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.

Photo by Lindsey Brown

Avery Cox’s artful “GrecoDeco” gallery.

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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making design approachable

Houston designer shares 5 expert tips for mixing classic and contemporary

Courtesy of Melissa Roberts Interiors

Mix design eras for an approachable space.

Houstonians are, as a rule, enthusiastic about an elegant blend — in any form. From historically-lax zoning laws to fusion cuisine and everything in between, a “little of this” and “a little of that” is unequivocally Houston.

It seems, however, that when it comes to choosing how one reconciles the desire to embrace the contemporary architectural design boom happening in and around the city, while avidly participating in the highly-fashionable quarterly antiques fairs taking place outside of town, things have run amok. Not to worry — a Houston pro is here to help.

Successfully blending classic and contemporary design is a dance 10-year interior design veteran Melissa Roberts knows all too well. One challenge Roberts and her team encounter the most is how to take a new, contemporary, custom-build home and create an elegantly pared-down space that exudes warmth and classic Texas charm. They see the same from their robust list of remodel clients as well.

“Refined, natural, layered, organic — that’s our style,” Roberts tells CultureMap. “If you just put a vintage piece in there, that doesn’t mean it’s going to be successful.” Melissa Roberts Interiors isn’t in the business of construction project management. While her firm is happy to make recommendations for contractors, Roberts’ design niche is solidly in consultations and procurement.

“We’re solving problems. We are like a consultant for people and their lifestyles,” explains Roberts. “How can we assist. How can we take off the stress so that it’s more of an enjoyable project versus being a chore that needs to be tackled. It’s a thousand decisions for one room. We make those decisions for the clients and then they just see the overall picture and know they like what they see without having to stress over edge profiles of counter tops and little things like that that people don’t usually consider.”

The firm’s new location above Yves Saint Laurent on The Woodlands’ luxe Market Street conveys that elusive blend of classic and contemporary well — elevated (both literally and figuratively) and approachable. That approachability is what led Roberts to keep up a design blog and home decor gift guide, a little something to invite potentially-skeptical readers into the conversations revolving around design.

“There was an era when designers were stiff and just not approachable,” Roberts laments. “I want this to be refined and luxury, but approachable at the same time — there is flexibility. How to make [design] work for a busy lifestyle, versus, ‘I’ve got one way and this is the way we’re going to do it.’ We’re really problem solving.”

Melissa Roberts’ Five Tips for Blending Classic and Contemporary Design

Anchor the space with timeless pieces
Start with classic foundations: tailored upholstery, natural stone, or traditional millwork. Next, layer in contemporary elements through lighting, art, or furniture silhouettes. This creates longevity while keeping the space feeling current.

Mix eras, not styles
Rather than combining multiple design styles, focus on blending eras. A traditional room can feel fresh with a modern light fixture, while a contemporary space gains depth from an antique or heirloom piece that is paired with a modern fixture and mirror.

Let materials do the talking
Classic materials like marble, wood, and brass feel elevated when paired with cleaner lines or unexpected applications. The contrast between material and form keeps the space from feeling predictable. Unexpected applications is key here.

Use restraint with trends
Contemporary design often shows up in trends, curves, bold finishes, or sculptural forms. Introduce these in ways that are easy to edit over time, such as accent furniture or decor, rather than permanent architectural elements.

Edit for balance
The most successful classic-meets-contemporary spaces feel intentional, not layered for the sake of it. Thoughtful editing ensures each piece has room to breathe and the overall design feels cohesive.

Courtesy of Melissa Roberts Interiors

Mix design eras for an approachable space.

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