Adam Nguyen's Blog: 1968 genius interior decoration inside this lovely Houston time capsule (ish) house

Oh beautiful for spacious 1968 time capsule house! Okay, it was built in 1956, and then the second owner redecorated in ’68, so it’s not a never-touched interior, but: When the decor is 50 years old, and it looks as gorgeous as they day the last bit of wallpaper paste dried, well, it makes my book. This house, for sale by one of our favorite mid mod mad realtors, Robert Searcy, is warm, inviting, and fabulously layered with color, pattern, materials, shapes, sheens, styles, eras… just the kind of interior I adore. I will even call this one: Timeless. The decorator knew what she was doing! And so did photographers TK Images, who captured the home for us to worship forevermore!

The curb appeal is right up there, too — so charming. 4,211 s.f., 5-6 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, $399,900. From the listing:

Nestled among sleepy moss draped trees, on a prominent corner in the historic district’s most coveted section, a prime example of what made Glenbrook Valley the envy of mid-century Houston & increasingly sought after today. Offered for sale for the first time in literally half a century, it presents a rare opportunity to acquire one of the historic district’s most elegant & spacious homes. Formals with lavish trim work details & expansive windows adorned w/vintage chinoiserie pattern drapes. A sumptuous den with absolutely gorgeous flagstone floors, cypress beams, rich warm ash paneling & a huge bar at one end with an alcove large enough for a frig. Sunroom, study & master down w/luxurious dressing area. Gameroom plus 4 more BRs up. Full quarters on the ground level with its own private entrance, full kitchen, living/dining combo & separate BR & bath. Perfect set up for extended family or live in nanny. Just one exit outside the loop.

Enter the foyer… with its traditional moldings and lovely green painted walls and trim. That shade of green, and warning, I’ll be saying it a lot: Timeless.

To the left is the living room, and to the right, the family room.

The living room is traditional and formal. The pinch pleats over the ruched sheers — the ‘movement’ of the shapes covering the window — just lovely! The walls are a dusty lavender — and so are the sheers. They look fantastic with that green — a wonderful color combination that you don’t see, and don’t see done well, often.

The family room is warm and woodsy, mixing rustic, mod, modern, chinoiserie, and traditional elements. This kind of mix makes a room timeless — that is, difficult to date (although dinner and a movie are usually a good bet.)

The walls are ash cut into planks with beaded edge. The beams are pecky cypress. The floors are flagstone. Flagstone!!!

The sectional and directors’ chairs are the most modern pieces. The pattern on the sectional — I will call it octopusses (!) on paisley(!), and the sectional’s sensuous lines, are genius additions that add a big sexy hug to what otherwise might have been a staid, nice but predictable room. The graphic black lines of the barstools also add liveliness.

I would have a hard time ever leaving this room. No photos available of the backyard terrace. It looks nice too!

I am a wallpaper lover. I loved wallpaper before it was cool. And after. And before again. And after again. And before again. And after again. And now again. I love wallpaper on ceilings, too. The listing says this is vintage Schumacher wallpaper “that has stood the test of time.” I wholeheartedly agree.

And note this: Robert tells me that the owner still has the leftover wallpaper!

Copper on red-and-black brick on a red tile vinyl floor with more wallpaper on the ceiling — oh my heart be still.

A traditional wood kitchen table with Windsor chairs, in front of an inviting bay window. Windsor chairs are so lovely. Yikes, this book all about them is 744 pages long — they are so collectible << Amazon affiliate link, I make some dough re mi if ya buy anything.

The dining room includes metallic wallpaper, including on the ceilings. Same window treatments as the living room.

The master bedroom has a palatial Hollywood Regency vibe… and oooooh, we get just a peek into the adjacent bathroom with what looks to be a black-and-white octagonal chinoiserie lattice wallpaper on the ceiling.