A Modern, Otherwise Monochrome Home Has a Precious Pink Guest Washroom

Name: Ana and Ryan Brandon, pets, baby
Location: Houston, Texas
Type of home: Townhome
Size: 1800 square feet
Years lived in: 7 months, owned

Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: Our home is a three-story newly built townhome. It is part of a planned community in a transitioning neighborhood. We decided on this property due to the builder’s flexibility to work with us and help create our ideal home without having to pay the price of a custom home builder. We had no say in the exterior or most of the floor plan however the finishes, lighting, and other indoor aesthetic preferences were accommodated within our style and budget. My husband works with PDR, an architecture firm that designs interiors for Fortune 100 companies all over the world. We are fortunate that he has the know-how and access to easily understand and acquire materials and vendors that the average homeowner would not be aware of.

I am a private school world language teacher with ten years under my belt, and I have always admired fashion and design. A home is very much like putting a great outfit together. You have to think of color, texture, and accessories to create the perfect feeling of comfort and style. We live with our two monochromatic pets; a tuxedo cat named Mr. Sox and a black dog named Sampson. We are expecting our first, last, and only child Lucia Bella. We are native Houstonians and love the culture and diversity of our city.

Describe your home’s style in 5 words or less: Modern monochromatic

What is your favorite room and why? The bright and open second floor. The large windows let light pour into the living, kitchen, and dining room. Everything and everyone can be seen throughout the different spaces. All three areas have pockets of comfortable seating that make conversation easy when having guest. Easy layout was very important when putting our space together and this floor made it easy to marry all three spaces to easily coexist without feeling congested.

If you could magically change something about your home, what would it be? Location. We are currently in a transitioning neighborhood. We would love to be able to be closer to the center of town. However, we are excited to see how the neighborhood will change in the upcoming years.

What’s the last thing you bought (or found!) for your home? CB2 shelves; West Elm Floor mirror; Crate and Barrel Glider; DWR rug.

Which fictional character would be most at home in your place? The “Jetsons.” Our house is filled with integrated technology that makes everyday tasks accessible to be completed throughout all three levels of our home. Our home has Nest cameras, doorbell, thermostats, lock, and hubs throughout to help keep our home safe and comfortable. Lutron automatic shades and lighting are easily controlled through our phones. The smart gadgets like Sonos, Roomba, and Petnet feeder help out with our everyday chores. This in combination with our minimalist look would make an ideal home for the Jetsons, whose home is futuristic mid-century modern.

Any advice for creating a home you love? There is no one out there who knows your style better than you do. You may not get it right at first, but trial and error is always a great way to help your home become what you envision. When you find a piece you like it may not always be perfect for your home. We also try to abide by our 3-2-1 rule in order to make our spaces affordable yet interesting. We buy one focal designer/pricier piece, two mid tier pieces (West Elm, Blu Dot), and three affordable pieces (Target, IKEA) that tie everything together without breaking the budget.

We also love finding floor samples and clearance pieces that match our aesthetics. I like living in a work-in-progress; it’s satisfying to see our home evolve as we live in it.

This submission’s responses were edited for length and clarity.