COTE DE TEXAS: Wheats
Showing posts with label Wheats. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wheats. Show all posts

The Wheats, The Stalking Continues – Part II

114 comments

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Sally Wheat lets me back inside!

 

One of the most popular stories on my blog has been “Stalking the Wheats” where last year I wrote about a beautiful house that I stalked on my daily Starbucks route.   The story of this house, a mixture of Belgian styling with lots of trendy pops, was a huge hit with everyone.   Their gray kitchen in particular was admired.  Even today, I still get emails asking for the color of Sally’s cabinets (Benjamin  Moore’s Fieldstone.)      The Wheats’ house did not go unnoticed by people in the media either.   Several magazine scouts that read my blog took an immediate interest in the house and finally  -  it was approved for a photo shoot with Country Home magazine.   As we all know, that magazine folded, just shortly before the photographs were to be taken.   But, all was not lost.   The editor of Houston House and Home, the top local design magazine here, contacted me about photographing the house - which  Sally very excitedly agreed to.  The photo shoot was set for earlier this summer.  The only thing  that was particularly nerve wracking about the entire shoot was Linda Barth, the editor, had asked me to write the cover story!   YIKES!    She promised it would be easy – she wanted a similar story to the original “Stalking the Wheats” – and so I agreed.    Most exciting of all, I would actually get paid for writing the story, which is a first – to be sure!  Everyone knows blogging is truly a labor of love, we don’t get reimbursed by some big blogging boss out in cyberspace.

The Houston House and Home photo shoot happened over a month ago.  I had not been back inside the Wheats’ house since the first story, and I was very pleasantly surprised at all the wonderful changes that have taken place.  Sally, like all interior designers, isn’t one to sit by and let her house just “be.”  It’s constantly in flux as pieces go in and out and from room to room.  The biggest change was in the living room; oh, I almost gasped when I saw it – it was so beautiful.    It’s been pure torture to have all these wonderful photographs that I took that day and not to be able to show them, but we (Sally, Linda and I) decided it would be better to have my new pictures timed to come out at the same time that the magazine issue came out.    The Houston House and Home with Sally Wheat’s house on the cover arrived in the stores this week, so, today – here are my updated pictures of the house!     The magazine is online – if you don’t live in Houston, you’ll still be able to read the story.   And for fun, be sure to read my original story here to see what changes Sally has made since we first visited in April of 2008.

 

image  The evergreen wisteria has really grown since last year, but all in all the exterior was same, except for different pots at the front door.

 

 

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The front door is dark brown planked wood with small sconces flanking it.   Above is the lantern from Chateau Domingue.

 

 

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Sally and I are very different in that she doesn’t like any lights on in her house during the day!  I am the complete opposite – I love all my chandeliers blazing all day long and I keep my sconces on 24/7 (after years of fighting with Mr. Slipper Socks Man over this!)   Here, I turned on the lantern and the dining room fixture.    She really doesn’t like them on – not for electricity issues – she just thinks the house looks better in natural light only.   A thought:  do you?  Which you do like, lights on during the day or off?   

 

 

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The biggest change in the dining room was the breakfront – it was formerly in the living room.  The mirror that was previously where the breakfront is now moved to the living room!     Sally had the dining table custom made to  match one she had seen in World of Interiors magazine.  Os de Mouton chairs are slipcovered in a muted damask.   The curtains, from Indulge in Houston,  are very breezy and are unlined linen with top ties. 

 

image Another new addition to the dining room is the large cross made out of dried leaves.  I love her wooden Italian chandelier and  her choice of accessories for the table.

 

 

image One small wall in the dining room is completely filled with this set of botanicals. 

 

 

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Here you can really fully see the chandelier.    The dining room is to the right of the front door, so now, we’ll go the living room at the left of the front door.

 

image Facing the front door, this vignette is between the living room and dining room and it shows Sally’s style – a mixture of antique and modern.

 

 

image BEFORE:  The living room had four arm chairs surrounding a small Italian table.  The breakfront now in the dining room was in this room last year.  At the time, Sally still hadn’t purchased her seagrass – it was on the way.  

 

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BEFORE:  Against the back wall of the living room was this magnificent screen from Thompson Hansen.  When I was stalking the Wheats, I could see this screen from my car, and it used to really make me want to go inside and see the rest of the house!

 

 

image TODAY:  C’est magnifique!    What a change!   I gasped when I first saw this room – it is just beautiful.  Sally moved the screen (and removed some extra panels from it) behind an antique gilt framed French settee.  She added a linen skirted table and a seagrass rug is layered with a white calf skin on top.  Two vintage chairs that are not a pair are covered in Kelly Wearstler’s Imperial Trellis.   This setting made the cover of Houston House and Home.

