Pamela Pierce's "Rustic Sophistication"

Today's post features two different homes decorated by Houston designer Pamela Pierce. Both of these houses were new construction, but Pierce, who is "known for her simple looks of rustic sophistication," added reclaimed beams, flooring and architectural elements to create warmth and a sense of history. (Many of these materials came from Chateau Domingue in Houston.) The designer used slipcovers and skirted sofas, chairs and tablecloths to add a casual feel to the spaces. Colors are muted. Cocoa, robin's-egg blue and sand fill the rooms of the first house; creams and browns define the second. The designer used linen, limestone and antique trumeaux in both homes. Her kitchens have a European feel. The goal in decorating the first house was to create a comfortable, functional space for a family of six. " 'I wanted everyone from the youngest child to the parents to feel at home,' " Pierce told Southern Accents. The owner of the second home wanted Pierce to help her design a house that felt "like it had been here forever." Pamela Pierce succeeded in both instances. As an added treat, both homes have been decorated for the holidays. Take a look . . .

Houston home for a family of six.

"Designer Pamela Pierce draped the stone mantel, salvaged from a house in Galveston, Texas, with abundant fir branches and green pears."

Interior design by Pamela Pierce, Pierce Designs and Associates.

Photography by Tria Giovan.

"Tailor-Made Trimmings" by Lydia Somerville.

Southern Accents (November - December 2003).

Houston home for a family of six.

"A December drizzle highlights the glow of the windows onto the rear terrace, with its antique limestone fountain and oversized French Anduze urns."

Interior design by Pamela Pierce, Pierce Designs and Associates.

Photography by Tria Giovan.

"Tailor-Made Trimmings" by Lydia Somerville.

Southern Accents (November - December 2003).

Houston home for a family of six.

"[Pamela] Pierce eschewed lights and ornaments except for glass balls that sparkle like bubbles caught in the branches. The angel tree-topper is a 17th-century Italian decoration."

Interior design by Pamela Pierce, Pierce Designs and Associates.

Photography by Tria Giovan.

"Tailor-Made Trimmings" by Lydia Somerville.

Southern Accents (November - December 2003).

Houston home for a family of six.

"Olive branches serve as tiebacks in the dining room. Pierce covered the table in a linen check that hangs like a peasant skirt from a gathered seam placed just inside the edge of the tablecloth."

Interior design by Pamela Pierce, Pierce Designs and Associates.

Photography by Tria Giovan.

"Tailor-Made Trimmings" by Lydia Somerville.

Southern Accents (November - December 2003).

Houston home for a family of six.

"The designer tempered typical dining room formality by using a pear-filled faience pot as a centerpiece and arranging posies of roses in silver hotel pitchers." 

Interior design by Pamela Pierce, Pierce Designs and Associates.

Photography by Tria Giovan.

"Tailor-Made Trimmings" by Lydia Somerville.

Southern Accents (November - December 2003).

Houston home for a family of six.

"Pierce festooned the stair rail with garlands and stockings and placed a small fir in an urn on the landing to guide the eye to the top of the stairs."

Interior design by Pamela Pierce, Pierce Designs and Associates.

Photography by Tria Giovan.

"Tailor-Made Trimmings" by Lydia Somerville.

Southern Accents (November - December 2003).

Houston home for a family of six.

"Blue linen and brown mohair take the house's accent colors into deeper tones in the family room. The French mantelpiece is from Chateau Domingue in Houston. 'I use mohair upholstery in many of the family rooms I do,' says Pierce. 'It's nearly indestructible.' "

Interior design by Pamela Pierce, Pierce Designs and Associates.

Photography by Tria Giovan.

"Tailor-Made Trimmings" by Lydia Somerville.

Southern Accents (November - December 2003).

Houston home for a family of six.

"The family enjoys snacking on gingerbread men hung from the tree, which can be planted after the holidays."

Interior design by Pamela Pierce, Pierce Designs and Associates.

Photography by Tria Giovan.

"Tailor-Made Trimmings" by Lydia Somerville.

Southern Accents (November - December 2003).

Houston home for a family of six.

