welcome to the dollhouse

8 Houston designers craft intricate dollhouses for charity fundraiser

Welcome to the dollhouse(s)! That’s right, the third annual La Petite Maison Gala and charity dollhouse auction is back. The always fantastic designer dollhouses are officially out for display in their temporary exhibition locations around town for those who love to participate in their ever whimsical “scavenger hunt” of sorts in the lead up to the big event on Wednesday, December 4 at Hotel ZaZa Museum District.

Kristen Leigh Studio dollhouse Donald Robertson

Photo by Emily Cotton

Artist Donald Robertson created these custom drawings for Kristen Leigh Studio's dollhouse.

This year eight designers were chosen to participate in this charitable cause, and, in an interesting, albeit unintended twist, the stakes have seriously increased. While the dollhouses themselves are desirable enough on their own, they now include custom, miniature paintings from some of the country’s top artists, including mega-famous multimedia artist Donald Robertson — talk about a collectible! But, more on that later.

The La Petite Maison Gala has chosen Family Houston as beneficiary this year. Founded in 1904, Family Houston is a philanthropic organization that provides crucial support to some of Houston’s most vulnerable communities through financial support, education, career coaching, food security assistance, and more.

“We are so pleased to be connected to La Petite Maison Gala this year,” Ken Sheirr, president & CEO of Family Houston, adds. “Our focus is helping Houston families who need it most and I know this will bring immeasurable awareness to our cause. Fundraising events like this help power the programs Family Houston provides throughout the year. It brings real tangible change to this community, both financially and through the exposure to attendees and thus, throughout our great city.”

The pre-decorated dollhouses were designed by Reagan & André Architecture Studio and built by Alair Homes before heading to their respective interior designers. Many interior design trade partners participated in this project by creating scaled down versions of their products such as wallpapers scaled to 1:12 of their original patterns, tiny tiles, and more.

Read on for a guide to all of the dollhouse locations, a statement from the designers about their inspirations, and other items of note presented in logistical order if planning a full tour. (There are no spoilers for the scavenger hunt — not sorry, it’s fun to try and spot each item in the individual houses!). Designers and dollhouse locations are also available here.

Designer: Jean Liu Design
Location: South to North (3711 Autry Park Drive, Suite 100)
Theme: The Grand Budapest Hotel
Description: The program of the rooms is based loosely on the movie and set design, including a double height ceilinged lobby, a tiled natatorium, and a historic bakery (Mendl’s). The style of these spaces is carried out in the similar 1930s décor as the film’s setting, which proved a fun and delightful departure for our studio, as we mainly work in a modernist and minimalist vein.
Items of note: Schumacher wallpaper, Ann Sacks tile, and miniature marble fireplaces by Materials Marketing. Additional thanks to Benjamin Moore and Tom Freeman.

Designer: Avery Cox Design
Location: Foltz Fine Art (2143 Westheimer Road)
Theme: Villa Mare the “Grecodeco” Dollhouse
Description: This opulent, jewel toned villa evokes the splendor of ancient Greece, designed for a couple residing on an idyllic island in the Aegean Sea. The home offers a delight around every corner from a serene indoor soaking room to a grand ballroom and a two-story gallery of curiosities.
Items of note: Kendra Scott - Jewelry as lighting: “Beau” earrings in His Bedroom, “Marina” earrings in the Spa, “Shea” Necklace in the Music Room. Additional thanks to Benjamin Moore, Hector’s Modern Plaster, Growler Domestics, Porter Teleo, and George Cameron Nash.

Designer: Wills Design Associates
Location: Valobra Master Jewelers (2150 Westheimer Road)
Theme: A holiday in Cabo
Description: Wills Design Associates’ mini Cabo retreat celebrates color and culture, where modern Mexican architecture meets global design influences. The striking pink stucco exterior immediately sets a whimsical tone.
Items of note: The intricate rooftop terrace and flamingo banister. Contributions by Helenita Home, Jordan Geibel Creative, Modern Muse by Lizzie, John Robshaw, Schumacher, Holland and Sherry, Wallshoppe, and Benjamin Moore.

