Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: A Stylish Showcase for Life, Work and Love
Step inside the inspiration-filled live-work space of an interior designer and his partner
In the summer of 2012, Dane Austin and his husband moved to Boston from Washington, D.C. Most of the buildings in their new neighborhood, Boston’s Polish Triangle, arose during the Industrial Revolution as immigrant housing — a mixture of single-family homes, duplexes and buildings known colloquially as “triple deckers” that have been divided into three units. Austin and his husband snapped up one of these units and slowly began transforming it into a comfortable home and design showcase for Austin’s work.
Moving to Boston together meant merging two households of furniture, which gave the couple a vast inventory to play around with but also a lot to purge or spruce up to fit the new setting. With a solid foundation of key pieces, they took their time developing the design, refusing to go out and buy decor just to fill the space. Their home serves as a master class in how to create a dynamic, layered space that changes with the seasons.
Moving to Boston together meant merging two households of furniture, which gave the couple a vast inventory to play around with but also a lot to purge or spruce up to fit the new setting. With a solid foundation of key pieces, they took their time developing the design, refusing to go out and buy decor just to fill the space. Their home serves as a master class in how to create a dynamic, layered space that changes with the seasons.
The living room is equal parts art gallery and modern museum, and it speaks volumes about Austin’s design philosophy: “I think great design is a mix of store-bought pieces, custom pieces, family heirlooms and flea market finds.”
The room features high-end Baker Marrakesh side tables paired with a chow-foot coffee table in red and black lacquer that Austin purchased at Good Wood, a Washington, D.C., antique shop, for less than $300. The chevron settee belonged to the grandmother of Austin’s husband and was about to be discarded when the pair first met six years ago. Austin instead took it to his upholsterer, who gave it new life. Now the piece proudly underlines a painting by Virginia-based artist Rob Vander Zee.
The room features high-end Baker Marrakesh side tables paired with a chow-foot coffee table in red and black lacquer that Austin purchased at Good Wood, a Washington, D.C., antique shop, for less than $300. The chevron settee belonged to the grandmother of Austin’s husband and was about to be discarded when the pair first met six years ago. Austin instead took it to his upholsterer, who gave it new life. Now the piece proudly underlines a painting by Virginia-based artist Rob Vander Zee.
The blue Dorothy Draper-style sofa is a family heirloom that Austin’s grandmother had custom-made. As a child, Austin was always inspired by his grandparents’ lifestyle. Not only were they well-traveled and gracious hosts, their expansive art collection and beautiful furniture inspired the young Austin to pursue interior design as a career.
“I always knew I wanted to live like my grandparents and to create spaces that people would feel at home and comfortable in,” he says. “For me, that’s what good design is all about: creating an environment that you love, a place where you are happy to spend time and proud to share with your loved ones.”
When Austin’s grandfather passed away, his grandmother retired to Puerto Rico, entrusting him with her beautiful sofa. It’s now one of his favorite pieces.
Chandelier: Mohr & McPherson
“I always knew I wanted to live like my grandparents and to create spaces that people would feel at home and comfortable in,” he says. “For me, that’s what good design is all about: creating an environment that you love, a place where you are happy to spend time and proud to share with your loved ones.”
When Austin’s grandfather passed away, his grandmother retired to Puerto Rico, entrusting him with her beautiful sofa. It’s now one of his favorite pieces.
Chandelier: Mohr & McPherson
The large painting above the sofa was inspired by Richard Diebenkorn’s aerial landscapes, and if you look closely at the other prints and paintings in the room, you’ll see that they all feature trees or landscapes of some sort.
The balcony’s design was inspired by a trip to San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, that the couple took to celebrate Austin’s husband’s birthday. When they got back home, they decided to infuse a little Mexican festivity into their everyday lives.
The bamboo shades, party lights, stenciling on the ceiling and colorful lanterns and textiles were all inspired by the Mexican courtyards they encountered on their vacation. Austin did the stenciling himself. Though he could have hired someone to do it, he found it relaxing to be creative and get his hands dirty personalizing the space. The custom drapery panels flanking the shades were made with indoor-outdoor fabric and give the space a tented vibe, so it feels private despite being an open second-floor balcony.
