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FROM THE EDITOR As another year comes to a close, I am so thankful for the designers, architects and builders who have allowed me to feature their projects. It’s been an honor to showcase their many talents throughout the year, and this issue is no exception. It’s always a pleasure to feature a Winn Wittman home. This time around, his thoughtful mix of material selections and undeniably cool design elements all came to rest in a home and on a lot that was deemed impossible to build on. Wittman describes his design as mid-century for any century. Architect John Hathaway is featured for his design of a “transitional French” home that amazes with every opening of a door. With an interesting layout that includes a central courtyard that allows for entrances to different rooms in the house, and design finishes that are both rustic and luxurious, this home meets Hathaway’s goal of blending the old world with the new. Designer Betsy Homan truly experienced the project of a lifetime when she had the opportunity to completely redesign a historic home. The homeowner wanted vibrant color in every room, and Homan accomplished this and more, creating a home that is lush, extravagant and tasteful at the same time. You’ll also find ways to celebrate the holidays and beyond. Women are reigning in the restaurant biz, and B&Bs have come a long way from homemade quilts and pancakes at the kitchen table. And let’s not forget the bar — there are some great gadgets to add to your bar accessories or gift to your friends. As you celebrate the holidays with friends and family, and ring in the New Year with great expectations of a healthy and bountiful 2015, I wish you the best and hope the spirit of the season remains with you throughout the year.
Department for Cultural and Creative Development
1. SAN ANTONIO / THE SAGA This fantastic video art installation on the magnificent façade of San Fernando Cathedral was created by French artist Xavier de Richemont. The 24-minute presentation showcases the history of San Antonio, from indigenous peoples to present, through images and sound. A perfect addition to San Antonio’s holiday Riverwalk lighting. Mainplaza.org Getcreativesanantonio.com 2. CURED AT PEARL I intended to highlight my favorite dishes from Cured, but it proved impossible. Chef Steven McHugh’s entire menu is designed so well, with each dish complementing the next, that you can’t possibly go wrong in your selections. With 12 choices of charcuterie, to small plates that range from veggies to seafood to lamb, and an extensive and interesting beverage list, it keeps me going back for more. Curedatpearl.com 3. FREDERICKSBURG FUDGE There’s a luscious variety of confectionary goodness at this Main Street Fredericksburg shop. Brittles, assorted chocolates and, of course, their famous fudge are all the rave, but my ultimate go-to is the Chewy Praline with the softest caramel mixed with crunchy nuts. Fbgfudge.com
Trisha Doucette
On The Cover: At street level, it’s almost impossible to know what lies on the other side of this modern home. Extensive structural engineering, coupled with architect Winn Wittman’s ability see that anything is possible, resulted in a timeless and environmentally conscious home. Page 20
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EDITOR’S ESSENTIALS
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4. BENJI’S CANTINA The food at this cool and colorful Austin restaurant is delicious and creative – they’re famous for their fajitas – but it’s the Tequila and Mezcal Menu that is most impressive to me. This is a great place to sample, sip and savor from an extensive list of quality tequilas and mezcals. No salt or lime needed. Benjiscantina.com urbanhomemagazine.com
2014 | VOL. 9 | NO. 6 Publisher Louis Doucette Editor Trisha Doucette Contributing Editors Bill Evans – ABOR Catrina Kendrick – Catrina’s Ranch Interiors Contributing Writers Claudia Alarcon, Beth Bond, Jackie Benton, Julie Catalano, Mauri Elbel, Dana W. Todd Photography Dror Baldinger, Bohke Photography & Cinema, Tre Dunham, Jody Horton, Michael Hunter, Angela Johnson, Mark Menjivar, Buff Strickland Strategic Media Placement Diane Purcell Advertising Sales Sandy Weatherford, Gerry Lair, Janis Maxymof Business Manager Vicki Schroder Design and Production Tim Shaw – The Shaw Creative Printing and Direct Mail SmithPrint Phone 512.385.4663, Austin - 210.410.0014, San Antonio Fax 830.981.8887 Address 10036 Saxet Drive / Boerne, Texas 78006 Email louisd@urbanhomemagazine.com Website www.urbanhomemagazine.com Urban Home Magazine Austin-San Antonio is published by Big City Publications, LLC. Advertising rates available upon request. All rights reserved by copyright. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part without the express written consent from publisher. Every effort is made to assure accuracy of the information contained herein. However, the publisher cannot guarantee such accuracy. Advertising is subject to errors, omissions and or other changes without notice. Mention of any product or service does not constitute endorsement from Urban Home Magazine. The information contained in this publication is deemed reliable from third party sources, but not guaranteed. Urban Home Magazine does not act as an agent for any of the advertisers in this publication. It is recommended that you choose a qualified remodeling, home furnishings or home improvement firm based on your own selection criteria. Urban Home Magazine, does not act as an agent for any of the realtors or builders in this publication. It is recommended that you choose a qualified realtor to assist you in your new home purchase. Urban Home Magazine will not knowingly accept advertising for real estate that is a violation of the Fair Housing Act. All real estate advertising in Urban Home Magazine, is subject to the Fair Housing Act that states “We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the nation. We encourage and support an affirmative advertising and marketing program in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin.”
© Copyright 2014 by Urban Home Magazine. All Rights Reserved.
December 2014 / January 2015
CONTENTS
cover
20 Green And Pristine Above The Ravine Photography by Dror Baldinger
featured homes
28 French Twist Photography by Tre Dunham
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36 Dreaming In Color Photography by Michael Hunter
highlights
44 2015 Furniture Trends Report 50 Value in Contemporary Design
departments
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Why This Space Works 46 Designer Spotlight: Stephanie Villavicencio of Bella Villa Design Studio New Masters 52 Larcade Larcade Tiles Commercial Design 54 Rosella Coffee Company Food Design 58 Women Run Restaurants Fabulous Finds 60 Luxury B&B Inns
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New Products 64 Stocking The Bar Contributing Editors 53 Catrina Kendrick, Catrina’s Ranch Interiors 56 Bill Evans, ABOR 66 Advertiser Index
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GREEN AND PRISTINE
By MAURI ELBEL Photography by DROR BALDINGER
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above the ravine
On a steep Hill Country cliffside just outside of Austin, a cleverly-constructed contemporary home floats above the canyon and nestles among the trees. urbanhomemagazine.com
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I
nspired by the Case Study Houses of the
1950’s and the work of modernist architects such as Charles and Ray Eames, Pierre Koenig, Rudolph Schindler and Richard Neutra, Austin-based architect Winn Wittman had to think outside of the box to create this 2,600-square-foot home constructed on land previously deemed unbuildable.
