Villa de Luxe Show House - Houston, Texas - February 2013

In February 2013, a historic Houston estate in one of the city’s most exclusive neighborhoods was transformed into a stunning designer showhouse for the benefit of Preservation Houston. The house and grounds, reimagined by some of the city’s leading interior designers and architects, was open to the public the first three weekends in February.A different designer was responsible for each of the 20 rooms in the Venetian Revival style mansion built for hardware magnate F.A. Heitman in 1926. Designed by architect William Ward Watkin, the house stands on two acres in Shadyside, a private place neighborhood adjacent to Rice University, developed by Joseph S. Cullinan, founder of The Texas Company (Texaco).

While featuring the best of today’s interior styles, the designers’ work showcased the home’s historic features, particularly the finely detailed woodwork and paneling that are hallmarks of Watkin’s buildings. Proceeds from the showhouse and its associated events will benefited Preservation Houston.

The Slovack-Bass design team worked together to create the Artist’s Loft using one of Cecil Touchon's gestural collages in a wall cluster. I just happened onto these images and while a year late, no reason not to document it.