The experience of arrival at this Austin home hints at the intriguing interiors by designer Lindsey Hanna that await inside. The architecture harkens back to the Spanish Colonial style of Texas’ earliest days, but the flat rooflines and gray stucco point to a more modern sensibility—it’s Old World meets new. Passing through a barrel-vaulted entryway with custom hickory doors and terra-cotta tiles into a large, airy living room is one of many moments and spaces where light contrasts dark and compact contrasts open.
When the clients, a family of five, came to architect Michael Stouse, they knew they wanted a house styled after the architecture of the Mediterranean and of old Texas ranches, but they did not want a reproduction. One particular source of inspiration was Austin’s Commodore Perry Estate, which had just opened when the home’s design process began. A uniquely Texan twist on the Spanish Colonial vernacular, the hotel’s moody interiors influenced the choice of a darker hue on the abode’s exterior, while its many details guided the especially layered interiors.
Designing for a wide lot and the deep setback the owners preferred, Stouse found himself working within a square floor plan, which can create lighting challenges. However, he deftly brought natural light into all the rooms with an open layout for the kitchen, living and dining areas, as well as gigantic sliding glass doors at the back of the residence.
As interior decisions began to pile up, the homeowners realized they needed the inimitable guidance of a professional designer, bringing Hanna on board. In an unusual turn of events, her first meeting with the couple ended up being at a plumbing showroom (the builder, Garrett Boon, needed decisions quickly). The designer was instantly able to glean much about her clients’ taste in that meeting. “They were drawn to things that were finely made—patinated brass and earthy materials,” she says. When the owners responded to a concrete tub, for example, Hanna understood they favored things that would only get better with time. “They wanted quality, and they wanted eternal beauty,” she adds.
Hanna also found the clients had a true adoration for design: They were willing to take some risks and trust the designer’s instincts. As a result, the process was quite collaborative. “The wife’s passion for textiles and unique finds was such an inspiration,” the designer reflects. “She would say, ‘I really love this fabric,’ and I would run with it, developing a whole room around a single motif.”
Home Details
Architecture:
Michael Stouse, Stouse Design
Interior Design:
Lindsey Hanna, Lindsey Hanna Design
Home Builder:
Garrett Boon, Five Stones Construction
Styling:
Adam Fortner
Natural light pours into the kitchen, defined by soapstone on the countertops and wide-plank white oak doors by Kristynik Hardwood Flooring. Woven-leather-and-oak counter stools create seating at the island while oil-rubbed bronze sconces from Rejuvenation frame the windows.
In the living room, a hand-knotted wool rug rests beneath velvet Lawson-Fenning swivel chairs and Mermelada Estudio nesting tables, all from CB2. An oil-rubbed bronze library light from RH brightens the inset shelves made of reclaimed wood.
Natural light pours into the kitchen, defined by soapstone on the countertops and wide-plank white oak doors by Kristynik Hardwood Flooring. Woven-leather-and-oak counter stools create seating at the island while oil-rubbed bronze sconces from Rejuvenation frame the windows.
The cooking space features an integrated Sub-Zero fridge and Wolf range. Painted Benjamin Moore’s Black Panther, the quarter-sawn white oak cabinetry by Trim-Ron is accented with Italian aged brass pulls and knobs by Forge Hardware Studio.
A white oak dining table from RH and Four Hands chairs sit in front of a collection of framed vintage Issey Miyake handkerchiefs. Pinch fabricated the linen pendants, and the vintage console was purchased at Marburger Farm Antique Show.
The primary bedroom is drenched in Farrow & Ball’s London Clay with linen drapery from Pottery Barn. Designer Lindsey Hanna incorporated the client’s walnut spindle bed, adding heirloom character. Just beyond, a Four Hands chair grounds the office.
Paired with a wooden button stool, the primary bathroom’s freestanding Native Trails concrete tub from J&L Hardware Studio exudes an organic feel. It is accompanied by an unlacquered brass faucet by Waterworks.
Illuminated by reeded glass sconces from Visual Comfort & Co., the same room showcases custom white oak cabinets and Calacatta marble countertops. Underfoot are Parterre St. Bleu Loire Bar limestone tiles.
A custom sofa wears Mulberry’s whimsical Flying Ducks textile and a Kravet check on the seat cushion; both fabrics were sourced from Cocoon. The fireplace mantel is composed of vintage travertine.
Drawing on the architecture, the clients’ tastes and their existing furnishings, Hanna pulled ideas from a whole meridian: California, New Mexico, West Texas, Louisiana, Italy and South France. “The design perspective takes a slice from across a southern latitude,” she explains.
The colors throughout the home are muted, with a touch of earthiness: Think green with an undertone of ochre or pink with an overlay of terra cotta. Dappled light through the branches of a heritage oak in the front yard and the dark gray exterior inspired Hanna to go darker and moodier in some rooms. Color also appears in a few surprising places. For instance, she opted to paint the ceilings a deep hue in certain rooms to bring the 10-foot height down to a more human scale.
In addition to colors that evoke the Old World, the designer wove in weathered wood, handmade tiles and antiques to bring timeworn charm to the new build. Working in concert with Stouse and Boon, Hanna also found ways to elevate the finishes and add details, such as interior windows, that take the house to the next level.
Finding the harmony between old and new, dark and light, subtle and bold was a balancing act. But the result is a remarkable dwelling that could be comfortable anywhere along the Mediterranean meridian yet feels right at home in Texas.
The primary bedroom is drenched in Farrow & Ball’s London Clay with linen drapery from Pottery Barn. Designer Lindsey Hanna incorporated the client’s walnut spindle bed, adding heirloom character. Just beyond, a Four Hands chair grounds the office.