“This is a very steep lot,” says Wittman. “It was initially thought too difficult to build on. It became apparent the house would have to float upon piers because the ground was dropping off so dramatically we didn’t want to simply build a huge foundation. We wanted to impact the site as minimally as possible.” The modern, low-roofed home hovers lightly over the ravine, eyeballing the nature preserve below. Five steel piers support the bulk of the wood, stone and glass structure, a more sustainable and cost-effective alternative to building an enormous concrete slab. Wittman wanted to use as few piers urbanhomemagazine.com
as possible, but a portion of the hillside also had to be carved into in order to accommodate a street-level garage above and a spacious studio down below. Builder Richard White of Abode Homes says that out of all the homes he has constructed, this one required the most extensive structural engineering. “On most lots you find a flat spot to build on, but not this one,” says White. “The site was ridiculous –– the lot was literally a cliff we built on. We brought in dirt to build the driveway then carved into the side of the hill at least 12 feet top to bottom and maybe 30 feet into the hill.” But looking at the home now, it appears the construction URBAN HOME AUSTIN – SAN ANTONIO
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challenges were well worth the result. White refers to the modern, mid-century home tucked into the trees as a “hidden little gem.” Appropriately named the Ravine House for the ravine the home straddles, a beautiful juxtaposition exists –– the portion of the house attached to the hillside remains grounded while the rest of the home soars from the hillside and floats lightly above the valley. Because the modest home is set on piers, extra space below will allow for an additional build-out if ever desired in the future. Efforts to make the home as green as possible were constantly pursued by the clients, architect and builder from the project’s 2010 beginnings to its completion in 2012. The home’s design 24
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was dictated by the land, growing organically on-site through numerous site meetings and collaborations with landscapers and arborists to ensure the creek and surrounding trees would be impacted as little as possible. The homeowners, an environmentally conscious couple, loved the idea of living simply and treading lightly on the land. Trees that brushed up to the house that would have normally been cut down were left alone and pruned back, creating a treehouse effect when looking out through the floor-to-ceiling windows or standing on the decks wrapping the home’s exterior. Throughout the building process, Wittman says the homeowners were interested in knowing how green a product urbanhomemagazine.com
was and where it came from so both he and White sought to use local materials and make sustainable selections such as the formaldehyde-free stained wood cabinetry and recycled quartz countertops in the kitchen sourced from TreeHouse, South Austin’s eco-friendly, smart building store. “We wanted to make the house as healthy as possible,” says Wittman. “We didn’t use anything with particleboard or MDF, and we used low VOC paint throughout.” Wittman originally intended to use Ipe throughout the home, but that proved to be cost prohibitive so he utilized it only on the exterior decking and relied on domestic woods for the ceilings, sidings and interior floors –– a more sustainable urbanhomemagazine.com
alternative than using imported woods. In an effort to bring the surrounding nature inside, the same cyprus wood featured on the home’s exterior and soffits extend through the glass and into the lower section of the interior ceiling while the flooring and floating stair treads are both American walnut. Tankless heaters, low heat glass, spray foam insulation, a reflective flat roof and a high-efficiency air conditioning system make this three bedroom, two-and-a-half bathroom home as energy-efficient as possible. In fact, Wittman says the homeowners’ monthly electric bills average under $100. Aficionados of mid-century design, the creative couple filled the interior of their home with original vintage Danish and URBAN HOME AUSTIN – SAN ANTONIO
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Scandinavian furnishings and called on well-known Austin designer Joel Mozersky to complete the look. Efforts were made to make use of existing materials whenever possible. In fact, one of Mozersky’s custom creations reused leftover walnut flooring planks to create a waterfall edge dining table over the existing kitchen island. Wittman’s signature cohesion can be detected throughout the house –– the architect used similar finishes and lines from space to space as evidenced by the same recycled glass and stone countertops in the kitchen and master bath as well as homogeneous plumbing fixtures used for the home’s various sinks and tubs. “I generally like to continue materials throughout the house rather than using different materials in every room, especially in a small house,” says Wittman. “I like that continuity. It is cleaner.” Eldorado Stone was chosen for the home’s exterior, a lightweight cast product which has a similar look to Texas Shellstone but is thinner and lighter, thus reducing the load on the steel structure that cantilevers out on the hillside. A mixture of Fleetwood windows and large steel-framed windows designed and fabricated on site give the home a glass-like feel. “On those large panels of glass, you don’t see any exposed mullion,” says Wittman. “There is a seamless expression of glass that wraps continually around the house.” The home looks out over the nature preserve, but its westand northwest-facing orientation posed a challenge due to the extreme solar exposure. Without wanting to sacrifice the 26
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views or reduce the amount of windows in the home, Wittman designed a large overhang to cut down on the light, glare and heat without hindering the property’s pristine panoramas. Wittman and White say the design of the home was a harmonic process that grew organically on site, taking on a life of its own to create a timeless, modern aesthetic dictated by the land while minimally impacting it. “I like the simplicity of the house,” says Wittman. “There is nothing distracting about this home. It is timeless. I like to think that this home could be considered mid-century of the last century or it could be mid-century of the next century.” For the clients, this home turned out to be the perfect refuge from their busy lives. “We got some great feedback from one of the owners,” says Wittman. “She gave up her office after they moved into this house because she said she would much rather work from home. She likes the feeling of being among the trees, sitting in the living room or on the deck and working from her laptop with a cup of coffee.” v ARCHITECT Winn Wittman Architecture 512.630.2724 | Winnwittman.com BUILDER Abode Modern Home Building 512.848.4547 | Abodemodernhomes.com DESIGNER Joel Mozersky Design 512.913.3732 | Joelmozersky.com urbanhomemagazine.com
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FRENCH TWIST By BETH BOND | Photography by TRE DUNHAM
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With thoughtful design, a home can accomplish many things at once. The custom home that architect John Hathaway designed for a family in the Four Points area of North Austin is something of a multitasker: it straddles styles. It was built to be functionally fluid and it even plays a bit of an indoor/outdoor trick on guests upon entering. 30
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nlike a good magician, the home reveals what’s behind its illusion almost immediately: what appears to be the front door isn’t really at all. Rather than opening to a foyer or living room, the arched door at the front of the house unexpectedly accesses an interior courtyard. “When you walk through the front door, you’re in a covered loggia, which is a covered porch or walkway,” the architect said. There are three separate entrances off this central area. The guest suite door is down the walkway on your right. Follow the walkway to your left and you will discover the urbanhomemagazine.com
homeowner’s office entrance. The main door to the home is straight ahead. The home, which was built by Taylor O’Brien of Grandview Custom Homes, covers 7,740 square feet, with 4,891 square feet as part of its interior, showing the extent to which outdoor living was a priority in the design. While the perimeter is covered, the courtyard itself is an open-air space with comfortable seating areas, an Old Chicago brick fireplace and a fountain that doubles as a hot tub. The homeowners use this space for entertaining throughout the year but favor it especially in the cooler months, serving gumbo and gathering urbanhomemagazine.com
close to the fire with friends. Lighting fixtures in the style of old gas lamps give off a warm glow, and pavers in variegated colors and sizes are underfoot, calling to mind cobblestone streets in a European city. These accents represent the Frenchby-way-of-Louisiana influence the homeowners admired and wanted to bring to Texas after spending a good deal of time in New Orleans and Baton Rouge. The second outdoor living space of this home is in the backyard and includes an outdoor kitchen, comfortable seating spaces and an expansive pool. There is a gate leading out the back of the yard which the children use to walk to their nearby school. URBAN HOME AUSTIN – SAN ANTONIO
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The style Hathaway terms “transitional French” is evident in the pitch of the roof which curves outward like a bell, as well as in the iron work and copper accents and the smooth, pale surfaces of the walls. While the outside of the home might look traditional, the aerated concrete panels are engineered to be insulating, soundproofing and fire resistant, as well as insectproof. This advanced material raised the energy rating of the house significantly. So what does transitional French mean? It gets back to the idea of a home that achieves several things at once. “There’s a real warmth to the house but there’s a crisp cleanness to it,” said Hathaway, owner of Vanguard Studio, Inc., a firm that has specialized in designing higher-end custom homes for the past 15 years. “It’s comfortable and elegant, all at the same time.” 32
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Sitting on a one-acre site, the home bears a spare, clean feeling commonly present in more modern styles while also representing traditional French design — without being overly heavy. “We went for a cleaner feel so it wasn’t so dark and heavy — like you were walking through the fields of France and came upon this house,” Hathaway said. “We were interested in keeping some warm wood elements in beams and floors, but it has a lot of sunlight and windows so it’s not a typical dark, oldworld retreat. ‘Transitional’ means it blends the old world and the new so that it’s the best of both worlds.” The home features many common French amenities. The vaulted ceilings boast hand-hewn beams and large chandeliers you might find in a classic home in France. The lime-based plaster on the interior walls in the great room, master bedroom and urbanhomemagazine.com
kitchen, called Provencal Stucco, was ordered from Marseille, France, through Miclen Resources, while grey travertine stone was shipped from Turkey. The kitchen, with its gray washed cabinets and light Carrara countertops, are a nice contrast to the darker rich wood floors. The homeowners enlisted Patricia Berry, an Austin designer and owner of Design Time Interiors, to furnish and pull together their look. The downstairs of the home includes the family room, dining and kitchen, each boasting its own area yet open and welcoming as one expansive central family space. Also downstairs is a beautifully furnished master bedroom with its private living room. The master bathroom with large tub and separate shower features an extensive master dressing area with a built-in three-way mirror, “to always be able to do a style check urbanhomemagazine.com
Wood plank floors and hand-hewn beams, along with walls of plaster imported from France, provide an element of warmth throughout the home. The contrasting chandeliers, cool palette, luxurious fabrics and clean finishes create a crisp atmosphere that feels anything but old world. URBAN HOME AUSTIN – SAN ANTONIO
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from all angles.” The guest quarters have a private outdoor entry, as does the parents’ light-filled office which looks out onto the front yard of the home. Function was paramount for the homeowners as they designed the house for the lifestyle particular to their family of five, including three school-age children. The upstairs playroom has a balcony overlooking the pool, and they can see the Frost Tower and downtown from there. The boys share a jack-andjack bathroom, and the daughter’s bedroom suite has a view over the driveway. The kids don’t have laundry hampers in their bathrooms; instead, they’ve learned to take their clothes down the hall to the upstairs laundry room. This second laundry room was one of the best ideas these parents incorporated for saving time and steps. The homeowners were closely involved in the aesthetic elements, from selecting plumbing and light fixtures down to every other detail such as random sized wood planks on floors. Throughout the home you see the contrast of light and warmth creating a dramatic, elegant space that is warm and welcoming. “There really isn’t anything we’d change!” v ARCHITECT Vanguard Studio, Inc. 512.918.8312 | Vanguardstudio.com BUILDER Grandview Custom Homes 512.905.2514 | Grandviewhomesaustin.com DESIGNER Design Time Interiors 512.627.8548 34
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DREAMING IN COLOR By JULIE CATALANO | Photography by MICHAEL HUNTER
It all began with a bedroom. Or more accurately, a picture of a bedroom. Interior designer Betsy Homan remembers a smart, accomplished young woman showing her a magazine clipping of the type of room she wanted in her newly-purchased 1928 three-story home in San Antonio’s beautiful, historic Monte Vista neighborhood. Homan couldn’t wait to see the beauty, but at first glance the home was more of a beast.
