The challenge of creating an “oasis” in the heart of a very cool but ultimately sweltering city, especially amid the dramatic changes of recent years, requires some comforting touchstones, be it truth or wood. may need to be taken care of. For technology executives Allie Cabral and Jason Carey, the strong presence of the grand Post Oak was just the metaphorical motivation the couple needed to put down roots on a particular property in Austin, Texas. .
The determined couple, who relocated from New York in March 2020 during a global pandemic and the birth of their son Gregory, built their home with its view of grand old trees in mind (though it wasn't on their property). (The fact that it was located on the neighbor's property) had little to do with it). Local architect Elizabeth Baird drew inspiration from a variety of sources, including a Japanese garden and the neighborhood's brick buildings, including a 1960s demolition that previously occupied the four-acre site, to create a façade. He designed a house whose modest appearance makes it hard to believe that it is a courtyard sanctuary. behind. The property features a sparkling pool and greenery with potted Xanadu foliage, plush lawns, and, of course, a canopy of gnarled oaks.
The modern architecture, with its subtly ruddy tones, whispers of the territorial style prevalent in the not-so-distant Southwest, giving the new building a traditional warmth. Baird's choice of materials, primarily handmade brick and stained wood, further softens the building's crisp edges and sharp corners. “The texture and irregularities add so much character,” says Baird. “Its organic richness breaks through the formality of architecture and makes it feel more human.”
This led Austin-based AD PRO Directory interior designer Liz McPhail to choose to “make the home the hero.” This became one of his aforementioned principles. Given recent supply chain vulnerabilities, this was a doubly good strategy. “I said to Allie and Jason, 'We don't need to fill this house with so much stuff.' Let's give them a couch. Let's get them a chair. Let's get them a coffee table. And, let's get some sunlight. Leave space for them to hit,” says MacPhail.
However, minimal furniture does not necessarily portend minimalist design. The pieces may be heavily edited, but they convey maximum style thanks to a sensual color palette of rust, emerald, and their variations. Eschewing the logistics of custom-made furniture, MacPhail opted for vintage high-low combinations, such as the living room's fully-shaped serpentine section clad in sienna corduroy, and ready-to-wear pieces like dark green. Sourced from 1stDibs. Amaia swivel chair from Urban His Outfitters in the casita. The separate backyard structure was originally intended for Mr. Cabral's grandmother, but was later replaced by hers with Mr. Carey's home office on his second floor with a lanai for increased productivity with outside light. It has been reimagined as a guest suite on the first floor.
The rustic tableaux culminate sublimely into two remarkable works of art. “We wanted these pieces to become the core of the home rather than fading into the background,” says Cabral. Updated Art Deco motifs in the custom stained glass panels include references to the steel trellis that acts as a privacy shield for the master bath's unique atrium shower and casts striped shadows over the courtyard and entrance. I am. And Tropic of Cancer, an oversized oil-on-canvas painting by Austin artist Patrick Paquette, is, as you might imagine, at home, given its saturated composition of rust, emerald, and variations thereof. It seemed destined to be displayed. Found by chance in a local gallery, this painting, surprisingly acquired at the end of the design process, was a true omen of life's good fortune. “This house has already brought a lot of changes to us,” says Cabral. “But those formative memories made this place home.”