Designer: Courtney Barton
Location: Courtney Barton (2940 Ferndale Street)
Theme: Teeny Tiny Tassel Castle
Description: A tangible expression of everything we stand for—craftsmanship, community, and shared stories, and we hope it brings you as much delight as it has brought to us.
Item of note: Exquisitely executed miniature upholstered furniture by Coley Home. Additional vendors and collaborators: Beata Heuman, Andrew Martin, The Lawns Co, and artists Rebecca Rebouché, Asley Givhan, MIchelle King, and Lauren Clyburn.

Designer: Amy Kummer Interiors
Location: Moreau Paris (4444 Westheimer Road, Suite 145)
Theme: There’s no place like home for the holidays.
Description: The AKI team hopes this dollhouse fills everyone who views it with the warmth of family and the joy of the holiday season.
Items of note: The ladies closet and rooftop pickleball court. Notable vendors and collaborators: Fleur Home, Lee Jofa, Schumacher, Scalamandre, Benjamin Moore, Phillip Jeffries, Thibaut, The Modern Dollhouse, Creative Style Furniture, Pierre Frey, Itsy Bitsy Mini, Galbraith and Paul, Vanessa Walton with Jacquelyn Reese Linens, and artist Mariel Sawicki.

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Designer: Kristen Leigh Studio
Location: Back Row Home (8570 Katy Freeway, Suite 111)
Theme: The Hamptons
Description: Kristen Leigh’s Hamptons-inspired dollhouse is an ode to the beauty of everyday life. Incorporating many of her own line’s fabrics and wallpapers, Kristen aimed for the house to mimic a traditional, yet lived-in, home.
Items of note: The ART! Wow. Miniature original works by Erin Donahue Tice, Lynn Sanders, Hilary Howarth, Blakeney McGee, Lily & Rose Studio, and a set of six custom original works by Donald Robertson. Additional thanks to The Decorated Wolffe and Mike Norfleet.
Side note: Robertson tells CultureMap he was impressed by the design of the living room where these “six awesome little paintings” now call home, especially since he never spoke to the design team.

“It was a cold call [email], it’s not like it was a meeting,” Robertson says. “It was a trust fall and I’m amazed by who did it!”

Speaking of the Hamptons-inspired dollhouse, Robertson conceded that “it takes a lot for me to be surprised and speechless, but I am in awe.” How did this design come together without any type of briefing? “I got the little pack of six canvases and a sharpie, and just went for it!” A reminder to everyone to always shoot your shot.

Designer: Elizabeth Garrett Interiors
Location: Frock Shop (9135 Katy Freeway, Suite 104)
Theme: The Campbell
Description: We are so proud to have been chosen to be a part of this special event and we can’t wait to share our completed home with the Houston design community.
Items of note: The ART again, and the rooftop landscaping. Miniature paintings by Avant-Art Gallery, representing Laura Waldusky, Dimmit Contemporary Art, representing Sara Genn and Randal Ford, Laura Rathe Fine Art, representing Carly Allen Martin and Lynn Sanders. Notable vendors and collaborators: Albert Hartley, Andrea Condara, Holland & Sherry, Houston Drapery Center, Paul Meyer, Supply Showroom, Susan Harter Muralpapers, The Urban Electric Co, Tyler King, and DAV Plaster.

Designer: Jennifer Barron Interiors
Location: Mont Art House (1230 Houston Avenue)
Theme: Southern, Georgian Home
Description: Our dollhouse was largely inspired by southern, Georgian, homes. Many of the homes in Georgia are layered with antiques, florals, borders and wallpaper, so that was my goal with this dollhouse.
Items of note: The miniature Delft tiled fireplace and Susan Harter Mural. Collaborators and vendors of note: Samuel & Sons, Benjamin Moore, Phillip Jeffries, Fabricut, Robert Kime, Pindler, Schumacher, Holland & Sherry, Stark Carpet, Colefax & Fowler, Pierre Frey, Sanderson.

