My Houzz: Eclectic and Colorful in Central Austin
A vibrant color palette and playful touches (amazing kitchen!) give a family's ranch style home a fresh update
Sara Cukerbaum
January 11, 2012
With the help of interior designer Amity Worrel, James Spindler and Mina Kumar finally have a place to call home. In the past 10 years, they've moved 11 times, from Chicago to New York to Hong Kong. "We've never owned a house before," Kumar says. It's just amazing for us to finally have a place and a city that we can call our home forever! It's everything we've ever wanted — even down to the little Eastern screech owl that lives in the owl box out back."
After looking at more than 60 homes, the couple decided on this ranch-style home in central Austin. Its interior is a perfect reflection of the couple's travels. Antiques and small mementos fill their home, emphasizing the couple's eclectic style and background. A bright and colorful palette creates a playful atmosphere for their two children.
The couple attributes much of their home's success to the creative and thoughtful design of Amity Worrel. "Thanks to Amity, we have a house that is incredibly personalized, beautiful and better than anything we ever expected to own," says Spindler.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: James Spindler, Mina Kumar and their children Rosemary and Louis
Location: Austin, Texas
Size: 3,000-square-foot, one-story house with 4 bedrooms
Team: Interior Designer Amity Worrel; architect Sherri Woolley Ancipink; Landscape Architect Ellie Reshetnikov; builder: Tenney Construction
After looking at more than 60 homes, the couple decided on this ranch-style home in central Austin. Its interior is a perfect reflection of the couple's travels. Antiques and small mementos fill their home, emphasizing the couple's eclectic style and background. A bright and colorful palette creates a playful atmosphere for their two children.
The couple attributes much of their home's success to the creative and thoughtful design of Amity Worrel. "Thanks to Amity, we have a house that is incredibly personalized, beautiful and better than anything we ever expected to own," says Spindler.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: James Spindler, Mina Kumar and their children Rosemary and Louis
Location: Austin, Texas
Size: 3,000-square-foot, one-story house with 4 bedrooms
Team: Interior Designer Amity Worrel; architect Sherri Woolley Ancipink; Landscape Architect Ellie Reshetnikov; builder: Tenney Construction
Beautiful hickory wood floors run from the entry into the living room, kitchen and dining room. An open floor plan connects the kitchen and living room, making it the perfect place for the family of four to spend time together.
Skylights flood the living room with natural light. Colorful pillows, artwork and warm colors create a cozy sitting area for the family. The side tables and table lamps on either side of the sofa came from Wildflower Organics, an Austin home store.
An extension on the kitchen island adds a casual breakfast table. The table's clear-coated pecan wood surface works well with the hickory floor. Daughter Rosemary seems to agree.
Worrel selected honed white carrara marble for the kitchen's countertops. The island is a turquoise custom wood cabinet designed for the couple.
A wall of 8"x8" encaustic cement tiles from Architerra Studios adds a graphic element to the kitchen's design. The drawer and cabinet pulls are from Push Pull Open Close Inc.
A wall of 8"x8" encaustic cement tiles from Architerra Studios adds a graphic element to the kitchen's design. The drawer and cabinet pulls are from Push Pull Open Close Inc.
Mementos from the couple's travels rest on these open shelves connecting the living room to a small sitting room. Beautiful stone surrounds the shelves. Paired with the Spanish tile flooring, the space reflects the eclectic nature of the home.
A stone fireplace separates the living room and dining room, creating a private area for the formal dining room.
In the entryway, an antique Arts and Crafts washstand introduces guests to the personalized style of the home. Kumar purchased this piece at a consignment shop in Dallas.
In the entryway, an antique Arts and Crafts washstand introduces guests to the personalized style of the home. Kumar purchased this piece at a consignment shop in Dallas.
On the dining room wall hangs a painting by Kumar's mother, Dallas-based artist Suzan Kumar. The couple found the wood table on the street and gave it a second home.
Spindler and Kumar chose a Spanish terracotta tile for the bedrooms. A corner in the master bedroom offers a cozy reading spot.
These beautiful twin antique wood carved beds in their daughter's bedroom were found at an antique showroom in Dallas.
Spindler and a friend built this treehouse in the family's backyard for the kids to enjoy. The treehouse was Spindler's first wood construction project and it took him over a year to complete. Kumar says, "We love entertaining and always have visitors, and our house and yard now feels like a great house for parties."
More:
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More:
My Houzz: Austin Haven with Amazing Views
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