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“
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he old house had many problems and needed lots of TLC,” Homan recalls, describing open gas jets, peeling wood floors, and dark, shiny paint everywhere, including the ceiling. “But I was up for the challenge.” Homan was up to the task, looking forward to giving a very busy, hard-working entrepreneur a master bedroom that would be a posh retreat. Designer and client texted, talked and met regularly, with Homan pulling fabrics and locating furnishings, lighting, drapes, carpet and accessories. Never having worked with a designer before, the homeowner realized an unexpected bonus about a month into the project: she was having fun, and she didn’t want it to end. “I was really enjoying the process, and I trusted Betsy completely,” she says. “I told her, ‘You know what? Let’s just do the whole house.’” It was music to Homan’s ears. Despite a hideous first impression, the four-bedroom, three-bath, 3,800-square-foot home had good bones and a stately presence. Even better, the homeowner knew exactly what she wanted, and why.
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“I love color and I love excitement,” says the savvy homeowner. Having lived in places dominated by neutrals, she saw the chance, with Homan’s help, to make her mark. “A lot of people are scared of color and I wanted to prove that it could work.” Did it ever. The entire house is a palette of pure color goodness, from the red sofa in the colorful, casual family room, to the elegant silvers and blacks of the sophisticated bar, to the pops of color in the homeowner’s collection of lively and lovely artwork from San Antonio’s AnArte Gallery. There was one very special must-have: “I wanted a lavender room,” she says simply. She got it — complete with a magnificent amethyst and crystal chandelier custom made by Thomas Grant. The lavender living room is, not surprisingly, her favorite feature and her favorite room. Homan was delighted with her client’s fearless approach, and wove perfect hues — sometimes subtle, sometimes bold — through almost everything. Drapes with understated metallic sheen, velvet seats on the classic French dining room chairs that picked up the same lavender shade from the living room, custom rugs of wool and silk, and decorative pillows and accessories that complemented their surroundings. Through it all, Homan had one guiding principle. “The client wanted a classic, cosmopolitan style home, and the house was ideally suited for that. But it had to be young, fresh and timeless.” It wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows, however. This was, after all, an old house, with all the issues that old houses bring — electrical and plumbing at the top of the list. The house’s single fireplace urbanhomemagazine.com
had to be redone. Ceiling lights had to be installed and rewired. Contractor Jean Blount of Radiance Homes in San Antonio says one of the biggest challenges was the interior walls, which were tackled by an accomplished painter to recreate the stucco effect common to homes from that era. “We had to texture the sheetrock to make it look like it had always been there, and that we had never been there,” says Blount. Same for the original oak floors that were completely refinished: “There were some places where things had to be patched, and anytime you’ve got repair work, it’s always a challenge to make it not look repaired.” URBAN HOME AUSTIN – SAN ANTONIO
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With all that color in the foreground, Homan used SherwinWilliams® Kilim Beige, a warm neutral that provided a seamless background throughout. Lighting was another win: the downstairs powder room sconce and the sparkling entry hallway light fixture were more of Thomas Grant’s gorgeous work. The showstopper is the dining room multicolored blown glass chandelier by Garcia Art Glass, purchased from Stevens Lighting, that masterfully blends with the colors in the room’s signature artwork. The gleaming floor tile is Vein Cut Travertine in Crema Venato from Materials Marketing. 42
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Room after remarkable room unfolds like a walk through a very organized, tasteful kaleidoscope. The most outrageously fun room is the bar — a re-imagining of the homeowner’s favorite bar in New York. Here, she entertains friends with after-work cocktails in an upscale lounge-style setting with Homan’s custom, ultra comfy embossed black patent leather and chenille sofa as the centerpiece. The homeowner says that newcomers all have the same reaction to the space: “Love. It’s what they all say. They fall in love, just like that.” Nothing prepares visitors for “The Scarf Room,” a former upstairs sitting room turned master suite foyer with a stunning Lucite round table on a custom circular rug. Homan had just finished redesigning the gigantic wraparound closet with a place for everything and everything in its place, when the homeowner informed her that she had about 50 designer scarves from her travels all over the world. “I took out the shelves in the bookcases, put in pretty brass rods, and hung the scarves,” says Homan. An antique mirror, Italian Bombay chest with gold leaf and faux lapis top, and a contemporary bench covered with curly Mongolian sheepskin “adds an element of fun to the room. You can’t help but smile when you walk in and see all those scarves.” As for the room that started it all, the homeowner now nestles into a luxurious, uncluttered cocoon of soothing dark blues with a large statement bed, a beautiful chaise lounge and faux mantel for a big screen television that gives her the perfect respite after a long day. “The house is everything I wanted,” she says. Sounds like a dream come true. v DESIGNER Betsy Homan Interior Design 210.824.1959 | Betsyhomandesign.com BUILDER Radiance Homes 210.872.8125 urbanhomemagazine.com
Dawn F. Hearn, ASID, NARI, CAPS Texas Registered Interior Designer #9501
New Construction Remodeling Space Planning Consultation Furnishings Accessories
www.dawnhearn.com 512.930.0250
2015
FURNITURE TRENDS REPORT
H
ow we furnish our homes has always been influenced by Europe. About a year after new furnishings trends hit the European markets, as seen at the annual furniture fair in Milan, Italy, the same finishing details and furniture shapes move to the North American marketplace and into stateside retail stores. Each spring, when Scott + Cooner co-owners Josy Collins and Lloyd Scott attend the Milan Fair, they bring back ideas on how to stock their company’s modern furniture showrooms in Austin and Dallas. Scott + Cooner’s aggregation of the best of the best enables those of us in Texas to enjoy the comforts of shopping luxury furniture lines from the West and East coasts and Europe all in one complete local showroom. The furniture trends this year are all about warmth and comfort, according to Collins. Furniture makers are achieving 44
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By DANA W. TODD | Photography courtesy of SCOTT + COONER
this warmth through choice of finishes, addition of textures and depth of color. Finishes are no longer all about the long-used look of polished chrome and the shininess it involves. Metal finishes on furniture are moving to bronze and an overall darker patina. Also popping up is a prevalent use of black chrome, which imparts a decidedly modern touch in a home. “We also are seeing a mixing of metals, such as the combination of polished chrome and bronze,” Collins says. Combining metals imbues a design with comfort and warmth and contrasts with the formality of strictly matching décor. This design strategy enables a homeowner to choose each piece of furniture for the aesthetic value it imparts, regardless of whether it matches the rest of the room’s ensemble. Mixing shows a level of comfort, of living with the things that are well loved both for their beauty and their variety. urbanhomemagazine.com