The dollhouses will be on display until Tuesday, December 3 and will be auctioned off by auctioneer Johnny Bravo at The La Petite Maison Gala the following day. Interior designer Alexandra Killion founded the gala in 2022 and has raised over $300,000 since its inception.

This year the theme is Apres Ski, and is sure to be a hit. Killion’s co-chair for 2024 is designer Lauren Wills Grover. They are assisted by event coordinators Madelon McGrenera and Shellyn Shoenthal. Purchase tickets here.

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Good Brick Tour 2025

Historic home tour celebrates preservation and sustainability in Houston

Courtesy of Preservation Houston

The Style in Steel townhouses were built in 1968.

Preservation Houston’s 2025 Good Brick Tour kicks off this weekend (Saturday, November 8, and Sunday, November 9), giving Houstonians the opportunity to explore stories, craftsmanship, and design details from a selection of the city’s Good Brick Award recipients, which reward excellence in historic preservation. Now in its 12th year, the tour has grown into a celebration of Houston’s rich architectural heritage, distinctive neighborhoods, and the work that goes into restoring and maintaining some of the city’s most treasured places.

“Preservation Houston’s Good Brick Tour celebrates not only the homes and landmarks themselves, but the stories of the people who care for them,” said Jennifer Kapral, executive director of Preservation Houston. “Each stop on the tour reminds us that preserving our city’s history is an act of community, one that connects Houston’s past, present, and future.”

This year, event chairs Pei-Lin Chong (whose home is featured on the tour) and Mariam Hejazi, along with over 150 volunteers, invite the public into four homes that offer a glimpse of the distinctive styles that contribute to the architectural vernacular of the Bayou City. It’s also worth noting that, while the tour offers access to four homes, one location — Style in Steel — is a collection of three independent townhomes that have not been open together since their original debut in 1969.

Just in time for the tour, CultureMap has gathered insights from each location’s homeowner(s) so that participants can keep an eye out for the little things that make each one of these homes so special. Find each insight just below the history of each home.

2025 Good Brick Tour Locations

Valenti-Dissen House 1507 Alamo Street (First Ward), 1921
Built by Sicilian immigrant and grocer Jacob Valenti, this Craftsman bungalow reflects the First Ward’s early diversity. Over the decades it welcomed a mix of tenants, from a printer and an accountant to members of Houston’s Greek community, capturing the spirit of a working-class area where many cultures met. In 1934, the property was purchased by Della Settegast Dissen, whose well-known Houston family had deep ties to the city’s development. When FW Heritage acquired the home in 2021, they found a structure in need of major repair but rich in original details. A careful restoration, guided by Grayform Architecture, respected the home's proportions while updating it for modern living. The project received a 2024 Good Brick Award.

“The house was originally a two-bedroom, one-bath home and served as a rental for close to 100 years before I bought it in 2021,” says homeowner and event co-chair Pei-Lin Chong. “I’m actually the first homeowner to ever live here, which makes it even more special. One of my favorite features is the built-in china cabinet between the kitchen and dining room; it’s such a thoughtful original detail. During the restoration, we discovered old wallpaper under the sheetrock. I asked my demo team to carefully remove them and I have framed two samples as keepsakes. It's a small piece of the home’s long history.”

William Henry Lighthouse House 2018 Kane Street (Old Sixth Ward), 1906
A two-story Classical Revival residence built for brick maker William H. Lighthouse is among the Old Sixth Ward Historic District’s most prominent landmarks. Architect Olle Lorehn designed the home with honey-colored brick, stone trim, and a soaring double-height portico — a fitting showcase for the material that made Lighthouse’s fortune.

