Houzz Tours
USA Houzz Tour: A Chic Texas Party House for Football Fans
A designer uses bright colours, lively patterns, layers of texture and bold artwork to elevate this Texan home’s design
These University of Texas alumni and longtime fans of the local Longhorns football team wanted a holiday home in Austin, USA, for home-game weekends and more. After purchasing a nearly-completed spec home that was within walking distance of one of Austin’s ‘happening’ neighbourhoods, the couple hired local firm Mark Ashby Design to undertake a renovation that would give the home a custom look. Spec homes are new builds usually finished in a way that will appeal to the most buyers, so they often feel like generic blank slates. The goal was to make this home feel anything but.
Making things even more challenging, the client wanted it “toothbrush-ready” by the start of football season, leaving interior designer Christina Simon of Mark Ashby Design just a few months to complete the renovation and fully outfit the home with furniture, lighting and accessories. She embraced the challenge and used her local connections to get custom pieces made in a hurry. She introduced layers of organic textures, bright colours, strong patterns and beautifully curated art to elevate the home with a high-end look that’s chic and playful. One jumping-off point her client had gave her was to work their alma mater’s signature colour, burnt orange, into the design.
Making things even more challenging, the client wanted it “toothbrush-ready” by the start of football season, leaving interior designer Christina Simon of Mark Ashby Design just a few months to complete the renovation and fully outfit the home with furniture, lighting and accessories. She embraced the challenge and used her local connections to get custom pieces made in a hurry. She introduced layers of organic textures, bright colours, strong patterns and beautifully curated art to elevate the home with a high-end look that’s chic and playful. One jumping-off point her client had gave her was to work their alma mater’s signature colour, burnt orange, into the design.
“I realised UT’s [University of Texas’] burnt orange could also apply to terracottas, peaches and shades seen in leather,” says Simon. The main part of the living room has a sectional sofa with a tufted leather ottoman she designed. She had the cushions made from soft, velvety fabrics, some with Turkish kilim-like patterns.
“We wanted the house to be colourful but also relaxing and refined at the same time,” says Simon. “Part of getting rid of the spec-house feel was using layers of textures. Textural, tactile elements we used throughout the house include leather, woven wall coverings, handmade ceramics and natural wood and stone.”
Simon also used a layered-rug strategy. “You can have a sisal rug cut to any size to create a boundary for any space, then layer smaller rugs on top of it,” she says. This allowed her to use colourful vintage rugs without worrying about their sizes. She sourced all of the rugs in the house from local business Black Sheep Unique.
“We wanted the house to be colourful but also relaxing and refined at the same time,” says Simon. “Part of getting rid of the spec-house feel was using layers of textures. Textural, tactile elements we used throughout the house include leather, woven wall coverings, handmade ceramics and natural wood and stone.”
Simon also used a layered-rug strategy. “You can have a sisal rug cut to any size to create a boundary for any space, then layer smaller rugs on top of it,” she says. This allowed her to use colourful vintage rugs without worrying about their sizes. She sourced all of the rugs in the house from local business Black Sheep Unique.
Simon and the couple worked with Alexis Armstrong of Armstrong Art Consulting, who curated the artwork. “Alexis has an amazing eye for art and interiors, and she helps collectors curate everything from up-and-coming artists to major players,” says Simon. After Simon discussed the vibe of the home and the colour and texture palette she was using, Armstrong made the art selections.
The wall sculpture is by Paul Villinski, who made the colourful birds out of LP records. Vinyl fans, don’t be upset. Villinski repurposes discarded materials in creating his work, such as butterflies made from aluminum cans thrown out in New York, USA. In this case, the records had been destroyed by Hurricane Katrina; he found them left behind, warped and caked in mud, then made something beautiful from them.
Thinking of redecorating or redesigning your home? Find an interior designer near you for expert advice
The wall sculpture is by Paul Villinski, who made the colourful birds out of LP records. Vinyl fans, don’t be upset. Villinski repurposes discarded materials in creating his work, such as butterflies made from aluminum cans thrown out in New York, USA. In this case, the records had been destroyed by Hurricane Katrina; he found them left behind, warped and caked in mud, then made something beautiful from them.
