Urban Home Austin-San Antonio June/July 2011

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AUSTIN-SAN ANTONIO URBAN

Designs | Lifestyles | Investments | Improvements

Outdoor Retreats Urban Home Dream Home Debut

Coastal-Inspired Design & Living

www.UrbanHomeMagazine.com

FLAWLESS

512-944-4520 | www.foursquarebuilders.com

From the Editors

SCAN & EXPAND

Urban Home magazine is pleased to present electronic scan tags in this issue.

Electronic scan tags allow you, as a reader of our magazine, to receive expanded content with the use of your Smartphone.

Throughout the magazine, you will notice small color coded boxes appearing in numerous advertisers’ ads. These tags can be read with most Smartphones with a free downloadable app from Microsoft. Once read, your phone will connect directly to expanded editorial content, our advertisers’ websites, blogs and special offers. This technology expands the experience of our readers and creates a truly interactive publication for the first time.

To begin your experience, download the free app at www.gettag.mobi. Once downloaded, open the app and hold it over any of the tags that appear throughout the magazine. Below is a sample tag that will direct you to our Urban Home: Austin-San Antonio Facebook page. We encourage you to become our friend and expand your interaction with our publication even more.

Summer - the time of year when we yearn to sneak out of town and spend some time relaxing near the water. Whether your idea of waterside be the ocean or the lake, the casual, relaxed feel of being near the water is undeniable. In this issue of Urban Home we take a look at all things coastal.

Our cover home, located on Lake Austin, is a playful interpretation of Central Texas meets Cape Cod. Architect James LaRue has succeeded in creating a home that meets the owners’ need for privacy and practicality while also being mindful of the protected cypress trees on the property.

Another waterfront property is an innovative home bathed in light and infused with strong geometric pieces that is both inviting and restful. Marcus Mohon successfully blends a genius combination of the cool colors of the sea with the naturally rough textures of wood and metal, to craft a most enviable gulfside home.

Architect Michael Imber makes the most of our beautiful Central Texas landscape by creating a home that seems to become a part of the landscape itself. Using natural materials inside and out, and making the house an extension of the panorama surrounding it, he shows us a home that lets the outside in.

Seafood is a Texas favorite. We introduce you to two of Central Texas’ hip new spots for seafood served in a contemporary style. Wildfish Seafood Grille in San Antonio, and Soleil in Austin, both present the best that our Gulf Coast has to offer.

As we went to press, a visionary team of professionals met for the first time to begin design and construction of the Urban Home Dream Home. Renowned architect James LaRue is combining forces with Custom Home Consultant Karen Matuszewski and Scott Branc of New Urban Home Builders to create a spacious and energy efficient home located in the Rough Hollow development. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this home will be given to the Ronald McDonald House serving the Austin area. Urban Home magazine is proud to be one of the partners in this project and encourages our readers to follow along during the custom homebuilding process over the next 6 issues.

We at Urban Home wish for you a summer of rest and relaxation.

Please be encouraged to recycle.

Trisha Doucette & Leslie Woods, editors

P.S. Find us on Facebook at Urban Home Magazine: Austin – San Antonio.

On The Cover: James D. LaRue Architects in Austin, designers of this coastalinspired residence on the banks of Lake Austin, describes the project as, “The feel is of an East Coast beach house. It’s Cape Cod meets Texas Hill Country.”

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Scan to view more features of this waterfront home.

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AWARD-WINNING INTERIOR DESIGN 2011 | VOL. 6 | NO. 3 Publisher Louis Doucette

custom homes • lofts • spec homes • commercial

Editors Leslie Woods and Trisha Doucette Contributing Editors Judith Bundschuh – ABOR Candice Olson – Candice Tells All Catrina Hoelke – Catrina’s at the Ranch Kyle Jones – NARI Austin Keith Moehle – San Antonio NARI Karen Matuszewski – By Design, Real Estate Services & Custom Home Consulting Contributing Writers Carrie Bastin, Sharla Bell, Jennifer Bitzkie, Julie Catalano, Jessica Dupuy, Manuel Flores, Allison Love, Sue-Ella Mueller, Dana W. Todd Advertising Sales Sandy Weatherford Photography Tre Dunham – Fine Focus Photography Manuel Flores Jason Roberts – Jason Roberts & Associates Vernon Wentz – Ad Imagery Design and Production Tim Shaw – The Shaw Creative Printing and Direct Mail SmithPrint Phone 512.385.4663, Austin - 210.410.0014, San Antonio Fax 830.981.8887 Business Office 4714 Cambridge / Sugar Land, Texas 77479 Sales Office 10036 Saxet Drive / Boerne, Texas 78006 Email louisd@urbanhomemagazine.com Website urbanhomemagazine.com Urban Home Magazine Austin-San Antonio is published by Big City Magazines of Austin, LLC. Advertising rates available upon request. All rights reserved by copyright. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part without the express written consent from publisher. Every effort is made to assure accuracy of the information contained herein. However, the publisher cannot guarantee such accuracy. Advertising is subject to errors, omissions and or other changes without notice. Mention of any product or service does not constitute endorsement from Urban Home Magazine.

The information contained in this publication is deemed reliable from third party sources, but not guaranteed. Urban Home Magazine does not act as an agent for any of the advertisers in this publication. It is recommended that you choose a qualified remodeling, home furnishings or home improvement firm based on your own selection criteria. Urban Home Magazine, does not act as an agent for any of the realtors or builders in this publication. It is recommended that you choose a qualified realtor to assist you in your new home purchase.

Urban Home Magazine will not knowingly accept advertising for real estate that is a violation of the Fair Housing Act. All real estate advertising in Urban Home Magazine, is subject to the Fair Housing Act that states “We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the nation.

We encourage and support an affirmative advertising and marketing program in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin.”

© Copyright 2011 by Urban Home Magazine. All Rights Reserved.

Stephanie J. Villavicencio, ASID Texas Registered Interior Designer

512.443.3200 www.bellavillads.com

2011 June/July

Contents cover 14 On The Waterfront – Coastal Living In Central Texas Photography by Coles Hairston 20 Open House – Texas Living, Indoors and Out Photography by Paul Bardagjy

trends

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28 Decorating Sea Worthy 50 Outdoor Bathing Al Fresco 62 Garden Tropical Illusions 70 Technology Teeing Up Indoors 74 Entertaining Texas Gulf To Table

features

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34 38 44 46 56

Book Review: Waterside Cottages Outdoor Living: Liquid Assets – Asset Allocation Community Service: Urban Home Dream Home Improvements: Grand Openings Outdoor Accessories: Well Grounded

departments fabulous finds 78 Sculpture Gardens plan-it green 60 The Grass Is Always Greener - Tips For Maintaining A Healthier Lawn During Drought Conditions

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essentials 36 New Products: Coastal Living 72 New Products: Outdoor Entertaining 26 40 42 73 81

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contributing editors Kyle Jones, NARI Austin & Keith Moehle, San Antonio NARI Candice Olson, Candice Tells All Karen Matuszewski , By Design Custom Home Consulting Catrina Hoelke, Catrina’s at the Ranch Judith Bundschuh, ABOR

82 Advertiser Index www.urbanhomemagazine.com

on the

Waterfront Coastal Living in Central Texas

By Dana W. Todd Photography by Coles Hairston

J

ames LaRue, the architect who designed this 4,500-square-foot home on western Lake Austin, admits the design is a departure from his usual contemporary style. But the cottage vibe has just enough of a clean look on the inside to infuse a sense of contemporary living in this traditional waterfront home.

Such a whimsical idea as waterfront living in central Texas demands a playful design touch. “The feel is of an East Coast beach house,” LaRue says. “It’s Cape Cod meets Texas Hill Country.” The blending of materials and colors – from the light bronze standing seam metal roof to lap siding to locally quarried limestone – achieve the feel of a shoreline cottage. His unique application of lap siding in various widths adds an air of impulsivity that mimics “throw on a life jacket and jump on the boat” lakefront living.

The site posed some challenges to LaRue’s architectural design ethos. A narrow strip of land with two house “fronts” – a river side equally important as the street side – LaRue says his design aimed to satisfy three concerns: privacy, environmental issues, and practicality. Situating the home 75 feet from the lake front, LaRue was able to save some impressive cypress trees on both sides of the house that once surrounded an old cabin. He satisfied the City of Austin’s requirements, provided some homeowner privacy, and shielded a protected species.

For additional privacy, he designed a side entry courtyard and placed the house’s footprint generously off the street with an attached two-car

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garage that cannot be seen street side. “We uniquely design every house,” LaRue says, “and make it both client- and site-specific.

Homebuilding on this scale is usually a once-in-a-lifetime process, and we are with our clients every step of the way.” LaRue also worked with the homeowner’s interior designer on choices such as tile selection and the overall feel of the home. Adding lots of glass through the use of tall double hung windows with transoms on every wall facing the lake promotes a sense of openness and spaciousness to the traditional design.

Many outside amenities make the cottage feel beach-like.

LaRue designed a detached two-story, two-bedroom guest house over a screened outdoor kitchen overlooking the water. With walls

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Drop by for some

that are wider at the bottom and subtly curve up, the guest cottage emulates the wave action on the nearby lake. Combined with the patterning technique of the fiber cement siding and color changes at the top of the tapered walls, the look is relaxing and playful.

Neutral colors anchor it into its natural surroundings.

Along with the landscaping and L-shape of the house, the property feels enclosed and private, almost like a courtyard. An elevated breezeway and outdoor covered and uncovered deck spaces complete the coastal impression. LaRue designed several outbuildings, including a detached one-car garage, to mimic the appearance of the guest cottage on site. And to ensure all architectural elements were cohesive, he re-designed and remodeled an existing boat dock to blend with the house and all detached buildings.

Inside, the home is built around a three-story stairwell tower which is a blend between traditional aesthetic and contemporary Hill Country design sensibilities. From bottom to top, there is a dining room, music room and an office with a balcony, all overlooking the

Light conversation.

lake. A sitting area in the master bedroom is punctuated by large windows framing a water view, providing a sunroom feel to the space.

Earthy colors and natural materials throughout the house, such as the living room’s stone fireplace and wooden coffered ceilings, bring the outdoors in.

