My Houzz: From Beige and Bland to Eclectic and Moody in Austin
Colorful graphic wallpaper and eclectic finishes help transform this 1970s Texas home
“We lusted over the tree-filled lot backing to a wet weather creek, midcentury lines, large rooms and potential,” Jennifer Kinder says of her 1970s home. Its bluff location on the greenbelt in the Barton Hills neighborhood of Austin, Texas, was exactly what she and her husband, Jeremy, envisioned for their family. But inside the home, the finishes were, in Jennifer’s words, “very unfortunate.” The couple got to work updating the dated interiors by adding graphic wallpaper, new finishes and their own modern-vintage style.
The adjacent wet bar features another graphic wallpaper choice that Jennifer ran by Kim.
Wet bar cabinet paint: Old Navy in high-gloss finish, Benjamin Moore; hardware: Anthropologie; plum-colored grass cloth wallpaper: ABA Interiors; ice maker and mini fridge: U-Line
Wet bar cabinet paint: Old Navy in high-gloss finish, Benjamin Moore; hardware: Anthropologie; plum-colored grass cloth wallpaper: ABA Interiors; ice maker and mini fridge: U-Line
“The light fixture was the first new thing we bought after buying the house,” Jennifer says. “I love driftwood, and having a natural rustic element to the more formal look of the room fits our lifestyle … part formal, part outdoorsy. I also love that the round orb shape of the light plays nicely with the round pattern of the wallpaper.”
Wallpaper: Nimbo in Noctilucent, Flat Vernacular; dining table: Pottery Barn outlet; Lippa dining side chairs: Lex Mod; chandelier: Four Hands Home outlet; buffet backsplash: marble subway tile
Wallpaper: Nimbo in Noctilucent, Flat Vernacular; dining table: Pottery Barn outlet; Lippa dining side chairs: Lex Mod; chandelier: Four Hands Home outlet; buffet backsplash: marble subway tile
Orange-toned cabinetry and a dated checkered tile backsplash were the hallmarks of the previous kitchen. The couple gave this space a clean overhaul with new white custom cabinetry, dark gray travertine hexagonal floor tile and graphic wallpaper for an accent wall.
“The integrated appliances that involved panels were all pretty tricky and took several visits and attempts to get them right, even with professional appliance installers,” Jennifer says. The couple consider the patient wait worth it, as they got the look they wanted with their Sub-Zero refrigerator and freezer.
Wallpaper: Lotus BP 2061, Farrow & Ball; yellow chair: vintage, Craigslist; refrigerator pulls: custom, First Impressions International
Wallpaper: Lotus BP 2061, Farrow & Ball; yellow chair: vintage, Craigslist; refrigerator pulls: custom, First Impressions International
Their modern waterfall Neolith island countertop installation, done by Alpha Granite and Tile, was what Jennifer describes as “a beast of a job.” It ended up being difficult, expensive and time-consuming. The finished product looks amazing, but the price of installation was more than what the couple had budgeted. The other countertops are Silestone.
Custom cabinetry paint by Benjamin Moore: Ambler Slate (lower) and Decorator’s White (island cabinets); cabinet hardware: Schoolhouse Electric; island countertop; Neolith in Estatuario, AG&M Architectural Granite and Marble; range: Wolf; sink and faucet: Overstock; 19th C. Soda Fountain stools: Restoration Hardware
Custom cabinetry paint by Benjamin Moore: Ambler Slate (lower) and Decorator’s White (island cabinets); cabinet hardware: Schoolhouse Electric; island countertop; Neolith in Estatuario, AG&M Architectural Granite and Marble; range: Wolf; sink and faucet: Overstock; 19th C. Soda Fountain stools: Restoration Hardware
Installation of the travertine hexagonal tile was also challenging, because the sheets of tile all varied in color and the grid pattern would have been very obvious if the sheets had not been put down without changes. The installer at Elements Floor and Design worked diligently to pop out individual hex tiles and mix them up until the pattern looked natural.
Flooring: Noir hex travertine mosaic tile, The Tile Shop; island light and pendants and sink sconce: Schoolhouse Electric
Flooring: Noir hex travertine mosaic tile, The Tile Shop; island light and pendants and sink sconce: Schoolhouse Electric
The family spend most of their time upstairs on the main level, which houses the living room, dining area, kitchen, master bedroom and girls’ bedroom. Jeremy’s office is downstairs.
The armoire behind the leather sofa and the post office desk are antiques. The couple bought the potted 20-year-old Madagascar dragon tree (Dracaena marginata) on Craigslist.
Green tufted sofa: Anthropologie; Lancaster leather sofa: Restoration Hardware outlet; coffee table: Mockingbird Domestics
Green tufted sofa: Anthropologie; Lancaster leather sofa: Restoration Hardware outlet; coffee table: Mockingbird Domestics
“My mom has great style, and I grew up hitting antique malls with her, and hating it — I thought it was all junk and smelled bad,” Jennifer says. Now, her decorating style is defined by her mixing old things with new and taking a space from a “catalog” look to one that is layered and visually interesting. “If done correctly, it should look unified and curated, not chaotic and cluttered,” she says. “Most of my favorite spaces are a mixture of vintage, new, modern, rustic, classic, trendy, textures, patterns and plants … always plants.”
The only change Jennifer made to the fireplace was to take down the mantel and add a staghorn fern.
