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    charlotte's house

    Stunning new downtown boutique hotel is an homage to the Mother of Houston

    Holly Beretto
    Jan 10, 2019 | 3:55 pm

    When the C. Baldwin Hotel opens this summer in the space now occupied by the DoubleTree by Houston Downtown, it’ll be a brash re-imagining not only of the current Allen Center area, but what it means to be a hyperlocal, boutique hotel.

    Boasting 354 guestrooms, more than 14,000 square feet of meeting space, stunning common areas and a signature restaurant, with interiors designed by the powerhouse duo of Lauren Rottet of Houston-based Rottet Studio as well as Kate Rohrer of Rohrer Creative, C. Baldwin should become one of the city’s most desirable addresses.

    So, who or what, exactly is C. Baldwin?

    Houston school children can recite the story of Augustus Chapman Allen and his brother, John Kirby Allen, the New York spectators who came ashore on the muddy banks of Buffalo Bayou and founded Houston — which would grow from a sleepy backwater to a dynamic center for commerce to the fourth-largest city in the country and a global economic force. Their exploits are legendary and central to Houston’s mythic identity as a place where anyone who has a dream and drive can come and thrive.

    But it was Charlotte Baldwin Allen, Augustus’ wife, who kept the nascent city afloat during its infancy. When her husband fell ill and hightailed it off to Mexico, Charlotte stuck around, becoming the primary financial driver of Houston’s entire construction industry, bankrolling the navy and building the short-lived Capitol of the Republic of Texas to boot.

    “The Mother of Houston” donated countless leagues of public land — even though as a woman she did not legally own any herself — including the site used for the first City Hall (now Downtown’s Market Square Park) and plots to civic organizations. Local flags flew at half-staff when she died in 1895 at the age of 91. And, with the exception of an elementary school and a steamer that cruises along Buffalo Bayou, Charlotte’s been largely forgotten in the narrative of Houston as the years rolled on and the city grew.

    C. Baldwin aims to pay homage to the deedless developer, brand-wielding cattle rancher, brash businesswoman and tireless philanthropist. Former Houston first lady Andrea White called her “the kick-ass woman” who paved the way for a long tradition of trailblazing women leaving a permanent mark on the Third Coast.

    The newly revamped hotel will serve as a social anchor Allen Center, and a hospitality gateway to the city at the axis of Downtown, Midtown, and Buffalo Bayou Park. In addition to the guestrooms and common spaces that pay tribute to Houston’s past, the property will include a luxury nail salon, curated local retailers, and activated green space that will offer guests and visitors a dynamic experience.

    The hotel is part of an ongoing, multimillion-dollar reimagining of Allen Center. Phase I of the was unveiled in fall 2017, while the next phases encompass the addition of targeted retail and restaurant tenants plus further building upgrades and amenity enhancements that foster a robust, pedestrian-friendly environment.

    Houston-based construction firm Tellepsen and Dallas-based architecture firm Morrison Dilworth + Walls are responsible for the exterior curtain wall work. Turner Construction is the interior general contractor, and Atlanta-based DesignOne is the architect of record for the interior work.

    “Houston has some excellent hotels, but none that are emblematic of the city it has somewhat discreetly become, which is to say a bootstrapping economic powerhouse and global hub that just happens to be wildly diverse, wonderfully eccentric and exceedingly cosmopolitan,” says Maggie Rosa, general manager of C. Baldwin, in a statement. “We felt it was high time to introduce a hospitality experience that would truly embody one of our country’s most evolving destinations while honoring an awe-inspiring female pioneer.”

    The new C. Baldwin Hotel will transform the Allen Center block.

    C. Baldwin Hotel Allen Center downtown Houston
      
    Photo courtesy of Brookfield Properties
    The new C. Baldwin Hotel will transform the Allen Center block.
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    like a rock

    10 premium European stone brands arrive in Houston for the first time

    Emily Cotton
    May 16, 2025 | 2:28 pm
    Portugal Marble staircase
    Photo courtesy of Portugal Marble
    Portuguese marble is also an option for timeless elegance

    Eight Italians, a Dane, and a man from Portugal walk into Houston. No, this is not the beginning of a promising joke — far from it. For three days, a delegation of 10 European natural stone companies made the rounds to some of Houston’s top design firms, showcasing gorgeous products that have (mostly) only been available to the European market, until now. Read on for the exclusive details on which old-quarry brands will soon be popping up all over the city.

    Excitement mounts as this new age of Maximalism calls for everything these natural stone lines have to offer. From colorful pastel marbles to dramatically contrasting slabs, bold basalts, imaginative Venetian terrazzos, and timeless marble cladding options — nothing was overlooked. Yachts and aircraft aren’t left out either, with a line of lightweight aluminum honeycomb-backed stones. There is even something for the eco-conscious, with a LEED-certified product making the list of brands to finally land stateside.

