Ember Trail Lane, Imperial Oaks, Houston, Texas
A house on Ember Trail Lane in the Imperial Oaks neighborhood of Houston features open concept spaces, soaring ceilings, light-filled rooms, and outdoor entertainment areas.
The main entrance of the home opens to a foyer with cream-colored travertine flooring, ivory-colored walls with white baseboards, and a white tray ceiling with white crown molding. A three-light chandelier with frosted glass shades is placed over the center of the foyer.
Double French doors on the right side of the foyer provide entry to a home office. This is a small room with hardwood flooring, ivory-colored walls with white baseboards, and a white ceiling. A five-blade ceiling fan mounted over the center of the room has a four-light fixture with frosted glass shades attached. An arched, mullioned window overlooking the front lawn allows natural light into the room. An interior designer will be able to create a work area with a desk, as well as a seating area, with many design styles to choose from.
A wide, cased doorway to the left of the foyer leads to the dining room. The flooring in this room is hardwood, the walls are ivory colored with white baseboards, and the ceiling is white with white crown molding. A five-light chandelier with frosted glass shades is suspended over the center of the room. A large, arched, mullioned window overlooks the front lawn. There is ample space for a large dining table. The plank flooring makes the dining room compatible with both contemporary and rustic interior design styles.
An arched, cased doorway in the dining room leads to a short hallway connecting the dining room to the kitchen. A door on the left of the hallway is the entry to a half-bathroom with ivory-colored walls and white baseboards. A small, white vanity with stainless steel hardware has a white granite countertop with gray flecks and a rectangular, undermount sink. The faucet is a modern, wide, flat style in brushed stainless steel. Above the vanity, a mint green, vintage filigreed metal framed mirror adds a gentle splash of color to the decor. A three-light, hanging cage vanity light is mounted above the mirror. A shelf affixed to the wall beside the toilet allows space for a small plant or other small decorative accessories.
The kitchen has cream-colored travertine tile flooring, walls painted a shade of ivory, white baseboards, and a white ceiling with recessed lighting. The cabinetry is stained dark brown with sleek stainless-steel pulls and knobs and under cabinet lighting. Countertops are white granite with gray flecks. The backsplash is white subway tile with dark grouting. Appliances are stainless steel and include a dishwasher, a refrigerator, a range, and a microwave oven in a built-in niche above the range. A work island separates the kitchen from the living room. On the kitchen side, it has dark stained cupboards with stainless steel hardware. The countertop is white granite with gray flecks. A double basin, stainless steel, and asymmetrical sink is undermounted in the island. On the living room side, the island has a wood facade painted white in a distressed style. The countertop overhangs on this side, forming a breakfast counter with room for three or four tall stools. An interior designer may recommend adding potted herbs on a countertop, a bowl of fruit on the island, artwork on a wall, and layered textiles including a rug, potholders, and dishtowels to complement the owner's preferred design style.
There is a breakfast nook in space between the kitchen and the exterior wall. The area has cream-colored travertine tiles, ivory painted walls with white baseboards, and a white ceiling. A four-light linear light with clear glass, mason jar shades is suspended by two long chains over the center of the space. A large window overlooks the covered back patio, and a door provides access to the patio. This area leans toward a rustic interior design style but could be adapted to a modern or traditional style.
The living room has hardwood flooring, ivory painted walls, and a white coved ceiling with recessed lights. A five-blade ceiling fan with a frosted glass covered light fixture is suspended over the center of the room. Three large windows, each with a fixed transom above it, overlook the covered back patio and the swimming pool beyond. A stacked stone, gas log fireplace is built into the wall adjacent to the windows. The flush hearth is comprised of stone tiles. The wall surrounding the fireplace is covered with shiplap painted white in a distressed style. There is a thick wooden mantel attached to the wall. An interior designer may choose from one of the rustic design styles to enhance the distressed wood of the kitchen island and fireplace wall, as well as the stacked stone fireplace, or they might opt for a more contemporary style that causes those same features to stand out in contrast.
