By Joan Moore
April 25, 1969. The Woman’s Club members worked all year to plan for the first House and Garden Tour, not knowing if it would be the one and only tour or the beginning of a new tradition. Homes were selected, preparations made, and all that awaited the excited ladies was to welcome guests. Four sets of homeowners ushered in the first tour, which became an anticipated event.
That year, the event was called the House and Garden Pilgrimage. The Club President, the late Kitty Prescott, led members through this brave experiment. Just like today, the homes were elegant and distinctive. The visitors had a wonderful time. It was such a success that this year, the Woman’s Club presents their 50th House & Garden Tour.
The Woman’s Club’s 50th annual House and Garden Tour will be Wednesday, April 11, from 10:00am until 6:00pm. The three homes are beautiful, and each reflects the personalities of its homeowners. The theme “Fifty and Fabulous” reflects the 50 years of tradition.
The Home of Bets and Cowboy Davis 724 South Rosemary Circle, Bryan Photos by Lonnie Goodson
The home of Cletus and Elizabeth Davis (better known as “Cowboy” and “Bets”) is known as the “Rosemary Inn.” The house was built in 2003 with three bedrooms, three full baths, and two half baths. The architectural style is a traditional sophisticated farm house. The exterior is composed of hardy plank and antique red brick. The Davises wanted their house to look as if it belonged in the historic neighborhood and to keep the integrity of the 1935 Beverly Estates development.
Cowboy and Bets wanted their home to be an inviting place for living, working, and entertaining family and friends — most especially their son and “daughter in-love,” and their five sons; as well as their daughter and “son in-love.”
Both Bets and Cowboy will tell you that the home has been a true blessing from the start. Each person wrote a favorite scripture with marker somewhere in the house as it was built.
The furnishings are eclectic, melding Texas primitive pine pieces, English antiques, and Oriental rugs with traditional and contemporary furniture. The rooms have high ceilings. There are plate-glass windows in the back of the house. Throughout the house, the walls are painted in one natural color, which serve as a background for colorful art work.
As you approach the home, you’ll immediately notice the raised front porch, with gas lights and comfortable white wicker furniture, creating an inviting entrance and great place to have conversations, a glass of wine, and delicious meals.
As you enter the home, you’ll see that the foyer is actually an art gallery! Bets, an artist for many years, has her own artwork on display here and throughout the home, as well as art by her father, William Kolliker, a renowned artist, and pieces by a variety of other artists.
The dining table has played a big part in the lives of the Davis’s grandchildren. Bets and Cowboy decided they wanted to find a way to spend special time with their grandsons, while at the same time teaching them proper etiquette and how to cook. They started hosting once-a-month “Chef Night” gatherings. Each month the boys took turns selecting the recipes, planning the menu, and making a shopping list. Saying grace, learning manners, and laughing together were always part of the meals. Bets, Cowboy, and the boys were featured in the January 2006 issue of “Southern Living.”
The kitchen features more artwork, as well as bar stools hand painted by Bets. The Davises love to cook, and the spacious kitchen has “every appliance known to man!” The large pantry has an extra refrigerator, as well as many storage shelves and drawers. Just outside the kitchen is the wine room.
The glassed-in garden room offers additional space for dining, conversation, and bird watching. The garden room overlooks the backyard and woods, where there is a pathway leading to a “secret” picnic table, built by the Davis’s son.
In the master suite, the bedroom overlooks the backyard, with comfy easy chairs perfect for relaxing and reading.
Before going upstairs, you’ll want to visit Cowboy’s library and study. Photographs from Cowboy’s two terms in the Texas Legislature are here, as well as more artwork.
Upstairs, you’ll see the “grown-up” guest room, which contains Bets’s twin beds from her childhood. The wooden high-backed chair was part of Bets’s parents’ wedding furniture. On the wall is a childhood painting of Bets, done by her father in 1942.
Across the hall is, according to Bets, the “reason the house was built.” The bunk room (equipped with six beds) was built especially for the grandsons. Now that the boys are just about grown, Bets and Cowboy hope there will also be great grandchildren to enjoy this special room.
The art in the home is extensive and varied. Paintings include realism, abstract, and impressionism. Bets would love to have a few more walls so that she could display more art.
In their yard, the Davises employed the talents and skill of landscape architects Alan King and Jacob Maxwell. The ample parking area and chevron brick sidewalk add to the function and beauty. The flower beds, fountains, and trees are a delight to the senses.