Whether indoors or outdoors, the homeowners can’t help but enjoy the lakeside view. With LaRue’s skillful use of materials and design elements, the home is an architectural treasure snuggled into the natural landscape. It’s a perfect place for empty nesters to entertain and enjoy any and every day of the year. v James D. LaRue Architects in Austin is an award-winning residential architecture firm with a design-intensive environment. The firm’s most recent awards include selection on the 2010 Austin AIA Homes Tour and 2009 Home Builders Association best one-of-akind design. Contact the firm at 512.347.1688 or visit www.laruearchitects.com for a portfolio.

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Open House

By Sharla Bell Photography by Paul Bardagjy

Texas Living, Indoors and Out

W

hen Michael Imber and Mac White of Michael G. Imber, Architects, walked the property out-

side Wimberley with the owners, it became

clear that the site the developer had deemed appropriate for

the house just wouldn’t do. According to White, “It was the highest point on the hill, stripped clear of trees to maximize the distant views across the valley, but this had left the site totally exposed to the neighboring properties, the weather, and the harsh Texas sun.” So they set out to find a better site. “A bit farther down the hill we found two natural draws (a small natural drainage way) under the shaded canopy of old growth cedars and Spanish oaks,

Taking their inspiration from the land in the most literal of senses, Imber and White designed the house as if it were an outpouring of the landscape. White explained that they wanted the walls to feel as if they grew right out of the natural limestone bedrock outcroppings that step up the hillside, so the architects aligned the house with the contours of the site, “and then broke the house apart volumetrically to allow it to step up hillside, capturing spaces between the limestone walls,

with a spring flowing over their stone outcroppings and falling to a natural pool below. This landscape is what the site was about and we were drawn to make a connection to it with the house. The same distant views would open up through windows within the trees, while capturing this close-up experience with the land.”

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and also creating outdoor rooms that allow all the spaces in the house to interact with the landscape.” They used natural materials — limestone walls inside and out, wood structure for the ceilings, natural slate and mesquite wood flooring — to make the whole of the house an extension of the landscape.

It wasn’t enough, however, to simply use outdoor materials indoors; Imber and White went a step further, completely blurring the lines between “indoors” and “outdoors.” They Urban Home Austin – San Antonio

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used a product called Nana Wall, which are a series of doors that fold back like an accordion, across the entire great room wall, opening the main living space to a wide panoramic view of the Wimberley Valley below. “These doors also offer a connection with the landscape by allowing the living room and dining room to essentially become an open air pavilion and take advantage of the natural breezes rolling up the hillside.

Either end of the great room also opens up with large sliding doors opening to the dining terrace and the master bedroom deck, allowing for natural cross ventilation throughout these spaces,” White explained.

Since the natural draws, the spring, the waterfall and pool below were elemental to what attracted them to the site, “capturing the sound and presence of water, the calming and cooling effect it has, seemed integral to the concept of the house.” So, Imber and White incorporated the spring into the actual design of the house. Using the limestone outcroppings as lower site walls that collect or capture pools of water — one near the front door which the entry bridges over and the others on the back side of the house below the master bedroom deck — water spills from one pool to the other, eventually flowing down hill through one of the draws and is re-circulated. A stone staircase leads down from the deck to the pools, which form a plunge pool to escape the Texas heat.

Imber and White took advantage of every possible opportunity to connect the homeowners with the outdoors,

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using windows and doors to great effect. For example, the library cubicle behind the fireplace holds an amazing surprise.

According to White, “A floor to ceiling picture window provides a dramatic view, creating the feeling that you are almost out over the hillside on the edge of a cliff. By aligning the glass desk and shelving with the mullions of the window, we were able to create a real work space without interrupting the view.”

Imber also added that the master bath has a large window with a bench seat for a private view, and “The bath is carved into the hillside and has a large picture window that makes it feel as if you are bathing out in the landscape.” Finally, the master bedroom opens out to the deck above the pool through three French doors that also provide a unique broad view, while other openings focus on the captured garden spaces.

While their clients had slightly differing views about the style of the home — one wanted “the warmth and comfort of an old country lodge while the other wanted a more modern sensibility,” — White says they “were both adamant that whatever the house’s form became, it had to be unmistakably ‘Texan.’” Drawing inspiration from the architecture of early West Texas forts, especially Fort Concho with its low-sloped hip roofs, clipped eaves and limestone walls, Imber and White used the simple geometries combined with the use of local materials as a point of departure on the project. And both clients’ wishes were attended to: the warm wood and roughhewn limestone certainly feel lodge-like while the clean lines and careful use of furnishings and accessories give the home a modern appeal.

When asked what his favorite element of the house might be, White replied that it is the variety of ways the house opens 24

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up to the landscape that he so enjoys. “Whether the dramatic foldaway wall of the living room, or in surprising ways like windows between the limestone walls that have more intimate, focused views, or even the pop up transoms that allow natural light to fill the house from all sides,” this house is all about letting the outside in. v Michael G. Imber, Architects, PLLC, is a modern classical design firm based in San Antonio whose work reflects the varied landscapes, history and cultures of the Western US combined with modern execution from their diverse team. View their extensive portfolio at www.michaelgimber.com or call their office at 210.824.7703.

We’ve got great glass

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REMODELER’S ADVICE

Remodeling Homeowners Create

We design it We Build it

Outdoor Retreats S

ummer is here and homeowners are remodeling their outdoor living areas like never before. During long and lazy summer days, many homeowners spend hours outdoors enjoying cooking and socializing with friends and family.

Backyards are no longer just about Kyle Jones, decks and swimming pools. They President, Austin NARI often resemble a family’s favorite vacation spot blended with their home’s style.

Members of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) report across the nation an increase in homeowners requesting multi-level decks, spas, fireplaces and outdoor kitchens in their backyards. From wood Keith Moehle, fire pizza ovens to cabinets and President, NARI San Antonio countertops, outdoor kitchens are no longer just for the well-to-do. Increasingly, products that remodelers would normally use for indoor kitchen remodels are now being designed for outdoor use, including range hoods and fans to keep cooking heat and smoke away from a homeowner’s guests.

Customizable grill islands, much like indoor kitchen islands, are found in more elaborate outdoor kitchen remodels, along with dishwashers and refrigerators that are designed to be used outdoors. Homeowners also have more options than ever when it comes to outdoor lighting, including sophisticated outdoor lamps that resemble the finest indoor models, and intricately designed hanging lights.

There are now a wide range of accessories available to decorate their outdoor kitchens as well, from durable easyto-care-for furniture, sculptures and fountains to décor items like paintings specially designed for use outdoors.

We invite you to visit our websites at www.AustinNARI. org for Austin and www.RemodelSanAntonio.org for San Antonio, or call our offices at 512.708.0637 or 210.348.6274, respectively. v

At Crystal Sunrooms and Remodeling we are committed to Green building. Green Building begins at the design stage with these principles: Use less energy; use less water; don’t contaminate the air anywhere; avoid buying things that contaminate the world when they are made or shipped; buy from responsible manufacturers. It’s just that simple.

Call

512.832.4786

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DEcorating n Trends

When my husband and I were thinking of relocating to the Galveston Bay area quite a few years ago, we spent a little time on the island looking for a home to rent or own. What I remember from that day is turquoise. Lots and lots of turquoise. Years later, and on that same island, Marcus Mohon, of Mohon-Imber Interiors, has created a space that is the antithesis of the beach houses I remember seeing that day. His creation is restful, soothing, hip and durable without being sleepy, boring, trendy or merely functional. It is not just a ‘beach house’; it is truly a coastal retreat.

SEA Worthy

By Sharla Bell Photography courtesy of Mohon-Imber Interiors

By Sharla Bell Photography by RYANN FORD

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W

hen asked what design elements are most important for a coastal home, Mohon explains that one must strike an important balance of comfort and durability. The beach environment can be incredibly harsh for fabrics, floors and furniture, both outside and inside. With the potential for visitors, renters and grandchildren, these houses get plenty of use. Fortunately, fabrics have come a long way. “No longer does one need to choose a busy, bright pattern to hide the mess, wear and tear that is inevitable in a beach home. There are some really great outdoor fabrics: linens, velvets, even great faux leather--not the Naugahyde of the seventies—but quality fabrics that are also incredibly durable. The time spent in a beach home should be worry free, and these newer outdoor fabrics allow for both beauty and durability.” Mohon also believes that a beach home should be intrinsically comfortable.

“Every seat should suck you in, inviting you to take your afternoon nap there.” These are often vacation homes, after all, and one should feel as if every room offers an opportunity to relax.

Similarly, since this is a space to be enjoyed by the homeowners, “the color palette should reflect their style and personality.”

Mohon also believes “that the environment should help dictate the color choices. Not every beach or coastal area is the same, and the choices made inside a beach home can vary in the same way.” The color of the sand, the shades and depths of the water, the personality of the city can all be reflected in the design of the home. Generally, Mohon likes to use muted, soothing colors, simple fabrics, a restful aesthetic.

With the property in Galveston, Mohon began with the 30

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architecture of the house in mind. “It is a dynamic balance between a fishing cabin and a beach house. We drew from both of those elements and imposed a little bit of industrial wharf décor on top of it.” With its many windows and French doors, the main living space is bathed in light, so Mohon grounded the space with some industrial pieces such as dark metal tables in the entry way and living room. “It’s the blend of strong geometric pieces that give it personality, along with comfortable upholstery pieces.” Mohon chose fabrics in shades of blue, gray, white, and tan for the plush furniture, and “used visual textures, like the sheer that divides the living room and dining room” to enhance the tactile haven. The columns and beams on the main floor look weathered, as if they might have spent some time in the salty sea air, and the light grayblue of the ceiling adds to the depth of the space, a reflection of the shadowy waters that lie beyond the beach. The flooring throughout the home also mirrors the environment outside. Custom made

by Hardwood Design Company in College Station, the hickory wood floor has a subtle, distressed look achieved by white washing and lightly staining the wood. Like sand at the beach, the color and texture provides a wonderful canvas for the rest of the home.

For accessories, Mohon “tried not to use typical seaside pieces.

