Urban Home Austin-San Antonio February-March 2015

CELEBRATING INSPIRATIONAL DESIGN AND PERSONAL STYLE

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1 5 F E B / M A R C H

HOME AUSTIN-SAN ANTONIO URBAN

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FROM THE EDITOR The homes featured in this issue were not without their own sets of challenges.

But each is uniquely different while all accomplishing the same goal: to be open, efficient and suitable for each family’s needs. Another common feature resulting from these open floor plans — and just given the way families live — is it’s obvious that everything radiates from the kitchen.

At 2,800 square feet and spanning three levels, this compact, contemporary home designed by architect Nick Mehl feels expansive with a central orientation and free-flowing living spaces. Dealing with a small lot meant the only place to go was up – and down for the basement guests’ room. Museum white walls to display musical instruments and the homeowner’s selection of finishes throughout make for a modern and livable family home.

Kristin Hefty of San Antonio’s Dado Group was challenged with meeting her clients’ goals for separate living areas, bedrooms and guests’ quarters, but rather than designing a huge structure to occupy the equally huge lot, she created three distinct structures combined by glass-enclosed entries. The configuration allows for courtyard space where a two-sided garage doubles as a covered outdoor living area. And the home respects the architecture of neighboring houses.

Adam Wilson knew when he set out to design a home to be featured on San Antonio’s Parade of Homes in The Dominion that it had to be over-the-top and unique. The result is both but with a livable quality that feels modern, extravagant and family-friendly all at the same time. Each room fits a specific need perfectly, and the overall openness of the floor plan makes for fabulous entertaining.

Around town and around the state, arts show season is beginning with several choices to choose from depending on where your itch to travel takes you. And check out the trend of pop-up dinners. True foodies have known about these for some time. They’re everywhere and provide opportunities for chefs to explore other cuisines and menus not available at their restaurants.

Until next time, let’s ride out winter and ring in spring.

EDITOR’S ESSENTIALS 1. GAUCHO GOURMET Sourcing fine foods from Europe and South America, this is a go-to for cheeses, sausages, teas and olive oils.

Their take-out menu features sandwiches, pasta salads and trays, and every Saturday they host a seasonal market showcasing their specialty items and those of guest vendors like Groomer Seafood, Bakery Lorraine and wineries. A wine and cheese café is also in the works for later this year by the Pearl. Gauchogourmet.com 2. TUK TUK TAPROOM The menu of Asian street food is absolutely fabulous. I can’t rave enough about the Thai Shrimp Omelet or Fried Chicken. It’s meant for sharing but really hard to part with. There’s also over 60 craft beers, plus bottles, wines, and teas to pair or simply savor. But don’t leave without ending your meal with their Vietnamese coffee. Served hot or cold, it’s a real treat. Tuktuktaproom.com

3. WALTON’S FANCY AND STAPLE This shop is a true gem. What began as a florist in the 60s has evolved into a little bit of everything. The floral department is still tops — bridal parties and events are their specialty — but there’s also a state-of-the-art bakery and deli for take-out lunches or to satisfy your sweet tooth — or to cater your event. The century old building amplifies the charm as you browse the selections of coffees, candles, dog treats and other goodies. Waltonsfancyandstaple.com

Trisha Doucette

On The Cover: With a small lot and grand goals, architect Nick Mehl designed a creative and efficient three-level home with multiple entertainment and living areas, and beautiful finishes selected by the homeowner’s dedicated research. Page 20

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4. GUTEN CO Over in Fredericksburg, Sarah Sauer and Molly Rodgers decided to buy a Chandler and Price platen press made in 1914 to print their custom stationary, note cards and other paper goods. The result is brilliant.

Their designs are beautiful and creative, and it doesn’t stop with paper. Almost everything on their website is handmade by those two, including woven pillows and wall hangings. Gutenco.com urbanhomemagazine.com

2015 | VOL. 10 | NO. 1 Publisher Louis Doucette Editor Trisha Doucette Contributing Editors Barb Cooper – ABOR Catrina Kendrick – Catrina’s Ranch Interiors Contributing Writers Claudia Alarcon, Jackie Benton, Julie Catalano, Mauri Elbel, Dana W. Todd Photography Tre Dunham, Casey Dunn, Mark Menjivar, Siggi Ragnar 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 2015 by Urban Home Magazine. All Rights Reserved.

February / March 2015

CONTENTS

cover

20 Urban Heights Photography by Tre Dunham

featured homes

28 Building Blocks Photography by Mark Menjivar

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36 A Modern French Chateau Photography by Siggi Ragnar

highlights

44 Kitchen And Bathroom Renovation

departments Why This Space Works 46 Designer Spotlight: Casey Roy of Casey Roy Interior Design

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Commercial Design 50 The Preserve Kitchen + Bar at Travaasa® Austin New Masters 54 God, Texas, Family: Richard Schmidt Jewelry Design Food Design 58 Culinary Pop-Ups Fabulous Finds 60 Spring Into Art

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New Products 64 Kitchen Gadgets Contributing Editors 52 Catrina Kendrick, Catrina’s Ranch Interiors 56 Barb Cooper, ABOR 66 Advertiser Index

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URBAN HEIGHTS This modern, three-level Travis Heights home

rises above expectations with a central-orientation that is both compact and comfortable.

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ith a small downtown lot and the city’s restrictive zoning ordinances, Element 5 Architecture principal Nick Mehl knew he faced a challenge when designing this modern three-level home tucked in Austin’s eclectic Travis Heights neighborhood.

“We knew it would be difficult to get everything our clients wanted in this home,” says Mehl of the 2,800-square-foot, three-bedroom, four-and-a-half-bathroom house complete with a basement guest space and roof deck. “But somehow we did.”

When the Anderson family sold their 1930’s craftsman-style Hyde Park home within 20

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By MAURI ELBEL Photography by TRE DUNHAM

a day of hitting the market, they were uncertain of their next step.

“We couldn’t find a house on the market that met our needs and contemplated major renovation projects before landing on the idea of building, but we lucked into the lot and location,” says Cindy Anderson of their centrally-located property just blocks from downtown.

While they were unsure of where or what their next house would be, what they envisioned was crystal clear. After sharing less than 1500 square feet of space with their two teenage children for years, the urbanhomemagazine.com

family’s main design goals included an open living plan, multiple entertainment areas, separate spaces for their son and daughter and a basement guest space where they can occasionally house a visiting band of musicians. After scouring design sites like Houzz and reading online reviews of Austin-area architects, Anderson was drawn to Mehl for his creative designs and environmentally conscious building ethic.

“After our first visit we knew that Nick was exactly the right professional for the project,” she says.

With no time to waste, Mehl credits the fast design turn-around to his clients’ clear goals, vision and direction which helped him to maximize everything they wanted on the tight site.

“The Anderson’s clarity allowed them to get to the heart of what they wanted very fast,” says Mehl. “They had a very clear program and direction for what rooms they wanted, how they wanted to use them and how they wanted those rooms to interact with the other spaces in the house. Because we were able URBAN HOME AUSTIN – SAN ANTONIO

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Despite its modest footprint, the centrally-oriented home features free-flowing living spaces while capitalizing on their downtown and neighboring views.

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to get very clear ideas from the beginning and they didn’t waiver, it made the process that much easier.”

The Anderson’s didn’t have to search for a construction team; they called on local builder and friend Rob Clinchard who had completed numerous renovations on their previous home and had impressed them with his craftsmanship, professionalism and attention to detail. While their new home would be his first modern project, the Anderson’s say they urbanhomemagazine.com

never doubted his ability to create what Cindy now refers to as “his finest masterpiece.”

With a lot, builder and architect secured, the team got to work. Conceived to maximize the potential of its urban lot –– measuring just 5,500 square feet –– Mehl realized there was nowhere to go but up. Despite its modest footprint, the centrally-oriented home features free-flowing living spaces while capitalizing on their downtown and neighboring views.

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“We had to be super efficient in the way we laid out the house,” says Mehl. “The vertical circulation of the house is centralized, there are minimal hallway spaces, and in a 2,800-square-foot home, that orientation goes a long way.”

