Ep. 429: Building on Tradition with Bill Curtis and Russell Windham

Join hosts Caroline and Taryn in an engaging conversation with renowned architects William Curtis and Russell Windham of Curtis & Windham Architects as they share stories from their illustrious careers and insights from their new book, "Building on Tradition." Discover the launch of Curtis & Windham's new book and the inspiring stories behind their architectural journey. Learn how they returned to Texas to specialize in classical architecture, bringing their unique style to Houston's River Oaks. Explore their philosophy of blending traditional craftsmanship with modern challenges, evident in projects like Homewood House and a whimsical pub. Gain insights into their team development, the importance of hand drawings, and how they fuse traditional techniques with contemporary design solutions. What You'll Hear in This Episode: 00:00 Introduction to How to Decorate Podcast from Ballard Designs00:40 Meet Esteemed Architects William Curtis and Russell Windham01:52 The Architects' Journey: Inspiration and Education03:16 Establishing a Legacy in Texas07:22 Embracing Classical Architecture: Philosophy and Influences08:57 Essence and Charm of River Oaks Community16:05 Modern Architectural Challenges and Solutions25:27 Cultivating Client Relationships and Repeat Projects28:11 Emblematic Project: The Homewood House37:22 Exploring Fun and Unique Projects40:29 Addressing Zoning and Setbacks in Design41:26 The Historic Ville Farm Project44:25 Navigating Client Needs and Project Development47:00 Tackling Architectural Challenges and Personal Projects51:52 Conservation of Trees and Site Planning55:42 Team Development and Architectural Training01:01:14 The Role of Hand Drawings in Architectural Design01:07:52 Writing the Book: Insights and Reflections Decorating Dilemma: Hi! Thanks for all of your work on the podcast and for all of the amazing advice every week! I would like to make a change in our bedroom, but could use advice on paint colors and specifically what to do about our tray ceiling. I don't love the tray ceiling, but it would be expensive to remove so we are keeping it. I also don't love our current paint color (SW Pussywillow - it sometimes looks purple-ish to me) or the way the tray ceiling is currently painted.  The other element that is at play is the small hallway/ vestibule leading into our bedroom, which we are planning to wallpaper and paint. We've selected a moody, green wallpaper and plan to paint the trim and ceiling a dark green. I would like the hallway and our bedroom to compliment one another (see attached for the wallpaper and paint colors we are considering for the hall). Given the hallway colors, would you recommend going dark or light in the bedroom? Should we paint the trim, walls and ceiling the same color to make the tray ceiling less noticeable? Or have contrasting trim? How would you treat the tray ceiling? Or will painting the strip of gray around the tray ceiling white to match the ceiling solve all of my problems? The room is Northwest facing, if that helps.  A few other things I'm looking for for this room are an attractive ceiling fan and a throw for the bed. If you have any suggestions, I'd love to hear! I've attached photos of my room (the windows you see are the only windows in the room) and the hallway/ vestibule (no windows). Also, I'm planning to get a wood and/or cane headboard at some point so feel free to ignore the current one. Thanks for your help! - Allison Also Mentioned: Building on Tradition (Book) | Order Your Copy Here! curtisandwindham.com | Bill & Russell's Official Website Shop Ballard Designs⁠⁠⁠ | Website Please send in your questions so we can answer them on our next episode! And of course, subscribe to the podcast in Apple Podcasts so you never miss an episode. You can always check back here to see new episodes, but if you subscribe, it’ll automatically download to your phone. Happy Decorating! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices