The home, built in 2001, was the right size and had elements that made it warm and relaxed like large, strong wooden beams, rich woodwork trim and stonework. But then there was Texas star ironwork and grainy oak cabinetry that pushed it into a Texas lodge of yesteryear. It was a great fit for the family, but to make it really livable, the rustic elements needed to be updated, refined and designed.
Award-winning, Austin designer, Kim Bates got to work bringing the space alive to fit the active Reed family’s lifestyle. Todd is an attorney and law partner who travels often, is a hobbyist guitarist who enjoys Austin’s music scene and is an avid cyclist. His design aesthetic leans classic. Wife, Laura, a marathoner and award-winning art and portraiture photographer prefers the Southern charm of her native Louisiana. The couple has two active, teen sons, and together, the family is very involved in community projects and fitness. “This combination of styles, mixed with very modern, active energy produced the eclectic look we developed in their new home,” says Bates of the décor.
To set the scene, shelving was updated, the line of the office cabinetry was lifted and the cabinets were modernized with a low sheen black paint giving them depth and sophistication. Bates addressed the scale by acknowledging the heavy mantle and beams and removing the ironwork features in the entry and the dining room beams giving cleaner looking lines.
Lighting was an important design element in the home, says Bates, “I always stress the importance of lighting with my clients. When you have beautiful things, it is important to display them in the correct light!” While some features in the living room are original, many unique, hand-crafted, custom chandeliers and lights by New Orleans-based Julie Neill Design were added in the entry, dining room and office. “They were to convey a softer, more classic and southern feeling and were perfectly scaled to match the space.”
Moving from a smaller home required the acquisition of additional furniture. “The scale of this home is much larger and more open than their former home, so we had to work to add larger pieces that still made the house feel like a home.” Bates focused on furnishings in the public spaces; the living room and dining room were new except for the piano. Living room sofas were sourced from Hickory Chair Furniture Company, as were the dining table and chairs — upholstered in Beacon Hill Dauphine Stripe. The coffee table is from Loft Home, and various accessories were found at Global Views and Wendow Fine Living. The family room sofa and chairs were reupholstered as were the chairs in the office.
New furnishings in the kitchen added punches of multiple colors. “We wanted to make the family room and kitchen fun and inviting, without making it silly. We found these great leather bar stools at Crate and Barrel and loved the way the different colors worked together. They were deep colors, with similar muted tones, which kept the look fun, but elegant. We decided to further develop the colors in the custom-made slipcovers on the parson’s chairs at the kitchen table. We pulled some of these colors through to the family room pillows to unify the look.”
The larger home made way for art — something reflective of the creative couple. “The Reeds have impeccable taste and located the large contemporary piece over the sofa. It is by Mexican Master Ricardo Mazal, brought to the home from the Museum of Modern Art in Mexico City.” It is one of three pieces by Mazal. “The art was a great way to express the family and their personalities. Classic, smart and high energy.” The vibrant painting of a Southern home on the hall table is a Michalopolous named “Greek Revival.”
Throughout the home are displays of Laura’s photographic talents. The piece in the dining room is a 2E Limited Edition she took, blown up and displayed on canvas. Over the fireplace hangs “Silver Man.” “It was one of our favorite shots taken by Laura on a trip to New Orleans,” says Bates.
There is another of Laura’s photos in a most unexpected place, the bathroom. “We wanted something that reflected New Orleans and went through a number of options including swamp scenes, but we knew we found the perfect photo when Laura came across this one,” Bates says about the shower glass photo depicting the House of Blues. “Laura adjusted the coloration to give it the perfect mood for the space, and it was then enlarged, applied to film and installed by Sunsational Solutions.”
Bates is known for her collaborative process, stating, “I focus on quality, function and look when helping my client’s decide on furnishings, add color through fabrics and throws and add interest through art placement, books and accessories.”
Collectively, the completed home met the needs of the Reed family and all of Bates’ requisites. “I feel that every client I have worked with has a ‘look.’ I always try to develop that look to reflect who my clients are and make the resulting design timeless and beautiful.”
DESIGNER Bates Design Associates
512.330.0322 | Batesdesignassociates.com