Metal is not the only area in which new furniture lines are spotlighting warmth and comfort. Colors and textures take center stage this season, too. The chocolatey brown richness of Emperador marble graces the surfaces of coffee tables and dining tables. Combined with darkly stained oak and walnut bases, the pieces establish a luxurious baseline for the rooms on which the other parts of the interior design can build. Since most of the new furniture lines in the market contain sculpturally curvy lines, they help boost the comfort factor of the warm color palettes being introduced. Textures are top of mind in the new Italian product lines introduced this year, according to Collins. Many tabletops showcase textured surfaces, which intensify each piece’s significance in a room’s overall design. Luxury Italian furniture lines, such as Flexform, Maxalto and Poltrona Frau incorporate the texturizing trend, which makes for interesting looks to spice up a room. All of these design trends shine under the luminosity of a new generation of LED lighting, which emits a warm glow reminiscent of the older incandescent light bulbs. Lasting 50,000 hours or more, new fixtures incorporating LED lights combine both technology and on-point design panache. To showcase the 2015 furniture design trends and new products, Scott + Cooner has showrooms in both Austin and Dallas. Its flagship showroom in Dallas boasts 20,000 square feet of furniture developed and imported from European designers. The 3,600-square-foot Austin showroom carries many of the product lines that are the most popular for the area. Altogether, the company exhibits 120 product lines of transitional and modern furniture in its stores. “We sell investment pieces – great quality from great design companies with whom we have had a relationship for many years,” Collins says. urbanhomemagazine.com
“Want to sit on a sofa and feel its comfort, something you can’t do on the internet? Scott + Cooner is the place to do that. There’s no reason to travel to Los Angeles and New York to shop individual furniture showrooms. We coordinate it all at Scott + Cooner so it’s easier for our customers to compare lines and prices.” Celebrating its 20th year in business this year, the furniture retailer focuses on meeting customers’ individual needs through special sizing and custom fabrics that can be ordered from most of its product lines. v SCOTT + COONER Austin Showroom: 115 West 8th Street 512.480.0436 | Scottcooner.com URBAN HOME AUSTIN – SAN ANTONIO
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works WHY THIS
SPACE
By MAURI ELBEL | Photography by TRE DUNHAM
Designer Spotlight: Stephanie Villavicencio of Bella Villa Design Studio
Sitting on music legend Willie Nelson’s picturesque 688-acre Luck Ranch in Spicewood, this stunning Tierra Vista home boasts hilltop views from the outside and captures Hill Country warmth on the inside. Recently completed this past spring, this Jenkins Custom Homes design/build project was one of five homes featured in the Greater Austin’s Home Builders Association’s Parade of Homes earlier this year. Bella Villa Design Studio owner Stephanie Villavicencio talks us through the design of this home’s inviting and comfortable great room, which makes everyone who enters it feel welcome. 46
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What did your clients want out of this great room? SV: This is a single family with two teenage daughters, and when you walk in, you are immediately greeted by this entry/ great room with a fantastic view. The house was designed to have the master suite on one side with the girls’ bedroom and game room loft upstairs on the opposite side of the home. This great room is the heart of the home, and the clients really wanted a cozy spot for conversations. They purposefully didn’t want a television in this room, as they already have a media room and a game room upstairs. They wanted a quiet space without the distractions of television. Why did your design team decide to place four chairs in the center of the room rather than going with the more traditional sofa and chairs layout? SV: The space is more open and better for conversation with four chairs. It is inviting and comfortable and you are not blocked by a big sofa or sectional. As you can see, this room is open to all sides. You have the pocket doors that go into the outdoor porch –– when the weather is nice, you can open these doors which allows the entire area to act as one large entertaining space. On the left, a big arch leads into kitchen. On the right, a shelf-lined hallway leads to the master bedroom, and one of the shelves is a hidden door which can be pushed open to allow you to walk down the steps into a wine room featuring more than 200 bottles of wine. urbanhomemagazine.com
As you were conceptualizing this space, what most inspired you? SV: The view. It’s very nice looking out these windows from the top of the hill which is exactly why we proposed the fourchair option for them. This is not a huge room so we didn’t want to block the traffic pattern through the house or the beautiful views by using a large sofa. And they liked the mix of natural and industrial elements without going too modern. This great room is bound by rustic finishes –– from the beams and stonework down to the fireplace and flooring. What were some of the more masculine materials used in here? SV: The stone arch is repeated from the home’s exterior –– a Texas Chopped Blend. The flooring is a brushed and chiseled travertine that is very warm in color. The fireplace and the mantle are travertine as well –– and the same material is also featured around the cooktop in the kitchen. The wooden cross beams and shelving are both stained in a warm brown tone to match each other. What interior choices helped to create coziness in this space? SV: We kept a pretty neutral palette in here so that we could bring in colors with accessories and artwork. The clients really liked the warmth in the color of the flooring. It was important URBAN HOME AUSTIN – SAN ANTONIO
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the outdoor furniture is from Outside In Style. We brought in color with items like the abstract painting from Maria Martin Art and several pieces on the shelves are from Wimberley Glassworks. What are some of your favorite elements featured in this space? SV: I love the rug and the arch that forms an entry way to the kitchen –– I think those two elements really tie this room together. The artwork was one of my favorite features in this room because it added a modern flair. Accessorizing the shelves instantly added ambiance and turned this house into a home. When designing central gathering spaces such as this, do you have a certain philosophy you generally follow? SV: We always try to think of how people are going to use any particular space. In this room we pictured people living here, walking outside, going into the kitchen. By always keeping the client’s lifestyle in mind, we try to make the space as usable and comfortable as possible. You mentioned your team designed this home while the homeowners were living overseas. Was this a challenging process? SV: Since they were overseas during the design, everything was done remotely other than meeting with them in person a few times. It’s not really a challenge because we work with many clients who do not live here during the building process. When we first meet with clients, we try to get a good read on them to find out their goals for their home, how they live and how they want to use the space, and we factor all of that in as we are designing the space. We communicated throughout the process to make sure we were going in the right direction. They put a great deal of trust in us because of that. We really try to listen to what our clients want, and at a certain point, they trust us to do what we think looks best. Once the clients saw this space in person for the first time, how did they react? SV: They loved it. When she first saw it, she was very moved. She was so overcome with joy and couldn’t stop walking around and taking pictures. Her husband wasn’t with her so she FaceTimed with him so they could share the experience.
