Houzz Tours
My Houzz: Making Way for a Modern Marvel
After tearing down, couple incorporates everything important to them: open plan, energy efficiency and their own works of art
Kelly and Lino Mendiola didn't plan on starting over from scratch. The couple had approached Jamie Chioco for a remodel but soon realized that a teardown was the only way to get the open layout they wanted. So they knocked the existing house to the ground, starting a 16-month construction process. The result is an open and bright design that takes full advantage of the site's slope and native live oaks.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Lino and Kelly Mendiola, daughters Cecelia and Isabel
Location: Austin, Texas
Size: 3,780 square feet; 4 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms including an attached guest house
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Lino and Kelly Mendiola, daughters Cecelia and Isabel
Location: Austin, Texas
Size: 3,780 square feet; 4 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms including an attached guest house
An energy-efficient design was important to the family. They opted to install a high-efficiency heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, and to glaze all the windows to block out 95 percent of UV light. All areas with a parapet have a white PVC single-ply membrane roof.
At the home's entryway, a dramatic floor-to-ceiling bookcase displays the family's literature collection and exaggerates the high ceilings and vertical windows. The finish on the stairs is the same walnut that's carried throughout the house.
Chair, ottoman: Mercury Design Studio; stone: gray Lueders Limestone; ladder: Designed by Chioco Design, built by Steel House MFG, Light fixture: LBL lighting, Lumens
Chair, ottoman: Mercury Design Studio; stone: gray Lueders Limestone; ladder: Designed by Chioco Design, built by Steel House MFG, Light fixture: LBL lighting, Lumens
Chioco designed the vertical-grain Douglas fir front door, and Jason Miars of Miars Construction brought it to life.
A small, sophisticated powder room sits next to the entry. A tall corner frosted-glass window creates an airy feel. Playful gray and gold Petal Pusher wallpaper designed by blogger Oh Joy! lines the walls.
Countertop: Patagonia Ice, Permastone; vanity: custom rift sawn white oak; chrome faucet: Ferguson; sconces: Mini Glo-Ball, FLOS
Countertop: Patagonia Ice, Permastone; vanity: custom rift sawn white oak; chrome faucet: Ferguson; sconces: Mini Glo-Ball, FLOS
Solid 5-inch-wide walnut floors run throughout the living areas. The wood floors are 3/4-inch thick and are finished in a natural water-based polyurethane.
Couch: Five Elements Furniture
Couch: Five Elements Furniture
"I am in awe of good interior designers, and I know enough about interior design to know that I don’t know anything," Kelly says. "I try to keep things simple and have been collecting furniture I love over the years." The most important thing to the couple is having art they like on the walls. "We splurged on a couple of new paintings by one of my favorite artists, René Norman, and then used our own artistic skills to create most of the rest of our art," she says.
Fireplace: Spark Fires
Fireplace: Spark Fires
Kelly attributes her love for art and collecting handcrafted items to her parents. "My father did a variety of things to make a living while I was growing up, but was trained as an artist," she says. "I learned from both my father and my mother (who is a talented quilter and seamstress) an appreciation for well-made, handmade things. Both of my parents are also very good curators of objects, and they helped me love carefully displayed collections."
This geometric painting in the dining room is one of Kelly's original pieces.
Ceiling pendant: Petra Pendant Lamp, Crate & Barrel (no longer available); table and bench: Pacifica, Crate & Barrel (no longer available)
This geometric painting in the dining room is one of Kelly's original pieces.
Ceiling pendant: Petra Pendant Lamp, Crate & Barrel (no longer available); table and bench: Pacifica, Crate & Barrel (no longer available)
The family wanted a clean kitchen that opened to the rest of the space. With this layout, Kelly and Lino can contribute to the party, even when they're preparing food for their guests. Silver screen vein-cut polished and honed marble from Daltile makes up both the bar and kitchen backsplash.