But in addition to efficiency, the home’s central orientation also doubles as a passive cooling strategy, relying on a vertical chimney effect which allows heat to rise and escape through the highest point of the house: the roof deck.

“At the end of the day they can come home from work and flush out the house really quickly by opening that door –– and the A/C has to work a little less hard during Austin summers,” says Mehl.

A commercial aluminum storefront window system is featured at the entry of the stucco and Hardie® siding house while largescale windows featured throughout flood the home’s interior with light. The home’s brightness is enhanced by museum white walls and 10-foot ceilings, giving the impression of a much larger space. Anderson didn’t hire a designer, rather she 24

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thoughtfully selected finishes and furnishings that spoke to her family’s musical interests and modern-meets-functional tastes.

“Admittedly I’m not an interior designer, however, I know what I like and don’t and have become a die hard HGTV and DIY network enthusiast, veritable Houzz stalker and subscription owner of essentially every house and design-related publication available on the market or Internet,” she says.

Despite some initial skepticism about the decision to forego a professional, Anderson’s well-thought out ideas and meticulously chosen furnishings and finishes are one of the home’s strongest attributes. The family’s musical interests are conveyed through an artistic display of their collection of acoustic and electric guitars, spaced along a canvas of blank white walls. Gray couches and black ottomans from Nest Modern and gray and red midcentury modern chairs from Five Elements Furniture create an eye-catching yet cozy seating area in the center of the living room.

From the smallest details to the most significant selections, urbanhomemagazine.com

The family’s musical interests are conveyed through an artistic display of their collection of acoustic and electric guitars, spaced along a canvas of blank white walls.

Anderson’s design savvy is at play. The compact but high-traffic laundry area sports her favorite and most expensive tile selection at $75 per square foot. She selected oil-rubbed engineered Navarre oak floors from Hardwood Bargains, a beautiful and forgiving choice in a home occupied by kids and pets. When she found out Navarre didn’t manufacture the modern style of stair treads the design called for, she commissioned Clinchard and his team of carpenters to create matching treads on the open riser staircase which is now undeniably a key element of the home.

The contemporary and clean-lined aesthetic of the Anderson’s custom-designed home was actually dictated by their unique dining table: an 8-foot by 4-foot custom piece crafted out of recycled metal from auto hoods by Weld House, a company based in Arizona. The sleek table seats 10 but doubles as the home’s statement piece of artwork. Finding the perfect chairs to go with it took Anderson months, but she selected custom chairs with legs that featured the same metal finish, a wood back complementary of the Navarre flooring and an upholstery fabric that was comfortable, attractive and easy to clean from Five Elements.

“Aside from the table, which was ordered before the preliminary design stage, the other major influence to the architectural urbanhomemagazine.com

design on the first floor was our interest in having a kitchen with commercial appliances, an open concept and little to no upper cabinets,” says Anderson. “The kitchen is the culmination of years of dreaming and planning for a commercial kitchen that allows my husband to indulge his passion for cooking and mine for baking.”

Exposed shelves, secret storage and floor to ceiling windows create a light, streamlined look in the kitchen punctuated by high-end appliances like the 60-inch Wolf® range featuring six burners, a flat-top grille and two full-size ovens. Anderson searched long and hard for a stylish, sophisticated countertop that no one else possessed until she finally found what she was looking for: a natural stone called “Silver Snake” that reminds her of the pattern of tree growth rings. The stone is featured on the countertops and waterfall island and contrasts brilliantly with Porcelanosa white tile backsplash that has a subtle texture that mimics tree bark. Together, the finishes work to bring the nature and numerous oak trees seen outside into the interior space.

This neutral yet modern palette continues throughout the house. Interlocking black and white tile pattern and solid Jadestone countertops provide a statement look in the master bathroom, complete with separate his and her vanity areas that URBAN HOME AUSTIN – SAN ANTONIO

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span 11 feet. In the basement bathroom, the Anderson’s opted for a more industrial modern look with exposed plumbing and a stainless copper sink. The Anderson’s children each contributed to the design of their own spaces.

“We knew from the beginning that with two teenagers who are four years apart and different genders, we needed two distinct spaces that allowed them to sleep, play, relax and bathe separately,” says Anderson.

Their son’s bedroom features a loft space –– a special hideaway accessed by metal steps and handrails with a skylight out to the roof deck where he can relax with his iPad, a comic book or just revel in his own world. Their daughter’s bedroom and bathroom space was designed to be a second master suite which will function as a guest space once she leaves for college in the fall.

The home’s classic foursquare orientation paired with an unwavering devotion to its design proves how practicality and personal style can merge together to create a light and airy dwelling that speaks to a family’s lifestyle and tastes.

“As soon as you walk in, this home just feels like a really easy place to live,” says Mehl. v ARCHITECT Element 5 Architecture 512.473.8228 | Element5architecture.com BUILDER Avenue Construction 512.587.8812 26

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BUILDING

BLOCKS

By JULIE CATALANO | Photography by MARK MENJIVAR

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For some, a spacious corner lot might seem ideal for a massive, monolithic structure to occupy the available space. But the young clients of Dado Group’s principal architect, Kristin Hefty, had something else in mind: a unique residence that would lead multiple lives – as a private respite, gathering place and haven for overnight guests. The result was a creative collaboration that was definitely out of the box. urbanhomemagazine.com

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efty, with the San Antonio design and build firm, started with the homeowners’ wish list. “Listening to them and the way they live, we conceived an area that was a large public space for family and entertaining, one that was a private retreat for our clients and their children and a separate space for housing guests.” These became the three basic elements of the project — living area, bedrooms and guests’ quarters — explains Hefty, who worked with in-house project designers Luis Vargas and Ryan Schmidt on the custom home north of San Antonio.

“Our design intent was to break up the massing of the structure to better integrate the home to the site,” says Hefty.

“We wanted to design to an intimate scale that would be more sensitive to the neighborhood.” The clients particularly wanted a 30

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low-profile design that would blend in with the existing historic nature of the neighborhood, and loved the block idea as long as it did not overpower the surrounding scale.

Hefty’s stylish linchpin was a glass-enclosed entryway with a raw steel staircase that spanned the home’s two levels and subtly tied everything together. “It was designed to make it look like it was joining two structures already on the lot,” says David Mills, owner of Mills Custom Homes in New Braunfels. The use of low-e (low emissivity) glass in the stairwell and throughout the house effectively insulates without sacrificing natural light. “The air conditioning in that entryway space rarely kicks on,” says Mills. The staircase — along with all of the indoor and outdoor steelwork — was treated with Penetrol “to give it a patina and prevent rusting,” says Mills. urbanhomemagazine.com

The 5,556-square-foot brick and wood home also features Hardie® siding, with an architecturally inspired twist. “There’s a piece of Z flashing in between each piece to give more definition to the siding and make it different from your typical Hardie siding job,” says Mills. Old Texas brick was sourced at Brick Selections in San Antonio. The roof is a Kynar 500 painted metal roof in charcoal. Protective overhangs of wood and steel that Hefty calls “eyelids,” funnel light to the interior from the sides and from the unique cupola that extends across much of the main living area. Exterior wood beams were made of Douglas fir stained with Sikkens Hazelnut stain, and the steel beams were custom made by Holt Contracting in New Braunfels.

Unquestionably the centerpiece of the L-shaped floor plan is an impressive great room, where the eye is drawn upwards urbanhomemagazine.com

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to an even more impressive wood ceiling, which was not without its challenges. “We had trouble finding a truss company that would manufacture them,” says Mills, “so they were custom designed, engineered, and built on site, then lifted in with a crane.” The interior Douglas fir wood beams were also stained with Sikkens Hazelnut like the exterior ones. In between the beams, the pine tongue-in-groove was stained with Sikkens Cape Cod. The great room flows seamlessly through the dining area and into the bright, airy kitchen.

Stainless steel countertops nicely complement the crisp look of the kitchen island made of quartzite from Delta Granite in San Antonio.