to them that this room be inviting. The rug, from Bijan Rugs, is beautiful. The taupe colors bring in some of the same colors seen in the arch made from the exterior stone. Plus we liked that it provided a little bit of pattern but was faded so it looked like it was old, weathered and worn. The tufted wing bank chairs and crank coffee table made with reclaimed wood are perfect for the center of the room. People really loved the entry table with the wavy natural edge and the settee as you walk in. Most of the indoor furniture is from World Interiors and 48
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As a designer, why does this space work? SV: We were really pleased with the way this turned out. This house was the third house on the tour, but when people walked into the great room, they would stand still and say “wow.” They said they could really picture themselves in this house. It’s welcoming and comfortable from the first time you enter. And the view is awesome. The entire home was built around the site, and this room was intended to take advantage of the view at every opportunity. Standing in here, you just feel like you are at home and that is what everyone said when they walked in. v DESIGNER Bella Villa Design Studio 512.443.3200 | Bellavillads.com urbanhomemagazine.com
AWARD-WINNING INTERIOR DESIGN custom homes • lofts spec homes • commercial Stephanie J. Villavicencio, ASID Texas Registered Interior Designer
512.443.3200 www.bellavillads.com
We’ve got great glass
www.VentanaMan.com 512-388-9400 1609 Chisholm Trail #100, Round Rock
Value in
CONTEMPORARY DESIGN
Y
ou know the look. Clean lines, warm woods, gleaming metals, rich leathers, artful accessories — all in a perfect blend of contemporary form and function. Your first thought: I want that look. Your second thought: I can’t afford that look. “We hear it all the time,” says Copenhagen co-owner Jens Hansen. “People will say, ‘We love that Copenhagen look, but it’s just too pricey.’” Not necessarily, says Hansen, who carries on the family legacy of a retail furniture company that began more than 40 years ago, “but the misconception is understandable. Most contemporary specialists rely on expensive luxury name brands to express their sense of style. We promote high quality and luxury, but we are also committed to value as one of the most important aspects of a product’s design.” 50
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By JULIE CATALANO | Photography courtesy of COPENHAGEN
It can be a delicate balance, but a walk through any of Copenhagen’s seven spectacular showrooms in Texas or Arizona beautifully illustrates that philosophy in action. Clients discover a friendly, approachable place to begin putting together the ideal mix of exemplary design and practicality, surrounded by seemingly endless vignettes of simple yet sophisticated living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms, office suites and more. The store’s collections feature sofas, loveseats, chairs, tables, beds, dressers, barstools, lamps and accessories from distinguished lines such as Jesper Office®, BDI, Natuzzi Italia, Natuzzi Editions and Stressless®. Where to start? Hansen and his knowledgeable staff love to tout the versatility of modern pieces, showing clients that “they are easily integrated into a number of different styles. It’s one way people can spice up their interiors if they don’t want to go urbanhomemagazine.com
100 percent contemporary.” A perennial favorite, he adds, is the Herman Miller lounge chair, an iconic, instantly recognizable silhouette “that folks like to buy even for more traditional homes to fill in a corner, almost like functional art.” Hansen also enjoys playing myth-buster to another long-held — and incorrect — belief that contemporary is synonymous with cold. Not at all, he explains. “Even though the style is straightforward, clean and crisp, it’s the choice of materials that creates the environment you want. Our most popular finish is natural American walnut, a rich and wonderful wood.” Warm leathers and cool fabrics work side by side to create the ultimate custom look for each home. Or office. “We do a lot of home offices because now almost everybody can work from home. We have a wonderful collection of very functional products to create the modern home office which is a lot less cluttered than in the old days.” And for the organizationally challenged, they have sleek storage units — the better to toss any unsightliness behind stylish closed doors. Here, too, you can start with one statement piece, like a clean, simple desk, or a larger, high end executive desk, for those “who need to show off a little, which is good too,” says Hansen. For those who want to show off a lot, there are entire office suites to outfit a home office in top to bottom contemporary. When you’re ready to really splurge, Hansen has just the thing: the ultra luxurious Re-Vive recliner, the brainchild of renowned Italian designer Pasquale Natuzzi, founder of the largest furniture house in his native Italy. It’s a chair (and ottoman) like no other, literally molding to your body, responsive to your every movement, cradling you in comfort and style — even experiencing weightlessness through a light rocking motion — and yes, it is as heavenly as it sounds, thanks to state-of-the-art technology. “It’s nice to see a refreshing take on a traditional piece of furniture,” says Hansen. “Everybody has a recliner, we all know how they work. But not this one. It’s not built like any other recliner you’ve ever seen.” Copenhagen was the first company to show and sell the award-winning Re-Vive in the U.S. “It was in all of our showrooms,” says Hansen, “and it definitely draws interest from the minute you see it. It’s almost so revolutionary that many people, when they first see it, just stop and stare. We tell them, ‘Go ahead, sit in it.’” For those who can’t bear to go home without one, such chair Nirvana does not come cheap ($2,599 to start), but, says Hansen, “You will probably not need another recliner for a very long time.” “Good furniture is an investment,” says Hansen, and not just for those who can afford anything and everything. “Shopping with bottomless pockets and an endless supply of money — that’s easy. But value is a big deal for us. The challenge is to create a look the consumer wants without breaking the bank, and that’s what we’re good at.” v COPENHAGEN Austin 512.451.1233 | San Antonio 210.545.4366 Copenhagenliving.com urbanhomemagazine.com
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Combining Contemporary
Margaret and John Larcade have shared not only a life as husband and wife and business partners, but also an appreciation and love of tile from Mexico, with its vibrant colors and endless possibilities of patterns and designs. When Margaret Larcade talks of her life together with her husband John, never has there been a time when tile was not a part of their story. Margaret first met John when they worked at the same architect’s office in New York, shortly after he returned from a stint in Colombia where he designed and built rural schools for the Peace Corps. After their marriage, the Larcades moved from New York and divided their time between their two homes in San Antonio, Texas and San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. “In New York City, I used standard tiles in commercial installation, and then was introduced to Talavera tiles when we moved to Texas.
with Traditional:
LARCADE
LARCADE TILES By JACKIE BENTON | Photography courtesy of LARCADE LARCADE TILES
I have had the pleasure of working in Mexico where I could choose from a wide range of Talavera tiles and sinks for projects, playing with different configurations to create patterns.” But the Larcades wanted to push the design envelope, and create a more contemporary look while still maintaining the vibrancy of traditional Talavera tiles. “I yearned for tiles that gave me more geometric possibilities than the Talavera tiles and give a fresh attitude to the prevalent Southwest/Mexico look, but still have color,” explains Margaret. “I wanted a tile to be more universal, to slip easily into a contemporary design, a modern graphic for these spaces.” Imbued with a love for stripes and patterns found in textiles from North Africa and the Middle East, as well as inspired by American mid-century optical and pop art, the Larcades released their own line of tiles in January 2014 that includes a new series of glazes and colors, including semi-transparent glazes that give greater depth of colors, and created a new range of patterns not possible with traditional tiles. “In the world of going green and very minimal design, I envisioned geometric murals in building entrances to contrast with plain concrete walls for decoration and easy maintenance,” says Margaret. “On the floor the tiles can be used as accents with larger tiles in low traffic residential installations. You can use just the solid colors by themselves, as there is variation within all the tiles which makes up beautifully.” Larcade Larcade Tiles presents a dazzling array of tile choices for a variety of building projects, offering a beautiful pop and depth of color that adds dimensionality to a custom tile design, from typical tile projects such as backsplashes, bathrooms and table tops to more imaginative and esoteric uses, such as bed headboards or creating tile rugs for walls. v LARCADE LARCADE TILES 210.733.0260 | Larcadetiles.com
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urbanhomemagazine.com
DECORATOR’S ADVICE
SPECIAL EVENT DESIGNS
By Catrina Kendrick, Catrina’s Ranch Interiors
T
his has been an exciting year at Catrina’s Ranch Interiors. Several wonderful projects are keeping me busy. One of these includes The Dominion Country Club where my husband and I are members. The Dominion Country Club in San Antonio, replete with interesting people from all walks of life, has an amazing social network. Some club members live in The Dominion and there are those, like my husband Rob and I, who live elsewhere. We joined three years ago when we happily learned how reasonable a social membership is. Joining allowed us to hold our lovely wedding reception at the club. There are numerous events throughout the year, including dining and cocktail parties. The club has regular dinner specials for members and monthly birthday party happy hours. Special luncheons featuring huge seasonal buffets are prepared to celebrate each of the holidays. All in all, very enjoyable Luxury Living at affordable pricing! In recent years I’ve been a very active participant of the Dominion Women’s Forum. Two years ago I helped design the décor for the Women’s Forum Gala, a substantial annual undertaking. Last year I was elected to sit on the Women’s Forum Board as the Gala Director for 2014-2015. For this year’s Forum gala on April 25, 2015, I chose for my theme “An Enchanted Evening in the Tropics.” I’m trying to create a more relaxed and casual atmosphere and hope by April all will be ready for a little tropical escape. I will decorate the interior of the club with palm trees and erect large backdrops depicting scenes of exotic beaches at sunset. I imagine the men wearing white dinner jackets or their favorite tropical shirts. The ladies will look beautiful in their tropical evening wear. The dinner tables will be dressed in white linen and accented with Birds of Paradise arrangements. Another exciting project has been designing and building the custom furnishings for the Scottsdale’s Museum of the West, located in Scottsdale, Arizona. As a proud Texas girl, I was extremely honored to be given this rare opportunity to design and build the furnishings required for such an amazing project. The Mission for the Scottsdale Museum of the West is to boldly immerse its guests in the unique story of the American West, illuminating the past to shape our future. The Vision of the museum will celebrate the West and its importance. The Goal is to inform, educate, inspire and engage museum guests with bold, dramatic, authentic, experimental and participatory exhibitions and programs that will present Western art and culture through images, narrative and multimedia. v These have been amazing assignments, and a truly remarkable year! Whatever your project, large or small, call Catrina’s Ranch Interiors, where imagination matters! 830.755.6355 / 210.535.3070 and visit Catrinasranchinteriors.com.