 

 

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On the right wall is the large mirror that was once in the dining room.  It is now flanked by two antique sconces. 

 

 

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Perfect perch for the pooch!

 

 

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I love the way the room is reflected in this shot.   I hate to leave here!  It’s so pretty!

 

image Walking down the center hall to the family room/kitchen, you pass the stairs on the left.

 

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Here we pass the iron stairs that were painted to resemble pewter – next is the family room.  This picture is from last year - I forgot to take one of the stairs this time!

 

 

image The family room – all lit up for the photo shoot.  I think the candles look so pretty.   This room is much the same as it was last year, just the mantlescape has changed and the coffee table accessories – I actually like both much better now.

 

 

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The two matching sofas are slipped in linen, long and lean – Belgian style.  There are two armchairs and a cow hide rug underneath. 

 

 

 

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The mantle now has old books – without covers, the trendiest of the trendy, and lilac roses.  I think this looks so beautiful!  The light above was driving Sally crazy – she couldn’t wait to turn it out.  I happen to like it on myself – too funny.   Notice moi in the mirror.   hehe

 

 

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Love the coffee table – Sally makes the driftwood art herself with wood she collects at her beach house on Boliver.   She sells the items at her antique booth at Antiques and Interiors on Dunlavy here. 

 

 

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The TV hides behind one of the antique shutters Sally bought and had repainted.  Originally the house plans called for open shelving here which Sally had changed before the house was completed.    The shutters are now the beautiful focal point in the family room. 

 

 

 

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Behind the sofa on the left are the stairs and the portrait wall – filled with anonymous women – several of whom actually resemble the dark haired Sally!   The collection of portraits has grown over the past year. 

 

 

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A wide view of the family room – on the very left is the kitchen and on the very right, under the stairs, is the computer office hideaway.   In the hallway by the front door are things being moved around for the photoshoot.    Madeline Weinrib pillows on the chairs.

 

 

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To the right of the family room is the breakfast room and then the kitchen.   The doorway leads to the back stairs which go to the playroom.

 

 

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Closeup of the vignette between the family room and the breakfast room.

 

 

imageThe back stairs up to the playroom.  I really like this carpet.    Sally loves trends as much as I do – can you count the trends in this picture? 

 

 

imageBEFORE:   The breakfast room as it was – French host chairs and an antique chandelier. 

 

 

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AFTER:  Everything has changed except the Tolix side chairs – the zinc table is new as are the Pantone chairs.  The lighting fixture was replaced with something more modern from Indulge Maison Decor.  Sally loves to mix the new with old, the modern with the antique, the industrial chic with the Belgian chic. 

 

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Leading into Sally’s kitchen  - the plate wall over the marble buffet is new since last year’s visit.  

 

 

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Sally’s kitchen was such a hit last year – everyone loved it!  The gray cabinet paint color is Fieldstone by Benjamin Moore.  The lighting fixtures came from Brown in Houston – aren’t they fabulous?

 

 

image Sally’s cabinets are open and show off her white dishes and crystal.

 

 

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I love her casement window and the Shaws sink with the polished nickel faucet.   Love her cabinetry and hardware too.   Let’s go upstairs now.

 

 

image BEFORE:  Sally’s guest room before – actually this color is so “in” right now – I’m almost surprised she changed it all out.  But she did. 

 

 

image AFTER:  The new guest room is all black and red – with a vintage suzani the focal point.  I love the hanging lanterns!  Upstairs is all wall-to-wall seagrass, my favorite.

 

 

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Cute side table vignette in the guest room.

 

 

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Since last year, Sally has added some new touches to her daughter’s room, like the Madeline Weinrib rug.

 

 

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Sara’s vintage chairs wears a Rubie Green fabric, isn’t it the cutest?   Sally loves to buy vintage chairs and redo them with paint and fabric.

 

 

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The master bedroom now has two vintage chairs, slipped in white, in front of a large antique mirror. 

 

 

 

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Tired puppies from the long day of photoshooting.  Large tufted headboard and antique bench. 

 

 

 

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Against the windows on the right side of the master bedroom is a large white desk and a ghost chair.   Unlined linen curtains.  For pictures of her bathroom, see the photos from last year. 

 

 

imageAll of Sally’s backyard furniture was damaged in Hurricane Ike, so the back patio is completely new this year! 

 

 

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What a photo shoot looks like – the stylist checks the shot while the photographer waits patiently nearby for the OK!!   The editor is nowhere in site – probably out looking for the sun.  The angle of the sun is important – how the light comes through certain windows can make or break a shot.  They were excited to get sunrays in the cover shot of the living room below:

 

 

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The afternoon sunlight was streaming through the left windows in the cover shot.  Really, this is just an excuse to show this picture one more time!!!!!