Generous lower drawers and cabinets provide ample storage, including on the kitchen island where tools and supplies are close at hand. The noticeable absence of upper kitchen cabinets was the homeowner’s idea, admitting he has an aversion to clutter. Instead, floating shelves 32

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made from the same material as the floors — eight-inch hickory with a natural sealant — grace either side of the sink.

Wood plays a major role in this house as there is not a speck of sheetrock — all of the walls are #2 pine, either painted or sealed. Hefty calls it “one of the house’s coolest features” and one that came about by chance: the homeowners had visited a friend’s renovated farmhouse with all wood walls and decided that sheetrock-free was the way to go.

That decision turned into a painstaking and timeconsuming job, but well worth it, says Mills. “Normally you would sheetrock to the edges of the door jamb and then have casing to cover the gap between the door and the sheetrock.”

Without casing, “we ran all of our shiplap just up to the edge of the jamb. It was a nice architectural detail that took a lot of precision.” It also had a practical aspect to it, he adds. “With wood there’s no patching or repairing like with sheetrock. If you’re moving furniture and run into the walls, the dents just add character to the wood.”

Although most of the home’s interior wood walls are painted, the light-filled garage apartment features a whimsical reversal: the oak floors are painted, and the walls are left natural with urbanhomemagazine.com

only a clear sealant. From an overall design standpoint, says Hefty, the “wood really warms up the house,” putting to rest the myth that a modern style home is cold or uncomfortable.

“You can have clean lines and be simple and different and still be comfortable.”

The exterior palette of natural colors also adds warmth and creates a smooth transition between inside and outside. The lot itself evokes a country ambience, although maneuvering around a massive oak tree and other existing foliage presented challenges to the design and construction. In addition to patches of manicured lawn, a landscape designer worked in native bushes, shrubs and trees for an almost wild look that helps to blur the lines between the home and the site. A charmingly rustic hog wire and Douglas fir fence encircles the front part of the home; the back fence is made of cedar.

For outdoor entertaining, Hefty and the homeowners came up with a way to maximize the yard’s small size. Double doors in the garage — opening on one side to the driveway, and on the other side to the backyard — allows them to simply back out the cars, close the driveway side, open the other end and create a “covered patio” that cleverly extends the outdoor living space.

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To say that the homeowners are thoroughly enjoying their new surroundings is an understatement. “The house absolutely met our expectations,” they say. One nice surprise was the masterful lighting by lighting designer Joe Kaplan of Texlights, Inc. and the ability to “subtly adjust to just about any circumstance. Joe is a ninja.” Recalling their original wish list item to “make guests feel like they had the best room at the inn,” has proven to be more than successful. “Our friends and family almost always stay a day or two longer than they’d planned.” v 34

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ARCHITECT Dado Group 210.828.4599 | Dado-group.com BUILDER Mills Custom Homes 210.618.3127 | Davidmillscustomhomes.com urbanhomemagazine.com

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A MODERN

FRENCH CHATEAU

By DANA W. TODD | Photography by SIGGI RAGNAR

The best part about walking through a Parade of Homes route is seeing all the ideas we can incorporate into our own homes or even perhaps finding the perfect new home to purchase. Sometimes a Parade Home is extra special. One such home was showcased in the 2014 San Antonio Parade of Homes held in The Dominion, an upscale gated master-planned community in San Antonio spread over more than 1,500 acres. Designed and built by Adam Wilson Custom Homes, the house won six awards: best exterior elevation, best landscaping, best outdoor entertainment, best site design, best kitchen and best master suite.

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he builder spent much time thinking about how to make this house comfortable and livable for a family yet gracious enough in design to be called a European manor. There is plenty of indoor space — 4,605 square feet with five bedrooms and five-and-a-half bathrooms on two levels — but designed in a smart, controlled way.

The toughest challenge in designing this house was the extremely short Parade timeframe, says Adam Wilson of Adam Wilson Custom Homes, who coordinated his vendors to complete the project in five months.

“We knew this home was going to be on the Parade,” he says, “and it’s always a challenge to design something new 38

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that hasn’t been seen before. Our established supplier and contractor relationships were important to achieve this timetable. I think we completed two months of work in the last two weeks of construction.”

Despite the challenge, Wilson says this home meets all the original design goals set for it. Its French Chateau exterior gives the grand feel of venerable European manors, while the clean, contemporary lines inside the house provide an organized and comfortable environment for a family.

The majority of the Parade honors conferred on this house were for exterior elements. The site design award, for example, rewarded the builder’s smart use of the land to boost the urbanhomemagazine.com

home’s family-friendly status. By situating the manor on a small cul-de-sac located in a part of The Dominion with only four neighbors, the home provides a safer place for children to play as well as a quieter environment. A formal landscape in the front yard, for which the builder won another award, provides plenty of off-street parking and leads to a separate home office entrance so work and family can coexist yet remain separated.

“A north-south orientation is important so the Western sun is not beating down on the outdoor living spaces,” says Wilson about the backyard lounging and pool areas.

By adding an outdoor kitchen and TV, Wilson’s team urbanhomemagazine.com

completed a backyard escape with special attention to providing privacy from neighboring lots.

Thoughtful attention to the existing lot’s topography enabled Wilson to provide a deck space off the master bedroom despite steeply sloping land where it is located. And by adding native plants and minimizing sod, he provided a low-maintenance landscape that any family could enjoy.

Although many of the exterior materials on the house were a challenge to source because of their uniqueness, Wilson felt they were important to keep the French Chateau feel. Large masonry stones laid in a brick pattern with a special “smeared” mortar are reminiscent of European sensibility. Cast stone URBAN HOME AUSTIN – SAN ANTONIO

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banding provides a more authentic feel than the typical stucco might achieve. Special touches such as copper on the chimney pots and on the cupola are in keeping with the time period the house is meant to evoke. Concrete tile on the roof mimics wood shakes in true chateau form, especially with their unique application in a staggered pattern. One further detail — dormers — changes the roofline to add exterior interest and even interior ceiling detail.

Wilson was able to meld the more traditional exterior with a contemporary interior by updating the standard French Chateau colorway into a more modern version of grey, white and the added warmth of wood. Solid hardwood floors throughout the main floor, including a chevron pattern in the dining room, warm up the sleek grey countertops, grey tile backsplashes, and grey fireplace surrounds. In-house designer Danah Chreitah added hints of black in furniture and fixtures to keep the space grounded. Transitional wooden cabinets in the kitchen and bathrooms and distressed flooring in the study, dining, living, urbanhomemagazine.com

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bar, main master bedroom and hall provide the remodeled, modern feel Wilson and Chreitah were trying to achieve.

Additional touches of stained alder wood on the window sashes help tone down the coolness of the color palette.

Surface textures also contribute to the contemporary interior design.

“The marble and granite countertops feel clean and bright and contribute to the feel of open spaces,” says Chreitah. “The marble in the kitchen provides a French Chateau touch.”

The marble is extended onto the backsplash in the kitchen and mixed with glass mosaic tile for a fresh look.

Other touches integrate the more traditional exterior with the contemporary interior design, such as the iron doors that lead to the backyard and the front yard. Evocative of French manor style, the iron-paned glass doors also modernize the flow of the house by bringing the outside in and vice versa.

Although Adam Wilson Custom Homes is known for building contemporary houses, this French Chateau is somewhat of 42

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a departure for the company, which is the whole point of its development. Using what the company knows and combining that with an unexpected traditional exterior unlike so many of the Tuscan and Mediterranean houses currently being built in San Antonio brings life to the house and the community.

The house is truly designed for family and entertaining. Its open floor plan, which includes a large kitchen, built-in bar, large bathrooms and two master suites, is an attractive option for the homeowner interested in family and fun.

“Square footage doesn’t describe the house,” says Wilson. “It feels much larger due to minimized wasted space. It lives like 6,000 square feet and has plenty of closet space.

