Carlton Church, 1st in a series

arranged somewhat chronologically….

It all began with a funky house on Morningside that had enough natural light to convince me it could be a home for my young family settling here in San Antonio, after 9 moves in 13 years.  I had been influenced by the urban-ness of Chicago, the tropical Latino beat of Venezuela, and the old world sophistication of Madrid; but the move to Texas came on the heels of a second stint in Miami, where overt hipness was emerging in architecture there.  The collision of postmodern design with the influences of euro-Latino modernism had been pressed on me.  I needed a home in the old neighborhood that would allow me to transition my design sensibilities, once more.  It could not be too traditional, but it could not be too eclectic either.

Our Realtor presented local contractor, Carlton Church, to us one fall afternoon.  He looked so different from the builder/contractors I had been exposed to in the urban areas we came from-he wore boots, jeans, a white starched shirt, and drove a work-type truck.  He was obviously not a “promoter-type” builder like the ones I had come into contact with in the other areas.  I liked him right away, and I knew to trust his judgment.

He was so trusting of me, and as we worked together to remodel and renovate our modest family home, he gave me genuine compliments for the way I selected and documented the work he and his crew had to do.  As the project came to a close, he told me that he thought I had an especially good eye for interior construction and a practical knowledge of how to budget; and he suggested we try to do a speculative project or two together.  He also led me to a solid interior design project in the historic area of the City where I met the two architects who became my colleagues and landlords for the next several years.

Carlton was a master builder, and he had a love of the authentic materials native to our area.  He loved to see things be put back together as they were intended to be.  I do not think he would have approved of all the mac-mansions built in this area the past few years.  He was a man of integrity who loved people; he treated us all like we were something special.  Not only did he open the first doors to me professionally here in my new city, he taught me to trust my instincts about design.

I can only hope he is looking down on us now, knowing we were all made better by his guidance, friendship, and solid encouragement!  I know he would love seeing a totally sustainable home being built in his old Alamo Height neighborhood today.  He was thinking that direction long before it became fashionable.  Bless Him.

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