The small cactus garden in the front yard serves as a reminder of El Paso, where a Connecticut Yankee girl fell head over heels in love with a man named Cowboy. Everywhere you look, you’ll see how much this couple loves each other, their family, friends, and the life they’ve built together.
The Home of Cheryl and Randy French 4711 Miramont Circle, Bryan Photos by Lonnie Goodson
The French country exterior of the home of Randy and Cheryl French welcomes you with its beautifully terraced front yard, brick retaining walls featuring outdoor lighting, a Zen circular fountain, gas coach lights, and a circular drive with brick inlaid in a herringbone pattern. The home’s exterior is finished in limestone with a German Smear, brick, and stucco, with a Saxony concrete tile roof. Mr. French, owner of Stylecraft Builders, asked designer Karen McGown Loehr to serve as construction liaison and interior designer for the project, which was completed in November 2017.
The interior of the home features a complementary blend of transitional and contemporary finishes, artwork, furnishings, fabrics, and materials. After living in a Tuscan-style home for the past thirteen years, the Frenches wanted their new home to have a light, clean, more modern feel. The home’s five bedrooms and five and a half baths make it perfect for hosting grandchildren and other overnight guests.
Entering the double iron doors is the formal living and dining areas, the iron staircase, custom-made staircase runner, a triplicate abstract artwork, and a unique Juliet balcony. The area is lighted by a bejeweled three-tiered chandelier and matching sconces. One side of the Juliet balcony opens to the formal foyer and the other to the grandkids’ gameroom.
The kitchen features a steam oven, convection oven, warming drawer, and microwave. Two large side-by-side refrigerators, and a Thermador six-burner with grill cooking top, along with a pot filler, complete the list of dream “kitchen helpers.” It was Karen’s mission to design cabinetry which resembled actual furniture. The cabinets are as practical as they are beautiful, featuring unique LED lighting, shelving, and drawers. The designer utilized the space between the kitchen and the living area to create a functional entertaining island.
The living room is decorated in gray, black, yellow, gold, silver, and cream. The Frenches say that among their favorite items in the home are the contemporary pieces in this room.
The dining room table seats eight and features complementary host and hostess chairs. The dining chairs are upholstered in indoor-outdoor fabric to make entertaining the grandkids less stressful. The chandeliers over the dining table were designed by Karen’s former student intern, Aidan Gray.
Sliding barn doors welcome you to the perfect place to enjoy movie night. Six comfortable reclining leather chairs have built-in trays ideal for snacks and drinks.
At the end of the hallway is one of the two guestrooms. The bedroom has a great view of the golf course and is done in soft slate, silver, and gold shades.
On the other side of the living room is the spacious master wing. This part of the home has His and Hers master bedrooms, two baths, a study, and a coffee bar. It is a haven for the busy couple, truly a place to get away from the hustle and bustle of daily life.
The first master bedroom has a cathedral ceiling and window. The closet features lighted rods and a spectacular, curved LED, contemporary chrome chandelier.
The floor tile in Mr. French’s bath is laid in a herringbone pattern. One entire wall running the length of the bathroom features rectangular mosaics laid vertically. The plumbing fixtures are accented with onyx handles to complement the colors of a tribal vase in the bath’s niche.
The study serves as Randy’s “man-cave.” It has a floor-to-ceiling brick fireplace. The flooring is porcelain tile which looks like distressed wood. The recessed areas on either side of the fireplace are wallpapered and adorned with sophisticated wine racks.
The master wing hallway features a groin ceiling accented with faux painting. The custom light fixture was made to coordinate with the pattern of the study’s floor and the grillwork on the entry to the study.
Cheryl French told Loehr she wanted the colors in the second master bedroom to be gray, cream, cobalt blue, and sand, creating a relaxing effect. The bedroom features an arched brick wall, which frames the brick fireplace and arched windows in the sitting area. The second bath in the master wing features a multi-tiered chandelier to match a smaller chandelier in the hallway.
The kid space is mainly upstairs. The game room is a wonderful and welcoming place for the Frenches’ grandkids. It’s a fun place to get away from the grown-ups.
To the left of the game room is the bunk room, also built with the grandchildren in mind. It has four custom-designed bunk beds featuring a staircase and plenty of drawers.
Also upstairs is the second guest room and bath. The colors in the room are aqua, citrine, gray, and cobalt blue.
Back downstairs, you won’t want to miss the outdoor kitchen and living area. The dining area has a concrete and wood table as well as a stone bar and fireplace. The outdoor kitchen is “decked to the nines” with every possible cooking accoutrement.