“We didn’t want to just build a house to be big. It’s a rightsized home for the market.” v DESIGN-BUILD Adam Wilson Custom Homes San Antonio: 210.314.1146 | Austin: 512.553.2009 Adamwilsonhomes.com 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

KITCHEN AND BATHROOM RENOVATION:

REALITY VS REALITY TV

By DANA W. TODD | Photography courtesy of PARRISH & COMPANY, INC.

Admit it. You’ve watched a reality TV show where a bathroom or kitchen renovation took place in eight hours at a budget level that was minimally invasive to the homeowner. Then you compared the timeline and budget to the remodeling quotes you received from a local contractor who quoted your job. You shook your head and wondered how the TV design

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and construction experts did it. It’s time we set the record straight.

et’s face it: If it only took eight hours to renovate an entire kitchen, we’d all tackle the project a lot sooner.

When the progression of a homeowner’s project is watched by thousands or even millions of TV viewers, it’s much easier to get vendors to show up on time at a specified hour, and it’s simpler to schedule inspections and pull permits in time for the cameraman to capture the excitement. The harsh reality is that not every vendor and government inspector responds immediately, and they certainly don’t routinely work into the wee hours of the night.

“It’s all a bit of an illusion,” says Michele DeCorby, designer and kitchen and bath remodeler and owner of Swanx Fine Cabinetry & Interiors. “A large team works for weeks ahead of the show to select the location, pre-plan the remodel, and line up all the trades so the TV show host/designer can get in and out of there. The blue tape stuff doesn’t get done until weeks after the show, and the host doesn’t do all the design work. There’s a whole team behind him or her.”

TV budgeting and real-life budgeting take decidedly different turns. Television producers don’t disclose to viewers that project materials usually are heavily discounted from suppliers and probably won’t be available to other homeowners in the future at that price point. Labor charges usually aren’t factored into the budget equation either, so many homeowners experience sticker shock when they begin to renovate their kitchens or bathrooms.

“You have to understand on TV the producers are looking 44

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for sponsorships with the countertops, flooring, and cabinet manufacturers. This is great exposure for brands,” says Greg Vannostran of TOPS Kitchens & Baths. “In my previous job with Silestone®, I received many calls from producers looking for donations to appear on their shows.

“My best advice on any home improvement project is to measure all the variables of importance to your needs,” Vannostran continues. “Too often price outweighs the other variables...It’s like going to a car dealership and asking for the price of a car. Yes, you are comparing cars, but you also have to compare the manufacturer who built the car. Your project is custom fit to your home, and the material is just a component.

Quality of services and craftsmanship can vary. In most cases, you are only looking at a five percent variance between highmiddle-low [product choices]. In most cases, you get what you pay for.”

“Being forthcoming with your budget helps us save time and energy for the homeowner in the long run,” says Kelly Parrish Walker of Parrish & Company, a distributor of home products. “Be honest with yourself about what you are willing to spend, and we can go from there. Homeowners sometimes are skeptical about giving a dollar amount, but our job is to research and find products for your situation. We want you to stay within your budget.”

DeCorby advises homeowners to include a 15 to 20 percent cushion in their budgets for surprises during the remodeling urbanhomemagazine.com

process, at least one of which always appears. On the other hand, she says, having a designer is not a luxury. Like displayed on TV, designers help clients save money by using the power of their knowledge and research methodologies to find the best value in furniture, cabinetry, countertops and accessories for their clients. Often a designer will become a positive part of the budget, saving enough money elsewhere for homeowners to add one more feature they can’t live without.

Another misnomer seen on TV relates to product availability, according to Walker. Often, homeowners see products they would like to purchase for their own renovation projects, but those products are out of budgetary reach when costly charges are added to cover long-distance shipping.

“Look at the local showrooms,” Walker says. “You can find similar products locally, where there is a great pool of resources.

Be open, and you can find a similar product to achieve the same look more cost-effectively.”

Remember, saving money by shopping locally is a way to add a realistic edge to your remodeling budget, but don’t expect a room renovation in a day’s time. It takes time to wade through the urbanhomemagazine.com

overwhelming number of product choices. Although a designer can help, says DeCorby, it still takes time to go shopping with the designer and wait for samples.

Learn from the reality shows by observing the wide range of solutions available to solve tricky design challenges, but remember not to place too much emphasis on the timeline and budgetary details explained on these TV shows. Instead, apply realistic expectations to real renovation situations to experience your own happy ending. v PARRISH & COMPANY, INC. Austin: 512.835.0937 San Antonio: 830.980.9595 | 210.255.1125 Parrishandcompany.com SWANX FINE CABINETRY & INTERIORS 512.809.6226 | Swanxcabinetry.com TOPS KITCHENS & BATHS 512.344.9160 | 512.800.9637 | Topskb.com URBAN HOME AUSTIN – SAN ANTONIO

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works WHY THIS

SPACE

By MAURI ELBEL | Photography by CASEY DUNN

Designer Spotlight: Casey Roy of Casey Roy Interior Design

Casey Roy, owner of Casey Roy Interior Design, believes design should be reflective of a client’s personality and lifestyle. “We focus on capturing our client’s vision for the project and create a beautiful finished space that works for how they live,” says Roy. “No matter the style our clients love, we strive to make a fabulous design statement for each of our projects.” The San Antoniobased designer’s philosophy shines through in this contemporary Hill Country project completed in 2012. Nestled in a community enclave north of San Antonio, Roy designed this second home for clients whose extended family she had worked with on a number of previous projects. Read on to find out how Roy combined an array of warm neutrals –– creamy ivory, gold, gray, beige, black, tan and mushroom –– punctuated with bold art selections and adventurous statement pieces to create a stylish, luxurious and functional space that speaks to this young family’s interests.

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urbanhomemagazine.com

Please tell us about the design objectives your clients envisioned for this space.

CR: These clients are design aficionados; they have a keen decorative sense. They wanted an artful home to reflect their own personality and lifestyle. We took note of their expectations and the fact they are an active family with three young children.

The project schedule was rigorous, but was energetic and upbeat every step of the way. The newly-constructed home was a builder’s spec house and our client wanted to upgrade the lighting, paint and audio/visual components. Their challenge to us was to furnish it so it would be stylish and unique. The house came with the builder’s standard lighting package which was not in line with their aesthetic –– we knew selecting new light fixtures would be a key element to adding style to this home and allowing the design vision to come alive. Also, the clients knew they would never use the formal dining room as such so we created a study/sitting room in place of the formal dining.

What was the overall aesthetic of their second home, and what did you do to fluidly tie in this particular space with the rest of the rooms in the house?

CR: This home has a contemporary, warm vibe. A savvy mix of clean lines, bold sculptural pieces and fun elements drive this design. The radius of the floor plan allows the spaces to flow effortlessly into one another and the design needed to follow suit. Each room is a thoughtful extension of the one before it.

I love the artwork and seating you selected for this space. Please elaborate on some of your favorite finds and statement pieces that truly “make” this space.

CR: The art selections for this home were carefully calibrated to balance out the design of each room. Large-scale art with bold color, defined texture and intriguing subjects was selected to add style and serve as statement pieces. In the sitting room, limited metal finishes called for the series of antique gold, sculptural pieces. In the living room, the moody colors of the large canvas complement everything that is going on in the space and adds just enough color. The dining room needed something with an eclectic flavor, and the abstract, black-on-white prints did the job fabulously. Another one of our favorite pieces includes the star-shaped upholstered ottoman in the sitting room –– it’s so fun. Also, the lucite cocktail table in the living room is a timeless piece that can easily be inserted in future, re-designed spaces.

Were there any “go-to” lines you gravitated toward when selecting the items and furnishings featured in this space?

CR: The architectural elements of the house are rounded and soft. The curved bay of windows in the living room, the rounded arches and the organic flow of the rooms warrant clean, bold lines for the furniture selections. Yet, in each space, we incorporated pieces that balance the serious edge of the surrounding furnishings. We focused on a variety of statement pieces such as art, decorative lighting, upholstery or accent tables. We scoured showrooms and hand-selected décor that added a wow factor.

