What a joy and honor it was to renovate one of Houston’s most treasured landmarks, the La Colombe d’Or Mansion. Built in 1923 and originally named the Fondren Mansion, this family home turned boutique hotel has been a fixture of Montrose Boulevard for nearly a century. Breathing new life into this historic building took surgical precision, extraordinary collaboration, and a whole lot of hard work and dedication. And we loved every second of it!
Listed below, we’ve shared the scope that our team accomplished as part of this extensive historic renovation and addition. And finally, please enjoy some professional photography of the beautifully restored La Colombe d’Or Mansion!
Downstairs:
- Gutted and expanded original kitchen
- Installed all new commercial-grade kitchen equipment and appliances, including a walk-in cooler
- Opened up north side of the building to convert the original porte cochere into public restrooms
- Added on to the existing bar space to create additional indoor and outdoor seating and outdoor cigar lounge
- Installed new custom-made wood windows at two of the dining rooms (previously porches) that were made to match the original historic styling
- Restored original trim work and paneling and seamlessly patched in new trim throughout
- Restored plaster moldings in dining rooms and foyer
- Restored and refinished original hardwood floors and bi-fold French doors
- Refinished or replaced all interior door hardware
Upstairs:
- Gutted all bathrooms and installed new insulation, plumbing, and finishes
- Restored all finishes in original sleeping porches
- Converted upstairs office space to a “Munchie Zone” and sitting area with balcony and stairway leading down to the cigar lounge and fire pit
- Restored and extended the original oak paneling and handrails along the Upstairs Gallery
Systems/Mechanicals:
- Installed fire sprinkler system
- Installed all new electrical, HVAC, and plumbing systems
- Cleaned out and reutilized the basement for HVAC equipment, ductwork, and storage
- Relocated the electrical service to the building and built out a new mechanical yard to house the new hot water heaters and mechanical equipment
- Added audio and video distribution system for the dining spaces, bar, and guest suites
- Installed lighting control system for restaurant management to control
- Repaired original Ludowici Terracotta tile roof
- Sourced brick to closely match the original at all the new addition areas
- Restored much of the aging cost stone detailing
- Restored original operable bedroom windows for egress
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