The primary suite is located on the first floor of the house. The master bedroom is long and narrow, with ample room for a king-size bed, nightstands, a dresser, and a small seating area. The flooring is hardwood, walls are ivory with white baseboards, and the tray ceiling is white with the soffits painted ivory and white crown molding. A recessed spotlight is installed in one corner of the ceiling, and a five-blade ceiling fan with a four-light fixture attached, is mounted in the center of the ceiling. Three large windows overlook the backyard and flood the room with natural light. An interior designer may suggest replacing one or more of the windows with a French door, allowing private access to the covered patio and swimming pool.
The door to the ensuite bathroom is in a corner of the room. The bathroom has cream-colored travertine tile flooring, walls painted ivory with white baseboards, and a white ceiling. The vanity is dark stained wood with stainless steel knobs on drawers and cupboard doors. The countertop and backsplash are gray-flecked white quartz with two rectangular vanity sinks. A contemporary stainless steel pump handle waterfall faucet is installed for each sink. A large rectangular mirror is hung horizontally above the vanity. Twin, four-light vanity lights with frosted shades are mounted above the mirror over each sink. A walk-in shower is located across from the vanity, behind a waist-high partition wall topped with a clear glass barrier. The doorless entry is at the far end of the shower. The shower walls are covered with light gray stone tiles, the size and shape of subway tile. A built-in bench has a black granite seating surface, identical to the surface of the ledge that tops the partition wall, and the base of the built-in niche in the shower wall. There is a large, frosted glass window in the shower that adds natural light to the room. An interior designer can add personal touches to the bathroom with plants, rugs and artwork. There are two doors in the bathroom, one hides the water closet where the toilet is located, and the other opens to a walk-in closet.
The staircase to the second floor has carpeted treads and risers, carved wooden newel posts and a wood railing, and ornate wrought iron balusters. There is a flexible space at the top of the stairs that has plush carpeting in a neutral shade, ivory-colored walls with white baseboards, and a white ceiling. A five-blade ceiling fan with a four-light attachment is mounted over the center of the room. Two small walls in a corner of the room are painted golden brown and enclose a storage closet behind white double doors. The wall at the far end of the room is painted golden brown and has three large windows overlooking the side yard that fill the room with light. There is ample space in the room for a sofa, armchairs, and a large screen tv, or desks, computers and bookcases, or whatever is needed for the area's use. With the help of an interior designer, this room could be converted to a family room, game room, homework area, or other use according to the preference of the owner.
There are three bedrooms and two bathrooms upstairs. All three secondary bedrooms have plush carpeting in a neutral shade, ivory-colored walls with white baseboards, white ceilings, and five-blade ceiling fans with light fixture attachments. There is a window in each bedroom, allowing natural light into the room. Each bedroom has a neutral color palette and is compatible with many interior design styles.
The first upstairs bathroom has cream-colored tile flooring, ivory walls with white baseboards, and a white ceiling. There is a flush mounted light fixture installed on the ceiling. The vanity is dark brown and has a cream-colored, flecked quartz backsplash and countertop with a rectangular vanity sink. The contemporary gooseneck faucet and handles are stainless steel. A rectangular mirror is hung horizontally above the vanity, and a three-light vanity light with frosted glass shades is mounted above the mirror. The toilet is between the vanity and the bathtub and has a wooden shelf above it to hold decorative accessories. The combination bathtub/shower has cream-colored stone tile walls with a clear glass sliding door. An interior designer might use small plants and layered textiles to create a personalized room.
The second upstairs bathroom has cream-colored stone tile flooring, ivory painted walls with white baseboards, and a white ceiling. The vanity is dark wood with a cream-colored, flecked quartz countertop that has a rectangular vanity sink. The stainless steel, gooseneck faucet has matching stainless steel handles. A large, rectangular mirror is hung horizontally above the vanity, and a three-light vanity light with frosted glass shades is mounted above the mirror. The bathtub/shower combination has cream-colored stone tile walls and a clear glass sliding door.
This house on Ember trail in the Houston neighborhood of Imperial Oaks has plenty of room for family and houseguests, and an open concept layout downstairs with easy access to a covered patio and backyard swimming pool, making it perfect for entertaining.