For lighting, we turned to Global Views, Arteriors and Visual Comfort. With upholstery, we turned to Kravet®, Hickory Chair and Lee Industries. Case pieces and accent furnishings urbanhomemagazine.com

came from Cyan Design, Global Views, Arteriors, Allan Knight® and Plantation Design. Rugs from Kravet add a soft, luxurious texture to the builder’s standard wood-like tile flooring.

Speaking of windows, what kind of treatments were needed for the ribbon of windows running across the living room?

CR: This home is bathed in natural light. We wanted to capitalize on the Hill Country views and not override the sun-filled spaces. However, the family needed the flexibility of privacy. Also, the high ceilings of the rooms required scaled window coverings to match. Woven shades provide privacy and they diffuse light without eliminating it altogether. Drapery panels are to these rooms what a jazzy, statement necklace is to a little black dress –– they pull everything together. Silk fabrics with beautiful trims provide a sophisticated, luxe look.

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Please tell us a bit about the eye-catching lighting seen above the dining and living areas –– where did you find these fixtures and what was it that drew you to them?

CR: These are sophisticated, design-savvy clients, and their young family allowed us to work in some whimsical elements to make these spaces a little less serious and more fun. The living room features the Caviar chandelier by Arteriors. We love it; it’s perfect for this room. For adults, it’s a cool fixture, but in the eyes of children, it’s like bubbles falling from the sky. The dining room needed a metallic finish with soft lines to balance out the room. The Ruhlmann chandelier, by Visual Comfort, is perfect for this space and a classic design. The sleek sitting room fixture is from Global Views.

How does this completed space now function for the homeowners –– what do they say they love most about it?

CR: This home is a workhorse for our client. The spaces 48

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needed to be beautiful yet functional and multipurpose to handle three children and their lifestyle. Truly a jack of all trades!

Being a second home, they wanted to arrive and enjoy their time while they are in San Antonio. Each space evokes style, drama and gives a nod to fashion. Now that our clients are settled in the home, they have told us they love coming in town. They say that the house is a true reflection of them and they feel inspired when they are here. It’s a testament to how interior design impacts the feeling of a space.

From a design standpoint, why does this space work?

CR: The architectural and decorative details in this home as well as the spatial proximity of these areas work in tandem. The living room, dining room, sitting room and connecting vestibule all have views to one another. Thus, the decorative agenda was to design not by room, but by the house in its entirety. v CASEY ROY INTERIOR DESIGN 210.560.2174 | Caseyroydesign.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

COMMERCIAL n DESIGN

THE PRESERVE KITCHEN + BAR

AT TRAVAASA AUSTIN ®

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By CLAUDIA ALARCON Photography courtesy of TRAVAASA AUSTIN

estled in the countryside at the edge of the Hill Country, Travaasa is an experiential resort unlike anything else in the area. With a privileged view of the hills and completely surrounded by a nature preserve, this is a place where serene beauty mingles with the unique culture of Central Texas. Construction throughout the resort is simple, with an aesthetic that seeks to include local native materials and evoke a feeling of cozy warmth. The facilities were originally designed and built as a conference center, so when the property was converted to a resort, the overall space needed to be re-imagined, rethinking its sense of scale and purpose for the guests. Travaasa Austin resort had a grand dining room, but needed a welcoming bar for guests of the hotel and spa.

Travaasa recruited designer/architect Dwayne Mann from Mann & Mann Architects, Inc., to redesign its fine dining venue and create The Preserve Kitchen + Bar. Mann, who is also credited with designing Jack Allen’s Kitchen, was chosen for the project because his aesthetic perfectly fit Travaasa’s farm50

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to-cocktail concept. His team was comprised of wife and fellow architect Kelly Mann, Janice Simbala-Kelly and Pat Nicholson.

“The existing building had a single large public space which was beautiful but felt cavernous, and actually had a surplus of area for dining and no spatial separation between dining and the lounge in front of the fireplace,” says Mann. “Enhancing the guest’s experience was always the underlying theme, so our recommendations went beyond just adding a bar to creating a whole new sense of place for the building. Travaasa embraced the suggestions and we teamed up with local contractor Pinnacle Construction of Austin to bring it to fruition.”

A bar was needed to compliment the resort’s culinary program, and to create a place for mixology classes and wine tastings. They also needed wine storage, so the team designed display cases that are integrated into the composition to highlight their serious collection. “We located the bar to compliment and highlight the existing architecture while breaking it down into a more intimate dining area, bar and fireplace lounge,” explains Mann. urbanhomemagazine.com

“We chose materials that are part of the regional vernacular, such as mesquite for the bar top and backbar wall, reclaimed long leaf pine flooring for the curved wall that divides the space, and limestone to match the type already found on the building.

In smaller portions, we also used honest materials such as raw steel and cork. We worked with a local metal shop to create the organically patterned, rusty steel bar front.”

As is the case with any such project, challenges arose. Logistics included how to build a bar in the middle of a large room and remodel the overall space with minimal intrusion to resort guests. As far as design, the team had to figure out how to respect the existing architectural integrity of the space while providing creative solutions for spatial and functional requirements. “Key to the overall new design was removing layers of too many kinds of lighting that had been added over the years prior to becoming a resort,” says Mann. “We repurposed some light fixtures, but removed quite a few.” They were replaced with two large customdesigned and fabricated blackened steel chandeliers, customurbanhomemagazine.com

designed translucent pendant fixtures, and backlit wall sconces that feature three native tree leaf patterns — oak, pecan and redbud. “We also installed concealed cove lighting that uplights the existing beauty of the wood ceiling and structure, and replaced the dining tables with locally made, custom-designed pecan wood tables for a warmer feeling.”

The result is truly stunning. As guests walk into The Preserve they are now met by a lovely curving bar, suggestive of a wine barrel, with a backdrop of floor-to-ceiling windows with an unmatched view of the Hill Country landscape. Because it was designed to be an experience area, fresh fruit and herbs adorn the back wall and provide the materials for Travaasa’s mixology classes and fresh signature cocktails, which change seasonally. Most of all, it’s a place where guests can mingle, make new friends, and feel completely at home. As Mann proudly states, “we believe — and guests appear to confirm — that the remodeling efforts create places for the guests that are warm, inviting, personal and luxurious in an understated way. And totally Texan!” v RESTAURANT/BAR The Preserve Kitchen + Bar at Travaasa Austin 877.261.7792 | Travaasa.com ARCHITECT Mann & Mann Architects, Inc. 512.912.7994 | Mannarchitects.com BUILDER Pinnacle Construction of Austin, Inc. 512.448.4838 | Pinnacleaustin.com URBAN HOME AUSTIN – SAN ANTONIO

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DECORATOR’S ADVICE

TRAVERTINE FOR KITCHENS AND BATHS

By Catrina Kendrick, Catrina’s Ranch Interiors

Cabinets + Countertops

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ew home designs are including more natural materials like rock, exposed wood beams and copper.

These materials add warmth and soften the edges of more contemporary designs.

In particular, travertine is regaining the popularity that it garnered a few years ago.

Used in Italy and Turkey for thousands of years, it is now available worldwide and desired for use on counters, backsplashes, flooring, carved fireplaces and architectural pieces.

TRAVERTINE Travertine is a type of limestone created when minerals have dissolved in the ground water and then get moved by natural rivers and streams above ground. Travertine comes in a variety of colors from ivory, to beige, to reddish brown, and even gold — depending on how much iron is present. It is mined in large blocks from quarries and cut as needed — it is actually easier to cut than many other stones. It also comes in different finishes such as polished, matte, brushed or tumbled. Polished travertine resembles marble and brushed or tumbled travertine has a more antiqued look. Honed travertine means that the natural holes have been filled in.

704 N. Lamar, Austin 512.344.9160

www.topskb.com

TRAVERTINE VS PORCELAIN Travertine is beautiful to look at, but it has other advantages as well. The main advantage to using travertine tile over porcelain tile is this: if you need to replace a tile or two down the line, your chances of finding a travertine tile that looks close enough to fit in with your existing tiles is much easier. If you had to replace pieces of porcelain tile, the tiles would be more difficult to match. Another advantage to using travertine over porcelain is its ability to be cut and shaped more easily. This means you can fill spaces that are small or oddly shaped. Travertine tile is more environmentally sound than porcelain tile since it is made from a natural material while porcelain is not. Builders are not only using travertine in kitchens and baths but on patio surfaces as well. With a matte finish, it is not slippery and allows for continuous flooring inside and out, making the space feel larger.

