Brian Laurence Stringer

Brian Laurence Stringer
1937-2016
Brian Laurence Stringer, one of Houston's premier interior designers and antique dealers, died on December 30, 2016 in Houston, Texas. Brian was born March 29, 1937 to Olive Coleman and Laurence Stringer in Coventry, England. One of four brothers, Brian survived the Axis bombings of England during WWII before the family moved to Australia where he spent his adolescence and young adulthood. He was a member of the artillery unit of the Australian Army.
At the age of 20, Brian and his family immigrated to the United States and established their home in Washington, DC. He enlisted in the Air Force Reserves, as a radio officer, and was stationed in Georgia, Mississippi and San Antonio before returning to Washington, DC for the remainder of his service. Following an honorable discharge, Brian attended the American Institute of Interior Design in DC, before moving back to San Antonio to work for Mildred English, a leading interior designer and one of Brian's mentors. As Brian was establishing himself in the design world, he met and married Jessica Schulte in 1972. The couple moved to Corpus Christi, where Brian worked for Norman Foster, ASID. Their daughter, Aimee Lauren, was born in 1973 and the couple returned to San Antonio a few years later, where Brian opened his own business, Brian Stringer Antiques, which became one of the most respected design studios and antique stores in the Southwest.
Brian transcended clients' expectations and with success at hand, Brian moved the headquarters of Brian Stringer Antiques to Houston in 1981. Brian was a true advocate of British antiques, specializing in oak and pine, and eventually mahogany. Following a divorce from his first wife, in 1985 he married Kathleen Abel in a small country wedding in Nucort, France. Brian grew his business by incorporating reproductions from Italy, Spain, Sweden, and England, as well as custom designs for clients, and continued to follow his passion of buying antiques, his true love.
In addition to their home in the Montrose area of Houston, Brian and Kathi summered at their chateau in St. Antoine, France, located in the Gers region of the Midi-Pyrenees, a stop on the pilgrimage, Camino de Santiago. Brian loved nothing more than hosting friends on the chateau's stone terrace, while holding court by telling jokes, stories and tales from his many colorful adventures. He had an insatiable desire to learn, the gift of a precise, photographic memory and a passion for history, films and literature. Brian will be remembered for his impeccable eye for style and integrity of architectural vision.
Brian is preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his loving wife, Kathleen, his daughter Aimee Olinghouse (Tate), three grandchildren, Lauren and Mitchell Berry and Beck Olinghouse of Little Rock, AR. He is also survived by his brothers, Don of Melbourne, Australia, and Paul (Cara) and Roger of the Washington DC area.
Friends are cordially invited to gather with the family and share remembrances of Brian during a reception to be held from two o'clock in the afternoon until five o'clock with a service beginning at three on Saturday, January 21, 2017 at the Bradshaw-Carter Home, 1734 West Alabama in Houston.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the National Alliance of Mental Illness at www.nami.org or to the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation at www.bbrfoundation.org .