Instead we chose to incorporate a few vintage and industrial pieces.” Mohon and the owners, however, couldn’t resist a bit of jesting. “We brought a three foot, antique bronze mermaid from the client’s garden in Houston for a bit of humor and coastal splash.” For touches of color, they asked Galveston artists to paint local scenes on canvas, placing one near the entry and another as a focal point on the mantle. www.urbanhomemagazine.com

Upstairs in the evening rooms, Mohon continued the use of weathered and vintage pieces such as stacked antique suitcases at the foot of a bed and an armoire that looks as if it spent some time in the ocean air. Carefully placed, dark-hued furniture echoes the industrial theme from below as well. Blue-gray-greenshaded paint colors ceilings, walls and trim in various rooms. It is not accidental that naming these paint colors is difficult; “coastal spaces should be painted colors that you can’t nail down with one word,” explains Mohon. He adds that “the evening rooms should be cozy, with a bit more depth of color, like shadows in the water.” Finally, with its antique clocks and bolder punches of color, the child’s room captures the whimsy and fun of a beach house. In addition to the bi-planes and boats, Mohon “used 32

Urban Home Austin – San Antonio

snow shoes on the wall just to be a counterpoint and to see if anybody would notice.”

When designing a coastal retreat, one should strive for continuity rather than flare. “You don’t want any one item to jump out — no one should say, ‘what a great sofa’ or ‘what a great color.’ Instead, you want people to say, ‘what a great space’ because it all works together so seamlessly.” v Mohon-Imber Interiors is versatile in both residential and commercial settings with projects ranging from urban dwellings to country estates to vacation retreats. To learn more about their approach to design, visit their website at www.mohon-imber.com, or call their office at 210.828.2194 or 512.215.9071.

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BOOK REVIEW

Waterside

Cottages W

By Barbara Jacksier Photography by Dan Mayers

aterside property holds an undeniable appeal, as do the casual dwellings that exist there. However, one need not be able to hear the waves from your back porch to incorporate the waterside, cottage style that evokes that cozy relaxed feeling. Cottages near the water are often snug and modest in their exteriors, washed in whites and nautical blues or drenched in sunny, vibrant colors. The interiors of these cottages tend toward a casual approach that is not only calming, but also welcoming. In Waterside Cottages, author Barbara Jacksier and photographer Dan Mayers define the attributes of successful coastal decorating so that anyone can create a casual waterfront atmosphere. This beautiful book 34

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showcases fourteen waterside havens from coast to coast. From tidy New England beach cottages to bright tropical bungalows, Waterside Cottages provides inspiration for creating your own cozy waterside home no matter how far you live from the nearest body of water. v Waterside Cottages

By Barbara Jacksier, photography by Dan Mayers Text Copyright 2009 by Barbara Jacksier Photographs Copyright 2009 by Dan Mayers Published by Gibbs Smith www.gibbs-smith.com

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essentials

new products

Coastal living

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10. Each Lenova oyster sink, hand cast in the finest bronze, is a work of art in its own right and is a compelling tribute to the intricacies of nature that inspired it. www.lenova.com.

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11. This pineapple is made by master craftsman, Pedro Hernandez in the village of San Jose de Gracias, Michoacan. Originally designed to store seeds between harvests, these pineapples have become works of fine art as the craft has passed from generation to generation.

COSAS, in Boerne, boasts one of the broadest collections of museum quality folk art from every region of Mexico.

COSAS. 830.249.1500, www.cosasonline.com.

11 1. BirdProject has created black, bird-shaped glycerin soaps to help fund the Oil Spill clean-up. Each soap contains a handmade ceramic bird, which remains as a keepsake once the outer soap has been washed away. 50% of the profits from this soap goes to the Gulf Restoration Network & IBRRC. Bird Project. www.birdproject.org.

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2. This exquisite Pineapple Wrap gift box from Honolulu Cookie Company is filled with all 15 Hawaiian-inspired premium shortbread cookies, baked daily with the finest ingredients. Honolulu Cookie Company. 866.333.5822, www.honolulucookie.com.

12. Loll Designs’ US manufactured line of modern outdoor furniture has been recognized far and wide for innovation in green design. This unique line is made entirely of recycled milk jugs. The Chaise lounge and Cabrio lounge chair are produced from 980 and 320 milk jugs respectively!

House+Earth. 512.300.0484, wwwhouseandearth.com.

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13. A grown-up version of the classic beach bucket, these metal buckets hold towels, toys and other summer essentials with flair. Drop in your flip-flops after a sandy day at the beach, or keep your favorite party beverages chilled on ice. No matter how you use them, these fun buckets turn summer organizing into a blast! The Company Store. www.thecompanystore.com.

3. The Sawgrass Mills OutDoor Rugs - Innovative handhooked design meets durable cotton-like DuraCord® softness to create the first of its kind...the great outdoors never looked this great! Out Back Unlimited.

830.798.9761, www.outbackunlimited.com.

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4. This coastal bedding collection is brought to life with a vibrant striped top, echoing the colors of the ocean.

The bottom of the duvet and shams are made with 100% certified organic flax linen. Pom Pom at Home. www. pompomathome.com.

5. The crisp appeal of Cape Cod comes to life in this white table lamp. Its rectangular-shaped base is reminiscent of window shutters passersby might find on a Cape Cod home.

Kichler Lighting. 866.558.5706, www.kichler.com.

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6. The Del Mar Wicker Side Table is a unique occasional table that makes a big textural statement wherever you place it. Hand-woven over a hardwood frame, its classic vase stem silhouette with a tri-foot base looks fresh and up-to-date dressed in natural wicker. Ballard Designs. 800.536.7551, www.ballarddesigns.com.

15. The classic, beach look of a big brim hat is always in style, and the Jessica brings that style to the forefront. Hats in the Belfry. 888.999.4287, www.hatsinthebelfry.com.

16. The hottest summer trend? Scotch Naturals nontoxic nail polish with a long-lasting, water-based formula.

Three Branches Healthy Living is the source for your healthy home and body needs. Three Branches Healthy Living. www.threebrancheshealth.com.

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7. Room for two! The Montoro Double Chaise Lounge takes lounging to a whole new level. The extra wide seat can handle two adults comfortably making it the most comfortable seat waterside. Kreiss Austin. 512.476.2123. www.kreissaustin.com 8. Handmade of Chinese elm and crafted to resemble bamboo, this lacquered turquoise Bungalow Mirror infuses any space with island-getaway glamour. Serena and Lilly.

866.597.2742, www.serenaandlily.com.

14. The Iris Chandelier is from the Four Hands Home Umbria Collection. This collection is made with solid sheesham wood and finished with rich black and brown hues. Four Hands Home. 512.225.0334. www. fourhandshome.com.

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9. Whimsical ivory coral and an ivory spiral shell float on a bed of lake blue, 100% cotton textured canvas. Velcro closure for dry cleaning or spot cleaning. Cottage and Bungalow.

877.441.9222, www.cottageandbungalow.com.

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17. Cotton blossom is infused with notes of drenched air, fresh linen and soft powder to create this remarkably clean, fine fragrance that is perfectly refreshing after a day at the beach. Bath and Body Works®. www. bathandbodyworks.com.

18. Our Go Fish Tote is not only a great summer catch (or gift), it’s also the perfect size to tote around town or bring to the beach. The smoked, woven-grass bag is lined with a drawstring closure and is trimmed with ribbons, handpainted ceramic decorations, tassels and a MacKenzieChilds brass logo plate. The bags are woven by Master Balinese weavers using Ata grass, a vine indigenous to the foothills of volcanoes on the Indonesian Island of Bali.

MacKenzie-Childs. 888.665.1999, www.mackenziechilds.com.

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OUTDOOR LIVING

Having something beautiful to look at, listen to, admire and enjoy with your family and friends… you can’t put a price tag on the life experiences that happen in your backyard.

Jim Wanamaker, Liquid Assets Custom Pools and Landscape

Photo by Tre Dunham

Asset Allocation Photo by Tre Dunham

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hat does a guy who was once a practicing CPA, who then changed jobs entirely to work for a successful, large pool company in San Antonio, and then took over the ownership of an Austin pool company, look like? A little like Tom Cruise.

In all seriousness, ask Jim Wanamaker of Liquid Assets about his business philosophy, and he compares himself to Jerry Maguire, the sports agent played by Tom Cruise, who finds his conscience and proves that personal attention, really knowing what one’s client wants, makes all the difference. What really drives Wanamaker is the desire to hear his customers say that their pools have far surpassed anything they thought imaginable. “What is most important is the quality of product and the experience for the customer,” says Wanamaker “I have always been drawn to the design influences in Austin, 38

Urban Home Austin – San Antonio

By Sharla Bell

Photo by Tre Dunham

www.urbanhomemagazine.com

Photo by A Parallel Architecture

the broad range of design, with a contemporary influence, style, and material use in homes. I wanted to utilize the same elements of contemporary design and integration of lines in swimming pools and outdoor living spaces,” explains Wanamaker. Fortunately, the trend in pools mirrors Wanamaker’s interests. Straight line pools, with thick, natural cut stone or concrete borders, architectural elements with cut stone walls and water features with steel or stone scuppers, these are the most sought after features in pools right now. “The use of natural boulders is still popular in some settings; however, geometry, arcs and tangents and materials that tie into the home have the most appeal,” adds Wanamaker.

To achieve this end, Wanamaker employs professional designers, trained in landscape architecture, and teaches them pool construction, truly illustrating the importance of solid design. Whether building a contemporary style resort pool like at the new W Hotel on the fourth floor in Austin or a Hill Country style residential pool, Wanamaker insists, “Every project must have an innovative design, and use high quality materials with professional integration.” With the philosophy that “less is more,” Liquid Assets never takes on more projects than can be www.urbanhomemagazine.com

personally handled by Wanamaker and his team of professionals.

After all, a pool and accompanying outdoor living spaces are a lofty investment. Wanamaker recognizes the significance of purchasing a pool and believes the intrinsic returns far exceed the cost. “Having something beautiful to look at, listen to, admire and enjoy with your family and friends…you can’t put a price tag on the life experiences that happen in your backyard.” Wanamaker has personally enjoyed the benefits of outdoor living with his own family. “We have hosted numerous baseball, school functions, neighbor kids, and as they have become teens, it all usually takes place at our house. It’s truly been priceless to have our kids and their friends want to be in our backyard.”