Push Pull Open Close
WE BRING THE SHOWROOM TO YOU. To set an appointment call 512.694.7762 or jdhiebert@pushpullopenclose.com.
COMMERCIAL n DESIGN
a contemporary urban café
ROSELLA COFFEE COMPANY:
By CLAUDIA ALARCON Photography by MARK MENJIVAR
A
s a young, contemporary architect and principal with the Dado Group, Kristin Hefty has taken on numerous design/build commercial projects, including the design of the corporate offices for Sweet Leaf Tea in Austin, The Monterey restaurant in San Antonio’s Southtown, and Granary at The Pearl. Her latest achievement is Rosella Coffee Company, an interior finish-out in San Antonio’s River North neighborhood, where she showcases her passion for turning underutilized existing structures into vibrant, interesting spaces. For this project, her team was tasked with converting a space in a former plumbing supply warehouse into a contemporary urban cafe serving high-end coffee, craft beer and wine, complemented with artisan pastries, breakfast dishes and gourmet sandwiches. “We really liked the bones of the existing space/structure: the weathered pine ceiling, the concrete floors, the exposed brick walls, and steel windows. Our goal was to play on those materials and do something industrial and raw, but comfortable at the same time,” says Hefty, whose designs strive to incorporate local building traditions and often utilize native materials including stone, wood, metal and repurposed industrial material.
“The challenge with tenant finish out and remodel projects is always working within the confines of the existing space,” explains Hefty. “Sometimes you luck out and are presented with a structure with great character to begin with as we did on this project, but we still had to fit all the working components of a full service coffee shop, meet the owner’s seating requirements, and create an inviting, warm place to relax and enjoy a mini java vacation.” Challenge number one arose with the 18½-foot-high ceiling. In order to fill the space and utilize that height, Hefty recommended adding a wood and steel mezzanine. “The owner was reluctant since it added expense to the project, which was on a tight budget anyway,” she explains. “But, we were sure that it would break up the height and bring some human scale back to the space. Also, we felt the reduced scale in the bar area would add a layer of coziness while creating more seating upstairs, which would also have a dynamite framed view of downtown through the existing high windows. Design wise, we try to incorporate at least one big move in our projects, and we believe this was the critical move in creating the right feeling for the space.” However, adding the mezzanine brought structural challenges, like the need to add piers and new columns. And, while cutting through the existing foundation, the team found voids in the foundation which had to be filled. The size of the mezzanine was also an issue, since current code and ADA requirements limited its size. In an effort to reduce the floor area but keep the continuous look of the mezzanine, the team opened up the floor by peeling back the wood boards at the main entrance above the bar. This move brought the additional bonus of more natural light under the mezzanine. “We find that on most projects, these types of challenges often lead to opportunities, and this was a great example of that,” says Hefty. The modern, industrial look was enhanced throughout with materials like clear coated steel, steel beams, wood columns and urbanhomemagazine.com
pine treads to tie in with the existing industrial material, and the bar was custom built out of a solid steel plate and pine. The walls that surround the bar were covered floor to ceiling in chalkboard to add hand-written menus and specials. The lighting and electrical work unexpectedly became another big design element. “With all the exposed elements, we decided to run all the electrical wiring through exposed conduit,” says Hefty. Working with lighting consultant/designer Christina Brown from Studio Lumina, the team came up with the clever lighting pattern on the wall, which spells Rosella in Braille. The pattern also draws the eye upward and helps balance the taller space visually. “As the lights went up during construction, we loved the winding patterns of the exposed conduit so much that we decided to paint the conduit black to make it stand out more and match the blackened steel used on the stairs, handrails, and elsewhere,” adds Hefty. “We took it a step further with a gray wall paper that had a similar pattern to the exposed conduit, which we used behind the bar. We then painted a few accent walls in a gold tone (selected by Greg Mannino who acted as color consultant), similar to the color in Rosella’s logo, to contrast all of these elements.” The result is an open space that combines an industrial aesthetic with a cozy atmosphere and a good balance between modern and rustic. “In the end, I think the owner is very pleased with the outcome of the project, including the mezzanine, and has already mentioned working on a second location with us. I think he may have to — even with the additional mezzanine seating, the place is packed every time we stop in for a cup of joe!” v RESTAURANT Rosella Coffee Company 210.277.8574 | Rosellacoffee.com DESIGN-BUILD Dado Group 210.828.4599 | Dado-group.com URBAN HOME AUSTIN – SAN ANTONIO
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REALTOR’S ADVICE
LUXURY LIVING ON A BUDGET
By Bill Evans, 2014 President, Austin Board of REALTORS®
F
unction and form are generally difficult to combine when it comes to updating a home, but the successful collaboration of both can set up a potential home-for-sale at low cost for the owner. While curb appeal is an important factor, the ideas presented here are all about ‘it’s what’s inside that counts.’ Below are a few unique ways homeowners could add a luxurious look and feel to their current home within a comfortable dollar amount for personal use or in preparation for listing. COMFORTING FLOOR SPACE Carpet is usually something that can stand to be refreshed as it takes a constant beating. Replace it or install much more durable, laminate flooring that can be designed to look like tile or wood. Flooring will go a long way, too, when considering the warmth the home projects. INTERIOR DOORS Before replacing interior doors, consider really easy fixes that may require nothing more than a quick coat of paint or stain and some new hardware. Paint or stains are inexpensive, and the varieties of new hardware are endless and easy to install. Make a note to buy locking door knobs for bathrooms and bedrooms. STYLE FOR THE 21ST CENTURY Updating appliances can be daunting as the newest models are pricey. Wait until the end of the year when retailers are clearing their inventory to make room for new styles. Appliances of 2013 and 2014 are just as functional and stylish as 2015. DON’T FORGET THE BATHROOM Tile has come to be expected in the bathroom, and the style of the home should carry through with the tile selection. Also, if you are looking for places to hang art pieces that do not have a home, put them in the bathroom (where not ordinarily expected). UNIQUE ADVENTURE Finally, consider visiting a neighborhood garage sale or a flea market. You’ll never know what unique items you may find, and quite often they only need a touch up of paint or a good cleaning. Furniture and tables sold at these locations are also more likely to have been made with real wood and not material that was mass produced. It’s important to keep in mind when making these updates to focus on what needs updating the most. It is easy to get lost in the luxury part when the most value that will be added is from a practical standpoint. Consult your local REALTOR® for more ideas on combining function and form to add value to your home. v
Christopher Voss Inc. FOURTH GENERATION IRON CRAFTSMAN Celebrating 20 Years in Business and 100 Years of Voss Family Craftsmanship.
210.843.4332 www.christophervoss.com
FOOD n DESIGN
WOMEN RUN
RESTAURANTS By CLAUDIA ALARCON
LAV, PHOTO BY JODY HORTON
Women have not always had the recognition they deserve in the restaurant business. When you think about it, you’ll realize the majority of famous chefs and celebrated sommeliers have traditionally been men. But that stronghold has slowly been loosening. Today, talented female chefs and sommeliers are stepping out of the shadows, expressing their ideas and bringing their personalities forward while running successful restaurants. From a tiny, playful bistro in Southtown to a gorgeous, no-expense-spared restaurant in East Austin, ladies are leaving their mark in their local cuisine scene.
BITE RESTAURANT 210.532.2551 / Biterestaurantsa.com Photography by Bohke Photography and Cinema
Occupying the corner spot of a commercial block on S. Presa, Bite is a tiny, hip and happening bistro owned and operated by Lisa Astorga-Watel. A native of Santiago, Chile, Astorga-Watel found her calling in Houston, where she attended The Culinary Art Institute and launched a successful business as a private chef catering to celebrities, but ended up in San Antonio after marrying Chef Damian Watel. While she was involved in all of his endeavors, she hoped to branch out and head her own project. And it all came to happen when the couple found the little spot in Southtown.
