This Small Houston Rental Is Best Described as a “Maximalist Playhouse”

Adrienne Breaux
·5-min read
Men sitting in brown maximalist living room space with items on bookshelves
Brown entryway with various items and art
Men sitting on orange couch in brown maximalist space
Colorful items on shelves on brown wall
Black cat in maximalist space by colorful couches and plants
Men sitting in maximalist living room with colorful couches
Vintage chair next to plants and big window
Orange cat laying next to deck
Men standing in brown maximalist multi-use space
White kitchen space with kitchenware and items on walls
Brown bedroom space with art on walls
Brown space with neon art and items on furniture
Yellow space with white windows
Yellow space with items on wall and plants
Yellow space with plants and various items on walls
Man standing in yellow space with items on wall and various pillows on floral couch
Brown bathroom with white outlines and art on walls

ABOUT THIS TOUR

HOME TYPE: Apartment

LOCATION: Montrose, Houston, Texas

STYLE: Colorful, Eclectic, Maximalist

BEDROOMS: 2

SQUARE FEET: 950

Zachary Horst is a graphic designer, letterer, illustrator, and creative director and has been renting this 950-square-foot, two-bedroom apartment in Houston’s Montrose area with their partner, Taylor Kidd, for two years. They share the home with Stu the Cat (the orange cutie) and Louie the Cat (the black sweetie).

Man standing in maximalist space with colorful couches

“We found this apartment through a Realtor,” Zach begins. “It is in a historic mid-century building built in 1965, called Parc V and has a sister building called Part IV, built in 1964. There is no Park I, II, or III!”

Men standing in bedroom with brown and floral decor

“Each unit in the building has a floor-level window in each bedroom underneath the regular windows so that pets can look outside! We love our view of downtown Houston,” Zach continues.

Two cats standing by colorful couches in living room

Zach describes the apartment before the couple moved in as “[i]t wasn’t anything special, lots of mirrors that we’ve had to make work with our interior design!”

Man sitting in multi-use space with pink flowers and neon sign

Asked to describe the home’s looks and vibes now that the couple has put their stamp on the place, Zach shares a few different possible monikers. “Maximalist playhouse? Pop art paradise? Eclectic energy? We collect things that are the wrong size, so if that tells you anything …”

Resources

Orange cat on blue couch in maximalist living room

LIVING ROOM

  • Bric Sofa & Ottoman — Nicoline

  • Ripple Bench by Laurinda Spear for Brayton International

  • Ivar Shelving from IKEA

  • Vintage Red Boby — Joe Colombo

  • “MENU” sign painting — Mystic Blue Signs in New Orleans

  • Julian’s Neon — from shuttered hair salon in Austin

  • Vintage Laminate T-Table with Nesting Stools

  • “Moms Need Food Stamps for Their Children” Art

  • Vintage Asparagus-ware

  • Calice — Ettore Sottsass

Items along brown wall

DINING ROOM

  • Red Dining Chairs from Crate & Barrel but have been discontinued

  • Milton Glaser — Column with Rings

Various items in maximalist space

BEDROOM

  • Bed — West Elm

  • Vintage Laminate Plinths

  • Knockoff George Nelson Bench

  • Vintage Dresser

  • Hay Sconces

  • Forged Cy Twombly “Say Goodbye Cattalus to the Shores of Asia Minor”

  • Vintage Rug

Thanks, Zachary and Taylor!

This tour’s responses and photos were edited for length/size and clarity.

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Further Reading

We Tested (and Rated!) All the Living Room Seating at Burrow to Determine the Best for Every Space and Need

We Tested (and Rated!) All the Sofas at Ashley — Here Are the Best to Suit Your Style and Space

Everything You’ve Ever Wanted To Know About Article’s DTC Furniture

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