Wanamaker’s goal with each project is clear. “To have the customer ecstatic. The highest compliment a customer can give is to recommend us to a friend.” v To transform your backyard into a beautiful setting for family and friends, call Liquid Assets Custom Pools and Landscape at 210.680.7665 in San Antonio and 512.444.5444 in Austin, or visit their website at www.liquidassets-pools.com.

Urban Home Austin – San Antonio

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e d i t o r c o n t r i b u t i n g

candice tells all

Bathroom-lighting design How many designers does it take to screw in a light bulb?

Only one — but it will be the most fabulous light bulb you’ve ever seen.

As any designer will tell you, lighting is crucial to good design. This is particularly true when lighting a bathroom. It’s the one room in a home that’s often overlooked, but improper Candice Olson bathroom lighting can make the bravest among us refuse to look in the mirror.

My clients, Tertia and Jason, know all about that. The couple and their two sons live in a house built in 1987, and while most of the home was updated, their master bathroom remained oblivious to the passage of time. With floor-to-ceiling black wall tiles, a cramped shower and no storage, the ‘80s bathroom was really showing its age.

And don’t get me started on the lighting. The room had one bleak overhead fixture that made showering a nightmare, while the vanity lighting was so unflattering it’s a wonder Tertia managed to put on lipstick in the morning.

They wanted a bathroom that was functional — and had a warm, contemporary vibe. So, putting the principle of bathroom-lighting design into play, I got set to create a modern, spalike retreat for Tertia and Jason.

I started by gutting the entire space — walls came down, counters came out, tiles were scrapped. Then I painted the ceiling white, bathed the walls in soft beige and installed charcoal porcelain floor tiles with a non-slip surface.

From there, I laid out the fixtures and finishes. I created a gorgeous vanity by the room’s window, which was a good source of natural light.

I put a soft chiffon blind on the window and flanked it with two mirrors. I then installed a counter constructed out of butterscotch polished quartz, a perfect foundation for “his and hers” cast glass sinks.

These deep sinks sit on top of, and beside, new dark wood cabinetry that provides a ton of storage.

Adjacent to the vanity, I created a spectacular feature wall comprised 40

Urban Home Austin – San Antonio

of small wooden square tiles of different depths. Against this wall, I selected a beautiful freestanding tub and a modern toilet.

On the wall facing the tub I designed a large shower out of tempered glass, more quartz, a stunning mosaic-tiled backsplash and small porcelain tiles that match the floor.

Modern bathrooms can often feel cold and sterile, but the wood wall, dark cabinetry and warm quartz in Tertia and Jason’s bathroom work to offset the cooler fixtures and finishes.

The best part of this project was shopping for, and installing, some amazing lights. I installed recessed lights in the ceiling and worked in spotlights above the feature wall to accentuate the wood tiles.

I chose waterproof, in-floor lighting to highlight the sculpted tub and lights for underneath the sinks. I also selected incandescent silver sconces for the vanity — soft lighting that is good for when she applies makeup.

But the real showstopper is the fixture above the tub — a lasercut steel globe that allows light to be cast all around the room.

This bathroom is a perfect example of how good design that includes layers of light can transform a space. By using techniques such as spotlighting a feature wall and up-lighting a tub, I gave Tertia and Jason a bathroom that is ideal for their morning routine — or their evening reprieve.

As I always say: “If you light everything, you light nothing.” v Interior decorator Candice Olson is host of HGTV’s “Candice Tells All.” For more ideas, information and show times, visit www.HGTV.com or www.divinedesign.tv. Or visit scrippsnews.com.

www.urbanhomemagazine.com

CUSTOM HOME ADVICE

WHERE DO I START?

By Karen Matuszewski, By Design – Custom Home Consulting

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elcome to the newest editorial addition to Urban Home magazine! Custom Home Advice is a place where you can get answers on how to approach, organize and enjoy the process of building a custom home. In upcoming issues of Urban Home, we will highlight each aspect of the custom home process.

So where is the best place to start? Once we know our “total project investment” and how much of that investment we should allocate to spend on a home site, the next question we need to ask is “where do I want to live?” It may seem simple, but a lot goes into deciding where your new home will be located.

Making a list of what is important to you and your family can help determine the best location for your new home. Here are some things to consider: 1. Do you have any geographic considerations such as close proximity to work, schools, airport access, shopping, doctors, hospitals, church and family members?

2. Do you prefer a community that is gated or not?

3. Do you prefer a new or established community?

4. What amenities are important to you: community pool, golf, tennis, health club, social center, play areas, trails or lake?

5. What does the property surrounding your dream home look like: a. Front yard (close to street or long winding drive) b. Size of lot: Country Home (1+ acres), Large lot (.75 to 1 acre), Average lot (.25 to .33 acres), Small lot (less than .25 acre) c. What type of view do you prefer: waterfront, golf course, woods, or not important?

6. What type of outdoor living areas will you want: single or multiple, summer kitchen, outdoor media, pool, garden, play area or pet area?

We will spend our next issue together discussing “lot cost vs. lot price.” Knowing ALL the costs associated with a particular home site is crucial to the success of the project. There is much more to knowing what the cost of building on a particular home site will be, other than the asking price.

Until next time, this should get you started if you are thinking of building a custom home. Have a specific question you would like me to address? Send your questions to me at karen_matuszewski@ yahoo.com. I’m looking forward to taking the custom home journey right along with you so building your dream home doesn’t turn into a nightmare! v

J a m e s D. L a R u e Photograph by Coles Hairston

architects

www.lar ue-architects.com austin, texas 512-347-1688

COMMUNITY SERVICE URBAN

HOME

We depend on this kind of support to enable us to care for the hundreds of families who come to us each year.

Dream Home

By Dana Todd

Kent Burress, CEO of Austin’s Ronald McDonald House

Meet the Dream Team Karen Matuszewski – Project Coordinator As a custom home consultant, Matuszewski put together the team that will design, build and sell the house. She is a National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) certified green professional and certified new home sales professional, and co-chairs both the HBA Benefit Home project and the 2012 HBA Tour of Homes. www.karensellsaustin.com

Rough Hollow’s commitment to community is evident throughout the year with seasonal events and other activities that increase the benefits of residency. The development redefines the joy of the great outdoors with activities such as swimming, golf, tennis, hiking and flying, plus scuba diving, sailing, water skiing and even parasailing. Fine dining and boutique shopping are minutes away.

A

s we went to press on this issue, a visionary team of professionals met for the first time to begin design and construction of the Urban Home Dream Home. With an estimated completion date of April 2012, locally renowned architect James LaRue is combining forces with Custom Home Consultant Karen Matuszewski and Builder Scott Branc of New Urban Home Builders to create a spacious and energy efficient home for a lucky buyer on the shores of Lake Travis.

The Dream location is in the Canyonside custom home enclave of the Rough Hollow master planned community, where fertile rolling hills meet the aquamarine waters of Lake Travis. Whoever purchases this specially designed home will be positioned for beautiful Hill Country views located minutes from the new worldclass Highland Village waterbased social center, Rough Hollow Yacht Club, and the Hill Country Galleria.

The home will be open to the public during the 2012 Home Builders Association of Greater Austin Tour of Homes.

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Matuszewski, who is the project coordinator, expects to have a buyer before then. “Our Dream Home buyer will want a beautiful, livable home but also a combination of fresh and timeless design,” says Matuszewski. “We have chosen an architect and builder who understand how to create a home that is conscious of responsible development and concurrently know how to make a home beautiful, easy to live in, and are dedicated to the pride of workmanship,” she continues.

New Urban Home Builders will build the house. “We will build a flexible home – one that can evolve with a changing family as it grows and then inevitably shrinks again in the empty-nester years,” says Branc of New Urban Home Builders.

“We are working with professionals in each trade who will bring in the latest, coolest products. Our focus is on designing and constructing a certified Austin Energy Green Building™ home that is just the right size and incorporates all the latest technology and newest products.”

Proceeds from the home’s sale will benefit the Ronald McDonald House of Austin. “We are so honored to be named a beneficiary of www.urbanhomemagazine.com

We have chosen an architect and builder who understand how to create a home that is conscious of responsible development and concurrently know how to make a home beautiful, easy to live in, and are dedicated to the pride of workmanship.

Karen

Matuszewski

By Design - Custom Home Consulting

the Urban Home Dream Home project,” says Kent Burress, CEO of Austin’s Ronald McDonald House. “The Ronald McDonald House is committed to addressing the basic daily needs of families so that valuable time and energy can be devoted to hospitalized children. We depend on this kind of support to enable us to care for the hundreds of families who come to us each year.” In 2010, the Ronald McDonald House and the Ronald McDonald Family Room served more than 1,400 families.

The home is offered for sale at any point in the design or construction process. “The sooner a buyer comes in, the more input he or she will have in the products and features that go into the home,” says Matuszewski.

Think the Urban Home Dream Home could be your next home?

Contact Karen Matuszewski at 512.917.2653 to learn more.

www.urbanhomemagazine.com

Scott Branc – Home Builder Branc is the founder of New Urban Home Builders, a company focused on building small to mid-sized highly detailed homes loaded with innovative products and constructed to meet or exceed Green Built and Energy Star standards. He is a NAHB certified graduate builder, certified green professional, master certified green professional, and co-chairs the HBA 2012 Tour of Homes. www.newurbanhomebuilders.net James LaRue – Project Architect LaRue founded James D. LaRue Architects in Austin, an awardwinning residential architecture firm with a design-intensive environment. The firm’s most recent awards include selection on the 2010 Austin AIA Homes Tour and 2009 Home Builders Association best one-of-a-kind design. www.larue-architects.com Rough Hollow Lakeway – Development Rough Hollow Lakeway is an evolving waterfront community with limestone cliffs and spectacular Lake Travis views. The options are endless with the ability to purchase custom home sites, Yacht Club Villas, custom homes and semi-custom homes.