Thinking of redecorating or redesigning your home? Find an interior designer near you for expert advice
Armstrong also sourced this bold striped Ian Davenport artwork. It was the inspiration for the dining room and serves as a focal point.
Light furniture with subtle curves plays a supporting role to the bold stripes. “We wanted well-rounded corners and organic shapes to keep the relaxing feeling,” says Simon. A sculptural light fixture with caned fan-like pieces brings in a natural texture. “The pieces of this fixture move like a mobile,” she says.
Light furniture with subtle curves plays a supporting role to the bold stripes. “We wanted well-rounded corners and organic shapes to keep the relaxing feeling,” says Simon. A sculptural light fixture with caned fan-like pieces brings in a natural texture. “The pieces of this fixture move like a mobile,” she says.
Simon gave the kitchen a significant facelift. She removed the upper cabinets around the range hood and replaced them with floating shelves. “This is a second home so they didn’t need so many cabinets,” she says of her client. She added a zellige tile splashback all the way up to the ceiling on the range-hood wall.
Zellige tile is a handmade clay tile from Morocco. It has a wonderful natural look with lovely variations in colour and texture – no two tiles are exactly alike. Simon replaced the benchtops with quartzite, a natural stone, and added new pendant lights.
To the right had been a freestanding fridge and a desk area. “That desk was across from the bathroom and had no view. No-one was ever going to want to work there,” says Simon. Instead, she created a row of white oak cabinets and included separate refrigerator and freezer units concealed with matching panel fronts in white oak. The remaining cabinets on that wall serve as pantry storage.
Zellige tile is a handmade clay tile from Morocco. It has a wonderful natural look with lovely variations in colour and texture – no two tiles are exactly alike. Simon replaced the benchtops with quartzite, a natural stone, and added new pendant lights.
To the right had been a freestanding fridge and a desk area. “That desk was across from the bathroom and had no view. No-one was ever going to want to work there,” says Simon. Instead, she created a row of white oak cabinets and included separate refrigerator and freezer units concealed with matching panel fronts in white oak. The remaining cabinets on that wall serve as pantry storage.
The laundry is off the kitchen. “It was just kind of an ugly room with a stacked washer and dryer, cabinets and a mail-drop space,” says Simon. Knowing she could do better, she covered up the appliances with a colourful curtain in Schumacher fabric and created this bar next to it.
Simon replaced the upper cabinets with floating shelves and covered the splashback in a stunning encaustic cement tile from Clé. In some ways, the tight timeline helped her make quick decisions – luckily, the tile was in stock with no lead time. She also replaced the benchtop with basaltina (made from volcanic rock), painted the lower cabinetry to match the tiles and swapped in leather drawer pulls. This nook now makes it easy for guests to serve themselves.
Simon replaced the upper cabinets with floating shelves and covered the splashback in a stunning encaustic cement tile from Clé. In some ways, the tight timeline helped her make quick decisions – luckily, the tile was in stock with no lead time. She also replaced the benchtop with basaltina (made from volcanic rock), painted the lower cabinetry to match the tiles and swapped in leather drawer pulls. This nook now makes it easy for guests to serve themselves.
Another shade of orange pops up in the powder room. Simon had the vanity painted a peachy apricot hue. She added texture with a woven patterned wallpaper.
The designer also replaced the existing tapware, benchtop, mirror and lighting. The new benchtop is quartzite with a matching low splashback that accommodates the wall-mounted tapware, the handle of which has a wood inlay – another little added dose of texture.
The designer also replaced the existing tapware, benchtop, mirror and lighting. The new benchtop is quartzite with a matching low splashback that accommodates the wall-mounted tapware, the handle of which has a wood inlay – another little added dose of texture.
“The silkscreened woven wallpaper in this guest room was another one of the muses for this home’s design,” says Simon. “It’s textured, has some of the peachier tones that bring in the orange, and the scallops look like abstract Longhorns. The clients loved it.”
She played off one of the colours in the wallpaper by designing a custom bed upholstered in rust-coloured mohair. Hammered metal side tables and a pair of ceramic lamps add soft curves to the room.
