This couple comes by their love of the Spanish-Mexican aesthetic quite
naturally. Matt Keener
’s grandparents lived in a Spanish style house in, of all places, Minnesota. “I loved that place. Very fond memories of visiting there,” he says. Carolyn Keener grew up in McAllen, Texas, making frequent trips to
nearby Mexico to bargain in the markets.
So it’s fitting that the Keeners and their two sons, Zak and Maxx, and dog, William,
should reside in a home exquisitely adorned in their favorite earthy
Spanish-Mexican style. And the holidays are especially festive here, with the
home decked out in the culture
’s traditional, colorful flair.
“We just love that lifestyle. When you travel to Mexico, everything is very
earthy. It
’s all hand-made so you see a lot of tile, a lot of wood and a lot of stone. We
just think the culture, the people and the handiwork is amazing,
” says Matt who, with wife, Carolyn, opened up their beautifully decorated home
to last year
’s CASA Christmas Home Tour benefiting Child Advocates of Fort Bend.
Tour proceeds netted more than $230,000, providing a significant percentage of
the nonprofit agency
’s annual budget. With less than 5 percent going toward expenses, most of the
money goes directly toward helping children. The group is dedicated to
advocating on behalf of abused and neglected children in Fort Bend County
through the use of specially trained community volunteers and staff. They do so
through two nationally recognized programs: Court Appointed Special Advocates
and Children
’s Advocacy Center.
This year’s CASA Home Tour is set for December 11-12. The tour will feature six
disctinctive homes in First Colony, Lakes of Williams Ranch and Pecan Manor.
For more information check out the happenings section of this issue, visit
www.cafb.org or call 281-341-9955 ext. 5108.
Imagine arriving for a midnight tour, the house aglow in sparkling candlelight
with water spilling over a courtyard fountain, awash in a sea of poinsettias.
Sights and sounds of the holidays abound with Spanish guitarists and a live
choir heralding in the season. The public was enthralled by this and more as
they entered the Keener
’s home, a visual treat for young and old alike.
“It was so much fun to decorate!” says Carolyn who acted as designer of the project. Enchanted Gardens in
Richmond provided and set up the live greenery.
“We didn’t want to do this overwhelming Santa and reindeer theme. It’s not our style. But I think the final product really reflected our philosophies about the culture. It’s fun, it’s beautiful and it’s warm.”
The house itself is a beautiful backdrop for such holiday décor.
The 5,700-square-foot, U-shaped home, wrapped around a courtyard, has a unique
connection to the outdoors from every angle. The back of the home opens up to
Waters Lake, punctuated with four fountains, and boasts the best seat
Featuring the Homes, Communities, People,
Businesses, Professionals, and Lifestyles of
Fort Bend County and Sugar Land Texas Since 1987
