Above: Natural light provides all of the showcasing that the wall of adventures needs to allow each story to shine. Opposite: Vaulted ceilings with accent beams open the feel of the entire room and yet still maintain the warmth of wood and coziness.
HIDDEN IN THE HILLS NEAR AUSTIN’S TREASURED OASIS RESTAURANT IS AN OASIS OF A MUCH DIFFERENT KIND. In Villa Montana, there is a house that looks as though it was stolen from the Tuscan coast and shipped wholesale to central Texas. Instead of an overlook of the Mediterranean, however, it combines the best of both locales by incorporating a pristine view of the evergreen Austin hills. But the picture painted by this Italian-inspired escape only begins with its vantages and external appearance. Step into Maureen Miller’s home and the feeling of being transported to a vacation destination is complete. An interior designer by trade and by passion, Maureen has taken her significant talents and abilities and crafted a home from the stories and influences of her many travels throughout the world. Greeted upon entry by a wall of artifacts from Greece, Italy and the Far East, the melange suggests travel at an immediate glance. Neither garish or overstated, the lighter earth tones and archways of the architecture frame each cherished piece and serve as the first line in a story about them. Indeed, that is the soul of Miller’s home, the stories that each design element contributes. Here, there is a running board from
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a carriage that pre-dates any who will see it. There, a captain’s astrolabe rests with countless courses having been charted by its guidance. Everything in this home has a story and rather than make the overall effect that of a cluttered home, the pieces provide compliment to the home that Maureen and her husband have imbued with a unique personality. Equally reflective of the owners’ kindness and hospitality is the natural light that flows throughout the entire house. Windows in every room provide a natural hearth as it warms dark, rich woods and the alabaster tones of marble and stone that are pervasive throughout the house. No reflection of the Italian coast, an admitted influence on the home’s design and decor, would be complete without the cerulean hues of the sea. Those shades permeate the elaborate master bedroom and private study, as well as into the master bath. In the master bedroom, marble flooring gives way to darker wood, subtly suggesting ancient ships at sea and great adventures. Within these rooms, the ocean’s soothing rhythm can be seen, if not heard, completing the transport to calmer days and more relaxed routines. Accented by vases, sponges and shells, the
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