"Pierce found the tall, narrow shutters at an antiques shop and had them stripped of their Kelly green paint and waxed. Square wreaths hang in the windows. The broad scale of the French rush-seat chairs makes the kitchen table a comfortable place to linger."

Interior design by Pamela Pierce, Pierce Designs and Associates.

Photography by Tria Giovan.

"Tailor-Made Trimmings" by Lydia Somerville.

Southern Accents (November - December 2003).

Houston home for a family of six.

"Pierce achieved the look of an old French farmhouse kitchen with plaster-edged construction and cathedral-tile countertops around the range. An antique cabinet was converted into the kitchen island and topped with new lazos azul limestone."

Interior design by Pamela Pierce, Pierce Designs and Associates.

Photography by Tria Giovan.

"Tailor-Made Trimmings" by Lydia Somerville.

Southern Accents (November - December 2003).

Houston home for a family of six.

"Fairy-tale princess details, such as the long-skirted duvets and taffeta bed skirts, distinguish the girl's room. Pierce adorned the wrought iron twin beds with diminutive wreaths and rosebuds."

Interior design by Pamela Pierce, Pierce Designs and Associates.

Photography by Tria Giovan.

"Tailor-Made Trimmings" by Lydia Somerville.

Southern Accents (November - December 2003).

Houston home for a family of six.

"Even the master bedroom gets the holiday treatment of garlands swagged over the four-poster."

Interior design by Pamela Pierce, Pierce Designs and Associates.

Photography by Tria Giovan.

"Tailor-Made Trimmings" by Lydia Somerville.

Southern Accents (November - December 2003).

The remaining photos are of the second home designed by Pamela Pierce - a house in Houston owned by Kellie and Jeff Hepper.

"In Houston, stone entry surround, 18th-century. Walnut 18th-century doors and French 19th-century gas lanterns."

Interior design by Pamela Pierce, Pierce Designs and Associates.

Photography by Peter Vitale.

"House Warming - Invitation to Comfort" text by Nancy Perot Mulford.

Veranda (November - December 2006).

"Antique French and Italian candelabrum and lanterns on staircase."

Interior design by Pamela Pierce, Pierce Designs and Associates.

Photography by Peter Vitale.

"House Warming - Invitation to Comfort" text by Nancy Perot Mulford.

Veranda (November - December 2006).

"An 18th-century limestone fireplace surround flanked by 17th-century wooden angels. Venetian 18th-century canape and French 19th-century wing chair both in Fortuny wool. Custom bench in wool."

Interior design by Pamela Pierce, Pierce Designs and Associates.

Photography by Peter Vitale.

"House Warming - Invitation to Comfort" text by Nancy Perot Mulford.

Veranda (November - December 2006).

"Six sepia engravings above Italian console, c. 1750. Drapes in Rose Tarlow-Melrose House linen. Oushak rug, c. 1880."

Interior design by Pamela Pierce, Pierce Designs and Associates.

Photography by Peter Vitale.

"House Warming - Invitation to Comfort" text by Nancy Perot Mulford.

Veranda (November - December 2006).

"Italian 17th-century door surround with mirrored panes. French 18th-century fauteuil in linen. Child's chair. Italian 17th-century sconces."

Interior design by Pamela Pierce, Pierce Designs and Associates.

Photography by Peter Vitale.

"House Warming - Invitation to Comfort" text by Nancy Perot Mulford.

Veranda (November - December 2006).

"A 19th-century carving of shepherd on Portuguese table, c. 1720. Italian 17th-century drawing."

Interior design by Pamela Pierce, Pierce Designs and Associates.

Photography by Peter Vitale.

"House Warming - Invitation to Comfort" text by Nancy Perot Mulford.

Veranda (November - December 2006).

"Louis XVI trumeaux over French buffet; Swedish side chair in antique linen."

Interior design by Pamela Pierce, Pierce Designs and Associates.

Photography by Peter Vitale.

"House Warming - Invitation to Comfort" text by Nancy Perot Mulford.

Veranda (November - December 2006).

"Italian 19th-century bibliotheque with Delft and French faience. Italian painting, c. 1830."

Interior design by Pamela Pierce, Pierce Designs and Associates.