With the marina, the yacht club, air park, restaurants, the waterthemed Highland Village and Country Club amenities, Rough Hollow offers a lifestyle and a place you will never want to leave. www.roughhollowlakeway.com BBVA Compass Bank – Project Funding BBVA Compass Bank ranks among the top 20 largest U.S. commercial banks and has operations throughout the Sunbelt region. Mortgage Banking Officer Cindy Tuttle specializes in new home construction lending. www.bbvacompass.com/mortgages/ctuttle Austin - San Antonio Urban Home Magazine – Project Media Partner

Urban Home magazine is a bi-monthly, upscale home lifestyle publication that has been published in the Austin market for over 5 years. Its content focuses on local architects and builders, home related products and services, and is presented to readers in a very engaging editorial format. www.urbanhomemagazine.com v Urban Home Austin – San Antonio

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IMPROVEMENTS

Nothing says more about a sense of arrival than a beautiful and inviting front door.

Janet Hobbs, Hobbs’ Ink

VOSS CHRISTOPHER

FOURTH GENERATION CRAFTSMAN, INC.

Grand Openings T

By Carrie Bastin Photography courtesy of Portella Custom Iron Doors

he first chance a home has to make an entrance is, literally, through the entrance. Doors, particularly one’s front door, not only set the tone of the home’s style, but also of the homeowners’ personal style, and deserve important consideration during an update or new-build.

Features such as creative fretwork, specialty paints, finishes, glasswork and metals can freshen a home’s appearance, flatter its style and even increase its value, but with so many choices, it may be wise to consult a professional. Whether you are ready to liven the look of your home’s exterior after becoming tired of standard builder-grade doors, or perhaps you are wanting to add extra security to your home while keeping with beautiful aesthetics, we are fortunate that our Texas Hill Country door companies and custom door designers have created some of the 46

Urban Home Austin – San Antonio

most elegant, stylish and functional doors in the nation.

With a vast array of designer doors to choose from, a new line of contemporary style doors has quickly become the hottest trend.

Hand-forged iron doors and doors designed of steel and specialty glass top the list in popularity with new homeowners and remodelers alike. “These doors are so ubiquitous on the Tuscan-style homes, they can’t be ignored,” says Janet Hobbs of Hobbs’ Ink Custom Home Designs. “They are beautiful and many even have the added benefit of allowing a bit of cross ventilation through hinged glass panels with screens, something conventional doors can’t do.”

Marti Medina, owner of Portella Custom Iron Doors in Austin, explains that, “By changing a tired and common front door of a home to a new, contemporary iron or steel door, you can give an outdated home a new, updated appearance while adding a www.urbanhomemagazine.com

210.843.4332

www.christophervoss.com

sense of extra safety and security.” Not only can a new iron or steel door create a modern exterior for your home, but it visually opens spaces with its thin sight lines that won’t obstruct views or light sources. If traditional style is more to your liking, iron or steel doors can be created in designs to match any architecture or homeowner taste. Ryan Hampton of The Front Door Company advises, “Different types of materials are available to customize doors based on preferences, such as thicker scrollwork for a heavier, bolder look vs. thinner scrollwork for a softer look.” With finishes ranging from bronze to black to charcoal and pewter, the colors complement any exterior surface such as stucco, stone, cement or wood siding. To further customize your front door, Hampton suggests selecting the glass carefully, depending on the level of privacy desired. Medina adds, “Iron doors last forever and do not warp, come apart or crack as their wood counterparts will do over time if not properly treated.” Painted iron doors may fade over time, but when treated with a clear finish similar to one used on automobile paint, doors may look great for 10 years without additional treatments.

Through a collaborative effort, the design team of Hobbs’ Ink, Triton Custom Homes and PPDS [design + interiors] created a home for the 2010 Austin Parade of Homes™ that has garnered a lot of attention. It is a perfect example of how a front door can make a tremendous impact on the entire persona of the home. The design team worked together with the artisans at Rehme Custom Iron works to create an iron and glass door of grand proportions. Set with alternating panels of clear and frosted glass, the door pivots in to open, creating an oversized entry for visitors and setting the tone for the modern and artistic home. With widths ranging from four feet to six feet, pivoting doors are gaining in popularity as the perfect solution when replacing standard double doors.

Although iron and steel entry doors may cost 35-50% more than a traditional door, with a 10-year warranty and virtually no upkeep, metal doors quickly make up the difference in cost and are considered a good investment. And while it is important to maintain the architectural character of a home, the variety of metal door designs are seemingly endless and can coordinate with any home’s style. “After all, nothing says more about a sense of arrival than a beautiful and inviting front door,” adds Hobbs. v

Garage Doors that Change the Look of your Home

Specializing in handcrafted wood, contemporary glass and architectural metal garage doors. Beautifying Austin and the Texas Hill Country, one garage door at a time.

Sales, Service, installation and parts.

Please visit our showroom.

20905 Highway 71 West, Spicewood, Texas 78669

www.hillcountrydoors.com

512.977.7200

Resources Janet L. Hobbs started her Austin-based, award-winning company, Hobbs’ Ink, in 1987 and believes when the highest caliber builders and homeowners team together, amazing environments and homes are created. To find out more about her beautiful designs call 512.261.6226 or visit the company website at www.hobbsink.com.

Michael and Marti Medina, owners of Portella Custom Iron Doors, started their Austin door business more than 15 years ago, offering individually-engineered, high-quality architectural steel doors, contemporary metal doors, hand-forged iron doors, gates, railings and hardware to suit each customer. For more information, call 512.263.8851 or visit their website at www.portellairondoors.com.

Photo by James Bruce, Hobb’s Ink

The Front Door Company has been providing high quality entryways to builders, designers and homeowners in the San Antonio and Austin areas since 1981. They feature a stunning selection of styles and designs. To learn more about their services, call 866.499.3667 or visit their website at www.thefrontdoorco.com.

www.urbanhomemagazine.com

www.dawnhearn.com Dawn F. Hearn, ASID 512.930.0250 Texas Registered Interior Designer #9501

• New Construction • Remodeling • Furnishings

• Accessories • Consultation • Space Planning

Outdoor n Trends

bathing

Al fresco

By Jennifer Bitzkie

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Photo courtesy of Victoria + Albert, available at Morrison Supply Company

e’ve all seen how beautiful a house can be when elements of nature are incorporated within the interior of the home. Many of today’s homeowners are turning that concept around and bringing the indoors outside. Outdoor showers and baths are increasingly becoming more and more popular, especially in rural settings.

More often than not, these outdoor showers are used in conjunction with lake houses, swimming pools, and hot tubs as a means by which users can rinse off prior to and after swimming.

This is an effective way of keeping pools and Jacuzzis clean and debris free. These showers allow for users to rinse free of all chlorine and chemicals as well. A simple, free-standing shower can also be used to rinse off toys, gardening tools and the occasional muddy pet. “Anybody with kids and an outdoor pool will reap www.urbanhomemagazine.com

Photo courtesy of Ad Imagery/Steve Heflin Architect/Builder, Inc.

the benefits of having an outdoor shower,” claims Dan Byler of Morrison Supply Company. Prior to designing and building an outdoor shower area, there are several considerations that have to be made. “Remodels are harder than new construction projects because you might not have the plumbing or drains in place. Depending on the style desired, contemporary to transitional to traditional, the customer needs to select which style will best compliment their home,” says Byler.

A more creative and aesthetic approach would be to have your shower built into a wall to create a more private bathing area.

According to Byler, “This is a great feature that most people don’t even think of when building a house. Once they experience the convenience of it, and realize this cool feature is the differentiating point of their backyard entertainment center, they see the value.”

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Photo courtesy of CG&S Design-Build

With over 25 years of experience in the construction business, architect and builder, Steve Heflin, of Heflin Homes, says outdoor showers are an extra amenity that some couples like having right off of their master suite. “It’s actually kind of neat to be able to look up at the sky and God while outside taking a shower.” No matter the season, living in Texas allows for practically year-round use of an outdoor shower. “I personally think winter is the best time to shower outside…when it is cold out and you are beneath a nice hot shower…it can be very invigorating,” reveals Heflin.

When constructing these uniquely serene bathing areas, Heflin always relies on non combustible material. “I prefer masonry 52

Urban Home Austin – San Antonio

and tile for the hard surfaces. They are easier to clean and they keep bacteria from growing.” To create more privacy, Heflin likes to incorporate the use of walls made from rocks or stucco.

“Tiles, pebbles, flagstone, drains…all of these need to be nonporous materials,” states Heflin. Stewart Davis, Senior Architect and Design Director for CG&S Design-Build of Austin, also suggests the use of such materials as Ipe or teak screens.

As far as the fixtures that work best for outdoor use are concerned, Heflin suggests more of the Old World bronze colors.

“These don’t show the dirt and they won’t fade.” “Although more expensive, there are a few outdoor branded faucets that work www.urbanhomemagazine.com

Enhance Your Outdoor Bathing

Experience

• Buy earth-friendly soaps and shampoos that won’t harm vegetation or clog drains • Provide pampering products such as sea sponges, and after-sun lotions or gels for a spa-like experience • Place a decorative container of towels in the sun to warm them • Repurpose decorative metal hooks and flea market finds for use as towel racks • Incorporate fragrant vines and flowers in the landscape around the shower • Include a waterproof MP3 or CD Player in the area

Grills

Gas Logs

Smokers

firepits Accessories/Gifts

Patio Furniture

Your Backyard Superstore Check out our Fathers Day Tent Sale

Photo courtesy of Ad Imagery/Steve Heflin Architect/Builder, Inc.

well; usually in a chrome finish” offers Byler. Byler also suggests metered fixtures that automatically shut off after a certain length of time. “These are great if your neighbor’s kids have access to your backyard,” claims Byler. If you are concerned about freezing temperatures Byler recommends commercial “frost free” fixtures. Both Heflin and Byler have noticed that most clients prefer the larger rain-can shower heads. “AquaBrass makes a great one,” Byler claims.

The maintenance involved with outdoor showers is no more or less than an indoor shower. “You can power wash it and/or use the same cleaning products you would clean with indoors,” says Byler. However, Davis suggests draining the water in the supply lines when freezing weather is anticipated.

