Interior designer Paloma Contreras gives us the hometown tour and shares some of Houston’s most sophisticated shopping spots.
Found is an incredibly chic shop with a nice mix of custom upholstery, art, and antiques, all put together in an inspiring way. I love it for Christopher Spitzmiller lamps and gifts like cocktail napkins by Hibiscus Linens.
For wardrobe staples and great of-the-moment pieces, Sid & Ann Mashburn is the place to go. The service there is always warm, and it’s set against a beautiful backdrop. I love the Ann Mashburn line as well as a French brand they carry called Carven.
Down the block is à bientôt, a store that’s like a candy shop for grown-up women. The owner, Betty Newton, has a great eye for accessories, especially bags and shoes.
Biscuit is a charming store that sells a gorgeous proprietary bedding collection along with stylish home goods and baby gifts.
The glossy, Dallas-based Forty Five Ten recently opened an outpost in the River Oaks District where you can find fabulous shoes and clothes, but I especially love their beauty counter, which is full of indie, cult brands.
Longoria Collection in Uptown Park is my go-to destination for high-end furniture, chic tabletop finds, and objets d’art from brands like Ralph Lauren and Kelly Wearstler.
Encompassing several buildings on one block, Kuhl-Linscomb is more of a lifestyle emporium than just a store. Often compared to New York’s ABC Home, it has everything from furniture and bedding to tabletop, children’s gifts, and apothecary.
Another Houston gem is Thompson + Hanson. Part nursery full of gorgeous plants, flowers, and containers; part café; and part lifestyle shop, it’s always filled with unique pieces, great gifts, and a few carefully culled fashion brands.
Best Shopping in Houston, The Editors’ Picks
- Don’t let the name fool you. Bering’s Hardware is full of the practical and the pretty, from Yeti coolers and traditional hardware-store supplies to Bernardaud and Herend china and Christolfe and Juliska crystal. They also have a wedding and baby registry. It’s a one-stop shop.
- Brown founder Jill Brown has been on the hunt for great pieces since she was a young girl, and her passion for antiques and special items has never waned. Just try to go in there and not come out with something—it’s a challenge we welcome. We particularly like all the options for lighting, from retro to refined.
- Floral designer Johnathan Andrew Sage did the most wonderful mantel how-to for Flower a few years ago, and every time we show it again on Instagram, it gets a lot of likes, which just goes to show that good design is long-lasting. From weddings to corporate events, Sage’s talents will ensure your florals are flawless.
- We love the selection of European antiques and high-quality reproduction furniture at Joyce Horn Antiques. The shop is always getting new shipments, and they’ll help you find whatever you are looking for. We also love the new B. Viz pillow collection.
By Kirk Reed Forrester | Photography by Max Burkhalter