At Bright Springtime Schmooze in the Shadow of Rising Luxury Tower, Dueñas Feted as Ambassador

At Bright Springtime Schmooze in the Shadow of Rising Luxury Tower, Dueñas Feted as Ambassador

Javier Loya, Llucinda, Loya, Nina Magon and Adrian Duenas

SWELLS FROM THE design community and social set merged on the grounds of DC Partners’ rising, architecturally splendid The Allen project to announce Adrián Dueñas, CEO of Houston’s BeDESIGN European furniture and design house, as the brand ambassador for the Residences at The Allen. Guests toasted the guest of honor at a cocktail reception at the onsite sales gallery designed by BeDESIGN.


“We began working with BeDESIGN when they designed the interiors for our sales gallery and their understanding of our vision and their dedication to delivering a luxury experience was completely in line with what the Residences at The Allen offers,” said CEO of DC Partners Roberto Contreras in a statement. “So much so, Adrián and Marcelo purchased a home in the building. Adrian’s keen eye for style, Italian design and furnishings, and his diverse connections with people from all over the world make him a natural ambassador for all that the Residences at The Allen have to offer.”

Guests for the announcement reception included Sverre and Carrie Brandsberg-Dahl, Claudia Contreras, Roberto Contreras IV, glam interior designer Lucinda Loya and her husband Javier, whose Veneno Tequila provided cocktails for the evening.

The Residences at The Allen features 99 luxury condominiums atop Houston’s first Thompson Hotel, a vast project that passersby on Allen Parkway have seen rising for some time. Floorplans consist of one-bedroom, two-bedroom and three-bedroom condos, as well as spectacular penthouses of up to 10,000 square feet with never-before-seen views of Downtown, Buffalo Bayou and the rest of the city. Residents will share services with guests of the hotel, including valet and concierge, room service, a lavish spa, chic pool deck and signature restaurants.

Roberto Contreras, Claudia Contreras and Roberto Contreras IV

Josh and Trisha Weisman

Sverre and Carrie Brandsberg-Dahl, Silva and Mauro Ceotto

Paolo and Sam Katz

Duyen Huynh and Marc Nguyen

Roz and Alan Pactor

Eddie Massa, Stephanie Wilcox, Jentry Kelley and Shawn Lynch

“The helistop will be available to hotel guests and residents and is engineered to accommodate drone deliveries and transportation of the future,” notes a rep for the property.

The Residences at the Allen is expected to open next year. It’s currently 60 percent sold, DC said.

“It means a lot to be partnering with one of, if not the strongest, development projects in the city,” said Adrián Dueñas. “To have an opportunity to represent this company with their portfolio is a one-of-a-kind opportunity. DC Partners believes in me and my brand, and my brand believes in the project. In turn, that means I can go anywhere in the world and talk about the project, and my personal home, with the same passion I have about my brand. I am very proud to be a part of it.”

Business+Innovation
Exclusive Furniture’s Sam Zavary Credits Luck, Hard Work and ‘Mom’s Prayers’ for His Success

How did you get to where you are today? I am a firm believer that hard work and having dreams that you strive to achieve will motivate and inspire people to achieve their potential. Working hard, dreaming, and making sure to take advantage of every opportunity is something I learned at a young age. I credit God and God’s grace firstly, but I know that success is a direct result of hard work. I tell my podcast subscribers and followers to continue setting goals, evolving, improving, and planning, and I practice what I preach. I am proud to have started my business in the fastest growing major city in the United States, and I attribute a lot of the success of Exclusive Furniture to the family culture we create in the best city — Houston’s diversity, philanthropy, and innovation have helped me achieve a lot of the milestones in the furniture business (and the “low prices”) you see today!

Keep Reading Show less

Rachel Gardner with her flower necklaces and, at left, Calla Lilly necklace

ON SATURDAY JULY 27, Foltz Gallery presents Endless Summer, a lively, playful exhibit of works by a multi-generational group of 28 emerging and established Texas-based artists. Taking its name from the 1974 Beach Boys double-album, which compiled the group’s early 1960s hit singles, the show is a visual “mixtape” of colorful paintings, prints, photographs, wall-based installations, ceramics and sculptures, installed lovingly throughout Foltz’s spacious and sunlit galleries. Among the works in Endless Summer are several examples of handmade “sculptural jewelry” by artist Rachel Gardner — a series of wearable wildflowers and fruits, including olives and strawberries.

Keep Reading Show less
Art + Entertainment

Aesha Scott, Jack Vielhauer, Courtney Scott

AFTERNOON SHOWERS DIDN'T stop a gorgeous gaggle of yo-pros and creatives from filling downtown’s Z on 23 rooftop lounge to meet Aesha Scott, the standout star of Bravo’s Below Deck reality show.

Keep Reading Show less
Parties