For Laura Stanley, interior design is more than just a profession; it’s a cherished legacy inherited from her mother. “And so, I knew how important it was for my parents’ new house in Austin to feel like their longtime home back in Memphis, which was such a happy place for them,” the designer says. The couple’s move to Texas, which they made to be closer to family, became official when they found this house that ticked all their boxes. That it was the original work of residential designer Ryan Street, whom they already knew, was the sprinkling of fairy dust.
“It was built about 20 years ago and had a good layout, but we wanted to add lots of warmth and personality,” Stanley says. “My parents are fun people, so creating a sense of welcoming comfort through layers and bright colors was key.” The opportunity also couldn’t have come at a more auspicious time. Stanley had recently founded her firm Story Street Studio with designer Lizzie Bailey. The duo eagerly accepted this meaningful project as one of their first. “Lizzie knows my parents really well, and we all share a similar aesthetic,” Stanley adds. “She was in harmony and slid right in with her incredible eye—like suggesting we reupholster the living room sofas in an ochre-colored material with coral tape and nailhead detailing at the base.” In short, it was a dream project for everyone.
Little renovation was needed beyond the kitchen. To that end, the designers brought on builders Chris Risher and Jeremy Martin to help reconfigure the space with new cabinetry and an easier flow for the couple, who enjoy cooking. Rather than wallpapering the main rooms, they embraced the cream-plastered walls throughout and added color in the form of adventurous schemes. The pantry and small study just off the kitchen received a wash of bright yellow paint inspired by a Rita Konig-designed hotel in Los Angeles. “That was a home run,” Stanley notes, her mother chiming: “I need yellow. It makes me happy.” Meanwhile, the sun room shelving dons a fiery red, while the dining room ceiling is coated in a mossy green hue. “The colors are unexpected and capture the essence of our family,” Stanley says.
Filling these rooms is a mix of treasures brought from the couple’s prior home, all augmented with new finds. Avid collectors, they spent years traveling to favorite shops in New Orleans, Washington, D.C., and New York—“especially John Rosselli & Associates and Amy Perlin Antiques,” Stanley says. Noting both the 18th-century cabinet in the living room and the sun room’s brass-tray top coffee table, her mom adds, “It’s lovely that so many of our pieces have found a place here.” Paintings and figures of myriad animals add a layer of whimsy, but the antique papier-mâché French growler bulldogs in the entry might just make guests do a double take.
The home’s lively spirit continues in the primary bedroom—an effervescent escape with its mix of patterns and a palette that includes yellow, mossy green and terra-cotta red. “Mom originally wanted to go with cream, but she quickly realized that wouldn’t be the right choice,” Stanley explains. “Instead, we embraced a fun blend of her favorite colors, creating a space that truly reflects her personality.” That same authenticity also embodies the large upstairs game room, designed to host family gatherings. “All the vibrant green cabinetry had been gray, and it was fun to select more suitable and beautiful hues for that room,” says her mom, who developed a passion for color after collaborating with an interior designer on her Tennessee house years ago. She credits books and magazines for helping to cultivate her love of design: “I have an armoire upstairs filled with old ones, and it’s still so fun to flip through them.”
While the interiors evoke the feel of the couple’s previous homestead, the landscape design required an aesthetic shift. Stanley’s mother, an avid gardener, has refocused on more Southwest-appropriate plantings with the help of landscape designer Rick Scheen and landscape architect John Hall. “I’ve had to adapt,” she says. “But we’ve added more greenery with ground cover, olive trees and agaves.” And yes, there are vibrant accents as well. “It’s important for people to be themselves,” adds Stanley, who advises identifying what you love and infusing it freely. “That’s really the most successful way to decorate a house. It adds joy and delight.” Just ask her parents.