The plumbing requirements for outdoor showers vary depending on whether yours is strictly a swimming pool shower or more of an everyday bathing area. “Swimming pool showers usually just need cold water. Others need hot and cold water with a mixing valve. An isolation valve is needed to cut off water to the system and a low hose bibb or tub spout allows you to drain the pipes,” Davis expressed. Davis also goes on to explain that, “The drain is an interesting aspect (if there is one), as you don’t want storm water to mix with the sanitary sewer system.

Different code requirements apply in different jurisdictions.

Sometimes we have to cover the outdoor showers to prevent rain from getting into this drain. Where allowed, we can run the drain to the yard as grey water irrigation.”

When it comes to the cost of putting in an outdoor shower or bath, the range is wide and the sky is literally the limit. You can use an already existing wall of your house or garage and attach a shower head and a couple of faucets for $150-$250. On the other hand, you can spend upwards of $15k on creating a beautifully rustic, private sanctuary.

“Chromatherapy is huge both indoors and outdoors,” says Byler. “It adds LED lights inside and can be very romantic, energetic and relaxing, based on the light color selected.” Whether you incorporate the use of candle-lit lanterns, tiki torches, or 54

Urban Home Austin – San Antonio

lights strung throughout the trees, there is a certain romantic element prevalent with outdoor bathing areas. “A really cool layout is to have a master bath open to a private garden with an outdoor shower. In fair weather, you can open the indoors to the outdoors and feel natural and free,” suggests Davis.

The benefits of spending time outdoors are now spilling over into private backyard bathing havens. The bathing experience, in an environment that effortlessly incorporates the elements of sky, earth, water and nature, is one of the fastest growing design trends. A beautiful example of such a haven can be seen in the Victoria + Albert’s Ella bathtub. Ella is crafted from ENGLISHCRAFT®, a finely ground volcanic limestone mixed with resin.

Coupled with unfinished custom wood cradles, this bathtub is at once transformed into an outdoor spa that is both inviting and inspiring.

In an effort to both simplify and exhilarate one’s bathing experience, there is no better way to begin and end each day than by becoming a charter member in your very own personal club.

The tranquil and spa-like ambiance surrounding you in your outdoor shower could be the most beneficial ingredient to maintaining your personal health and wellbeing. As summer nears it may be just the right time to come clean and consider turning your bathing ritual inside out. v Resources Morrison Supply Company www. Morsco.com 512.928.1110

Outdoor Furniture Discounts

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Outdoor Kitchen Packages

1500

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CG&S Design-Build www.cgsdb.com 512.444.1580 Steve Heflin Architect/Builder, Inc. www.steveheflinhomes.com 210.492.7944 www.urbanhomemagazine.com

Coupon must be presented at time of purchase. Cannot be combined with any other offer, clearance, or discount.

Expires 8-1-11

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OUTDOOR ACCESSORIES

Well

Grounded

The style, comfort and durability of outdoor rugs

By Allison Love Out Back Unlimited

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Urban Home Austin – San Antonio

R

Photo courtesy of Ballard Designs

ugs are often the anchor of a living space, adding a sense of style and elegance, while also providing a plush feeling underfoot. With more homeowners extending their living spaces to decks and patios, it’s only natural to want the same comfortable pieces as inside a home. Outdoor rugs are now the norm for outdoor living spaces, but there are a few things every consumer should know before purchasing one.

Experts agree that for the utmost durability and comfort in indoor/outdoor rugs, consumers should look for polypropylene rugs. Polypropylene, also known as olefin, is made from light-weight plastic polymers that have the color added in the production process as opposed to overlaying the color after production, making this product extremely color fast. They resist fading because their color saturates the entire fiber. Other advantages of choosing a rug made from polypropylene, especially for outdoor use, are its resistance to moisture, mildew, water damage and staining. Products produced using polypropylene fibers also resist pilling, shedding and static, while the slick texture of the synthetic yarns make cleaning and upkeep fairly simple. Judy Miller of Out Back Unlimited in Marble Falls recommends Duracord®, “a product made from polypropylene that has the feel of cotton yet is very durable, even for outdoor use.” www.urbanhomemagazine.com

Sphinx by Oriental Weavers, available at Schroeder Carpet.

Three types of weaves are used for indoor/outdoor rugs: hand woven or hooked, machine woven and braided. Karen Galindo of Greenhouse Mall in Austin and San Antonio prefers hand woven or hooked rugs. “The blend of synthetic yarns in hooked rugs offers visual appeal through color and pattern while still providing a soft underfoot.” Galindo adds, “These rugs provide consumers with a great value as the rug can be used both indoors and outdoors.” However, she does warn that the hooked rugs are outdoor safe, but not water resistant. Miller also prefers the colors and the thicker finish of hand woven rugs. She adds, “Machine woven rugs tend to not be as thick and, therefore, not as comfortable. However, they are more cost effective.” Savana Schroeder Beckman of Schroeder Carpets in Austin agrees that while the different weaves do create differences in appearance, “they are all woven or constructed in much the same way so the type of weave should not affect performance.”

Another important factor to consider when purchasing a rug

for outdoor use is UV protection. Let’s face it; the hot Texas sun can cause fading on even the most fade-resistant materials.

Galindo says, “Synthetic rug fibers are UV stabilized to minimize fading, however, reducing direct exposure to sun and rain will prolong the life of the rug.”

All three experts agree that rug pads are not always necessary.

“Rug pads depend entirely on the flooring,” states Galindo.

For instance, slick tile may require a rug pad, while rougher surfaces may not. However, Beckman cautions that using a rug pad outdoors may require additional maintenance as the pad may hold moisture.

To properly maintain your rug, consumers are encouraged to sweep, vacuum or use a lawn blower for regular cleaning.

It’s important to also clean under rugs to prevent damage from below. Rugs can be scrubbed with a mild detergent and water mix when tackling stubborn stains. If a rug becomes too saturated from either maintenance or the weather, hang it and allow to air dry.

Greenhouse Mall

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Urban Home Austin – San Antonio

www.urbanhomemagazine.com

With so many beautiful and durable outdoor rug selections available, there is no reason why our outdoor living spaces can’t be as warm and inviting as indoors. So enjoy some time on your patio with your feet resting comfortably. v Resources Greenhouse Mall Austin: 512.250.0000 and 512.617.8888 San Antonio: 210.558.1818 www.greenhousemall.com

Out Back Unlimited 830.798.9761 www.outbackunlimited.com Schroeder Carpet 512.462.1551 www.scgroedercarpet.com Ballard Designs 1-800-536-7551 www.ballarddesigns.com

The Grass is

Plan-it Green

“An automated irrigation system allows for consistency in watering. I can get the precise amount of water exactly where I want it for the amount of time I need it. I don’t have to worry about walking away from the sprinkler only to remember an hour later that it’s still on. I can even be out of town and have my system working for me,” says Biechler.

Proper maintenance of an automatic irrigation system is also a must. “Keeping the system adjusted properly and quick repairs of any leaks will ensure that water is being delivered where it is intended and is not wasted with excessive run off or over spray on sidewalks and driveways,” Cummings says. “Working with a certified irrigation designer or registered landscape architect is the best way to make sure that your system is properly designed and will efficiently deliver water to your landscape.”

As I gaze out the window, considering throwing down some mulch, maybe adding an irrigation system or, perhaps an ecofriendly OngTM jar, I can almost see my grass standing taller, my bushes growing greener and my beds beaming brighter with color.

They need me and I know just what to do, as I call out, “Honey?

I’ve got a project for you.”

Always Greener

Tips for Maintaining a Healthier Lawn during Drought Conditions

By Sue-Ella Mueller

Photo courtesy of Big Grass

A

ll across Texas, lawns are suffering. The state needs rain. But short of performing a rain dance at midnight that is sure to have the neighbors talking, there is not much we can do to bring down the drops. However, we can take action to ensure that any water we do spread across the lawn is being used in the most efficient manner and has the greatest impact on our greenery.

First and foremost, the turf and plants in your yard should be native to your area according to Mark Biechler of Pearson Landscaping in Austin. “There are dozens and dozens of plants native to the Austin and San Antonio areas,” he says.

With the proper plants and turf in place, homeowners should consider putting compost and/or mulch down in beds to supply needed nutrients to the soil and to help lock in moisture. Compost should be spread first and added every couple of years. Mulch can follow about a week later, according to Biechler, and should be supplemented once a year. However, avoid using too much mulch, warns Scott Cummings, partner and principal landscape architect of Austin’s Design Ecology.

“Too much mulch can damage plants by restricting air to the base of the stem. Over time it can cause the stem of the plant (or trunk of trees) to rot, eventually killing the plant. Typically around 3 inches is the ideal thickness for mulch in shrub beds,” says Cummings.

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“Regardless of the amount installed, mulch will compress and decompose over time. It is important to maintain the mulch in planting beds by raking and installing a fresh layer each year.

Without proper maintenance, the mulch can compact and become hydrophobic. This is the exact opposite effect we are looking for.”

While you won’t want to spread mulch over your lawn, reserving that only for the beds, fertilizers are an excellent source of nutrients for your turf. Both Biechler and Cummings prefer using organic sprays and say there are now a multiple of these types of fertilizers available.

“These organic sprays are very safe; safe for kids playing in the yard and safe around animals. I’ve been using a brand called Cow Wow,” says Biechler. “Stuff just seems to explode after I put it down.”

Even with the right plants, mulch and fertilizer, you will obviously still need to water. Early in the morning is the best time to water, giving the soil plenty of time to soak up the moisture but allowing for the sun to burn off the remainder before undesirable fungus and bacteria can begin to culminate. If you’re using a traditional hose end sprinkler, Biechler suggests, from mid-May to mid-September, watering twice a week with each area taking in about a half an inch of water. “You can take an empty tuna can and place it in the zone you’re watering. When it has a half inch of water in it, you’re ready to move the sprinkler to the next zone,” he says. www.urbanhomemagazine.com

The most environmentally conscious way to water your lawn is with collected rainwater. This process is not difficult, says John Hanesworth, owner of Big Grass, the only U.S. source of OngTM jars, an aesthetically pleasing, rainwater collection vessel. He says the jars should be placed under the downspout or roof valley of your home in order to collect the greatest amount of water. Once rainwater has been collected, a hose attachment to your OngTM jar allows you to use it for watering or drip irrigation.

