An Austin Home Has Vintage Vibes With Modern MoxieChase Daniel
Homes with history are widely beloved for their time-softened character that a new build just can’t quite capture. But, as many designers who’ve overseen renovations in near-century-old spaces can attest, they tend to require creative solutions to update them for modern living. When designer Kim Lewis began working on this 1929 Austin, Texas, Craftsman, its compact layout made furnishing a unique challenge.
“The floor plan is a narrow shotgun, which pushed us into custom furniture at almost every turn,” Lewis says. “The original kitchen layout had no proper depth for a dining table, and the homeowners love to entertain.”
Fortunately, these limitations did not impede the design possibilities—instead, they allowed Lewis to shape the space into a style all its own. The resulting kitchen dining table, for instance, has an oval shape along with flexible banquette and bench seating, allowing it to accommodate both the space and parties of varying sizes. “By curving all corners in this area, we softened the transitions,” she adds.
Lewis focused mainly on updating the shared living spaces of the house, and, while the kitchen was a down-to-the-studs reno, other areas—like the parlor, powder room, and entryway—benefited from smaller cosmetic updates.
“We love pushing the boundaries on color; the parlor we went all in on,” Lewis says, underscoring that bold hues, like the rich aubergine she chose for the space, can actually prove to be surprisingly versatile. “The dimensional and dynamic color looks brown, eggplant, or burgundy, depending on time of day.” She also splurged on custom window treatments in the room that “added the perfect cozy layer.”
Throughout the project, Lewis and her team had to be intentional in every decision in order to both preserve the home’s historic legacy and have it suit its creative, well-traveled residents. Instead of adhering too rigidly to the era of the home, she largely opted out of emulating a late-’20s period piece, instead focusing on infusing the space with a spirit all its own that feels both timeless and of the moment.
“I appreciate design that is hard to describe and feels impossible to label,” Lewis adds. “Our clients are unique, and this home speaks to that! By not associating with a certain genre of design or period, we were able to give the home the flexibility to evolve, while still striking a nostalgic note.”
FAST FACTS
Designer: Kim Lewis Designs
Location: Austin, Texas
The Space: A two-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bathroom home across 1,600 square feet
PARLORBespoke furnishings ensure this space is ready for entertaining.
The home called for a thoroughly modern parlor to play host to all of the client’s future gatherings. By deftly mixing vintage silhouettes with contemporary comfort, Lewis crafted a go-to space for the homeowners to entertain guests, circle up for game night, and spin their favorite vinyls. “The record player sets the tone to come and stay awhile,” she adds.
Set against a moody backdrop, the zellige-covered fireplace is the clear crown jewel of the room, while the herringbone flooring—crafted from European French oak—provides a seamless visual transition from the parlor to the kitchen. “Originally, there were two different floor types cutting the shotgun architecture in half,” Lewis explains.
Designing in small quarters while keeping the proportions practical also meant that readymade furniture wasn’t always going to cut it. Instead of buying a good-enough coffee table straight from a showroom, Lewis and her team went the (cross-continental) distance to source a statement-worthy stone side table that ended up as the arty base for a glass topper.
“With all the back and forth, the table deserved a name…so, meet Charli!” Lewis says. “Charli passed through three fabricators—a stone fabricator, glass supplier, and custom brass fabricator—to finally arrive home.”
KITCHENIn the reimagined cook space, clean lines meet a zippy pop of color.
Cabinetry: Hutto Millwork. Wallpaper: Kim Parker.Chase Daniel
The bulk of the home’s renovation efforts went into the kitchen, and clearly, it paid off in spades. “The kitchen is my favorite!” Lewis gushes. “A perfect combination of retro, ‘grandma chic,’ and European-style cabinetry.”
Anchored by the custom island and dining area, the airy space is also packed with plenty of pep by way of the Kim Parker wallpaper. “Every decision hinged on the wallpaper,” Lewis adds.
Because the original kitchen was shadowy and cramped, Lewis had to reimagine the entire layout, making major structural changes to open up the area. “Our client is really tall and wanted the ceiling to be raised,” Lewis explains. She also added a skylight to flood the once-dark cook space with warm Texas sunlight.
In a home full of custom furnishings, Lewis calls out this kitchen island as one of her all-time favorite creations. “The ‘70s green lacquer, brass inlay, zellige mosaic toe kick, and exaggerated rounded corners are a vibe. We love using the kitchen island as a focal point to create something unique,” she adds.
ENTRYWAYA custom built-in streamlines the household’s organizational needs.
Built-in: Hutto Millwork. Hardware: Rejuvenation.Chase Daniel
Though the entryway and kitchen are technically separate zones, Lewis chose to keep an aesthetic throughline between them so that they feel more like different angles of the same room. The custom millwork boasts the same Scandi-chic appeal as in the kitchen, with brass toe kicks and hardware that all nod back to the cook space.
This serves a practical purpose, too, since some of the original kitchen storage had to be relocated. “By taking some of the mud space to create a large pantry and utility closet, we increased use and flow while enhancing beauty,” Lewis says.
POWDER ROOMA bold blue punches up this pint-sized space.
Wallpaper: Belarte. Paint: Lazarus, Alkemis Paint. Sink: Watermark. Flooring: Fireclay Tile. Door paint: Polo Blue, Benjamin Moore.Chase Daniel
It’s no secret that designers love going extra bold in the powder room. (As Lewis says: “We knew we wanted a pop of art on the walls!”) But with a view out to the entryway, the designer’s challenge was to compose a palette that would play nicely with the existing color scheme.
Her solution was to pair a lush, impressionistic Belarte wallpaper with a true statement blue. “The Alkemis paint in here is gorgeous, rich, and the most saturated, electrifying blue on the market,” Lewis attests.
About the Designer
Hearst Owned
Kim Lewis leads a global multidisciplinary design studio focused on the fusion of fashion, color, craftsmanship, and storytelling. Her whimsical personality-infused design approach honors historical architecture and furniture design, with a focus on interiors and branding. Kim is recognized for her use of color, layered style, and timeless use of iconic vintage pieces. She leads her team in managing an expansive portfolio of hospitality, commercial, and luxury residential projects, including restaurants, boutique hotels, multifamily condominiums, and retail spaces.
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