PaperCity Magazine

December 2014 - Houston

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DECEMBER | PAGE 57 | 2014 garnered enough finds to fill a shipping container. "We were also inspired by the brass hardware and knockers on the doors," remembers Danielle, who located an artisan there to custom fabricate hardware for the house, including the lion's-head knocker, mail slot and handle on the front door. "We travel a lot — the house has a bit of London's old Bristol hotel look as well — and everywhere we go, we pick up a bit of inspiration," Danielle says. About 25 percent of what's in the house was acquired from Round Top and sent out to be recovered, refurbished and re-gilded. The couple brought Luke and Lauren with them on a shopping trip to Paris, where Luke chose taxidermy animals and collections of bugs, beetles and butterflies from Deyrolle, the famed 183-year-old purveyor of natural curiosities. In all, the family's acquired larder filled three storage units before they moved into the house. For Siller, the task was to carry out Danielle's vision. "She has excellent taste — just meeting her for the first time, I knew she had incredible personal style," he says. "They'd go to Europe and send me pictures of what they had bought, and we'd work out where things could go." Siller was also charged with helping pull together the Parisian gray-and-gold color palette, which was translated to the draperies, custom Hokanson carpets (Larry Hokanson is Siller's partner of 36 years), upholstery and walls. A strict monochromatic color scheme "makes the individual pieces of furniture and art stand out nicely," he says. But more than anything, Siller's job was to make the formal furnishings livable. "I knew they had kids, and with the way they entertain, the house needed to be inviting and extremely comfortable," he says. To achieve a relaxed and luxurious feel, Siller used velvet, mohair, chenille and yards of silk throughout. "The textures of the fabrics are dressy, but the softness of the upholstery and the cushions makes the house inviting." Smaller-scale rooms — most of them original to the house's footprint, such as a tiny dining room turned intimate parlor — provide not only coziness but also Parisian scale. The original living room, which was minuscule by today's great-room standards, was converted into the dining room, with a table crafted by Danielle's father that seats 12. "We have dinner parties about once a month, and family dinners every Monday night, with Meredith's mother," "She is very much the matriarch of the family. We're traditional in that sense," Danielle says. "Meredith's mom was a huge help with the house. She travels with us a lot. She picked up some pieces. Everyone has pieces they fell in love with — his mom, my mom. But the master bedroom and bath are completely mine. Those are rooms I did myself. They're my sanctuary. Meredith's comfort is the ranch." But when he's at home, you'll find him ensconced in his study, a masculine room inspired by the Ralph Lauren WE TRAVEL A LOT — THE HOUSE HAS A BIT OF LONDON'S OLD BRISTOL HOTEL LOOK AS WELL ... - DANIELLE CULLEN " Meredith and Danielle Cullen in the living room. Antique French chairs, mirrored table, gilt mirror and chandelier, all from Round Top. In the dining room, a vintage corner cabinet with Hermès Mosaique porcelain serving platters and bowl. " The classic French parlor was inspired by an architectural French door panel. Antique French furniture, all discovered at Round Top. Custom drapery at doorway gives the room a glamorous, intimate feel. In the master bath, Danielle Cullen and Bentley. Vintage mirror and doors from Round Top. Custom stone tub. Vintage brass chandeliers and sconces from Buenos Aires. Luke and Sugar in the family room.

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