Fort Bend Lifestyles & Homes Magazine Aug 2009: 1 The Clean-lined Home of Bill & Billie Fargo

Colorful, lush gardens designed by Helen Grivich surround the Fargos’ house.
• Homeowners Bill and Billie Fargo and their adorable Westie puppy, Henry, enjoy a swing on their back porch. • Fine antiques combine with modern pieces for an eclectic look in the front hallway. The chair near the front door is fondly dubbed the JFK chair since it was once used in filmmaker Oliver Stone ’s movie of the same name. The table to the left was purchased from former Texas Governor John Connally ’s auction years ago. Modern art lining the staircase is by Dallas artist Christopher Martin.

Billie Fargo recalls a conversation with the designer of her former home, a French style dwelling with Old World flair. “She told us that we would have to be able to live with a lot of print in a house like that. And we did for many years. Then we just felt like we wanted to exfoliate our life! We wanted the prints to go away, the lines to get cleaner, less clutter on the tables. And we ’d really grown to love contemporary art. So something had to change.”

Something did. Billie and her husband, Bill, now live in a beautifully streamlined, smaller home, designed by noted Houston architect Anthony Frederick. Its elegance lies in the absence of excessive ornamentation. Clean lines provide backdrop for an eclectic mix of furnishings and contemporary art. Open spaces accommodate large family gatherings. To the Fargos, it ’s the perfect fit.

“Oh my gosh, we just love this place!” exudes Billie, who recruited her friend of 15 years, Andrea Garrity, as interior designer.

The couple sold their house to move closer to family. Downsizing appealed to them but their initial move to a 6,500-square-foot house in the community