The bamboo shades, party lights, stenciling on the ceiling and colorful lanterns and textiles were all inspired by the Mexican courtyards they encountered on their vacation. Austin did the stenciling himself. Though he could have hired someone to do it, he found it relaxing to be creative and get his hands dirty personalizing the space. The custom drapery panels flanking the shades were made with indoor-outdoor fabric and give the space a tented vibe, so it feels private despite being an open second-floor balcony.
“Guest rooms should never be boring,” Austin says, and this one is modeled after a fun, fresh boutique hotel. The couple’s frequent overnight guests are always delighted to find they have this room to themselves, he says. Phillip Jeffries grasscloth warms up the space and creates a cocoon-like effect.
The designer chose a softer, more subdued look for the master bedroom. A palette of Wedgwood blue and creamy beige envelops the room, with the wall color extending up onto the ceiling.
Because his work studio is in his home, Austin deliberately created a livable showcase of design ideas, such as this vignette. Accustomed to creating neutral spaces for clients who might be intimidated by mixing patterns and colors, he created a layered and multifunctional space that’s comfortable to guests while reflecting his and his husband’s tastes.
Nailheads frame the custom linen headboard, and the accent pillows feature an elegant white silk ribbon, in keeping with the subdued luxury of the space. The two bedside lamps are Murano glass from the Victorian era and feature thin blue stripes.
Notice the wintry landscape painting above the bed? Come summer, it will be replaced by an oil painting of a dock and boats. The homeowners’ constant shuffling of artwork and accessories is a clever strategy for maintaining a dynamic and seasonally styled home.
Notice the wintry landscape painting above the bed? Come summer, it will be replaced by an oil painting of a dock and boats. The homeowners’ constant shuffling of artwork and accessories is a clever strategy for maintaining a dynamic and seasonally styled home.
The home’s only bathroom features recycled tile in the shower and a coordinating bold stripe on the wall to add visual interest and “give guests something to talk about — it’s a nice surprise,” Austin says. The couple were fortunate that the unit had been renovated in 2009, just a few years before they purchased it, so the bulk of their work consisted of upgrading finishes, tiles and lighting and infusing the space with their own personalities.
The apartment’s layout is especially conducive to a work-life balance. Austin’s design studio is the first room clients encounter when they enter the home. Originally designed as a family room, the office is tucked off the long entry hall, so visitors needn’t traipse through the entire house unless the homeowners invite them for a tour.
At one end of the long conference desk, where Austin is seen collaborating with his associate Aga, two stacked Ikea shelving units house bins full of project materials, such as fabric and finish samples.
At one end of the long conference desk, where Austin is seen collaborating with his associate Aga, two stacked Ikea shelving units house bins full of project materials, such as fabric and finish samples.
Behold the gallery hall. Austin is an avid collector, having studied fine art and art history at the Corcoran School of the Arts and Design in Washington and Sotheby’s Institute of Art in London.
“It’s really difficult for me to collect one type of art because there’s so much that I love. There’s not a particular rhyme or reason to the pieces we have. We just buy what we love and that speaks to us,” he says, adding: “If we feel like we’ve loved them long enough, it’s OK to let them go. If someone comes over and really loves a piece, I’ve been known to take it off the wall and give it to them.”
Browse more homes by style: Small Homes | Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Lofts | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Townhouses | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation Homes | Homes Around the World
“It’s really difficult for me to collect one type of art because there’s so much that I love. There’s not a particular rhyme or reason to the pieces we have. We just buy what we love and that speaks to us,” he says, adding: “If we feel like we’ve loved them long enough, it’s OK to let them go. If someone comes over and really loves a piece, I’ve been known to take it off the wall and give it to them.”
Browse more homes by style: Small Homes | Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Lofts | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Townhouses | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation Homes | Homes Around the World
Who lives here: Interior designer Dane Austin; his husband, a human-resources recruiting professional; and their two dogs, Oliver and Timmy
Location: Boston’s Polish Triangle neighborhood
Size: 1,200 square feet (111 square meters)
Interior designer Dane Austin and his husband love to entertain friends and clients, so having a functional space was important to them. Part of the functionality in their home comes from clever multipurpose touches like a makeshift cocktail bar and a dining table that doubles as a buffet during cocktail parties and a 12-person banquet table (when paired with an antique wooden fold-up unit) during dinner parties.
“It is important to have a dynamic space that is layered and is a true reflection of our personalities,” Austin says.