick floors on the terrace. All quite delightful.; March 13, 2012 at 3:43 PM
MomOmnipotent said...: This home is more than perfect.; March 13, 2012 at 4:30 PM
Alcira Molina-Ali said...: Hi there MO -- thanks for popping in ;)

It is pretty idyllic for the classicist, is it not?
And such a fantastic school within walking distance.
Alcira; March 13, 2012 at 5:08 PM
Peak Rainey said...: The interiors aren't exactly my taste either, but I love how bright the interior and exterior are. Even the pictures taken in the evening make the house look welcoming. Gorgeous!
xoxo
www.styledesignlife.blogspot.com; March 13, 2012 at 7:31 PM
Raina Cox said...: +1 for using a real zebra skin and not some gussied up cowhide

-1 gajillion for the architectural cutouts in photo #8 and the third and fourth to the last. Gross.; March 13, 2012 at 11:01 PM
Alcira Molina-Ali said...: Cheers Peak,

It's a pretty place with lots of potential.
Alcira; March 14, 2012 at 11:29 AM
Alcira Molina-Ali said...: Greetings Raina,

Ah, the niches, I hadn't given them much thought.
There's something in the real estate listing that mentions that the architect had tried to build out the playroom space in a style that would remain true to the rest of the home.
Not sure if the arches and the cutout niches were an attempt to echo the lines of the roof and eaves.
I guess it is a bit of a waste of space, though it does create a partition between the tv viewing area and the playing area proper.
Personally, since it's a playroom, as long as it's clean and functional, the cutouts wouldn't kill me.
I would, however, have to tackle de-countrifying the kitchen and doing away with the faux finishes throughout.
Alcira; March 14, 2012 at 11:35 AM