When Shannon Eddings was approached by a music and art-loving Austin couple to renovate their dated and closed-off Westlake property, she knew it would result in interior design magic. “I believe in client-led design,” explains Shannon, founder and principal designer of Shannon Eddings Interiors in Austin, Texas. “I also love bringing unexpected elements to a project, whether its color, pattern or a mix of quirky elements that spark a sense of fun. I am drawn to clients who are willing to take risks and create expressive spaces with me.”
The Westlake couple was willing to do just that, bringing their own sense of style to the table from the start. “This couple came to me with an amazing collection of art, records, books and curios from their travels, which we had to incorporate into the design,” says Shannon. Art pieces include a Slim Aarons pool photograph as you enter the space, abstract paintings by Renee Bouchon in the kitchen and living room, and a Wes Anderson print nestled on the top shelf of the custom built-in, large enough to house the couple’s collections.
“The art collection drove many of the design decisions,” explains Shannon. “In the living room, we were able to create this beautiful moment with the Slim Aarons photograph, where we just had a blank wall.” The mid-century influence of the photo can be seen in other aspects of the open-concept living, dining and kitchen space. For example, a sputnik-style chandelier by Arteriors graces the dining portion of a massive 14-foot kitchen island. “The mix of lighting above the island really defines two zones,” explains Shannon. “Traditional pendants from Visual Comfort define the working side, and the chandelier sets apart the dining side with an unexpected edge.”
Shannon masterfully blends traditional and contemporary design elements throughout the open-concept space. She selected traditional shaker cabinets for the kitchen but gave the overall design a punch with a few modern and colorful accents. The team worked with HaileyStudio architects to incorporate a window backsplash, which lets in natural light and feels exceptionally contemporary. Brass finishes on the hardware, fixtures, lighting and CB2 bar stools give a refined feel to the space, along with beautiful quartzite slab countertops. “Unlike quartz,” explains Shannon, “quartzite is a naturally occurring stone. So, there is no other counter like this out there, which makes it unique and special.” The kitchen is outfitted with professional-grade Kitchenaid® appliances, and lower cabinets are finished in a deep green to add a focal point of color.
“When you tear down walls to create an open-concept space, it can be difficult to incorporate color and define separate zones in a way that feels cohesive,” says Shannon. Since neutral was not an option for this colorful Austin couple, Shannon and her team had to get creative. For the dining room, they sourced a large-scale patterned wallpaper from the boutique Abnormals Anonymous studio. This garden print paper carries in the rich greens from the kitchen and is grounded with black and white elements in the rest of the space, including a contrasting striped rug, a dining set from Four Hands in Austin and a vintage white credenza. “I love to mix pattern and color,” says Shannon. “It’s all about finding the right balance of scale and those coordinating elements that bring it all together.”
Shannon grounds the otherwise neutral living room with a full wall of built-ins painted in Iced Marble, a misty green color. “We love this color,” explains Shannon. “It complements the greens used in the kitchen and dining room without being too bold and over competing with the other areas of the space.” Custom throw pillows in fabrics from Schumacher and ZAK+FOX add pops of color and fun to the room. The rest of the living room design relies on a mix of textures. “Since the dining space and kitchen are so bold, we wanted to tone things down in the living room,” Shannon explains. The family-centric living space features a deep and oversized channel-tufted sectional finished in a performance fabric that can stand up to the couple’s children and three dogs. A cane accent chair adds visual interest from all angles. “When we started this project, cane wasn’t really being used much in interior design,” explains Shannon. “Now, cane chairs are all the rage.” It goes to show that selecting bold finishes can place you ahead of the design trend curve.
Just off this beautiful and vibrant living space, guests will find an unexpected powder room finished in a pastel floral Voutsa wallpaper and moody black accents. “When creating powder rooms, I like to design an experience for guests,” says Shannon. “So, we paired this traditionally feminine paper with a moody and masculine black ceiling and tile.” The result is a traditional space with an unexpected edge, where guests can feel free to linger as they check their lipstick, fix their hair or even take a mirror selfie.
This delightfully Austonian home seamlessly combines traditional elements like old-world oil paintings and floral wallpapers with edgy contemporary style in the form of bold lighting and trending furnishings. Interior designer Shannon Eddings proves that boldly mixing styles can create a beautiful interior that pushes the envelope while offering a cozy space to relax. After all, who says traditional can’t be edgy?
Shannon Eddings Interiors
512-496-7578 | shannoneddings.com