When changing health circumstances made stairs increasingly difficult, the homeowner turned to architect Marisa Janusz of Janusz Design for a way to remain in the home he loves. The resulting one-story addition provides accessible living space on the ground floor. Set back and lower in height, it connects to the main house via a copper-and-glass bridge that meets the historic structure with a light touch. The project was honored with a 2025 Good Brick Award for demonstrating how thoughtful design can adapt historic architecture to modern life with grace and care.

“The brick interior walls are what make this home truly stand out — strong and full of character,” explains homeowner Jason Johnson. “Paired with the historic exterior walls, which are three bricks thick, and thoughtful modern updates, it’s a space I hope visitors appreciate for both its design and its story.”

Anderson Todd House 9 Shadowlawn (Museum District), 1961
Designed by architect and Rice University professor Anderson Todd for his family, this steel-framed pavilion balances privacy and openness through a series of courtyards and light-filled spaces. The steel-framed, brick-and-glass pavilion is organized around a black-walnut-paneled core. Polished terrazzo floors, a rhythm of exposed columns, and an unbroken ceiling plane finished in white-painted plaster reflect Todd’s disciplined craftsmanship and his view of architecture as the measured interplay of light, form, and material.

Modern in form yet understated in presence, the Todd House complements its neighbors in the Shadow Lawn Historic District through scale and workmanship. The house is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and is a City of Houston Protected Landmark. Because the home has never undergone any renovations, it has never been nominated for a Good Brick Award. Instead, Anderson Todd House is considered an excellent example of how thoughtful stewardship can keep a landmark home livable today.

“Our house was a wonderful house for children. There was so little furniture that we could bicycle indoors,” says Emily Todd. “It continues to be a wonderful house as an adult, equally comfortable for a quiet dinner or a lively cocktail party. I’m very lucky to have spent virtually all my life in this house. Living here has been a privilege.”

Style in Steel Townhomes 4156, 4158 and 4160 Meyerwood Drive (Southwest Loop), 1968
Designed by Wilson, Morris, Crain & Anderson, the firm behind the Astrodome, the three Style in Steel townhomes stand among Houston’s most elegant expressions of late modern design. The houses debuted at the 1969 National Association of Home Builders’ exposition, showcasing the versatility of steel in residential design. Architects Talbott Wilson and Hal Weatherford paired precision with warmth, combining steel with terrazzo, travertine, brick, and cedar in open, light-filled homes arranged around courtyards landscaped by Fred Buxton.

The current owners of the central townhouse undertook a meticulous restoration with architect Rodolfo R. Fabre, reversing years of alterations to reveal the clarity of the original design and earning a 2024 Good Brick Award. Together, the three houses — all City of Houston Protected Landmarks — represent Houston modernism at its finest, sustained by thoughtful stewardship and care. This year’s Good Brick Tour marks the first time the Style in Steel homes have been open to the public together since 1969.

“My favorite space in the house is the front courtyard, which the entire house is designed around. It’s magical the way light filters in and casts patterns on the walls throughout the day,” homeowners Philip and Mandy LeBlanc explain.

“We enjoy the courtyard daily for lunch, work, or simply soaking in the sunlight. It connects every part of the home. The design transitions beautifully from public to private spaces, with intentional glass and steel elements that make the home both functional and elegant. Inside, our mid-century furniture collection, gathered from local estate sales, complements the home’s modern aesthetic and ties everything together. From a design standpoint, there’s truly nothing else like it in Houston; it’s a space that connects history, light, and everyday life so seamlessly.”

Tickets

Advance tickets, valid for admission to all four homes both days, are $25 online through Thursday, November 6. Tickets will be $30 at the door during the tour weekend. Single-site admission will also be available for $10 per location. Hours for both days of the tour are 12-5 pm. Proceeds from the tour support Preservation Houston’s advocacy and educational programs.

Courtesy of Preservation Houston

The Style in Steel townhouses were built in 1968.

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