Stools: Red in Fredericksburg, Virginia
Stools: Red in Fredericksburg, Virginia
While the kitchen's palette remains modern and neutral, the raw wood, textured marble and polished white quartz vary just enough in color and texture to create a real contrast.
Counters: Patagonia Ice from Permastone Granite & Quartz; wood bar: custom walnut slab by Vintage Material Supply; faucet: High Profile Watercare kitchen faucet, Ferguson; cabinets: custom rift sawn white oak
Counters: Patagonia Ice from Permastone Granite & Quartz; wood bar: custom walnut slab by Vintage Material Supply; faucet: High Profile Watercare kitchen faucet, Ferguson; cabinets: custom rift sawn white oak
Kelly wants to redesign the master bedroom next. "I've neglected the master bedroom and would like to get a new headboard and side tables, but I'm overwhelmed with all the options," she says.
On the wall are Lino's photographs of native women at a market in Oaxaca, Mexico.
Wallpaper: Lovely Leaves, Hygge & West; bedding: Urban Outfitters
On the wall are Lino's photographs of native women at a market in Oaxaca, Mexico.
Wallpaper: Lovely Leaves, Hygge & West; bedding: Urban Outfitters
The couple's master bathroom uses the same elements as the kitchen, creating a smooth transition of spaces.
Vanity: Patagonia Ice, Permastone Granite & Quartz; sinks and faucet: Ferguson; sconces: Tilee Wall Sconces, FLOS
Vanity: Patagonia Ice, Permastone Granite & Quartz; sinks and faucet: Ferguson; sconces: Tilee Wall Sconces, FLOS
A corner window streams light into the space, and the glass shower opens up the bathroom even more. Champagne limestone tile from Artistic Tile covers the floor.
Bathtub: Tea for Two, Kohler, Ferguson
Bathtub: Tea for Two, Kohler, Ferguson
The guest house kitchen re-introduces elements from the main kitchen, creating flow and emphasizing the home's clean, modern palette.
Countertops: Patagonia Ice, Permastone Granite & Quartz; wall tile: glazed and matte Modern Dimension White Tile, Interceramic
Countertops: Patagonia Ice, Permastone Granite & Quartz; wall tile: glazed and matte Modern Dimension White Tile, Interceramic
A colorful seating area next to the guest kitchen highlights another of Kelly's original pieces. Kelly found these Thonet dining chairs at a garage sale in Austin for $5 each. After sanding and refinishing the chairs, Kelly upholstered the seats in pattern from Fanny's Fabric in Austin.
Ceiling pendant: Lexington Pendant, TECH Lighting
Ceiling pendant: Lexington Pendant, TECH Lighting
Kelly hired Room Fu to help design and furnish her daughter Isabel's bedroom.
Duvet: Garnet Hill; coverlet: Red in Fredericksburg, Virginia
Duvet: Garnet Hill; coverlet: Red in Fredericksburg, Virginia
All of the major furniture pieces in Isabel's room were kept white. Kelly refinished this vintage desk, adding vibrant accents for a few girly touches.
Mirror: Uptown Modern
Mirror: Uptown Modern
Floor-to-ceiling windows line the back walls of the house, opening up the home to the backyard's landscape and pool area.
"My proudest homeowner moment was finishing our home's construction knowing that we had done a pretty good job of compromising so that each person got the things that were important to them," Kelly says.
Architect: Jamie Chioco of Chioco Design
Landscape architect: Dani Swayne
General contractor: Jason Miars of Miars Construction
Houzz call: Do you live in a modern, creative home? Share it with us.
"My proudest homeowner moment was finishing our home's construction knowing that we had done a pretty good job of compromising so that each person got the things that were important to them," Kelly says.
Architect: Jamie Chioco of Chioco Design
Landscape architect: Dani Swayne
General contractor: Jason Miars of Miars Construction
Houzz call: Do you live in a modern, creative home? Share it with us.