Article by Areebah Haider, GHBA Goverment Affairs Intern
Alair Homes, known for building elegant custom homes and renovations in the Houston area, is building eight intricate dollhouses to be sold at the silent auction at the Le Petit Maison Gala, celebrating interior design and raising money for Family Houston.
The miniature mansions were designed by the renowned architecture firm Reagan & André (R&A) and built by Alair Homes, with interior design carried out by eight different interior designers, featuring precise, laser-cut replicas of real homes. This project’s interior designers are Alexandra Killion, Amy Kummer, Avery Cox, Courtney Barton, Elizabeth Garrett DeWitt, Jean Liu, Jennifer Barron, Kristen Leigh Steen and Lauren Wills Grover. Alair’s participation in this project stems from their desire to make a difference in the community, building on their tagline “Living Better Starts Here.”
“We enjoy building these dollhouses for the Le Petit Maison Gala because we are able to bring the passion of what we do every day to the gala, we get to collaborate with such amazing design firms, and most importantly we can positively impact the charity the gala benefits every year,” Nick Spector, owner and partner of Alair Homes said. “It is not just about the houses; it is about the people.”
Alair Homes, led by Spector and Chris Bolio, first got involved with the Le Petit Maison Gala last year when they were asked to assist in finalizing the construction of the dollhouses following the architect and designers’ detailed plans. With only a week to finalize the architectural plans last year, the project required significant time, creativity and dedication from the entire team. Last year, the gala raised more than $235,000 for A Shelter for Cancer Families.
This year, the eight designer dream houses will be auctioned December 4 at the ZaZa Hotel in the Museum District, with all proceeds benefiting Family Houston, a nonprofit organization that provides counseling, financial and employment coaching and other services to people throughout the greater Houston area to help strengthen families and create a healthier, more stable community.