breaking the mold

Meet the Houston candlemaker crafting intricate, sculptural designs

The longtime workhorse of cozy vibes — the candle — has officially received a makeover, and it’s magnificent. Doubling as sculptural decor, Lumière candles sit firmly in the quiet luxury space, the creamy signature color and elegant fragrance profiles reminiscent of boutique hotels and homes that require live-in staff. Interesting, then, that these miniature works of art are so obtainable, with prices ranging from just $8 to $60.

Handmade locally, Lumière candles are the brainchild of Israeli-born Lizzie Sharir. Inspired by Canadian and European candle craftspeople, Sharir decided to use these companies as a model for safe, clean products. The decision to start her own company helped to inform her choice of living space when Sharir and her husband relocated to Houston from Florida a year and a half ago, allowing for a home studio.

Aside from an aesthetically pleasing Instagram account, Lumière has no online presence to speak of, helping to maintain Sharir’s commitment to staying local and engaging with the community. Houstonians looking to join the ranks of those in-the-know will need to either slide into her DMs or catch her at one of her monthly pop-ups at West Elm in Rice Village. Absolutely intrigued, CultureMap caught up with Sharir at her home near Memorial Park to learn more.

In the vein of “I’m not angry, just disappointed,” the United States has lax regulations about what is allowed to pass itself off as “clean.” Regardless of what a candle label may read, there are no pure, natural, soy wax products available in the states. Sharir sources ingredients from Canada where regulations are more stringent.

“I care deeply about the ingredients that I use, which is why Lumière candles are cruelty-free, non-toxic, and free of harmful chemicals. Each candle is crafted using 100 percent Canadian soy wax and pure cotton wicks, ensuring a clean, eco-friendly burn,” says Sharir.

Asking about her creative process, the recipe is simple — pure, natural soy flax and chemical-free fragrance: palisanto, sandalwood, vanilla, and coconut are available, plus the option to go fragrance-free.

While the ingredients sound simple, the process of making the candles is not. “The temperature I melt the wax has to be exact, but then it needs to be a different temperature to pour it into the mold, but also the room temperature has to be perfect. It looks easy, but you have to pay attention to every detail. They have to set for 24 hours to cure — I’m a perfectionist about my candles. They have to come out perfectly smooth.”

The delicate fragrance profiles in Lumière candles are intentional. Like many people, Sharir often ends her workday by lighting a candle and unwinding.

“Everyone is so busy and working so hard, juggling family everyday. I like lighting candles at the end of the day to have a cozy feeling and relax. The scents are relaxing, not strong,” says Sharir.

Beyond their mild scents and pleasant glow, many Lumière candles are purchased for their sculptural qualities, with clients confessing that they don’t plan to ever light the eye-catching designs — each one its own piece of art.

“I create what I like to call ‘candle magic’ by handcrafting unique, sculptural candles,” says Sharir. “I truly believe my candles bring people and special moments together and will transform the look of any area in your space with art that sparks light and warmth.”

Last year Lumière did an entire holiday collection that was extremely popular. Available at West Elm and Saint Rose Salon in Montrose, Sharir is excited to launch her second collection soon.

“All of my candles are made from molds. I always buy new ones, especially for the holidays,” she says. “I look forward to Christmas with all of the candles and lights, that’s my favorite collection and it’s coming soon again — I’m really excited.”

All of the Lumière molds are sculptural and beautiful, and soon Sharir plans to add a dog collection, noting that she has a deep fondness for them and the happiness they spread, which is also the goal at Lumière.

“Lumière is French for ‘light.’ I was looking for a name that has meaning and the definition of the light, because that’s what I want to spread — light.”

Courtesy of Lumière

Lumière candles are known for their intricate, structural designs.

That’s a pursuit worth getting behind!

home-design lumiere candles

they're durable, too

3D-printed Houston housing project cements a more affordable future

Courtesy of Cole Klein Builders

Homes in Zuri Gardens are a hybrid of 3D concrete and traditional wood construction.

Houston is putting itself front-and-center to help make sustainable, affordable housing a reality for 80 lucky homeowners in a scalable housing community that will hopefully catch on nationwide. Recently, developer Cole Klein Builders partnered with HiveASMBLD to pioneer what’s touted as the world’s first large-scale, one-of-a-kind, affordable housing development using 3-D printing technology, merging robotics, design, and sustainability.

Located across from Sterling Aviation High School, near Hobby Airport, Zuri Gardens will offer 80 two-bedroom, two-bathroom homes of approximately 1,360 square feet situated in a park-like setting, including walking trails and a community green space.