When properly sealed, it is fairly easy to care for. v I hope that this has been helpful and informative. We love the fact that travertine seems to go with everything. After installing your new floor, come see us for the perfect rug and furnishings at Catrina’s Ranch Interiors in Boerne, Texas! 830.755.6355 / 210.535.3070, Catrinasranchinteriors.com.

Elegant Ranch Designs at Affordable Prices

Catrina’s

Ranch Interiors

When Imagination Matters . . .

The furniture and drapery in this room was custom designed and built by Catrina’s Ranch Interiors

If you can dream it, we can build it!

31300 IH-10 West (exit 543 across from Toyota) • Boerne, Texas 78006 830.755.6355 • 210.535.3070 • www.CatrinasRanchInteriors.com

GOD, TEXAS, FAMILY:

Richard Schmidt’s Roots Run Deep

By JACKIE BENTON Photography courtesy of RICHARD SCHMIDT

T

o wear jewelry by Richard Schmidt is to wear a little bit of the history and personal experiences of the jewelry designer’s life. Schmidt’s work stands out, summoning a unique balance between strong iconic images and subtle textures.

Tooled metal evokes thoughts of the rugged Texas landscape, while dramatic religious figures bring to mind thoughts of the faith and grit required of settlers such as Schmidt’s forebears, who chose to homestead in this wild, untamed land.

Schmidt’s dramatic designs have captured the eyes, hearts and imaginations of many, as well as celebrities such as Sheryl Crow, Steven Tyler, Mary Emmerling and Miranda Lambert. Each piece is reflective of the man who honors his German roots while embracing Native American and Mexican influences. In many ways, the stories that are told with Schmidt’s designs could be considered more than his own story — they are the stories of Texas itself.

Growing up a fourth generation Texan in La Grange, Texas, Schmidt remembers looking forward to the annual summer trip to the family’s vacation home in Colorado. “We would always stop in Santa Fe or Albuquerque, and I remember as a kid wanting to stay there longer. It was the first time I saw turquoise, always set in silver, and that was my first introduction to Southwest design,” Schmidt recalls.

Later, Schmidt’s parents purchased a jewelry store when he was in high school. At the time, Schmidt wasn’t interested in the family business. He was, however, very interested in art and 54

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discovered metalworking in college. “I have an art minor, and I found I really liked working with metals.”

After graduating from college, Schmidt moved to El Paso, and rediscovered his childhood love of Southwest art. “I just found myself immersed in the old Mexican culture of the city,” he says. “Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) was not well known back then, and I was really taken with what a wonderful event it is. It’s a family day, with food and drink and a big celebration of the past life of a loved one. There’s a party and a parade and skeleton masks — it flows into old Catholic Church and Mexican history that I really love.”

After living many years in El Paso, Schmidt and his wife Janet decided it was time to pack up and move back to La Grange, where they wanted to raise their family in Schmidt’s beloved small town. And, after moving back to his hometown, Schmidt approached his father and asked for help in pursuing his love of metalwork. “I really didn’t start doing jewelry until Janet and I moved back to La Grange. Dad reintroduced me to jewelry from the basics up, and through trial and error I started to do my own thing.”

Schmidt’s “own thing” is a marvelous blend of a new look at the old Southwestern influences. Schmidt’s metalwork background from school and his father’s teachings have given him a firm foundation in jewelry benchwork. Drawing upon his past experiences has helped him create his signature jewelry.

“It changes all the time,” Schmidt says. “Some days I’m working and all kinds of ideas pop into my head. Whenever we travel through West Texas and New Mexico, I get a lot of energy.

We’ll be out there about a week, and I can’t wait to get home and start making jewelry. I get lots of positive energy and ideas there, and it’s great to get out of my normal element and recharge.”

That inspirational time away makes Schmidt’s creative mind come alive when he returns. “It’s kind of weird: I start putting things together. My favorite pieces typically have a lot of balance and symmetry.”

Of all his pieces, Schmidt confesses he enjoys working on cuffs the most. “I have a large surface area to tell a story,” he explains.

“Sometimes it’s a crafted story, or I start with certain images or colors that I use for inspiration. My wife collects vintage religious medals from Europe. I often incorporate them with gold because they have gold tones, I set them in silver and embellish gold around them. I think gold and silver tones together create a perfect contrast. And obviously, I love working with turquoise and silver the most. It’s been my favorite since childhood.”

And just as Schmidt’s father brought him into the family business, Schmidt will be continuing that tradition as his 25-year-old son, Tyler, joins him this year in his jewelry design business. Schmidt is looking forward to sharing the satisfaction and happiness his work brings him with his son. “I just love, love, love my work,” says Schmidt, “I’m happy and blessed that I can do this work every day.” v Find Richard Schmidt Jewelry Designs at Schmidt Jewelry in La Grange, The Gypsy Wagon in Austin, 259 in Boerne, Farmloft in Wimberley, Gunslinger in Bandera and Trends & Traditions in San Marcos. Or, visit his website at www.richardschmidtjewelry.com.

urbanhomemagazine.com

REALTOR’S ADVICE

KITCHEN CONNECTIONS

By Barb Cooper, President, Austin Board of REALTORS®

A

lmost anyone you ask will say that the kitchen is the heart of the house.

It connects each room of the home to a central point, garners the most in-andout traffic and can be the most popular room for a family to convene. Whether you’re thinking about making some simple and functional updates for your kitchen space or you have grand plans for something brand new, set the tone for the year with these popular trends for 2015.

OPEN SPACE FOR A CLEANER LOOK A light and airy kitchen draws you in to spend time cooking and entertaining. Open cabinets and shelves add depth to the room while creating a fresh, clean look. Glass doors are another option to still portray the illusion of more space and allow you to display your dishes and glassware. Also, consider installing light fixtures underneath cabinetry to create focal points and increase visibility.

SIMPLE STORAGE FOR AN ORGANIZED KITCHEN We’ve all experienced clutter while cooking. One way to combat the clutter involves adding wall mounted racks for pots, pans and cutlery to give you the space you need for all of your kitchenware.

An option for those who have more spices and canned goods than they can count is a pull-out pantry with extra shelving. These storage units require a maximum width of 15-inches to be effective and can free up much needed cabinet space.

ATMOSPHERE AND TONE FOR A PEACEFUL SPACE If a new look and atmosphere is what you are trying to accomplish, embrace 2015 as the “Year of Wallpaper.” A minimalistic take on creative wallpaper patterns is a unique way to add an eye-catching pop to the room. Consider slight shade variations from your current arsenal of appliances (usually gray) for a room that looks clean and open.

ROLLING ISLAND FOR CONVENIENCE A huge trend in 2015 is the transportable island. These all-inone units are a blessing for smaller kitchens because they provide extra counter space while being stored virtually anywhere in the home. It doesn’t have to replace a permanent island, but it can be a great supplementary cooking unit when extra cooking and storage space is needed. While any style serves a utilitarian purpose, find one that will inspire you to spend more time enjoying your kitchen. Restaurant supply companies offer several options.

As we move further into 2015, think about tackling one project at a time. In most cases, it just takes a few additions to make your kitchen feel brand new, and almost any improvements made to the most important room in the house are guaranteed a nice return on investment. v

FOOD n DESIGN

CULINARY

POP-UPS

By CLAUDIA ALARCON HOT JOY

If you follow food trends, it is likely that you are familiar with the concept of pop-up, a dinner or restaurant concept that takes over other eateries or spaces for a short period of time. Although this concept is not new, it has certainly gained momentum in recent years. Pop-ups are an effective way for chefs to experiment, gain exposure, or test out a new culinary concept. Most of all, they are meant to be informal, adventurous, communal and inspiring. Leave any preconceptions at the door.

