THE KING OF KHAKI IS DEAD Interior designer Herbert Wells, who brightened up the heavily curtained homes of Houston’s upper crust with modern design, passed away just before Christmas, at the age of 86. The Connecticut native could only see out of one eye, but guided the design of homes with architects Frank Welch and Howard Barnstone, among others. Two more recent projects, completed with design partner, Jerry Jeanmard: The transformation of the Wiess House on the corner of Main St. and Sunset into a new President’s House for Rice University, and the renovation of the River Oaks Country Club. [Houston Chronicle; interview]