Designing Woman: Piney Point Village, Houston

Known nationally to TV audiences for her appearances on American Dream Builders, Nina Magon is happily ensconced in Piney Point Village, the crown jewel of Houston’s ultra-prestigious five Memorial Villages. The glamorous principal of Contour Interior Design chose the exclusive village (population 3,000) for both her home and her office and praises the locale’s convenience. “Piney Point Village is almost all residential, but it’s very central, 10 minutes from downtown, 10 minutes from most of the places I frequent and from every major freeway,” she says. With Houston’s world-class art, dining, fashion, and—most important to Magon—her personal trainer just a quick drive away, the designer finds one of the country’s most expensive zip codes imminently accessible. —by Drew Limsky Eye Candy MAD’s avent-garde, funky interiors “Named for the Madrid airport code, the tapas restaurant MAD is new,” Magon says, “and what is so interesting about it is that it’s designed by one of my favorites, Lázaro Rosa-Violán. It’s a super avantgarde, funky space, and I took my whole team there for design inspiration—it’s a mix of colors, patterns, and finishes. It’s amazing for the eye”—and the palate. Magon says the must-try dishes are the shrimp paella (“to die for”) and the cold liquid olives. 4444 Westheimer Rd., Suite C180, 281.888.2770 Tapas at MAD All in the Family With nearly 64,000 works, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston , which was designed by a team of illustrious architects including Mies van der Rohe, is one of the nation’s largest museums. Magon finds herself drawn to the contemporary offerings: “I’m a modernist, and they recently mounted a fashion photography show. I love what’s colorful, unique, and forward thinking.” As a mom, Magon also values the museum’s family programming, including Sunday art classes for kids. 1001 Bissonnet St., 713.639.7300 TV-Ready Chloe Dao boutique Magon’s go-to boutique is  Chloe Dao , owned by a fellow reality-TV personality. “I was on American Dream Builders to compete for the best interior designer, and Chloe Dao competed, too, but for Project Runway, which she won,” Magon recalls. “She opened this little boutique in Houston, and I love having personal interaction with the owner—if something doesn’t fit quite right, she will adjust it for you.” 6127 Kirby Dr., 713.807.1565 High Intensity To make those Chloe Dao creations look their best, Magon heads to the Post Oak Hotel to work with celebrity trainer Dose Khango. “They train all the local pro athletes, like the Houston Rockets,” Magon says. “They motivate you and push you to your highest level. I’ve been training with them for five months and would recommend them to anyone.” 1600 W. Loop South, 844.386.1600 Find your next home in Texas today.