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The cuisine at Bite is definitely international, blending French technique with Latin American flavors that reflect Astorga-Watel’s Chilean upbringing. The menu is compact, but it includes something for everyone — from traditional escargots, to modern dishes like octopus carpaccio and grilled romaine salad. On a recent evening, we enjoyed an outstanding appetizer special of rabbit rilletes, paired with a glass of rosé from Provence. We followed with the spectacular Pato olivo, a plump duck leg, braised to fork-tenderness with olives and tomatoes, served over a bed of creamy Parmesan risotto. Portions are big enough to share, but small enough to allow diners to try more than one thing. The wine list is equally
PHOTO BY ANGELA JOHNSON
urbanhomemagazine.com
small, but with selections that complement the playful cuisine. Astorga-Watel strives to maintain the casual atmosphere by keeping prices on both food and wine accessible. A lot of her personality is reflected in the space. Although small, the interior is lively, colorful and vibrant, with decor and furnishings that showcase the couple’s love for 1960s pop art, and 70’s era music and disco dancing. “I figure if I have to spend a lot of time working, I might as well be working in a fun environment,” says Astorga-Watel. “So I wanted the place to be fun, comfortable, 70’s modern sexy chic. I love the fact it is small enough to have contact with every table. And the food ties in because the menu is diverse, creative in content and presentation,” she adds. “Even the place mats are sure to challenge some thoughts!” LAV 512.391.1888 / lavaustin.com Photography by Buff Strickland
On the other end of the spectrum is East Austin’s newcomer, laV. When the Eads family decided they wanted to take their love of French wine and food to the next level by opening a restaurant, they recruited architects Bobby McAlpine and David Baker to design the ample space. The idea was to make it look like a warehouse, which they would “refurbish” into a series of “rooms,” each with a distinct but intimate ambiance. Designer Susan Ferrier created a stunning interior that combines a modern-industrial aesthetic with classic warm touches. Crystal chandeliers, textured gold curtains and antique sconces enhance the solid steel bar, sleek furniture and concrete floors. The entrance welcomes with a patio for dining, where a fountain adds the soothing sound of running water. To match this high-end atmosphere the family brought on a dream team to run it: sommelier Vilma Mazaite, Executive Chef Allison Jenkins and Pastry Chef Janina O’Leary. After working individually at a number of prestigious places across the country, Mazaite and Jenkins ended up as a team at The Little Nell, Aspen’s only five-star, five-diamond hotel. O’Leary’s credentials include stints with the Thomas Keller Restaurant Group, and most recently, as the Executive Pastry Chef at TRACE at the W Hotel in Austin. At laV, they team up to create food that is as sophisticated as the atmosphere, with an impressive wine list with over 1,500 selections. “I definitely scaled the presentations up after I saw the urbanhomemagazine.com
PHOTO BY JODY HORTON
space,” says Jenkins, whose seasonal driven menu of simple French recipes includes staples like escargot and roast chicken, as well as delicacies like caviar service. “Originally I wrote the menu as traditional, home-style bistro, but after seeing the finished building I went a more upscale, creative route. The menu is always in motion, depending on what’s coming out to market. I like change,” she adds. A steaming bowl of bouchot mussels swimming in fragrant vaudovan curry, complemented by red chile julienne, tiny cauliflower florets and a warm slice of garlic toast is a perfect example. Likewise, Mazaite calls her wine list a work in progress. “It’s a living thing, constantly evolving,” says the elegant Lithuanian, who chooses her wines not just based on her personal preference, but keeping in mind customers’ taste while sticking to the theme. “It’s true that the wine list leans to Old World selections, but I’m always open to finding unique, cool things that will complement the food.” The two have built a tight partnership over the years, which is evident in the attention to detail and care that go into food and wine pairing. And O’Leary’s divine concoctions round out the laV experience. “Dessert should complement the entire meal experience,” says O’Leary. “I create the desserts based on the season, things that I have been experimenting with, and most importantly, what I think will make people walk away happy, but not overfly full.” A remarkable example is her Stilton cheese ice cream with roasted pistachios. “We get big beautiful wheels in of Stilton blue cheese for our cheese plate, and I had the idea for this dessert hoping to utilize the whole wheel we receive. Truthfully, I like the idea of enjoying this cheese in a way people wouldn’t expect, but without over thinking.” The passion that these women display in their craft ensures that any visit to laV will be a memorable one. v URBAN HOME AUSTIN – SAN ANTONIO
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FABULOUS n FINDS
DESTINATION:
LUXURY B&B INNS
SOUTHERN ROSE RANCH
By JULIE CATALANO
SAGE HILL INN
EVA’S ESCAPE
SUGARBERRY INN
What better way to wind up the old year or bring in the new than an indulgent stay at a luxurious bed and breakfast? From a traditional rustic setting to an unexpected urban retreat, Texas has something for every taste. And speaking of tastes, sometimes the best part of a bed and breakfast is the breakfast. Check out these top picks, book a cozy room, and save a homemade scone for us.
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SAGE HILL INN ABOVE ONION CREEK, KYLE 512.268.1617, 800.356.1605 | Sagehill.com Photography courtesy of Sage Hill Inn Above Onion Creek Conveniently located between Austin and San Antonio, this 20-year-old property on 88 hilltop acres was recently renovated to include a new pool deck, bocce ball court, fire pit, expanded kitchen and on-site spa. Sage Hill adds a delicious twist to the B&B concept with the addition of an evening meal (included), thereby saving guests a trip out for dinner. The lovely herb and vegetable garden provides fresh produce; the fresh cut flowers in the rooms are also home grown. Long tables in the dining room guarantee you will make new friends from all
URBAN HOME AUSTIN – SAN ANTONIO
over (one dinner companion said she makes the trip here every year from London). Miles of biking and hiking surround the inn — pick up a trail map at the office, grab a walking stick and explore the area. There are queen and king guest rooms, spacious suites, and cottages you’ll never want to leave. “The new Maurice’s Coach House is the favorite right now,” says longtime innkeeper Amy Dolan, who checks with each guest to accommodate special diets and other special requests. “It’s the most private, with a stunning bath and a double-sided fireplace.” urbanhomemagazine.com
EVA’S ESCAPE AT THE GARDENIA INN, SAN ANTONIO 210.223.5875, 800.356.1605 | Evasescape.com Photography courtesy of Eva’s Escapes For downtown San Antonio visitors, a location doesn’t get much better than this award-winning jewel in the heart of Southtown and its historic King William District. The stately 1905 Greek revival home-turned-inn is two and a half blocks from the famed River Walk, a ten-minute walk from the Convention Center, and within three blocks of top restaurants like Azuca and Rosario’s. Named for beloved family matriarch Eva Mae Green Williams, the inn continues the fine tradition of Southern hospitality by its gracious owner Deborah Omowale. For a relaxing soak reminiscent of days gone by, ask for a room with a claw foot tub, or have an in-room spa treatment by Namaste Wellness. Full breakfasts feature house specialties like sweet potato waffles and “grandmommy’s” fried chicken, red velvet pancakes, roasted vegetable frittata and homemade buttermilk biscuits. “We put out sweet treats every day and pair wine with them,” says Omowale. Romance is always in the air with wedding packages year round for up to 32 people. Former event planner Omowale also hosts indoor/outdoor parties, showers, meetings and other special events. Or subscribe to Omowale’s philosophy and treat yourself for no reason. “Life,” she says, “is a special event.” urbanhomemagazine.com
