Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/1526978
R ed Antler Bungalows' newly unveiled James Cabana is an elegant spot to relax and have a cocktail après swim, say owners John T. Cone and Greg Fourticq, who collaborated with designer and James showroom founder Meredith Ellis on the interiors. Located on the edge of town near Festival Hill, Red Antler Bungalows hotel is known for its four individually styled bungalows, including one designed by Alessandra Branca, that are in high demand for stays in Round Top, particularly during the Round Top Antiques & Design Show. Like the bungalows, the cabana's architecture is reminiscent of an early Texas farmhouse with a steeply pitched metal roof, and its Benjamin Moore Moroccan Red shingled siding is a striking contrast to the bungalows' smoky black exteriors. The James Cabana was constructed by Round Top Farmhouses, and Cone and Fourticq have focused on exquisite handmade details such as Moroccan Zellige tiles from Villa Lagoon Tile, P.E. Guerin Bird basin sets, and brass trim on custom cabinets. The collaboration with Meredith Ellis was a no-brainer. "We had our eye on Meredith for some time — her work and the items in her showroom are classic yet clever and modern," Fourticq says. She's also a Round Top regular. "I love Round Top — I go every season for the shows and had been looking for a way to have a presence there and was excited to be working with John and Greg," she says. "We did a sort of mini-James showroom with our fabrics and furniture where we could also host events and book signings during the shows." Ellis created a breezy atmosphere for the cabana with white shiplap walls and a vibrant color palette of blue, raspberry, and red. She designed the geometric pattern for the hand-painted floor, which was done by Mirth Studio based in Charleston. "We used pretty woods to keep the interiors feeling sophisticated, but at the same time, it's a pool house, so it has to be very comfortable and approachable," she says. Ellis is a pro when it comes to laid- back elegance, having worked with two masters of the look — Bunny Williams and Michael Smith — before launching her own design firm in 2008. James showrooms are located in Houston, Dallas, and New York City. For the cabana, Ellis incorporated carved and inlaid wood tables and rattan and wicker seating from Bunny Williams Home, Paolo Moschino, Peter Dunham Home, and Madeline Stuart. She also used a smattering of antiques such as the dining-room chairs she discovered in Palm Beach, along with vintage art and objects from Cone and Fourticq's private collections. Ellis specializes in unusual fabrics sourced from around the globe, so you'll find seating upholstered in a raft of florals, stripes, and geometric patterns by Helene Blanche, Casa Lopez, Kathryn Ireland, John Robshaw, Carolina Irving, and Lisa Fine. Because the cabana gets a lot of use, Ellis upholstered the sofa in a performance fabric, and the coffee table is a large, upholstered ottoman with pullout drinks trays that Ellis designed for James. The powder bathroom's dreamy garden wallpaper by Connecticut-based Zoë Design is digitally printed from a hand-painted design. The cabana looks out to the glamorous round pool and its Hollywood Regency-style striped umbrellas and furnishings. It's used by hotel guests for morning Clockwise from left: Kitchen detail with artwork from John Cone and Greg Fourticq's private collection. Table skirted in fabric by Kathryn Ireland, Penny Morrison lamps, both from James. Drapery fabric by Meredith Ellis Textiles from James. Antique chairs from Palm Beach. A lovely table setting in the James Cabana.