This Houston Home Proves That Neutrals Are Anything but Boring
Margaret Naeve Parker may have launched her design career by purchasing an antiques store, but her distinctive aesthetic is anything but stuffy or old-fashioned. The designer and founder of M. Naeve has an impeccable knack for styling pieces of provenance with a contemporary sensibility to create one-of-a-kind spaces that offer the wow factor of a gallery installation while somehow managing to be livable and inviting.
The ultimate display of Parker’s skills can be found throughout her own home in Houston’s historic Southampton neighborhood that she and husband, Brad, purchased in 2014 and spent five years perfecting. Not only does the 1930s Cape Cod showcase the creative’s unique eye for designing cohesive, art-filled interiors with a unique blend of pieces from yesteryear and today, but it also highlights her mastery of scale, as the couple took the house down to the studs and remodeled it from the ground up without the help of an architect.
“With a Cape Cod, you get those taller ceilings unlike other old houses, and we had this amazing unused attic space that allowed us to pop the roofline up and double the square footage while maintaining the home’s historic charm,” Parker says. “When you look at the house from the street, it seems like this cute, cozy home when it’s actually much grander. You can’t tell where the addition started either, making it feel like the house was all done at once rather than over five years.”
Though the house is certainly not modest in size, the rooms could only be so large when the couple was seeking to minimize the footprint of the home while doubling the square footage. However, Parker took this challenge in stride and loves that the rooms don’t feel tiny, rather “breathable and comfortable,” largely in part to vaulted ceilings, careful editing, and being equally dedicated to the pursuit of beauty and functionality in each space.
“I love playing with scale,” says Parker. “It’s important to use it to keep things interesting, which is especially nice when you’re not looking to use bold colors. People often forget about it, and it does require more thoughtfulness and time than relying on lots of color and pattern.”
The interior design is as impressive as the home’s architecture. The couple was committed to only choosing pieces they were truly passionate about (the dining chairs alone took three years to track down), which Parker says is a testimony to what happens when you focus on purchasing timeless over trendy pieces. Interestingly enough, many of the design elements in the home, from the plaster walls to the curvature of most of the furniture, are all over the Pinterest boards and Instagram feeds of today’s savviest design enthusiasts.
“Having the store lets me travel and be exposed to so much period furniture, which, along with my art history background, lends to a collected look that’s still very much edited,” Parker says. “Each piece in a room is chosen for a reason and treated more like an art object, which is a bit of a different philosophy than traditional interior design.”
Naturally, Parker relies on a swath of art, particularly contemporary pieces, to create delicious juxtaposition with her covet-worthy collection of antiques. The formal living room, for example, features prominent works by the likes of Cheryl Donegan, Clare Rojas, and Davina Semo along with a vintage coffee table from Rose Uniacke, Gio Ponti lounge chairs sourced from her shop, and a vintage mantle gifted by a French antiques dealer and friend. The sun room, Parker’s favorite space in the house, features a vintage fireplace the couple found in Provence, a Hans Jacobsen chandelier, and various vintage sculptural chairs paired with a massive contemporary work by Tom Meacham.
LIVING ROOM
Gio Ponti lounge chairs sourced from Parker's shop and a vintage table from Rose Uniacke are paried with artwork by Davina Semo and a Sabine Marcelis side table for some contemporary flair.
FAMILY ROOM
The understated family room features an impressive collection of items including a floating stone coffee table by Axel Vervoordt, Rick Owens side table, and a striking leather credenza from BDDW. Vintage chair, Pierre Guariche.
KITCHEN
Parker loves that the kitchen feels as elevated and curated as every other room in the house. Link pendant, Apparatus Studio. Counter stools, Wyeth.
KITCHEN BAR
Behind a pair of striking yet unassuming doors lies a chic kitchen bar. Faucet, Fixtures & Fittings.
DINING ROOM
Parker spent three years hunting down the perfect dining chairs that she found in Pierre Augustin Rose's Polus 002 design. Upholstery fabric, de la Cuona. Vintage chandelier, M. Naeve.
SUN ROOM
Parker carefully designed seating approach for conversation, and she says that it's the top gathering spot in the house. Vintage shearling lounge chairs, Galerie Novella. Vintage sculptural wood chair, Galerie Provenance.
PRIMARY BEDROOM
This serene sanctuary features stunning Willy Guhl bedside lamps from Galerie Half. Drapery fabric, Holland & Sherry.
PRIMARY BATHROOM
A Nickey Kehoe chandelier is the showpiece of this breezy bathroom. Floor covering, Carol Piper Rugs. Artwork, Johnny Abrahams.
OFFICE
Parker designed the chic desk crafted by BCMT Co. Desk lamp, Christopher Kreilling Studio.
NURSERY
The daughter's room features a cheeky vintage sheep bookcase from Obsolete and vintage sheepskin chairs from Galerie Novella. Floor lamp, M.Naeve.
While the color palette is limited in most rooms, each space is rich in warmth and movement, due to the home’s swoon-worthy plaster walls, the abundance of sculptural pieces from floor to ceiling, and, of course, the plethora of artwork.
Though her style leans more contemporary, Parker knows how to bring in old world touches and centuries-old antiques to create just the right amount of tension to be interesting and cohesive. Parker’s home speaks to the staying power of good taste and trusting your own design intuition to create a place that can evolve alongside you and your family for years to come.
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