    The mission was organized by Veronafiere Spa, which is also the organizer of Marmo+Mac — renowned as the world’s leading international trade fair for the natural stone industry.

    “The Chamber was proud to partner locally with Veronafiere to coordinate all the events and meetings held in Houston on May 5, 6, and 7,” Francesca Bacci, business development manager at the Italy-America Chamber of Commerce of Texas, tells CultureMap. “The main goal of the mission was to create opportunities for manufacturers to connect with top-tier industry professionals, fostering networking and business development in the strategic U.S. market.”

    Design and architecture firms Gensler, Perkins & Will, HOK, Jacobs, Intexture-Aura, Rottet Studio, and Nina Magon Design were all stops along the delegation’s tour, as well as Thorntree Slate at the Houston Design Center and the Amodo European Collection showroom at the Decorative Center. AIA Houston hosted a credit panel at their headquarters, and BeDesign hosted a luncheon with special guest and design powerhouse Abel Design Group. Houstonians with interest in these newly-available product lines will certainly know where to look.

    Without further ado, here are the ten Marmo+Mac WeSpeakStone Delegation’s European brands that are now available in Houston:

    Basaltite Guidotti Battaglini Srl
    La Basaltite is a medium-grey stone with crystals of leucite immersed in a microcrystalline structure, derived from the hardening of lava in the eruption centre of Bolsena – Bagnoregio.

    Pierangelo Umena of Basaltite shares that: “Houston and Texas can be a good market for our stone, Basaltite, because it is a natural grey stone extracted and processed exclusively at our facilities in Italy with an elegant and minimalistic neutral grey tone in great combination with white and any other colour or material.

    Cancian Pavimenti
    This legacy Venetian terrazzo brand dates back to 1840. The only LEED-certified brand on the list, this lightweight, nearly zero waste product is definitely one to watch. With numerous weight and backing options, this product can be made to suit both airplanes and yachts.

    Alina Klak, who represents Cancian Pavimenti through Marble Büro, had this to say about expanding to Houston: “As the second fastest-growing city in the nation, Houston is a dynamic and promising market for Marble Büro’s traditional Italian terrazzo.With a surge in high-end residential and commercial developments, there’s growing demand for unique, durable, and customizable surfaces. Marble Büro—representing a third-generation terrazzo company with nearly a century of family experience—brings an authentic piece of Italy to Houston, offering genuine Italian precast terrazzo tiles crafted with artisanal time-honored techniques and tailored to meet the vision of today’s architects and designers.”

    Domos
    Based in Verona’s Stone District, Domos develops marble and natural stone products. “Marble is a source of inspiration for us, and design is form, it’s function,” a representative tells CultureMap.

    Elite Stone
    Perfect for those who appreciate dramatic, yet timeless, design statements, these marbles are perfect for book-matched, full-slab installations; this is the stone for clients who enjoy striking contrasts and bold veining.

    “Houston gave me the impression of a city that unveils its charm gradually—like a well-kept secret,” sales manager Davide Sandini says. “Its true beauty isn’t loud or fleeting, but lasting and deeply appreciated by those who live there. The locals radiate pride in their surroundings, and that quiet sophistication makes Houston the perfect setting for our timeless, luxurious Italian marbles.”

    Fauske Marble by Moser Aps
    Based in Denmark, this sustainably-minded fourth generation company produces exquisite arctic marbles in colors like pinks and purples, plus many more.

    Grassi Pietre Srl
    Founded in 1850, this Nanto, Italy based touts its ability to combine “artisanal know-how with the most modern technologies available for stone processing and production.”

    Marcolini Marmi Spa
    The brand is known for its adherence to Italian taste and tradition in the areas of marble, granite, onyx, and stone.

    Moca Stone SA
    Marcelo Costa believes their warm, creamy marbles are a perfect fit for Houston: "Our natural stone materials, extracted from our own quarries and produced in our own facilities, are distinguished by their uniqueness, elegance, and luxurious appeal, making them a perfect fit for high-end residential and commercial projects across the city," a representative says.

    Porfido Trentino - Cave Famiglia Pisetta
    Thanks to a location in the middle of the Alto Adige's porphyry platform, the company offers a very large variety of porphyry products such as the cubes, irregular slabs, and tiles with split sides. In addition, it stocks other, more sophisticated materials such as steps-to-stone stairs, as well as materials with polished and flamed surfaces which are specially indicated for indoor floorings and coverings.

    R.E.D. Graniti Spa
    This exquisite marble cladding company offers monument quality stonework built to last for generations.

    With all these exciting options, Houston’s top designers and architects undoubtedly have big plans for the new products. Time will tell how they enhance design in the Bayou City for many years to come.

    Portugal Marble staircase
      

    Photo courtesy of Portugal Marble

    Portuguese marble is also an option for timeless elegance

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