“Within a short, ten-minute, steady rain, a homeowner can collect around 450 gallons of water. Why wouldn’t you want to recycle and reuse that?” asks Hanesworth. “It’s a free resource that gets wasted and otherwise just runs off your property.”

Hanesworth adds that a much overlooked resource for water is air conditioners. As the system cools our houses, condensation is produced and either runs straight down the drain or outside of your house.

“People really don’t think about it. The cat knows where that water is and the birds know about it, but we’re just wasting it,” says Hanesworth. “There’s so much moisture in our Texas air, that I’d estimate the average 2,000 square foot home running a three to four ton unit could generate about 30-50 gallons of water a day.”

If you can’t wait for the rain and doing a bit of plumbing to redirect condensation isn’t your thing, then the next most efficient way to water is with an irrigation system. “Proper irrigation system design will ensure that you are applying water in the most efficient way possible. All plants have specific water requirements and it is important to deliver water to each plant material per the requirements of that specific plant. For example, shrubs typically require less water than turf and thus should never be watered together on the same zone,” says Cummings. Homeowners will also need to make sure that their system includes a rain sensor, which will shut the irrigation system down if it detects a sufficient amount of rain, in order to prevent water waste. Biechler agrees that irrigation systems just make sense. www.urbanhomemagazine.com

Editor’s note: For those living in the Austin area, the city has a great resource pamphlet, Grow Green, that lists native plants and turf, along with a number of other great tips for water conservation and lawn maintenance. The pamphlet is available at several area garden centers as well as online at www.ci.austin.tx.us/growgreen/.

In San Antonio, the San Antonio Botanical Gardens offers a new lawn and environmental exhibit sponsored in part by SAWS. The exhibit includes six different low-water-use landscapes. Whether your taste runs to Cottage Garden, Spanish Courtyard, Wildscape, Manicured Xeriscape, or Hill Country, there is a landscape for you to enjoy. Visit www.saws.org/conservation/watersaverlane/ for more information. v Photo courtesy of Pearson Landscaping

Resources Big Grass 210.735.7999 / 877.735.7999 www.biggrassliving.com Design Ecology 512.914.0388 www.decoaustin.com Pearson Landscaping 512.386.5900 www.pearsonlandscape.com Urban Home Austin – San Antonio

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GARDEN n Trends

Ipomoea

Tropical Illusions

By Manuel Flores Photography by Manuel Flores

The jungle jangles us. It is the vision of a primeval landscape - unspoiled and lush - providing a feast for the eye as well as the palate. Birds and butterflies adorned in unimaginable colors fly from one gaudy flower to another. We call that place Eden and long to stay there.

Manihot grahamii - Hardy Tapioca

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Urban Home Austin – San Antonio

www.urbanhomemagazine.com

EVERYTHING Alocasia Upright Elephant’s Ear

Setaria - Palm Grass

OUTDOORS

Musa - Banana

Colocasia - Taro

Montanoa - Giant Daisy

F

or some, it has a darker side - terrifying and oppressively claustrophobic - harboring poisons as well as maneating beasts. One ventures there only on a dare or emboldened by madness.

There are those among us who fear overgrown places. This article is not for those paralyzed by arachnophobia or ophiophobia. I know who you are! You even suspect rodents procreate exponentially wherever adjacent plants are merely allowed to overlap. If this describes you, please stop reading and turn the page.

Those still reading must remember the endless fun of a jungle gym and innocent hours spent exploring the woods just beyond the edge of town. You are at home where vines overtop trees and a patchwork of leaves can hide secrets.

Please continue if you yearn for lush plantings with bold foliage and exotic blooms.

Of man-made tropical plantings, there are two types. The first is the “pith helmet and machete” type. The other is the “tropical resort” look. The first is more authentic. The other is to accommodate those who fear overgrown places. Both employ the same varieties of plants. One spaces them as though they were components in a traditional temperate-zone landscape. The other strives to recreate the multi-tiered effect typical of true jungles.

It is one thing to imagine a jungle planting and quite another to achieve it, 64

Urban Home Austin – San Antonio

Begonia - Rhizomatous Begonia

Erythrina X bidwillii Hybrid Coral Bean

especially outside the tropics. The inconvenient fact of hard freezes during the season of long nights is an impediment - but not one that is insurmountable.

Being 300 poleward of the equator, we are able to grow many cold-hardy relatives of tropicals as well as those tropicals that survive as root-hardy perennials.

As with temperate plants, there are tropical plants for sun and for shade and a few that can be grown in both sites.

The greatest innovation permitting true tropical landscaping in Austin and San Antonio is root-pruning pots. These rigid containers (of nominal 3 and 5 gallon size) are built like sieves.

Roots can escape though the many small holes to provide anchorage and to forage for water and nutrients, but are constricted and cannot grow normally, in length nor girth. In winter, one can pry these containers out of the ground before a hard freeze, and replant a few days later, when temperatures have moderated. Plants grown in root-pruning pots suffer little if any transplant shock and seldom drop leaves. However, since all the fine roots beyond the pot wall have been lost, the core root-ball will require more watering for a while.

One need not have a greenhouse for protecting these plants. Mine spend their out-of-the-ground time in the garage, placed in large tubs holding 2-inches of water. In a typical winter, these plants are taken indoors 8 to 10 times. Now, I can www.urbanhomemagazine.com

DECKS • PATIO COVERS • OUTDOOR KITCHEN • ORNAMENTAL IRON FIRE PITS & PLACES • CONCRETE & MASONRY • LANDSCAPING & IRRIGATION

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Bedrock Stone and Design is the headquarters for the largest selection of stone in Central Texas. With two convenient locations, both North and South Austin customers are able to benefit from a wide selection of product.

Bambusa - Timber Bamboo

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enjoy the winter blooms of Megaskepasma erythrochlamys, a Shrimp Plant on steroids, while incorporating it into our landscape.

The tall tropical Crinum lilies benefit from this arrangement, as well as Poinsettia and Variegated Tapioca. Root-pruning pots have also helped me ripen seeds on Tree Dahlias and grow some of the giant Daisy relatives from the cloud forests of MesoAmerica.

Our one root-hardy Heliconia, Heliconia schiedeana, can flower consistently if protected from freezing back every winter. Strelitzia reginae, Bird of Paradise, though root-hardy in protected sites, can be grown to perfection using these special containers.

Root-hardy tropicals not grown in root-pruning pots need an expedited recovery after hard freezes. One way to hasten their recovery is to minimize what freezes back. A three to four foot diameter cylinder of 4-foot-high hardware cloth placed around a plant and filled with leaves in late fall offers excellent protection for bananas or Brugmansia. Tropical plants not otherwise protected require copious amounts of nitrogenous fertilizers in 66

Urban Home Austin – San Antonio

Bauhinia - Orchid Tree

Hippeastrum - Amaryllis

spring and early summer. Such strong feedings should not start until the plants have re-sprouted to at least 12-inches high.

The best tropical landscapes in this area employ cold-hardy palms and bold-leafed plants to maintain the “look” year-round.

Timber bamboo, both clumping or running types, also work very well as the major elements in such a landscape. The plants nearer the walks or edges of such a garden should have striking foliage.

Plants with variegated leaves are quite effective in these margins as well as to lighten shady nooks. Remember to use vines in such plantings, for they recall the lianas of a true jungle. While I detest the garish or gaudy in temperate landscapes, these chromatic inhibitions do not hold me back when designing or installing tropical plantings.

Lastly, if your interests include the avian, tropical gardens are ideal warm-season habitats for enclosures housing macaws or parrots. Their raucous cries and outrageous plumage belong in jungle gardens. v www.urbanhomemagazine.com

Chopped or Course Block Tumbled Stone Belgard Pavers Thin Veneer Natural Stone

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At Bedrock Stone & Design, not only will you find the widest product and color selection, you will also find top-notch sales staff eager to assist in the decision-making process.

With our beautiful outdoor showroom that showcases over 250 samples of installed designs, clients are sure to find something that compliments current and future projects.

Let stone become a part of your indoor and outdoor surroundings, and let Bedrock make this a reality! Stop by one of our two showrooms or feel free to visit us online.

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Brugmansia Angel’s Trumpet

Angel’s Trumpet are the easiest large-flowering tropical plants to cultivate in this area. Hundreds of hybrids and varieties are available from mail-order suppliers and internet auction sites.

They generally thrive in sunny sites (two species must have midday and afternoon shade) and recover quite rapidly in spring. By late fall, many will have reached over 10 feet tall and have dozens of huge, pendant flowers. In addition to the amazing variation in floral colors, the blooms can be single, double, or even triple, with whole or shredded floral tubes. All respond well to fertilization bordering on overfertilization. Do not expect many flowers during the hottest time of the year. Though they are all root-hardy perennials, two will do best with protection from freezing temperatures. Instead of sacrificing their aerial portions to winter cold, I take 14-inch-

Favorite Tropical Plants & Impostors Alocasia - Upright Elephant’s Ear Bambusa - Timber Bamboo Bauhinia - Orchid Tree Begonia - Rhizomatous Begonia Bougainvillea - Bougainvillea Brugmansia - Angel’s Trumpet Canna - Canna Citrus - Hardy Citrus Colocasia - Taro Costus - Spiral Ginger Crinum - Crinum Lily Cymbopogon - Lemon Grass Dahlia - Tree Dahlia Duranta - Brazilian Skyflower Ensete - Abyssinian Banana Erythrina X bidwillii - Hybrid Coral Bean Hamelia - Fire Bush Hedychium - Ginger Heliconia schiedeana - Hardy Heliconia Hibiscus - Mallow Hibiscus Hippeastrum - Amaryllis Hymenocallis - Spider Lily Malpighia - Barbados Cherry Malvaviscus - Turk’s Cap Manihot grahamii - Hardy Tapioca Megaskepasma erythrochlamys - Brazilian Red-Cloak Montanoa - Giant Daisy Musa - Banana Musella - Golden Mountain Banana 68

Urban Home Austin – San Antonio

long cuttings in late fall, place them in pots of well-drained medium kept barely moist, over-winter them in a greenhouse, and have rooted cuttings by spring.

