#OURHOME – MARIA BRANCO

Our second visit is with Maria Branco, our in-house Interior Designer.

We live in a 900 square foot bungalow on a 4,900 square foot lot in the heart of the Houston Heights. We moved here a little under two years ago and have always loved the neighborhood for its walkability, friendliness and proximity to restaurants, stores, jogging trails, library, and other attractions. Over the past weeks it’s been heartbreaking to witness many of the local shops shut down temporarily or indefinitely, but it’s also a reminder to support small businesses as much as possible during this time, and most importantly to keep doing so when things get back to normal.

Thankfully, we’re still able to go on walks every day and when we do, we frequently encounter other dog walkers, neighbors having cookouts, people working, reading or enjoying a happy hour on their porch, and their children playing outside. These small highlights provide a huge comfort and evoke a much-needed sense of normality. Unprecedented times like this really put things in perspective and make us more appreciative of what we have, we feel very lucky to live in a prime location that makes for a less difficult quarantine.

I found out I was pregnant eight months ago and soon decided that unless pregnancy complications occurred, I would work until my due date. I like to keep busy and not having any tasks and duties is, for me, way more stressful than working. Well, things don’t always go as planned and I couldn’t have guessed we’d all be rapidly impacted by a global pandemic that confines us to our homes.

Fortunately, a big part of my job can be done remotely but naturally things are slower since there isn’t as much going on in construction these days. I miss going on walkthroughs, visiting sites and showrooms but now, more than ever, is a time to trust our instinct and progress with experience acquired from the past. I’m still assisting agents and their clients via virtual visits or making suggestions based on photographs of listings – there’s less human interaction, however, thanks to advanced technologies we can keep a level of efficiency. I’m also using this time to read more books and magazines, some new and some old, to keep up with interior design’s cyclical nature. The fact that most suppliers have online stores is very beneficial, this way I can still order samples and products without leaving home.

We have a fully fenced front and back yard that’s always been paradise for our dog but has gradually become an outdoor haven for us as well. We live across the street from a high school, I’ve fretted about the noisy teenagers in the past but truth be told it’s much harder getting used to the silence. Our dog’s favorite spot of the house has always been this bench by the front window, nowadays I find myself sitting with him looking outside a couple of times a day too.

For the last month we’ve been grocery shopping online. We’ve always cooked a lot – it’s part of our Portuguese heritage – but used to dine out on weekends. We’re trying to maintain these habits but instead of eating at restaurants, we’ll have meals delivered. Some of our favorites are: Oporto, Coltivare, Cuchara and Rice Box.

A bright upside of spending this period at home has been the extra time to dedicate to baby stuff. The nursery’s ready! Her infant clothes are organized in little hangers and drawers by (monthly) age groups, all the new gear – from lounging and feeding to bathing and diapering – is neatly stored, and I feel like I’ve somehow mastered the maternity version of the KonMari method.

It’s necessary to stay in the know but for mental sanity I also need some distraction from the news. I’ve been listening to even more music lately, and I find records the perfect medium since it forces me to get up and switch vinyl sides frequently. Many of these records were purchased locally at Vinal Edge Records on 19th Street. Walking around the house is a very easy way to stay active. I’ve always found a certain charm in old houses, and this one was built in 1929. I like how it sounds to step on the surface of the original hardwood floors, I love the abundance of natural light, and our home is always filled with candle scents from Manready Mercantile. It’s been said that our senses unravel the meaning and source of creativity… Lately I’ve been discovering a new world inside.