Rotan Drive
This client came to us to reimagine the interior of their Southwest Austin home. They’d spent many years raising a family here and were no strangers to an interior design project. The couple decided to reassess their space and knew it was time to bring in the professionals.
Our Austin interior designers’ first task was reenvisioning the space’s function. Where better to start than the front door? The entry was undefined and didn’t invite visitors to move into the home. We created a designated landing by closing in the dining room passage and adding obscured glass pocket doors to the music room, allowing for privacy and light. With the interior entry openings to the left and right adjusted, we moved on to creating a more integrated passage down the bedroom hallway. The opening to the living room and kitchen spaces were arched. Once the openings off the entry hall were narrowed, we had a full entry room that created a welcoming and bright space to greet folks. We clad the walls and ceiling in poplar and painted it a pale green, which became the neutral color for all the trim in the secondary areas of the home.
Next came the aesthetics to complement the home’s improved flow. The client loved wood, warmth, and character. So we followed suit to bring old-world charm to the space in a contemporary way.
Inside the music room, we applied a recommissioned Morris and Co. wallpaper, new lighting layout, color scheme, and cork floors for sound absorption and comfort beneath the feet. For the dining room, we designed a custom table and area rug with new dining chairs for comfortable family gatherings. A Noguchi light sculpture was placed to fill the room with a soft glowing light. Moving into the family room, a new custom built-in wall was added to store games, puzzles, and books, which the family enjoys together. In the living room, we clad the walls in stained oak paneling and added new sconces, tile, and a soapstone fireplace surround.
We completely redesigned the adjacent kitchen and breakfast areas. Here, we wanted a contrasting wood-stained cabinet to set itself off the stained paneling in a meaningful way. An elaborate coffee station, wine fridge, and induction cooktop were added for this family that prioritized cooking. We designed a custom kitchen island that features a practical soapstone and butcher block top as well as integrated banquette seating for the breakfast nook. A pair of custom swivel chairs were added to take advantage of the backyard greenbelt view.
The clients resided in this home for many years. So the goal was to make it feel warm and lived-in, not completely new and unfamiliar. We rebuilt and reconfigured vintage pieces, including a sofa with a chrome base, and relied on local resources for new furnishings that suited the space, feeling as if they’d always been here.