L’OCA D’ORO

A

“

pop-up dinner or restaurant is a temporary dining experience set up in ANY space with a finite timeline,” says Chef Fiore Tedesco, a former New Yorker now living and working in Austin. “We’ve done them in restaurants, bars, design studios, half torn-down skyscrapers, river canals and subterranean bank vaults. My wife and I started doing them together in Brooklyn in 2007. We had a series open to the public that we did roughly once a week. It was popular because we were providing great hospitality and inventive food in an always “edgy” atmosphere. Between ‘07 and ‘09 we did more than 200 events. Then we started doing private events, which got crazy.

For almost a year we were doing two to three events per week, every one of them totally nuts, like a sit-down, 40-guest corporate dinner for Google in a barely under construction building in midtown Manhattan on the 57th floor. I thought I was going to have a nervous breakdown prepping for that one.”

Tedesco and long-time friend Adam Orman started L’Oca d’Oro (the golden goose) in Austin in 2013 with “Dinners to Rock To,” a successful year-long series based on albums by some 58

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HOT JOY

THE MONTEREY

of their favorite artists — from Prince to Fleetwood Mac, Metallica and The Clash — cooked and served in a communal setting at Franklin BBQ on Sundays, when the restaurant closes.

These days, they are popping up at local favorites like Lenoir and Weather Up for special dinners while they continue their search for a permanent location. “Adam and I have done about 50 popups in Austin in the past two years. Not as wild as they used to be. We are older and wiser and care more about creating the best possible experience we can for every person we serve. Not to say

L’OCA D’ORO

urbanhomemagazine.com

we aren’t as fun anymore.

I’d say we are more fun and the food and service has just gotten better.”

Not everyone may know that Hot Joy, arguably San Antonio’s hottest restaurant today, started as a pop-up at its sister restaurant, The Monterey.

“The conception of Hot Joy is really a love story,” says Chad Carey, a partner in the Empty Stomach restaurant group alongCHEF FIORETEDESCO side Chef Quealy Watson.

“Quealy had come back to San Antonio after taking some time off and had a great idea to do an affordable Asian-inspired restaurant that would be vastly different from the technique-centric, composed dishes he had been doing at The Monterey. I have always enjoyed working with Quealy and respect his work and ideas, and love Chinese food, so I was on board to make this happen.”

The duo attempted to lease a former taqueria, but about three weeks before it came to fruition, the deal fell through. “That’s when I offered The Monterey to Quealy on Sunday and Monday nights because we were already closed. We got the name from a Rocket From The Crypt album and the name of a seedy bar in the novel “Confederacy of Dunces.” We posted about it on social media, told our industry friends, and inevitably people loved it.”

HOT JOY When Watson and Carey saw the multiplying crowds at the weekly pop-up, they knew Hot Joy needed a permanent home. After months of searching, the brick and mortar location opened in Southtown in April 2014. “And the bonus love story,” says Carey, “is that we hired a cook, Jenn Dobbs. Not only did she turn out to be great in the kitchen and an awesome team member, but she and Quealy recently got married.”

Another amazing San Antonio project is the Chef Cooperative, a group of extraordinary chefs whose mission is to support the local farm-to-table movement not just by using the products, but also by giving back to the farmers through quarterly pop-up events. “We are a NPO that supports local farms and vineyards,” says Jeff White, one of the cooperative’s founding members and current Executive Chef at Boiler House Texas Grill and Wine Garden. “The cooperative consists of a group of local chefs that are a part of, and practice the movement of sustainability and education about our local resources. As a collective, we will pick a farm or vineyard that meets our guidelines and can use a helping hand. We will organize a popup, usually at one of the chefs’ kitchens or at the farm itself.

100% of the proceeds go to the farm. The chefs donate 100% of their time and product.” The group is now almost two years old and their following is growing, as is their knowledge and outreach within the community. urbanhomemagazine.com

So, are pop-ups a passing trend or are they the future of dining? “We are starting to see a shift in the way restaurants are thought of and the possibilities of the kinds of places we can go out to eat at on a given night,” says Chef TedesCHEF COOPERATIVE co. HOT “There are so many cool JOY projects happening around the world. I see the line between pop-up and brick and mortar getting fuzzier, and it’s trickling down to the mainstream, like at the Pearl Brewery in San Antonio. It’s inspiring and awesome.” Tedesco and Orman are opening a brick and mortar L’Oca d’Oro later this year as a neighborhood restaurant largely influenced by Tedesco’s Italian heritage.

“But we’ll be doing lots of special dinners celebrating all the different parts of life that we love, from film to music to sport to pagan holidays. So you could say we may end up running a pop-up in our own restaurant. A few years ago I was working on a project that had a different chef every night. I didn’t think we were there yet, culturally, to embrace the concept enough to be sustainable. I think we are now.” v L’OCA D’ORO 917.805.0049 | Locadoroauctin.com

HOT JOY 210.368.9324 | Hotjoysa.com Photography by David Rangel

CHEF COOPERATIVE 210.854.4479 | Chefcooperatives.com

OTHER POP-UPS AROUND TOWN: LITTLE FOX AT THE MONTEREY — another venture from Empty Stomach restaurant group — most Sunday and Monday nights.

Themontereysa.com

ALAMO CITY PROVISIONS

— collaborative dinners featuring some of San Antonio’s best chefs. Alamocityprovisions.com

YOUNG GUNS AT CURED — midnight dinners featuring Chef Steve McHugh’s team of up-and-coming chefs. Curedatpearl.com THE COCINEROS — a group of San Antonio chefs doing bimonthly pop-ups around town.

Squareup.com/market/the-cocineros-sa THE SPECIAL PROJECTS SOCIAL — a collaboration between Tim of Tim the Girl Catering creating the menu and Peter of Zubiate Projects designing the furnishings. Thespecialprojectssocial.com

FOREIGN & DOMESTIC — featuring periodic Indie Chefs Weeks and events. Fndaustin.com DELISH BAKERY — hosts bi-weekly pop-ups with guest chefs at 10am on Saturdays. Delishaustin.com URBAN HOME AUSTIN – SAN ANTONIO

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FABULOUS n FINDS

SPRING INTO ART

By JULIE CATALANO

RICHARD SCHMID “AUTUMN ROSES” 8”X12” OIL, FREDERICKSBURG ART AUCTION

Along with Texas’ famous wildflowers, springtime means that art is in bloom.

From big cities to small towns, art aficionados can revisit familiar treasures and discover brand new ones. Here are just a few, listed by date so you can plan your travel calendar.

But don’t stop with these.

Art is bursting out all over.

TOP ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT: WOODLANDS ART FESTIVAL; DIANA KERSEY POTTERY, FIESTA ARTS FAIR; CHRIS ROBLESKI “PAINTED DESERT TRADING POST” 24” X 16” NIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY, ART CITY AUSTIN; FRANK MCCARTHY (1924-2002) “AFTER THE COUNCIL” 22” X 40” OIL, FREDERICKSBURG ART AUCTION.

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WOODLANDS WATERWAY ARTS FESTIVAL, THE WOODLANDS April 10-12 Woodlandsartfestival.com Photography by Ted Washington For one so young (about 40 years old) the Woodlands, a master-planned community in the Houston metro area, is making waves in the art world with its Waterway Arts Festival. The juried event was ranked by Greg Lawler’s Art Fair SourceBook as number one in Texas and number three in the nation for fine art sales in 2013. The festival’s $8.4 million economic impact is equally impressive. That said, it’s also a whole lot of fun, and few go home empty-handed after enjoying the work of more than 200 national, regional and international fine artists.

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This year’s tenth anniversary celebration holds a welcome surprise: “We listened to our patrons and artists and have expanded our festival to three days,” says festival director Jenny Wright.

“It will allow us to add more performances, offer more special projects with our education and community outreach programs, and best of all, more time to shop!” Water cruisers and trolleys add to the festive atmosphere, along with superb food booths, live performances and five festival bars. Admission: $12 adults, $15 weekend pass.