SOUTHERN ROSE RANCH, CHAPPELL HILL 979.251.7871, 979.251.4028 | Southernroseranch.com Photography courtesy of Southern Rose Ranch The luxury here is the service, the setting and the sweet hospitality by superb hosts and owners Donna and Steve Cummins. About ten miles from Brenham between Houston and Austin, this charming guest house is set on a picturesque ranch on the Bluebonnet Trail complete with exotic chickens, horses and black-and-white Belted Galloway (“Oreo”) cows right out of a storybook. There are only two suites — the Rose and the Star — both ground floor and beautifully done (the Star has a full kitchen, but the Rose has the Bain Ultra air tub). The small size lends itself to a family feel — a family where “mom” delivers a fresh-made breakfast to your door each morning, that is. Or you can dine in the very cool outdoor kitchen. Donna’s dishes are the highlight of the day — Strawberry Custard French toast or farm fresh Eggs in a Nest. Plenty to do in Washington County (“The Birthplace of Texas”) if you can drag yourself away from the peace and quiet. Elopement and vow renewal packages are popular, and can be arranged with as little as one week’s notice (more is better) complete with intimate ceremony, handmade bouquet, small wedding cake, champagne, crystal, wedding photos and video. Lovely place, lovely people and guests are spoiled rotten. No wonder the cows are so contented. URBAN HOME AUSTIN – SAN ANTONIO
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SUGARBERRY INN, FREDERICKSBURG 830.992.3489 | Sugarberryinn.com Photography by Anne Christian Lorys “I like to say that we’re a block from everything,” says Joe Giardina, who with wife Susan opened Fredericksburg’s newest B&B in 2014 the heart of the most popular Texas Hill Country town. The Inn is actually only a half-block from the popular area wine tour shuttle stop. The main house, owned by Swiss watchmaker Alphons Walter, dates from the late1880s and features two restored and renovated suites — the Hawthorn and the Prairie Willow — decorated by illustrious local interior designer Carol Hicks Bolton. Fredericksburg architect Andrew Bray, AIA, designed the new individual cottages that range from craftsman style, to the historic “Sunday House” design, to a soothing Seaside, Florida look. “We used all local people,” says Giardina, including landscaping by Friendly Natives and builder Ron Ross Custom Homes. Bella Notte linens, Stearns & Foster beds, gas fireplaces, fridge, microwave and jetted tubs for two (in selected cottages) are a few of the amenities. Ground level rooms in the two story cottages have outdoor showers — a favorite feature of former surfer Giardina. A full breakfast buffet is served in the main house’s cellar on weekends; during the week, vouchers are given to area restaurants. Cozy, convenient and a classy addition to the neighborhood. 62
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HOFFMAN HAUS, FREDERICKSBURG 830.997.6739 | Hoffmanhaus.com It’s unusual to find such generous event space at a B&B, but Hoffman Haus’s 2,040-square-foot Great Hall is a welcome exception. The building is a 1840 tobacco barn “brought here piece by piece from Kentucky,” says Annabelle Mode, wedding and events coordinator. The hall and the Texas Garden are favorite venues for weddings, she adds, which require a complete buyout of the property. They hold about 30 weddings a year and also host corporate meetings. When not used for special events, the Great Hall is a hub of activity at the property, with dining room, kitchen and library with books, magazines and DVDs for guests. Upstairs, the old barn loft was renovated into two rooms, the Crockett and the Emily Morgan, with the rest of the accommodations spread around the compound. The two-story, three bedroom, two bath 1905 Farmhouse is a favorite, and full hot breakfasts are delivered in baskets to each doorstep every morning with a chef ’s choice plate. A day spa housed in a cozy cottage offers massages, reflexology, facials, body wraps and sugar scrubs. Sweet. v For more info: Texas Bed and Breakfast Association, Brenham, texasbb.org.
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NEW PRODUCTS
STOCKING THE BAR 1. SachiVino Bags are beautiful insulated wine tote bags designed to transport wine for any occasion. Available in two or three bottle capacity varieties and numerous styles and colors, all totes include an adjustable shoulder strap and a zipper pocket for your wine opener or other items. The two bottle tote has a removable divider that attaches to the inside walls with hook and loop tape, while the three bottle tote has a padded removable tray. Both totes are can be used to carry a variety of different sized bottles. SachiVino Bags. Sachi-bags.com. 2.
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The Perlage Preservation System allows you to enjoy Champagne any time and in any amount, without waste. The home version consists of two parts: an enclosure and a handheld pressurizing mechanism with disposable CO2 cartridges. There is even a custom Dom Perignon Perlage which is in a self contained box with handheld pressurizer and CO2 cartridges, as is the home version. Perlage. Perlagesystems-accessories.com.
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The Discovery WineStation® from Dacor® is the first automated, temperature-controlled, four-bottle wine dispensing and preservation system for the home. It maintains the freshness of your favorite wine selections for up to 60 days without the loss of flavor or natural aroma. Choose the right wine and just the right amount with the touch of a finger. Available at Factory Builder Stores. 512.834.1442, Factorybuilderstores.com.
4. Coravin™ is a transformational wine access technology that allows users to pour wine from any bottle, at any time and in any quantity desired, without ever pulling the cork. This innovative and portable product has changed the way wine is enjoyed, served and sold. Coravin. Coravin.com. Available at Boerne Wine Company. 830.331.9424, Boernewinecompany.com. 5. Ready for a dash of fun with your nightly reading? “A is for Absinthe: A Spirited Book of ABCs” takes a loving but tongue-in-cheek look at the spirits industry, providing a whimsically illustrated education on many of the tools and ingredients used in the trade with a child-friendly twist. Parents and kids alike will be charmed by the witty rhymes and captivating drawings. From muddlers and strainers to orgeat, quinine, and yes, absinthe, “A is for Absinthe” makes for a very happy hour at bedtime. Aisforabsinthe.com.
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A DV E RT I S E R I N D E X
CUSTOM CABINETRY & DESIGN KingWood Fine Cabinetry www.kingwoodcabinets.com 830.990.0565 Swanx www.swanxcabinetry.com 512.809.6226
CUSTOM METAL WORK Christopher Voss Inc. – Fourth Generation Iron Craftsman www.christophervoss.com 210.843.4332
FURNITURE & DESIGN Catrina’s Ranch Interiors www.catrinasranchinteriors.com 830.755.6355 / 210.535.3070 Copenhagen Contemporary Furniture & Accessories www.copenhagenliving.com San Antonio: 210.545.4366 Austin: 512.451.1233 Scott + Cooner www.scottcooner.com Austin: 512.480.0436 Dallas: 214.748.9838
GLASS & WINDOWS Anchor Ventana www.ventanaman.com 512.388.9400 BMC Window Center www.buildwithbmc.com Austin: 512.977.7440 San Antonio: 210.494.8889
HARDWARE Push Pull Open Close www.pushpullopenclose.com 512.694.7762
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HOME BUILDERS
OUTDOOR LIVING
Diamante Custom Homes www.diamantehomes.com 210.341.6430
Big Grass www.biggrassliving.com 210.735.7999
Foursquare Builders www.foursquarebuilders.com 512.944.4520
Cozy Outdoor Escapes www.cozyoutdoorescapes.com 210.276.0734
HOME REMODELING
Timber Town www.timbertownaustin.com 512.528.8112
CG&S Design-Build www.cgsdb.com 512.444.1580
POOLS
Realty Restoration www.realtyrestoration.com 512.454.1661
Artesian Pools www.artesianpoolstx.com 210.251.3211
David Wilkes Builders www.davidwilkesbuilders.com 512.328.9888
Designer Pools & Outdoor Living www.designerpoolstx.com 512.561.4211
INTERIOR DESIGN
Liquid Assets Pools & Landscape www.liquidassets-pools.com Austin: 512.444.5444 San Antonio: 210.680.7665
Bella Villa Design www.bellavillads.com 512.443.3200 Dawn Hearn Interior Design www.dawnhearn.com 512.930.0250 Panache Interiors www.panacheinteriors.com 512.452.7773
KITCHEN & BATH Parrish and Company www.parrishandcompany.com Round Rock: 512.835.0937 San Antonio: 830.980.9595
LIGHTING Lights Fantastic www.lightsfantastic.com 512.452.9511
REAL ESTATE Austin Board of Realtors www.austinhomesearch.com Phyllis Browning Company www.phyllisbrowning.com 210.824.7878
WINDOW COVERINGS & AWNINGS Austintatious Blinds and Shutters www.austintatiousblinds.com 512.608.0302 Texas Sun & Shade www.txsunandshade.com 512.402.0990
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