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Pro Spotlight: Achieve Your Own Paradise at Home
Create a space that fills your daydreams with tips from a San Diego design-build professional
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Who: Lee Austin of Design Studio West
Where: San Diego
In his own words: “It’s crucial that your home is for you and about you.”
People often go on vacation to escape the everyday — to find places that inspire and that feel special. But having a home that echoes your personal taste and brims with your favorite things might make you rethink your next getaway.
“We all deserve a place we look forward to coming home to and can enjoy with our family and friends,” says Lee Austin, the owner and president of Design Studio West in San Diego. “It enhances every bit of your life; it’s going to be your retreat, your paradise, your nirvana.”
Where: San Diego
In his own words: “It’s crucial that your home is for you and about you.”
People often go on vacation to escape the everyday — to find places that inspire and that feel special. But having a home that echoes your personal taste and brims with your favorite things might make you rethink your next getaway.
“We all deserve a place we look forward to coming home to and can enjoy with our family and friends,” says Lee Austin, the owner and president of Design Studio West in San Diego. “It enhances every bit of your life; it’s going to be your retreat, your paradise, your nirvana.”
A fateful doghouse. “I decided I loved building things when I was 10 years old,” Austin says. That was when he made a list of materials, went to the store and built a doghouse using his dad’s tools: “I had a ball, and my love for building has never diminished.” He studied construction in college and started his company in 1982.
It’s about the people. Austin enjoys many aspects of his job, but his favorite is forming relationships with his clients. “I’m friends with most of my clients; we go out to dinner together with our families,” he says. “The whole business is a process of relationship-building and home-building.”
Ready to design your personal haven? Read Austin’s tips for getting a home that fits you to a T.
Ready to design your personal haven? Read Austin’s tips for getting a home that fits you to a T.
1. Ponder Your Pastimes
Discuss your favorite activities with your design-build representative and find ways to integrate what you love to do into your home. “Through those details come creative ideas you might never have thought of,” Austin says.
For example, clients in La Jolla love pizza and getting together with family and friends. The team built the intimate outdoor space seen here, which has a pizza oven that doubles as a fireplace. “We added heaters and ample lighting so it’s usable 24 hours a day all year round,” Austin says.
See more of this project
Discuss your favorite activities with your design-build representative and find ways to integrate what you love to do into your home. “Through those details come creative ideas you might never have thought of,” Austin says.
For example, clients in La Jolla love pizza and getting together with family and friends. The team built the intimate outdoor space seen here, which has a pizza oven that doubles as a fireplace. “We added heaters and ample lighting so it’s usable 24 hours a day all year round,” Austin says.
See more of this project
2. Think Long-Term
“It’s important to design a home that’s going to be comfortable as your capabilities change or if elderly parents come to visit,” Austin says. “It doesn’t take major changes to incorporate usability.”
Clients in La Jolla had the initial goal of creating a beautiful bathroom, “but it morphed into something they can use for several decades,” Austin says. “We installed a shower without an enclosure so they can wheel right in if needed.” Everything in the bathroom is easy to reach and clean, and the lights’ brightness can be adjusted.
See more of this project
“It’s important to design a home that’s going to be comfortable as your capabilities change or if elderly parents come to visit,” Austin says. “It doesn’t take major changes to incorporate usability.”
Clients in La Jolla had the initial goal of creating a beautiful bathroom, “but it morphed into something they can use for several decades,” Austin says. “We installed a shower without an enclosure so they can wheel right in if needed.” Everything in the bathroom is easy to reach and clean, and the lights’ brightness can be adjusted.
See more of this project
3. Inject Personal Style
Match your home to your taste. “Everyone has their own user-specific style,” Austin says. The owners of the La Jolla home seen here, on the south side of Mount Soledad, have avant-garde style. Austin added red accents and sculptural hardware to the kitchen to match their bold taste in art.
They also wanted to be mindful of sustainability, so they chose recyclable materials, including stainless steel and glass. “This is the kitchen most folks wouldn’t think about,” Austin says. “It happened only because the clients showed us all the things they think are interesting and fun.”
See more of this project
More: For more information on Lee Austin and examples of his work, visit Design Studio West’s Houzz profile.
This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.
Match your home to your taste. “Everyone has their own user-specific style,” Austin says. The owners of the La Jolla home seen here, on the south side of Mount Soledad, have avant-garde style. Austin added red accents and sculptural hardware to the kitchen to match their bold taste in art.
They also wanted to be mindful of sustainability, so they chose recyclable materials, including stainless steel and glass. “This is the kitchen most folks wouldn’t think about,” Austin says. “It happened only because the clients showed us all the things they think are interesting and fun.”
See more of this project
More: For more information on Lee Austin and examples of his work, visit Design Studio West’s Houzz profile.
This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.
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Our family had an incredible experience working with the team at Design Studio West. We had quite a large scale project. Completely remodeling our kitchen, adding custom cabinetry and a fireplace. Re...More
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