Browse more beautiful bedrooms on Houzz
She played off one of the colours in the wallpaper by designing a custom bed upholstered in rust-coloured mohair. Hammered metal side tables and a pair of ceramic lamps add soft curves to the room.
Browse more beautiful bedrooms on Houzz
Armstrong found this cowgirl photograph by Anja Niemi.
The bathroom’s toilet and shower areas are shared by this and another guest bedroom, with separate vanity areas for each.
The bathroom’s toilet and shower areas are shared by this and another guest bedroom, with separate vanity areas for each.
The guest room on the other side of the bathroom has a similar colour scheme. A few splashes of burnt orange offset the neutral colours and natural woven textures. The wall covering is grasscloth. For the space above the bed, Armstrong chose a photo of the band U2 by photographer Colm Henry.
In their bedroom, the homeowners wanted a calming blue for the walls. “They love to spend time in the Bahamas, so that feeling came into play,” says Simon. “In many of the other rooms we brought in texture with grasscloth wall coverings. Here we gave them the blue walls and brought in a grasscloth feeling with the wall-to-wall window treatments, woven pendants and other furniture.”
Playing off the blue of the walls, Simon designed a custom headboard that extends across the entire wall, and upholstered it in a Kelly Wearstler fabric. She had power points for charging devices installed in the nightstands.
Armstrong sourced the mercury-glass sculptures by Jennifer and Thor Bueno over the bed. “She finds truly amazing artists,” says Simon. “Since this project, I’ve been working with her for other clients.”
Playing off the blue of the walls, Simon designed a custom headboard that extends across the entire wall, and upholstered it in a Kelly Wearstler fabric. She had power points for charging devices installed in the nightstands.
Armstrong sourced the mercury-glass sculptures by Jennifer and Thor Bueno over the bed. “She finds truly amazing artists,” says Simon. “Since this project, I’ve been working with her for other clients.”
The homeowners’ bathroom was fully renovated, but Simon kept the layout the same. She used a palette of marble mosaic penny-round tiles on the floor, a white oak vanity, quartzite vanity top and brass accents. For a luxe look, she also chose a large-format tile that extends all the way up the walls. “I had the [power] outlets installed in the medicine cabinets so that we wouldn’t have to break up the tiled walls with outlets,” she says.
After just a few months, the house was toothbrush-ready in time for football season. “I had never had this kind of quick turnaround on a project before,” says Simon. “But I said yes because I thought it sounded fun, I love a challenge and I wanted to learn how to do a quick reveal, especially because I am currently working on a major renovation of my own house.”
Your turn
What impresses you the most in this new home? Tell us in the Comments below. And while you’re at it, like this story, save the images and join the renovation conversation.
More
Read about more great global design here with this India Houzz Tour: An 80-Year-Old Apartment Gets a Fresh Facelift
After just a few months, the house was toothbrush-ready in time for football season. “I had never had this kind of quick turnaround on a project before,” says Simon. “But I said yes because I thought it sounded fun, I love a challenge and I wanted to learn how to do a quick reveal, especially because I am currently working on a major renovation of my own house.”
Your turn
What impresses you the most in this new home? Tell us in the Comments below. And while you’re at it, like this story, save the images and join the renovation conversation.
More
Read about more great global design here with this India Houzz Tour: An 80-Year-Old Apartment Gets a Fresh Facelift
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple
Location: Austin, USA
Size: 223 square metres with three bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms
Designer: Christina Simon of Mark Ashby Design
“The image of the diver wearing orange trunks was one of my muses for the house,” says Simon says. “I realised that it would be a lot of fun to play with orange’s opposite colour, blue.” The photo is by local photographer Clay Grier. The colours in this corner of the living room play off the colours in the landscape seen through the large windows.
Working on such a tight schedule meant there was no long lead time for ordering products. “I had to find vendors that would sell me floor models and still get a high-end look,” says Simon. She worked her local sources and had the furniture upholstered in-house to save time. The fabric on these chairs is by Kelly Wearstler; the fringed footstool brings in the burnt orange.