By: Jaqueline Gonzalez Photos by: Jason Page
When work is done, there’s one destination that people seek – home. For Sandrine Mazet, home is not only a place of refuge, but a place that reflects her personality, taste, and style. Using culture and travel destinations as an inspiration for the interior design of her house, she expresses the lifestyle factors that make her personality, and home, unique.
br
Built in 1947 and formerly owned by an architect, the mid-century style home, located in the Lindale Park subdivision, was structurally attractive for an art and history buff. The open floor plan combines modern and vintage styles to represent an aesthetically pleasing and comfortable home. To achieve her desired effect, she believes arranging furniture, dressed in earth tones and occasional pops of color, adds a burst of personality to the space. As homage to her upbringing, Mazet holds fast to the “no television in the living room” rule. Good conversation and quality time are at the root of the home’s heart.
br
Hailing from Paris, France, she’s quite the well-traveled soul, with trinkets acquired from cherished places and family added to her decor. Decorative pieces such as rugs, tapestries, wall accents, and upcycled furniture that are directly linked to her cultural background and travel locations make it feel more like home. A few pieces made by her grandfather also add a nostalgic vibe.
br
Of the many interesting, conversation-starting pieces in her home, Mazet points out that “everything has a story or a memory linked to it.” For example, a simple pottery vase was made by a former student and resonates with her personality, making it the perfect addition.
br
The mid-century home is also adorned with a diverse collection of mixed media. Textured rugs and a combination of colors and prints give the living room a touch of personality without overpowering the earthy tones. White accent pillows with multi-colored polka dots make a couch pop, while a striped rug provides a friendly echo of color while allowing contrasting prints to mix well.
br
Adequate lighting adds the perfect finishing touch to any room. Mazet states, “You can have the most beautiful room with lighting, but lamps and side lighting add warmth to the house.” Lamps in varying shapes, styles, and sizes are displayed throughout the home. Each one adds a balance to the vintage, historical, and artistic value of every room.
br
A lover of culture, Mazet adorns her walls with bookcases to showcase an impressive collection of worldly literature of all genres and time periods. Although her ideal library would consist of a floor-to-ceiling display, she compromised with sleek bookcases consisting of clean lines and glass shelves, allowing the literature to take center stage.
br
Although she loves all art, she is partial to local art. Paintings from local artists, in Corpus Christi and various travel locations, are peppered throughout her home.
br
The sun room, located directly outside the living room, provides a warm, relaxing haven after a long day. The natural light emanating from the tall windows makes the area feel open and inviting, while also providing ample light for reading, relaxing, or listening to music. In order to maximize benefit from the large windows, Mazet placed her curtain rods low in the window frame to allow a non-restricted entrance to embrace the lighting changes throughout the day. Shelves with records, a vintage record player, and chairs transform part of the sun room space into a music den, allowing for the ultimate area of Zen.
br
In contrast to the remainder of the home, her bedroom and office both exude a softer, quiet aesthetic. Mazet opted for a tranquil vibe with muted shades of gray and white, with minimal furniture and decorative pieces. Posters from exhibits and films she’s attended over the years adorn the walls, adding a touch of her love of the arts to the neutral tones in the bedroom.
br
Her office displays a lime green sofa that sits low to the ground, providing a vibrant contrast to the white walls. The curtains are wider and higher than most American-styled curtains, reflecting a nod to her home in France. The real eye-catching piece in the office sits in the form of a large unfinished wood desk, measuring at 3 meters by 3 meters. The desk was made for her by a friend during her time in New York, and holds the same measurements as the large picture window in the loft she lived in, allowing her to have the perfect view of the city as she worked. A tapestry from Cameroon connects the office to the cultural vibe of her home.
br
Although a challenge, Mazet mastered the art of storytelling through memorabilia, décor, and art, making her home a wonderful place to live.
br