Diane Cowen is an award-winning journalist who focuses on real estate and the city's architectural and design landscape. During her 40-year career, she worked at three newspapers, including the Houston Chronicle, where she was an editor and reporter for 24 years. Her work can also be found in Texas Monthly, River Oaks Lifestyle, and Memorial Lifestyle magazines, and she is the author of a 2013 cookbook, Sunday Dinners: Food, Family, and Faith from Our Favorite Pastors. She is a past president of the Society for Features Journalism, a national trade organization for journalists in newspaper features departments. A native of Indiana and a graduate of Purdue University, she lives in League City. Fun fact: She went to high school with Axl Rose (Bill Bailey) and Izzy Stradlin (Jeff Isbell) of Guns 'N' Roses.

Pour Decisions

Houston Homeowners Are Turning Their Wine Collections Into Showpieces

Climate-controlled walls, 550-bottle cellars, and cigar drawers—Houston’s in-home wine room trend is more ambitious than ever.

07/07/2026 By Diane Cowen

BEFORE AND AFTER

The Houston Designer Who Transformed a Blank Canvas Into Her Dream Home

New lighting, hardware, wallpaper, and a little paint make a big difference.

06/18/2026 By Diane Cowen

Home & Design

Houston Homeowners Are Turning Closets Into Luxury Dressing Rooms

Chandeliers, refrigerated drawers, Italian cabinetry, and space for cocktails—closets have become destinations in their own right.

04/30/2026 By Diane Cowen

Property Watch

An Investor Spent $800,000 Renovating This Houston Condo. Was It Worth It?

Italian cabinetry, Gaggenau appliances, and a closet that feels like a Tom Ford showroom.

04/17/2026 By Diane Cowen

Property Watch

This $2.2M Houston Home Has a Front-Row Seat to the 18th Hole

Designed by Marion Spiers, this 7,162-square-foot Bay Oaks estate sits on a golf course and features a French garden, pool, and a three-tier media room.

03/26/2026 By Diane Cowen

Home & Design

8 Ways to Make Your Houston Home Work Harder for You

Interior designers share tips on reimagining underused rooms, upgrading closets, and making every corner count.

03/16/2026 By Diane Cowen

Property Watch

For a Cool $1.6M, a Hurricane-Ready Galveston Beach Retreat

A 2,691-square-foot Pointe West property in Galveston pairs Gulf views, hurricane-ready construction, and resort-style amenities.

02/26/2026 By Diane Cowen

Healthy Home

A Tiki Island Waterfront Home Built for Health and Hurricane Resilience

Designed with wellness in mind, this dreamy waterfront home blends hurricane-ready architecture with health-conscious finishes.

02/17/2026 By Diane Cowen

Good Dogs, Great Design

Property Watch: Rescue Dogs Steal the Spotlight in This $5.7M Piney Point Home Listing

A Memorial Villages home pairs luxury living with animal advocacy, using rescue dogs to bring attention to both a listing and a local nonprofit.

01/28/2026 By Diane Cowen

Outdoor Living

Houston Backyards Are Getting a Rethink—and Function Is Leading the Way

Local landscape architects say climate stress, kids, and dogs are changing how outdoor spaces are designed—and why resilient, flexible gardens are winning out.

01/23/2026 By Diane Cowen

Hidden Luxury

Why Butler’s Pantries Are Back in Houston Homes

Designers explain how butler’s pantries add storage, style, and sanity to Houston kitchens built for entertaining.

12/30/2025 By Diane Cowen

Designing Community

How Houston’s Suburbs Are Redefining Neighborhood Life

Developers are reinventing the suburbs with trails, gardens, and porches that foster connection and make the sprawl feel like home.

12/19/2025 By Diane Cowen

Antique hunter’s paradise

Houston Designers’ Favorite Place to Go Antiquing? New Orleans.

Make it a vacation as you shop for French mirrors, Sicilian ceramics, and irresistible finds in the Crescent City.

12/08/2025 By Diane Cowen

Feel the Room

The Interior Design Trend Transforming Houston Restaurants and Homes

Local designers are using light, texture, and technology to build spaces that feel like another world.

11/25/2025 By Diane Cowen

A Place for All

The Ismaili Center Opens as Houston’s Newest Landmark

The nation’s first Ismaili Center opens in Houston—uniting art, faith, and design.

11/14/2025 By Diane Cowen

Hot on the Market

This Rare Midcentury Modern Houston Gem by MacKie & Kamrath Could Spark a Bidding War

A Meadowcreek Village home by Houston’s iconic architects is listed for just $450,000—an almost unheard-of price for their work.

09/19/2025 By Diane Cowen

Time to Play

Move Over, Man Caves. In Houston, It’s All About the Adult Playroom

From mahjong tables to golf simulators, Houston homeowners are reimagining their play spaces.

09/04/2025 By Diane Cowen

Look Up

Houston Designers Say the Ceiling Is Your Room’s 'Fifth Wall'—Here’s How to Style It

Houston interior pros reveal how to transform your ceiling from an afterthought to a design centerpiece.

08/01/2025 By Diane Cowen

Fun in the Sun

The Best Pool and Patio Trends to Entertain in Summery Style

From tech that keeps your pool the perfect temp to patio furniture that won’t go brittle under the sun, there’s plenty of options to welcome guests in comfort.

06/25/2025 By Diane Cowen

House Party

The Home Bar Has Made a Comeback in a Post-Pandemic World

In-house lounges are a place to entertain or just wind down.

05/28/2025 By Diane Cowen