In the summer of 2017, it was a treat to get to create a kitchen garden for Houston Designer, Chandos Dodson.

Working with Chandos was such a treat as she and her husband were eager to create a space they could enjoy outdoors with their children and also use to cook delicious dishes on the outdoor grill.

Creating a Kitchen Garden for a Houston Designer Was Such a Fun Collaboration

Chandos is the Owner of Chandos Interiors and creates some of the most beautiful spaces. So, it was so much fun to collaborate and talk through the garden design with her as she was up for almost anything as long as it was productive and beautiful.

Chandos and I came together to select a border garden that would be at two different heights-1 foot tall for the herb gardens and 2’ tall for the vegetable garden that would grow more of the annual plants like tomatoes, peppers and more.

Chandos Dodson Epley is an Interior Designer in Houston

Chandos Dodson Epley is an award-winning interior designer in Houston, TX and founded Chandos Interiors in 2000. Having honed her craft at several top AD100 firms in New York City, she returned to Houston to realize her vision for high-end homes that embody her signature ‘effortless elegance’ from start to finish.

Chandos’ innate sense of what works is born out of a childhood steeped in art and antiques, with summers spent trawling antique fairs in the UK and art studies completed in Italy. A lifelong learner of time and place, her enviable portfolio is full of modern interiors that exude history and meaning through a unique blend of texture, color, rhythm and scale.

Chandos Interiors Specializes in Sophisticated Interiors in Houston

Chandos Interiors is known for effortless elegance that blends modern restraint with a hint of the past. For over 20 years, we’ve delivered award-winning projects our clients call home.

Chandos believes that busy lives need serene spaces to retreat to. That’s why they specialize in sophisticated interiors with good bones and classic details that speak to what you love.

Art is the anchor in Chandos Dodson’s interiors, setting the tone for the rest of the home. Their extensive network and knowledge of the art market helps you make a meaningful investment with clarity and certainty. Whether you’re an established or emerging collector, our art expertise helps you increase the personal and financial value of your home, ensuring a unique expression of your taste and personality.

Chandos is the Founder of C2 Art Advisors

In 2011 Chandos founded C2 Art Advisors to guide clients through the process of buying, selling and living with art. An alumna of the University of Texas School of Architecture, Chandos is a member of the Design Leadership Network (DLN) and the Institute of Classic Architecture & Art (ICAA).

Chandos Interiors Has Been Recognized with Nationwide Awards

With a wide range of projects to their name, from sprawling ranch estates to mountain-side retreats as well as contemporary urban abodes, Chandos Dodson has earned our reputation as one of Houston’s top interior design firms working with the most discerning clients across America. 

Their accomplishments have been recognized with awards and accolades in regional and national media, including House Beautiful, Luxe Interiors and Southern Living.

Chandos Interiors Uses a Top Down Approach to Decorating

As architects, designers, art advisors and project managers, Chandos Interiors navigate the entire process from ground-up construction to the finishing touches. Their top-down approach to decorating considers how every element contributes to a balanced whole; because it’s the details that matter most. From materials and millwork to art and lighting, they edit and execute with pace and precision, ensuring the utmost comfort for generations to come.

Chandos Dodson’ Vegetable Garden in the Kitchen Garden Revival Book

See the Vegetable Garden of Chandos Dodson in Kitchen Garden Revival

As we took photos for Kitchen Garden Revival, some of our favorite shots were from this garden belonging to Chandos and Ike.

You can see this garden pictured throughout the book Kitchen Garden Revival with photos by renowned photographer Eric Kelley.

Herbs, Vegetables, and Greens Grow in the Garden of Chandos Dodson

The less than 100 square feet of gardening space adds up to big harvests.

Chandos’ garden produces a year round supply of herbs, lots of greens and seasonal harvests of beans, tomatoes, cucumbers.

It’s so fun to know that someone who creates so much beauty in Houston is also committed to growing beauty right outside her backdoor too.

Chandos’ Garden Also Grows Milkweed and Food Sources for Bees and Butterflies

Planted inside Chandos’ herb garden, we included milkweed and flowering herbs like African Blue Basil to be certain that Chandos’ garden isn’t just feeding her and her family but also supplying food for the bees and butterflies too.

This tropical milkweed literally grows like a weed in the Houston garden and does need to be cut back every winter to encourage the monarchs to head further south in their migratory path.

But for the rest of the year, this milkweed produces food for monarchs, making it possible for these magical butterflies to lay eggs and continue to grow even in the middle of the city.

Herb Gardens Don’t Need to Be as Tall as Vegetable Garden Beds

The lower height of the herb garden bed works well because herbs’ roots are more shallow than those of annual and fruiting vegetable plants. In fact, most herbs will grow well in a raised bed that’s just 6 to 12'“ tall, just as Chandos’ does here.

Nearly all these herbs are perennials and will grow throughout the year, slowing down in the winter and flowering in the summer but producing lots of harvests month after month in the Houston garden.

Cattle Panel Was Used for the Trellises in Chandos’ Kitchen Garden

In order to make the most of every edge of Chandos’ kitchen garden, we used cattle panel to line the fence along the vegetable garden. This panel allows for easy trellising of vining plants like peas in the winter and tomatoes and cucumbers in the spring and fall.

This trellis is meant to be outdoors and holds up well in Houston’s garden. Plus, the cattle panel provides loads of spots where the plants’ vines can be tucked in and out of the wiring, providing lots of support for all of that growth.

Rooted Garden Loves Working with Chandos Dodson

Over the years, it’s been such a treat to get to meet so many of Houston’s great business owners, designers and influencers.

Our mission is to bring back the kitchen garden to Houston and each time we get to work with someone as influential as Chandos, we’re so grateful.

Be sure to check out the work of Chandos Interiors and book a consult with us this season to get started on your own vegetable garden in Houston soon.