Homes in Zuri Gardens will hit the market in early summer of 2026. Final pricing has yet to be determined, but Cole Klein Builders expects it to be in the mid-to-high 200s.

Interestingly, none of the homes will offer garages or driveways, which the developer tells CultureMap will provide a savings of roughly $25,000 - $40,000 per home.

Instead of parking for individual units, 140 parking spaces will be provided. Ideally, this small-town-inspired design will provide opportunities for neighbors to meet, connect, and build community.

Each two-story home is comprised of a ground floor printed by HiveASMBLD, using a proprietary low-carbon cement alternative by Eco Material Technologies that promises to enhance strength and reduce CO2 emissions. The hybrid homes will have a second floor built using engineered wood building products by LP Building Solutions. Overall, the homes are designed to be flood, fire, and possibly even tornado-proof.

The Zuri in Zuri Gardens is the Swahili word for “beautiful,” a choice that is fitting considering that the parks department will be introducing a five acre park to the project — with 3-D printed pavilions and benches — plus, a three acre farm is located right across the street. The Garver Heights area, where Zuri Gardens is located, is in what’s classified as a food desert, which means that access to fresh food is limited. Residents will have access to the farm’s fresh produce, plus opportunities to participate in gardening and nutrition workshops—that’s a win for everyone.

With the novelty of Zuri Gardens, it’s no surprise that the neighborhood already has an 800 person waitlist, but with stringent buyer requirements, it’s unclear how many of those 800 will qualify. Developer Cole Klein Builders created Zuri Gardens in partnership with the Houston Housing Community Development Department, who provided infrastructure reimbursements for the roads, sewer lines, and water lines. In return, CKB agreed to push the purchase prices for the homes as low as possible.

Zuri Gardens also received $1.8 million dollars from the Uptown Tourism Bond, 34 percent of which must be used with minority owned small businesses. Qualified buyers must fit a certain area of median income according to HUD guidelines, and must be owner occupied at all times — so no property investors or short term vacation rentals will be allowed.

“They’re trying to bridge that gap to make sure there is a community for the homebuyers who need it — educators, law enforcement, civil workers, etc.,” Cole Klein Builders’ co-principal Vanessa Cole tells CultureMap. “You have to go through a certification process with the housing department to make sure that your income is in alignment for this community. It has been great, and everyone has been really receptive.”

Cole has also brought insurance underwriters to visit the site and to help drive premiums below regular rates for Houston homeowners since homes in Zuri Gardens are not built to traditional standards — claim risks for one of the 3-D homes are extremely low. Tim Lankau, principal at HiveASMBLD, notes that the 3-D hybrid design allows for a more traditional appearance, while having the benefits of a concrete structure: “That’s where the floodwaters would go, that’s where you can hide when there’s a tornado, and that’s where termites would eat. So you get the advantages of it while having a traditionally-framed second floor.”

It’s important to note that Zuri Gardens is not located in a flood prone area, nor did it flood during Hurricane Harvey — being flood proof is merely a perk of a cement house. The concrete that Eco Material Technologies developed is impervious. The walls are printed into hollow forms, which house rebar, plumbing, and accessible conduits for things like electrical lines and smart house features. Those walls are then filled with a foamcrete product that expands to form a “monolithic concrete wall.”

David McNitt, of Eco Material Technologies, explains that his proprietary concrete is made of PCV, and contains zero Portland cement. Instead, McNitt’s cement is made from coal ash and is 99 percent green (there are a few chemicals added to the ash). Regardless, it’s made from 100 percent waste products.

“This is a product that has really been landfilled before,” says McNitt. “It’s coal ash, and it’ll set within 8-10 minutes. It’s all monolithic, and one continuous pour — it’s literally all one piece.”

Eco Material Technologies’ concrete product is impressively durable. A traditional cinderblock wall will crush at around 800 psi, while this material crushes at about 8,000 psi.

“It’s ten times stronger than a cinderblock wall that can withstand hurricanes,” claims McNitt. “I don’t think you’d even notice a hurricane. It’ll be really quiet inside, too — so you won’t get interrupted during your hurricane party. It’s way over-engineered, it really is.”

The second story is built using weatherproof and eco-friendly products by LP Building Solutions. Their treated, engineered wood products come with a 50 year warranty, and their radiant barrier roof decking product blocks 97% of UV rays, and keeps attic temperatures 30° cooler than traditional building materials. These materials, combined with the concrete first floor, will keep heating and cooling costs low — something the folks at HiveASMBLD refer to as “thermal mass performance.”

Courtesy of Cole Klein Builders

Homes in Zuri Gardens are a hybrid of 3D concrete and traditional wood construction.