Children under 12 free. urbanhomemagazine.com

FIESTA ARTS FAIR, SAN ANTONIO April 18-19 Swschool.org Photography courtesy of Fiesta Arts Fair Even people who don’t “do” Fiesta do the Fiesta Arts Fair — a true standout of the annual city-wide blowout — citing the incomparable grounds of the downtown Southwest School of Art a perfect backdrop for “one of the most respected arts fairs in the country,” says fair organizer Barbara Hill. The juried event puts artist hopefuls through a rigorous competition; less than 20 percent of applicants are accepted. National caliber paintings, jewelry, wearable art, photography, glass and ceramics are the stars here, but their creators are down to earth. “Patrons don’t merely walk by casually observing the work,” adds Hill. “They stop and chat with the artists and get to make a real connection. The artists love it, too.” So do kids — the family friendly fair is famous for its delightful children’s art garden, where budding artists make their own necklaces, medals, crowns, sculpture, drawings and stained glass. Live music stage, delectable food and beverage stations, and the shopping is divine. Admission: $16 weekend pass, $10 daily adults, $5 daily children ages 5-12, free for children under 5 and accompanied by adults.

ART CITY AUSTIN April 25-26 Artallianceaustin.org Photography courtesy of Art City Austin Celebrating its 65th anniversary this year, Art City Austin shows no signs of slowing down. With its roots in a 1950 event known as Fiesta, the outdoor fair has gone through several iterations including Austin Fine Arts Festival and Fiesta at Laguna Gloria. “This was the festival of Austin in the 1960s,” says Asa Hursh, executive director. “Moving it downtown helped.” Must have, because the annual attendance now regularly draws 20,000 art lovers and buyers strolling from Cesar Chavez Street to the

FIESTA ARTS FAIR TOP LEFT: LORENA ANGULO BRACELET; BOTTOM LEFT: CLARE WATTERS INDIGO SCARVES ART CITY AUSTIN TOP RIGHT: ANDY FLETCHER “IOWA STORM” 50” X 28” OIL; MIDDLE RIGHT: CHRIS MADSEN “DISTRESSED ANGEL” 20” X 16” PHOTOGRAPHY; BOTTOM RIGHT: ESTELLA FRANSBERGEN “SHE HAS SPOKEN TO YOU” 25” X 42” X 12” CLAY/RAKU FIRED WITH ORGANIC MATTER

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life, sporting, still life and more — by some of the brightest lights in the art world. With Texas home to many of the nation’s biggest and best collections, Plesko sees the event as “a natural, and another opportunity to show how Fredericksburg is really growing.” The weekend begins on Friday evening with a one-man show and reception with artist Mian Situ. Auction preview party follows with dancing, food and spirits. The auction begins Saturday afternoon to bid — in person, by telephone, absentee or online — on works by dozens of contemporary and historically significant artists including John James Audubon, Frank McCarthy, G. Harvey, Winslow Homer, David Shepherd, William Moyers, William Acheff, Z.S. Liang and many more.

“I’m excited to see this in my hometown,” says Plesko. Admission: Friday, May 1, 5-7pm, One Man Show and artist reception with Mian Situ, Insight Gallery, free and open to the public. For registration information on the Friday auction preview party and the auction on May 2, go to fredericksburgartauction.com. v FREDERICKSBURG ART AUCTION TOP LEFT: MARTIN GRELLE “APSALOOKE SENTINELS” 42 X 48 OIL; BOTTOM LEFT: G. HARVEY “BUNKHOUSE LIGHTS” 24” X 36” OIL

HEART MORE ART?

Lady Bird Lake Trail and on to the very cool 2nd Street mixed use district. Presented by Art Alliance Austin, the family friendly juried art fair features nationally recognized artists in painting, photography, fiber, wood arts and more. This year ACA debuts the Austin Art Pavilion, a curated contemporary art area showcasing work by regional artists. ACA partner Black Fret, an Austin nonprofit and huge supporter of local musicians, will have a music stage. The popular fair, says Hursh, “will continue to grow and evolve so we can stay around for the next 65 years.” Admission: $10 Saturday, $8 Sunday, children 12 and under free.

FREDERICKSBURG ART AUCTION May 1-2 Fredericksburgartauction.com Photography courtesy of Fredericksburg Art Auction A groundbreaking partnership between InSight Gallery in Fredericksburg and Astoria Fine Art in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, is shaping up to be the most anticipated art event in the Lone Star state. Believe it or not, “every Western art auction is elsewhere. Not one is in Texas,” says Meredith Plesko who with her husband David opened the acclaimed InSight Gallery in downtown Fredericksburg in 2009. The couple aims to fill that niche with the first annual Fredericksburg Art Auction featuring representational paintings and sculpture — landscape, wild62

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BAYOU CITY ART FESTIVAL, HOUSTON, MARCH 27-29, ARTCOLONYASSOCIATION.ORG This longtime favorite kicks off the spring Texas art festival circuit with a one-of-a-kind outdoor gallery. The juried show features 300 artists in extensive media, plus food, wine and live music in a 1.1-mile trail through beautiful Memorial Park, about five miles from downtown Houston. Admission fee.

DALLAS MUSIC DISTRICT FESTIVAL, MAY 16-17, DMDFEST.COM New kid on the block DMD Fest makes its debut this year to celebrate Big D’s creative and musical roots on the Trinity River Greenbelt. Art installations, street performers, artisan craft market, food trucks and an eclectic musical lineup including Jonathan Tyler and Aaron Behrens highlight the first festival of its kind in downtown Dallas. Admission fee.

KERRVILLE FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS, MAY 23-24, KVARTFEST.COM Picking up the reins after the official Texas State Arts and Crafts Fair ended in 2013, Hill Country favorite Kerrville started a new Memorial Day tradition last year and they’re doing it again. The juried fine art show and sale is an outdoor, petfriendly event in historic downtown featuring dozens of national artists. Free admission.

For more information on Texas festivals, visit Festivalnet.com.

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Christopher Voss Inc. FOURTH GENERATION IRON CRAFTSMAN Celebrating 20 Years in Business and 100 Years of Voss Family Craftsmanship.

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KITCHEN GADGETS 1. The Garlic Twist 3G from NexTrend makes mincing garlic easy and mess-free. Simply put your garlic inside, twist back and forth and remove your perfectly minced garlic. It’s also the ideal tool for chopping ginger, shallots, peppers, herbs, nuts and more. Faraday’s Kitchen Store. 512.266.5666, Faradayskitchenstore.com.

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2. The GE Café™ Series refrigerator with Keurig® K-Cup® Brewing System is an evolution of the GE Café French door refrigerator’s unique hot water dispenser, paired with a Keurig K-Cup single-cup brewer. Parrish and Company, Inc. San Antonio: 830.980.9595/210.255.1125, Austin: 512.835.0937, Parrishandcompany.com.

3. Does your breakfast lack team spirit? Spice up the most important meal of the day with the ProToast MVP from Pangea Brands®! This appliance, in the shape of a real football, toasts every piece of bread with your favorite team’s logo. Pangea Brands. Pangeabrands.com.

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4. Hand-formed by women potters of Lombok, Indonesia, this hand-etched tagine has been low-fired over a wood fire and packed in straw. Before firing, the piece is “burnished” — painted with a mixture of fine clay, water and oil, then rubbed with a smooth stone or hard object. The tagine can bake in the oven at heats up to 350 degrees. Ten Thousand Villages. San Antonio: 210.444.1393, Austin: 512.440.0440, Tenthousandvillages.com.

5. The Brilliance® Nugget Ice Machine from Scotsman delivers the same nugget ice they introduced to the foodservice industry in 1981. Cravings for the soft, crunchy goodness of this ice can now be satisfied at home and enjoyed by family and friends in classic nugget form. Factory Builder Stores. 512.834.1442, Factorybuilderstores.com.

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6. The Gaggenau AL400 is extendable table ventilation which disappears completely into the worktop when not in use. Vapors and odors are extracted directly as they rise, quietly and effectively – an ideal solution for kitchen islands and open spaces. Harway Appliances.

512.491.7600, Harwayappliances.com.

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