The outdoor area also has a comfortable seating area. The unique six-foot-tall “fence” is made of glass, allowing family and friends to enjoy the golf course view from the backyard, while making sure the cats cannot get out of the yard.
The heated pool has unique built-in chaise lounges and features a large shelf area/sundeck for younger children. The pool is sleek and simple to match the architecture. The tiles, mosaics, and marble coordinate with the home’s interior colors.
The Frenches wanted a home that would fit their busy lifestyle, but would also be a place where guests, family, and grandkids would feel comfortable and welcome.
The Home of William “Bill” Peel 907 Grand Oaks Circle, College Station Interior Photos by Michael Hunter of Michael Hunter Photography; Exterior Photos by Lonnie Goodson
The home of William “Bill” Peel is part of a 23-unit gated community constructed in 1999. All the houses are brick with a homogenous architectural style strictly maintained by the homeowners’ association. However, on the inside Bill and decorator Joshua Ortiz of Ambrose Furniture Works have turned this into a place that is uniquely his own.
When Bill first purchased the home, he knew many changes needed to be made. The transition to (primarily) the interior was from a traditional suburban house to one reminiscent of a mid-century modern home. Since he has a bachelor of environmental design and a master of architecture, he knew what he liked and how he envisioned his home.
The house was designed to showcase Mr. Peel’s art collection. The eclectic collection is focused on pieces by and of celebrities. It reflects Peel’s interest in pop culture.
The front door is not seen from the street, instead the front of the house is actually on the side of the property. After walking through a gate, you’ll find yourself in a beautiful outdoor living area. The residence is loaded with “surprises” beginning with the massive, custom fabricated metal and glass double entry doors, designed by Josh.
Bill and his design team at Ambrose Furniture Works wanted each space to feel artistically independent with curated items and high-end finishes, yet cohesive with an easy flow.
The centerpiece of the house and focal point when you enter is Peel’s library, a
replication of the award-winning library from his high-rise residence in Houston. The library is an eclectic presentation of Mr. Peel’s life, awards, and mementos, interspersed with his book collection.
When Bill bought the house, the powder room was in the living room, but he had it relocated to the library. It fits perfectly beneath the staircase. The walls of the room are done in metallic cork wallpaper, and the metal pattern on the lavatory is the same as that on the front door.
To the right of the entry area is the large kitchen and dining area. The appliance wall is built into a glossy, rich cabinet that spans the length of the kitchen. Josh and Bill selected a raisin undertone to the “melting chocolate” finish.
To the left of the foyer is the living room. The fireplace constructed by Mr. Peel’s son is washed by an LED light fixture with adjustments to reflect the desired mood in the space.
Subtle alabaster dome wall sconces draw the eye into the master suite and up the stairs. In the master bedroom, Bill repurposed his bed from his high rise, but added custom Calvin Klein for Kravet bedding, and mahogany nightstands, all courtesy of Ambrose Furniture Works.
A meditation space off the master bedroom provides a place for reading and reflection. It opens to the garden area, where a large spa allows an intimate setting for relaxation.
The staircase leads to the second floor. The metal stair rails match the pattern on the front door, as do the stairway sconces.
At the top of the stairs is the room used by Bill’s five granddaughters. It has four bunk beds and a window seat.
The guest room is a perfect space for visitors to relax. In a corner is Bill’s mother’s favorite reading chair, which has been reupholstered.
Another bold surprise greets guests in the upstairs bath with an amethyst cultured marble tub surround and countertops that are dimly lit by Kelly Wearstler antique burnished sconces installed onto the mirror.
Back downstairs the garden is designed in three zones – cooking/eating, living area, and meditation/spa. It has a gas fire pit and a flat screen television for sporting events and movies. There is a six-person spa and a lazy rock river as well.
Bill calls the home a labor of love, and says it fits him. It is an expression of his many interests. The house is renovated to be a space for family and friends to visit, to enjoy the Aggie experience, and create memories.
More Information about Tour and Luncheon Tickets to tour all three homes are $15. Tour tickets can be purchased on the day of the event at any of the homes. Tickets may also be purchased in advance from any Club member, by calling the Club Director at (979) 822-5019, or by emailing thewomansclubbcs@verizon.net.
Additionally, a delicious luncheon will be served at The Woman’s Club (1200 Carter Creek Parkway) that day. Luncheon tickets, sold separately, are $15 and may be obtained by contacting Sandra Petty at spetty@suddenlink.net or (979) 229-9945 or by calling The Woman’s Club.
April 4 is the last day to make luncheon reservations. The luncheon is open to members and non-members and will be served continuously from 11am to 1:30pm.
