Alta Vista
For this decorating-turned-renovation project, a new Austinite by way of California sought to merge their laid-back, Cali-cool lifestyle with their new eclectic Austin neighborhood. Truly mixing the past with the future, they also wanted to incorporate inherited family antiques and art into this blank-slate new construction home. What began as a small decorating project quickly evolved into an extensive remodel.
This once-white box home is a testament to the power of paint, wallpaper, and the right finishing touches. We first tackled a kitchen refresh by painting the cabinets and changing the hardware. We added lounge furniture in the dining area to make it feel more like a room to congregate in than a formal spot for stuffy parties. Bold botanical wallpapering in the powder room and bedroom vestibule brought the client’s love of nature to the forefront. The primary bathroom was completely transformed with a new freestanding bathtub on a custom teak platform with coordinating handmade tile in the shower. The room was completed with custom mirrors, antique runners, and brass sconces reminiscent of flower buds. We added graphic encaustic cement tile and a two-person outdoor daybed to expand the livable space to the outside patio.
The project’s most challenging and exciting part was the addition of a modern Malm fire drum in the living room. Our client missed the regular wood-burning fires they had in California, but building a chimney was not possible within the home’s constraints. The freestanding fireplace was perfect for the house and was made more special by a custom tile accent wall referencing textiles in the room. Now, Austin and California, the past and the future, all live harmoniously in this reimagined retreat.
