Behind the Design of this Modern Game Lounge & Theater in Carlton Woods
How we designed these swanky, fun spaces to feel like home for these empty-nesters’ college-aged kids.
When we began to design the upstairs of our Fairway Transitional project , our empty-nester clients were clear on what they wanted: a fun, swanky space their college-aged kids would love to come home to — somewhere they could invite friends over, shoot some pool, or enjoy a late-night card game.
While the rest of the renovation was custom tailored to this pair of empty nesters (and all of the beautiful things they wanted in this new phase of life!), the upstairs was truly designed for their kids, making it a place that still felt like their home.
From finishes to furnishings, we really took our time sourcing every single detail with our clients and had so much fun as we traveled around the Houston and Dallas markets searching for the perfect pieces. As you’ll be able to see with many of our selections, we opted for pieces that had traditional elements with modern, slick lines, which lend themselves well to blending the styles within this home.
(before and after of the bar club corner)
When it came to the game lounge, we wanted to make it a place where this football-loving family could truly tailgate at home! With a pool table and a slot machine, we just wanted it to be … well, fun!
Overlooking the signature hole of one of The Woodlands’ most prominent golf courses, the patio doors open to an incredible view, making for a fun backdrop for shooting pool or enjoying a late-night poker game.
The previous bar was cast stone, with a very traditional carved piece. We decided to clad that in quartz because it was modern and classic – it blended well with the style we developed with our clients, and truly fit this project perfectly.
(before and after)
Along the side wall, you’ll see a quartz counter bar custom-built into the space, fabricated from the same slab as the corner bar area. Above, we also hung stadium posters from the family’s alma maters, custom framed to fit the space.
And right next door to the game lounge, you’ll find another space designed with fun in mind — the theater.
Although beautiful, the space had previously felt fairly traditional — to match the feel of the game lounge, we wanted to truly customize it for our clients to be a swanky, fun hang out spot.
We selected a black with silver metallic wallpaper to cover the room, completely backed with cork to create as much of a sound-deadening effect as possible. Mounted into the walls, you’ll also find new lighting we sourced in Dallas that gave the modern feel we were looking for. We also selected a black and silver metallic threaded carpet for both its aesthetic and function of cushioning the sound within the room.
Curious about how to create sound-deadened spaces? Find Nancy's advice featured here in Architectural Digest!
(before and after of the home theater)
The entire family was also incredibly involved in the selection process, and it was a really fun experience to see them enjoy every stage of the project together as a family. I think this is just a testament to our approach to design as an experiential process – renovations are never a “quick fix” and being able to slow down and enjoy the process with our clients, and see them enjoy it together, was truly a joy to be a part of.
While our clients weren’t planning on purchasing a home in 2019, when this property came on the market, they felt like they couldn’t pass it up. Built on the signature hole of a highly acclaimed golf course built by Jack Nicklaus, this home also sat in one of the most coveted neighborhoods in The Woodlands in a quiet cul-de-sac. For this family, it felt like divine intervention that they found their way to this gem of a home. And, the home was beautiful, as it had been recently updated – but our clients wanted to truly make it theirs and put in as many personal touches as they could to make it their family’s forever home.
Working alongside Bill Hughes, Nancy Charbonneau of Charbonneau Interiors developed a renovation and furnishings plan based on what the family had been dreaming of for their forever home: a modern and fresh approach to the traditional elements of design that they loved from their previous home.
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