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91 Hagstette and gallery owner Roni McMurtrey. Once they settled in, a neighbor dropped off a detailed typed his- tory of the house, and an interesting story unfurled. It was built in 1931 by J.T. Rather Jr., who worked with the legendary architect John Staub. Rather and Staub built many of the grand estates in River Oaks and, after the war, a number of buildings at Rice University. Staub's firm was known for its country-house de- signs, and this French manor house, with its mansard roof and stalwart brick facade, bore all the hallmarks. Originally set on an oversized corner lot, the house was commissioned by a lawyer and his art-professor wife who, it was said, had hon- eymooned in Cannes while it was being built. While in Cannes, they stayed in a 17th-century cottage, which the wife sketched for her scrapbook. In 1950, Rather built a two-story sculpture studio for her in the back garden, based on the drawing she had done 20 years ear- lier. The charming shingled cottage still stands, and Hoak and Perkins use the 2,000-square-foot space as a home base for office work. The commute is delightful. "The main house and cottage are separated by a garden and lawn, so we go back and forth constantly," Hoak says. "We are dog people, and the dogs have free access to come and go between the houses. All the doors have dog doors built in." The house had undergone var- ious well-done renovations over the decades, so Perkins and Hoak didn't have to do much to make it their own. "We opened up some walls, and instead of a formal dining room, it now opens to the kitchen," Hoak says. "We're pretty casual." A previous owner had laid beautiful French limestone floors downstairs, and when Hoak and Perkins re- moved the carpeting upstairs, the original hardwoods were revealed, with gorgeous old patina intact. Don't let the formality of the house's French manorial-style fa- cade fool you. Inside, it's all about living comfortably with their dogs and cherished furniture and objects collected over the years, much of it from buying trips for the store. Says Hoak of their global treasures: "It's an odd mix, but we love it. As I'm looking around the room, there's a French dining table, an antique Chinese vase, an English Knole-style leather sofa, a stone bowl from India, an old Korean side table, a Lucite table from near Miami, and, of course, our Chris Spitzmiller lamps." Mecox is known for promoting Clockwise from top left: In the cottage dining nook, zinc-and-wood table, teak chairs, and early Christopher Spitzmiller lamp, all from Mecox. On the second-floor landing of the cottage, Dorothy Hood's Mytho Glyphs, circa 1980. Vintage rug and bench from Mecox. An original chimney from 1931 was reclaimed and recessed for the stove and oven. Opposite page: Top: In the dining room, a metal faux-coral chandelier and antique French table, both from Mecox. Blue-coral centerpiece. Custom woven-rope dining chairs. Antique equine prints. Bottom: In the cottage dining nook, paintings by Palm Beach artist Michelle Feder. Chinese vase from Mecox. (continued on page 102)