 

To read last year’s Stalking the Wheats, go here.   And to read the story about Sally’s house in Houston House and Home online, go here.   If you live in Houston, be sure to pick up the magazine this month.    And if you would like to learn more about moi,  read the Editor’s Note – on page 8 – online too.    Linda Barth has always been extremely nice to me and I want to sincerely thank her so much for her support and confidence in this little blogger.    And a huge thank you to Sally Wheat for all your hospitality and friendship!

Beach House, Bolivar Style

52 comments

 

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Remember this? 

 

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Or, remember this?   Remember how much you all loved this house?  Remember how you left 84 comments almost overnight?   Well, just in case you don't remember, or if you want to relive the beauty, read the story of how I Stalked the Wheats HERE.

 

Sally Wheat, the owner of that beautiful Belgian style home in West University,  loves decorating so much that she couldn't stop at fixing up  just one house.  No, of course she couldn't!  Why should she when she also owns a gorgeous beach home that needs her special touch?   Across the bay and a ferry ride away from Galveston, Texas, Sally and her family live here all summer long.

 

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The Bolivar Peninsula is a sleepy coast off the Gulf of Mexico, with miles and miles of undeveloped shoreline.  From this picture you can see what I mean - the beach stretches undisturbed on both sides of this ecologically sensitive development called The Biscayne.   Sally's beach house is a three story, white, clapboard style home, built to look as if it was from another era in time rather than the 21st century. 

 

Since Sally's beach house is over an hour away from Houston, I hadn't had a chance to stalk it yet, though I was itching for an opportunity to.     After much pleading and prodding, Sally, worried that you, the reader, would be tired of all things Wheat, finally agreed to take pictures of her summer hideaway for us to enjoy.     I am thrilled she did, and hope you are too!   Thanks again Sally!    Enjoy this tour of the Wheat's Beach House:

 

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In accordance with Texas hurricane codes, the main living area is on the second floor.  Wrap around porches extend the living space and provide a great perch to watch the ocean from.  Though not quite beachfront, they have a clear view of the coast and their back yard is on a lake.  Behind the lake is a nature preserve, where no development will ever be allowed to encroach upon.

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The lake with a visitor!   Not to worry, the residents had him removed to another area of Bolivar, far, far away.  The lake is stocked with fish which provides plenty of meals for the lucky residents.     

 

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The main living area soars over two stories.  Slipcovered sofas and chairs in khaki linen make cleanup easy.    Sally accessorized the room with Moroccan styled end tables.

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  A view of the living room looking up towards the second floor.

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And looking back down.   Slipcovered sofas make great resting places for pets and children.  When soiled, just remove the slips and toss them in the washing machine.  Dry for a short time, and then still slightly damp, place the slips back on the sofa.  No need to iron, especially if you are a fan of Rachel Ashwell.

 

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Opposite the slipcovered sofa is the built-in bookcases.  I love her two Chippendale inspired white chairs.   Black and white family photos lead up the stairwell.   Antique French bottles stack on top of the built-in.

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Looking from the living room to the dining area and kitchen - all in one big area.  Sally mixed a large, rustic table with contemporary chairs.

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 The kitchen has clapboard walls and island, concrete countertops and stainless appliances.  I love how Sally uses the antique wine bottle holder for coffee cups!  Notice her stainless pendant lamps and bar stools.  The view out back is of the nature preserve.  Hard to believe this is just one hour outside of Houston.

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 Across from the dining table, a plate wall inspired by Kelly Wearstler.    An antique bench is set below it. 

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 Computer desk and contemporary print chair liven up a corner of the dining area.   I could be very happy right here just blogging away with a Starbucks!  FYI, the closest Starbucks to Port Bolivar is across the ferry to the Strand on Galveston Island.    It would be worth the trip, except on Sunday afternoons when the ferry is busy with beachgoers heading back to Houston.

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 Hallway vignette.  I love how the sunburst mirror looks like it was made out of gray driftwood.

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 The master bedroom is a bright, sunny yellow with black and gray accents.      I love the way the walls are paneled throughout the house, it adds to the cottage feel of the beach house.  Rather than furnish the home to match it's clapboard style, Sally has chosen contemporary fabrics and furniture with antique accents added for their texture and warmth.

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 This guest room is painted blue instead of the bright white which runs throughout the rest of the house.

 

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 Another guest room in black and white and yellow.

 

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 No beach house is complete without a kid's bunk room.  

 

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Sharks and surfboards - only in a beach house!

 

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And last, a glimpse into the bathroom, filled with Sally's touches. 

 

  For more information on The Biscayne at Bolivar Peninsula, Texas, go here.