London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Sunday, Aug 24, 2025

Modern Updates Harmonize with Historical Character in This 1920s Houston Home

Modern Updates Harmonize with Historical Character in This 1920s Houston Home

A couple coaxes their old home to a new stage by holding on to its character, tossing out previous updates, and introducing a few modern accents.

Galen and Laura Hines-Pierce's 1920s home had resisted major change despite its location in Houston's trendy Montrose neighborhood. "It's unusual to find early homes in Houston with their character intact," Laura says. "We loved its original character, but we wanted it to feel a bit more modern and functional."



Designer Maureen Stevens helped find the sweet spot between old and new. Removing dated built-ins and a kitchen wall was an instant refresh. New elements such as statement lighting, geometric tiles, and midcentury-style furnishings pair well with vintage flooring and millwork. The teamwork is evident in the living room, where Stevens suggested keeping the original trim around windows and doors but giving the fireplace a sleek profile. "I like that dichotomy," Laura says. "Pushing the house a little has greatly enhanced how we live."
gray living room with warm wood floors and modern chandelier



A sleek pendant mounted to an antique ceiling medallion creates a striking fixture. "It commands little visual space so makes the ceiling seem higher," Stevens says.



Converting a passage near the front door into a dining area involved removing old cabinets, painting the walls, and bringing in a streamlined mix of furniture. "You can mix different eras, materials, and styles so long as they complement each other," Stevens says. The new wall color is Gray Owl 2137-60 from Benjamin Moore.



When juxtaposed with the pine parquet floor, wallpaper with an abstract pattern enlivens the entry. "If original flooring is salvageable, keep it," Stevens says. "You'll save a lot of money and have something unique."



To create a more efficient layout with impact, Stevens removed the window above the original sink and moved the range and refrigerator to that wall. The adjacent wall between the kitchen and sunroom came down for a more open feel.



"After playing with lots of ideas, the geometric green tile resonated because it plays off the outside foliage," Stevens says.



White paint (Pure White SW 7005 from Sherwin-Williams) flows into the sunroom. "Older homes used ivory whites with yellow undertones. This has no undertones," Stevens says, "so it immediately makes a space feel updated and fresh."


Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
HSBC Switzerland Ends Relationships with Over 1,000 Clients from Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Qatar, and Egypt
Sharia Law Made Legally Binding in Austria Despite Warnings Over 'Incompatible' Values
Italian Facebook Group Sharing Intimate Images Without Consent Shut Down Amid Police Investigation
Dutch Foreign Minister Resigns Amid Deadlock Over Israel Sanctions
Trump and Allies Send Messages of Support to Ukraine on Independence Day Amid Ongoing Conflict
China Reels as Telegram Chat Group Shares Hidden-Camera Footage of Women and Children
Sam Nicoresti becomes first transgender comedian to win Edinburgh Comedy Award
Builders uncover historic human remains in Lancashire house renovation
Australia Wants to Tax Your Empty Bedrooms
MotoGP Cameraman Narrowly Avoids Pedro Acosta Crash at Hungarian Grand Prix
FBI Investigates John Bolton Over Classified Documents in High-Profile Raids
Report reveals OpenAI pitched national ChatGPT Plus subscription to UK ministers
Labour set to freeze income tax thresholds in long-term 'stealth' tax raid
Coca‑Cola explores sale of Costa coffee chain
Trial hears dog walker was chased and fatally stabbed by trio
Restaurateur resigns from government hospitality council over tax criticism
Spanish City funfair shut after serious ride injury
Suspected arson at Ilford restaurant leaves three in critical condition
Tottenham beat Manchester City to go top of Premier League
Bank holiday heatwave to hit 30°C before remnants of Hurricane Erin arrive
UK to deploy immigration advisers to West Africa to block fake visas
Nurse who raped woman continued working for a year despite police alert
Drought forces closures of England’s canal routes, canceling boat holidays
Sweet tooth scents: food-inspired perfumes surge as weight-loss drugs suppress appetites
Experts warn Britain dangerously reliant on imported food
Family of Notting Hill Carnival murder victim call event unmanageable
Bunkers, Billions and Apocalypse: The Secret Compounds of Zuckerberg and the Tech Giants
Ukraine Declares De Facto War on Hungary and Slovakia with Terror Drone Strikes on Their Gas Lifeline
Animated K-pop Musical ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Becomes Netflix’s Most-Watched Original Animated Film
New York Appeals Court Voids Nearly $500 Million Civil Fraud Penalty Against Trump While Upholding Fraud Liability
Elon Musk tweeted, “Europe is dying”
Far-Right Activist Convicted of Incitement Changes Gender and Demands: "Send Me to a Women’s Prison" | The Storm in Germany
Hungary Criticizes Ukraine: "Violating Our Sovereignty"
Will this be the first country to return to negative interest rates?
Child-free hotels spark controversy
North Korea is where this 95-year-old wants to die. South Korea won’t let him go. Is this our ally or a human rights enemy?
Hong Kong Launches Regulatory Regime and Trials for HKD-Backed Stablecoins
China rehearses September 3 Victory Day parade as imagery points to ‘loyal wingman’ FH-97 family presence
Trump Called Viktor Orbán: "Why Are You Using the Veto"
Horror in the Skies: Plane Engine Exploded, Passengers Sent Farewell Messages
MSNBC Rebrands as MS NOW Amid Comcast’s Cable Spin-Off
AI in Policing: Draft One Helps Speed Up Reports but Raises Legal and Ethical Concerns
Shame in Norway: Crown Princess’s Son Accused of Four Rapes
Apple Begins Simultaneous iPhone 17 Production in India and China
A Robot to Give Birth: The Chinese Announcement That Shakes the World
Finnish MP Dies by Suicide in Parliament Building
Outrage in the Tennis World After Jannik Sinner’s Withdrawal Storm
William and Kate Are Moving House – and the New Neighbors Were Evicted
Class Action Lawsuit Against Volkswagen: Steering Wheel Switches Cause Accidents
Taylor Swift on the Way to the Super Bowl? All the Clues Stirring Up Fans
×