Chairs: Craigslist and estate sales; fireplace wall plant: staghorn fern, The Natural Gardener, mounted by homeowner
Chairs: Craigslist and estate sales; fireplace wall plant: staghorn fern, The Natural Gardener, mounted by homeowner
The entry is still a work in progress, and the couple is looking for a long credenza to go along the stone wall under the moss art.
Moss art on vintage painting: Things Unseen, by Jennifer Kinder
Moss art on vintage painting: Things Unseen, by Jennifer Kinder
For now, they’ve changed the flooring to wood in a herringbone pattern to create a more formal feel and added mirrors to bring in more light and add a bit of formal glitz.
Jennifer has an admittedly longstanding problem with collecting chairs, mostly from Craigslist, estate sales and garage sales. “The variety of chairs in my house characterizes my nondiscriminatory eye for all different interior styles,” she says.
Jennifer has an admittedly longstanding problem with collecting chairs, mostly from Craigslist, estate sales and garage sales. “The variety of chairs in my house characterizes my nondiscriminatory eye for all different interior styles,” she says.
The metal railing that overlooks the stairway to the lower level was custom-made by Andrew Sorrell of Steelworks Austin. “The previous [one] did not meet code, and I wanted something sculptural with raw steel,” Jennifer says. “He sketched this out for me, and we went for it. He also redid our back patio railing with horizontal rebar on the existing posts after cutting all the vertical bulky iron slats out.”
The laundry room’s makeover included painting the original cabinetry in Benjamin Moore’s Decorator’s White and laying out penny tile from The Tile Shop on the floors.
Jennifer made the cabinet pulls from rope. She also followed some online tutorials on using Quikrete to trowel concrete over the old laminate counters.
Jennifer hand painted the abstract wall design in the powder room, which was inspired by a favorite wallpaper.
Wall paint: Decorator’s White, Benjamin Moore; sink and faucet, Overstock; mirror: HomeGoods; light: Schoolhouse Electric
Wall paint: Decorator’s White, Benjamin Moore; sink and faucet, Overstock; mirror: HomeGoods; light: Schoolhouse Electric
The couple’s daughters share a room, which is decorated with a playful mix of vintage and contemporary finds. Both their beds are vintage. When Jennifer was pregnant with each daughter, she bought the large metal letters for the first letters of their names — Eliza and Quinn.
The mural was inspired by a cross-stitch painting Jennifer saw on Etsy. “Eliza, my 10-year-old, did much of the actual painting over my pencil sketch for her on the wall,” she says. “It was fun to have her do some of it.”
Dresser: Malm, Ikea
Dresser: Malm, Ikea
The master bedroom is inspired by a boutique hotel room. “I love a dark, moody bedroom, so this was a must,” Jennifer says. The paintings were a DIY project.
Carpet: Lake Huron by Royal Dutch Carpets, via American Carpet Wholesalers; wall paint: French Beret, Benjamin Moore; bed: Old Hickory Furniture; bedside tables: West Elm outlet; artwork: homeowner; bedside lamps: West Elm
Carpet: Lake Huron by Royal Dutch Carpets, via American Carpet Wholesalers; wall paint: French Beret, Benjamin Moore; bed: Old Hickory Furniture; bedside tables: West Elm outlet; artwork: homeowner; bedside lamps: West Elm
A dresser in one corner adds to the hotel vibe.
Dresser: West Elm outlet
Dresser: West Elm outlet
The bench in front of the closet is perfectly placed for choosing and putting on shoes.
Velvet bench: West Elm outlet
Velvet bench: West Elm outlet
The couple lined their closet with fabric and installed an Elfa system from The Container Store.
Jennifer dressed up the original entry with plants and furniture. The couple already had most of the furniture, but she found the peacock chair on Craigslist.
“We love living right in the buzz of the city,” Jennifer says. From their balcony, they can hear music from Zilker Park during festivals or drum circles.
From left, Quinn, Jeremy, Jennifer and Eliza relax at their kitchen island. Their home’s location is perfect for them. “We can walk down our backyard into the creek bed, join up with the main Barton Creek and public trail system about five houses down and walk to either Barton Springs Pool one way or Tacodeli,” Jennifer says. “Our family is also big on bike riding. We are often known to go out on bike date night, although now Jeremy has a scooter, so during the hot months we scoot around and can park anywhere.”
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My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
Browse more homes by style:
Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Homes Around the World | Lofts | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Small Homes | Townhouses | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation Homes
Who lives here: Jennifer and Jeremy Kinder; their daughters, Eliza, 10, and Quinn, 4; and their cat, Feather Mist
Location: Barton Hills neighborhood of Austin, Texas
Size: 3,900 square feet (362 square meters); four bedrooms, 3½ bathrooms
Year built: 1975
When the couple bought the home, the interior palette was primarily beige, with worn carpet and cheap blond laminate flooring throughout. They replaced the flooring, and Jennifer worked with Kim West of Supply Showroom, bouncing off other design choices on her — especially the graphic wallpaper selections, such as the one seen here in the dining area. West “is painfully stylish in all categories, including her effortlessly casual wardrobe, bright lip color, designer sneaks and thoughtfully messy hair part,” Jennifer says. “Since I respect her eye so much, I felt less nervous about each decision I made if I could quickly run it past her.”
Bar cart: vintage, estate sale; art: Drift in the In-between, by Jennifer Kinder