Photography by Peter Vitale.

"House Warming - Invitation to Comfort" text by Nancy Perot Mulford.

Veranda (November - December 2006).

"Italian 18th-century lyre table made of old elements. Tuscan 17th-century chairs in Great Plains wool. Swedish sofa, c. 1740. Florio Collection embroidered linen curtains. Italian 18th-century wood chandelier. Walnut floor."

Interior design by Pamela Pierce, Pierce Designs and Associates.

Photography by Peter Vitale.

"House Warming - Invitation to Comfort" text by Nancy Perot Mulford.

Veranda (November - December 2006).

"In family room, custom sofa and chairs slipcovered in Gretchen Bellinger velvet. Custom bench slipcovered in Rogers and Goffigon camel hair. Painted panels above antique French doors that hide entertainment center."

Interior design by Pamela Pierce, Pierce Designs and Associates.

Photography by Peter Vitale.

"House Warming - Invitation to Comfort" text by Nancy Perot Mulford.

Veranda (November - December 2006).

"Pair of antique doors on sliders uses custom barn hardware. Framed herbs on wall. Biot jars from France. Parefeuille flooring."

Interior design by Pamela Pierce, Pierce Designs and Associates.

Photography by Peter Vitale.

"House Warming - Invitation to Comfort" text by Nancy Perot Mulford.

Veranda (November - December 2006).

"In breakfast room, antique walnut farm table with rush-seat armchairs, c. 1800, in Rogers and Goffigon linen. A 19th-century still life above 18th-century French limestone mantel. Custom lounge chairs slipcovered in Rogers and Goffigon camel hair. Curtains in Old World Weavers toile."

Interior design by Pamela Pierce, Pierce Designs and Associates.

Photography by Peter Vitale.

"House Warming - Invitation to Comfort" text by Nancy Perot Mulford.

Veranda (November - December 2006).

"Custom cabinets in butler's pantry in reclaimed Swedish pine with 16th-century French terra-cotta tiles as countertop. Iron 18th-century candelabra, 19th-century sconces and 18th-century cherubs."

Interior design by Pamela Pierce, Pierce Designs and Associates.

Photography by Peter Vitale.

"House Warming - Invitation to Comfort" text by Nancy Perot Mulford.

Veranda (November - December 2006).

"One piece of 4-inch-thick limestone with butcher block inset atop island. Antique iron chandelier. Stools in Jane Shelton check. Antique ceiling beams. All antique mantels and stone flooring in house from Chateau Domingue."

Interior design by Pamela Pierce, Pierce Designs and Associates.

Photography by Peter Vitale.

"House Warming - Invitation to Comfort" text by Nancy Perot Mulford.

Veranda (November - December 2006).

"Bed linens in Cowtan and Tout linen and Rogers and Goffigon wool. Bas argente 17th-century panel over bed. Nancy Corzine velvet on stool and antique wing chair. French 19th-century chandelier. Drapes and 18th-century Gustavian bench in Rose Tarlow-Melrose House linen. Antique Japanese rug on seagrass carpet."

Interior design by Pamela Pierce, Pierce Designs and Associates.

Photography by Peter Vitale.

"House Warming - Invitation to Comfort" text by Nancy Perot Mulford.

Veranda (November - December 2006).

"Antique limestone mantel. Iron 19th-century garden table. Regence carved overdoor on mirror. Gustavian daybed in Bergamo linen. Curtains in Rogers and Goffigon linen. Waterworks tub and faucets."

Interior design by Pamela Pierce, Pierce Designs and Associates.

Photography by Peter Vitale.

"House Warming - Invitation to Comfort" text by Nancy Perot Mulford.

Veranda (November - December 2006).

"In master sitting area, antique wing chair and custom chair in Nancy Corzine velvet. Pillows in Rogers and Goffigon cashmere. French mirror and limestone mantel, both 19th-century. Bookcases adapted from antique pine doors."

Interior design by Pamela Pierce, Pierce Designs and Associates.

Photography by Peter Vitale.

"House Warming - Invitation to Comfort" text by Nancy Perot Mulford.

Veranda (November - December 2006).