Spaces: Art Deco meets modern for 'a very Vivian house'

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House Rules

Maximizing wall space: Vivian Paul knew she needed a lot of wall space to properly display her collection of glass and ceramic art. One way she increased her wall space was by asking that the air conditioning vents be placed higher up on the walls.

Staying Within Your Budget: Paul’s personal financial planner was closely involved with the details of the build and helped her reach a realistic vision of what was affordable. Both Paul and her architect, Darryl Ohlenbusch, say that involving the contractor early on in the process is one key to understanding budget costs. A contractor can help think of overlooked expenses and will have suggestions on where money is best spent.

Thinking About Your Future Self: Paul wanted to make the home comfortable, even if future years bring mobility or health challenges. The dishwasher, washer and dryer are all elevated off the floor so Paul doesn’t have to bend down to use them. The shower walls also include blocking, in case she needs to install grab bars one day.

It took just seven months to build Vivian Paul 's house in the Lavaca neighborhood south of downtown, but the path toward that home began years earlier.

The home's aesthetic influences were established decades ago, when Paul was a student travelling in South-Central France and became enamored with the way the strong light there played off the lines and planes of medieval buildings.

Years later, when Paul was working as a professor of architectural history at Texas A&M University, another part of the path fell into place: she met Darryl Ohlenbusch , a student who became a friend and then an architect in San Antonio and who would one day introduce her to Lavaca.

Five years ago, Paul and Ohlenbusch visited a long and narrow empty lot there, and Paul decided it would be the site of her future retirement home.

Thus began a thoughtful collaboration with Ohlenbusch to build a home that fit Paul's needs as well as the historical context of one of the city's oldest neighborhoods.

Paul knew exactly what she did and didn't want.

She wanted room for her plants and pets, wall space for her art collection, an infusion of color and a home designed to fit all the art deco furniture from her previous home in College Station.

Luxury Bathroom, 15 Art Deco Bathroom Designs To Inspire Your ...

If you love something elegant, glamorous, even modernity and functionality, this is an appropriate style for you. Art Deco is the eclectic artistic style and design that is popular in luxury housing and hotels. The best space to start is the bathroom. Many modern pipe manufacturers have products that combine aesthetics and minimalist art deco elegance. Glossy furniture is also very popular at this time so that definitely will not be charged expensive. So if you like this style you can use in your home as well. Although it is difficult to find good furniture in a style that will not cost you your fortune can still do it. Here are some examples of modern interpretation of Art Deco bathrooms may inspire you.

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