Brugmansia arborea - Angel’s Trumpet Brugmansia aurea - Angel’s Trumpet Brugmansia aurea ‘Culebra’ - Includes plants once known as Methysticodendron amesianum, the name first given to a monstrose form of Brugmansia discovered in Colombia. Their ribbon-like leaves are quite unlike typical Angel’s Trumpet Brugmanisa sanguinea - Angel’s Trumpet - Grow in rootpruning containers and bring inside below 35 degrees. Does best in a shady garden cooled by mist emitters. Must have midday and afternoon shade Brugmansia suaveolens - Angel’s Trumpet Brugmansia versicolor - Angel’s Trumpet Brugmansia vulcanicola - Grow in root-pruning containers and bring inside below 35 degrees. Does best in a shady garden cooled by mist emitters. Virus-free clones are more tolerant of summer heat. Must have midday and afternoon shade.

Brugmansia X candida = Brugmansia aurea X Brugmansia versicolor - Angel’s Trumpet Brugmansia X candida ‘Shredded White Fantasy’ - Also known as: ‘Fantasma’ Brugmansia, ‘Shredded White’ Brugmansia Brugmansia X insignis = Brugmansia suaveolens X Brugmansia versicolor - Angel’s Trumpet

Nelumbo - Lotus Nerium - Oleander Odontonema - Firespike Passiflora - Passionvine Philodendron selloum - Split-Leaf Philodendron Piper auritinum - Hoja Santa, Rootbeer Plant Pseuderanthemum - Chocolate Plant Quisqualis - Rangoon Creeper Ricinus - Castor Bean Ruellia - Mexican Petunia Russelia - Firecracker Bush Sabal - Palmetto Saccharum arundinaceum - Hardy Sugar Cane Salvia - Sage Setaria - Palm Grass Sinningia - Hardy Gloxinia Strelitzia - Bird of Paradise Tagetes - Perennial Marigold Tecoma - Esperanza Tecomaria - Cape Honeysuckle Thysanolaena maxima - Tiger Grass Trachycarpus - Windmill Palm Washingtonia filifera - California Fan Palm Zantedeschia - Calla Lily Zingiber - Ginger Manuel Flores has been providing horticultural knowledge and products for more than 30 years in Central Texas. Those who schedule landscape consultations during the summer of 2011 will receive an expanded and specific list of tropical plants suitable for San Antonio and Austin. Visit his web site: www.floresflowers.com.

www.urbanhomemagazine.com

Hot Bloomers!

Manuel

Flores

Landscape Designs and Consultations www.floresflowers.com • info@floresflowers.com

Technology n Trends

TEEING UP

INDOORS T

By Sue-Ella Mueller

he great American golfer Arnold Palmer once said, “It’s a funny thing, the more I practice, the luckier I get.” Knowing that luck has nothing to do with a low handicap, the makers of High Definition Golf™ are bringing a whole new way to practice the game directly to the media room of your own home.

High Definition Golf (HD GOLF™) is the product of Interactive Sports Technologies, Inc, a manufacturer of golf simulators. It may sound like a video game, but HD Golf™ is nothing like your kids’ Tiger Woods PGA Tour® game. With a Linux operating system, sophisticated computer vision (smart cameras) for ball and club tracking and simulations of the top golf courses in the world, HD Golf™ combines the best of the best to produce a simulated indoor golf experience that will have you swearing you just finished playing Pebble Beach®.

“This is unlike anything else out there,” says Bob Beecroft, vice president of sales for HD Golf™. “Some of the best minds in computer technology have built this from the ground up. With 70

Urban Home Austin – San Antonio

Photo courtesy of High Definition GolfTM

Photo courtesy of Jenkins Custom Homes

one swing of the golf club, the system can give you a detailed shot analysis and provide you with information on just about everything – distance, ball speed, club speed, launch angle, club face angle, ball spin and spin axis at high accuracy and more.”

Using a massive, “quiet technology” screen that reaches from ceiling to floor and is anywhere from 12 to 15 feet wide, golfers are able to hit their own ball with their own set of clubs. Golfers can then follow the virtual path of their ball on the screen.

“The accuracy of the system is superior. And in the game of golf, where just changing something like your swing path by one degree can make the difference in your handicap, accuracy is vital,” says Beecroft.

In addition to breath-taking imagery, the system also employs realistic sounds such as the waves crashing at Pebble Beach® or the birds nestled in the trees at Pinehurst®. The HD Golf™ simulator engineers have taken every effort to make sure players feel like they are actually playing on some of the most famous courses in the world.

“It takes a large team of photographers weeks to capture just one course,” explains Beecroft. “We get the course from every conceivable angle using a unique proprietary process, so even if you’re shanking every shot, you’ll know exactly what it feels like and looks like at Torrey Pines® or any of the other 20 plus courses we feature.”

Once a shot has been taken, the golfer may choose to pull up a complete analysis on the shot, including a video of the swing. The video, including the detailed analysis data, can then be saved and sent to a golf pro for further instruction.

“We have three different models depending upon your ceiling “This is an incredible tool for both the golfer and the teaching height; we have 10 and 12 foot heights with widths from 12 pro. While our system can give you the data, your pro can to 15 feet. In addition, you’ll need at least 20 feet of depth to actually tell you how to interpret the data to adjust your game,” accommodate the arc or swing of the golf club,” says Beecroft.

Beecroft says.

Jenkins says it isn’t always necessary to work with a room in your Need a pro’s tips right away? HD Golf™ is working on a new home. “A garage enclosure would application that will have worldbe ideal for a golf area and would renowned golf pro Jim McLean probably be fairly easy to remodel,” coming to your rescue after every she says. shot with advice on how to correct Even for the avid golfer with the nuances of your game. plenty of space in the home for an Space, of course, is an issue when HD Golf™ simulator, the cost may installing HD Golf™ into luxury cause a mishit. The system can run homes. During the recent Parade of anywhere from $40,000 to $60,000 Homes™ in Austin, Jenkins Custom depending on what options you Homes built an indoor/outdoor purchase. But when you consider media room specifically for the the time saved (you can play a full installation of the system. round in an hour), the benefits “We had sliding glass doors that TM Photo courtesy of High Definition Golf of the swing analysis and the opened up to an outdoor living space enticement of playing a number of courses that you would have with a view of an Austin hillside. Then when you turned back inside, otherwise never have been able to play, it may be well worth it you had breathtaking views of famous golf courses,” says Bethany for some.

Jenkins, vice president of Jenkins Custom Homes. “It was easily the Besides, the simulator will let you take as many mulligans as you favorite room of almost every man on the home tour.” need. And, as the famous sports writer Dan Jenkins once said, “If Fortunately for the homeowner who was not a golfer, the space God didn’t want a man to have mulligans, golf balls wouldn’t come was also the perfect media room and since the HD Golf™ system three to a pack.” Yet another benefit of HD Golf™, you’ll only need doubles as a home theater system, families can adapt a larger, one ball, no matter how many shots drop in the water. v current media room for the simulator.

www.urbanhomemagazine.com

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Urban Home Austin – San Antonio

71

DECORATOR’S ADVICE

essentials

new products

great outdoor

outdoor living

1

living

2

By Catrina Hoelke, Catrina’s at the Ranch

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1. Illuminate your backyard with Japanese-inspired, solarpowered Soji lanterns. Made of weather-resistant nylon, they include a solar panel on top, and an LED bulb inside which automatically turns on when the sun goes down!

House+Earth. 512.300.0484. www.houseandearth.com.

2. Argus Cidery, a Texas bubbly made from 100% Texas apples, makes one rethink what an American hard cider tastes like! Varieties include a light and refreshing Bandera Brut, and soon to be launched Cameo. Argus Cidery.

501.920.4443. www.arguscidery.com.

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3. La Caja China is a wood box with a stainless steel or aluminum-lined interior and wheeled leg supports.

Charcoal or wood creates radiant heat from above the meat, and steamed juices from the dripping pan below roast a pig or any variety of meats to perfection every time.

La Caja China. 800.338.1323. www.lacajachina.com.

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4. This heavyweight, unbreakable melamine dinnerware from Le Cadeaux is perfect for using on the patio or around the pool. Simple designs in sage green, yellow and ice blue mix and match beautifully for a fun tablescape.

Faraday’s Kitchen Store. 512.266.5666. www. faradayskitchenstore.com.

5. Designed by Danish architect, Povi Eskildsen, these beautifully crafted stainless steel frames combine design, comfort and durability. Greenhouse Mall.

Austin: 512.250.0000 or 512.617.8888. San Antonio: 210.558.1818. www.greenhousemall.com.

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6. Screen in your patio at the touch of a button to avoid the nuisance of pests with retractable insect screens. Texas Sun and Shade. 512.402.0990. www.txsunandshade.com.

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7. The nature-inspired Crystal Bay fan collection features six eye-catching, leaf-shaped blade design options, and a simple indoor/outdoor fan body in one of four finishes.

Kichler Lighting. 866.558.5706. www.kichler.com.

8. Chiara Drink Coolers showcase colorful fruit-filled concoctions to full effect. An elevated base is hollow so you can keep fresh lemons, oranges or extra ice below. Made of thick, smooth finished glass with a stainless steel spigot.

Napa Style. 866.776.6272. www.napastyle.com.

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9. Now Rover can enjoy the comforts of outdoor living, too! This cozy Adirondack chair for pets has the same great style as a full-size Adirondack chair, but in a low-tothe-ground design for your pooch. Built with hardwood, the chair can handle just about any weather – and your dog’s usual wear and tear. Available in natural, red, navy, chestnut and white, and measures 32”L x 26”W x 18”H. The Company Store. www.thecompanystore.com.

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Urban Home Austin – San Antonio

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hose of us fortunate enough to have grown up in Texas have basically grown up outside. In my family, at least three meals a week were cooked on the grill. Located under a big mesquite tree, our patio was the center of operations for my parents as they watched their five children fishing in the river, playing volley ball or croquet, and enjoying the great outdoors. We had wonderful Equipale furniture that had been handpainted with colorful flowers. The word “Equipale” originates from the Indian Nahuatl language “icpalli” meaning chair for the Gods, and was used by the Aztec higher class society even before the Spanish arrived in Mexico. Today it is made from various types of woods and leathers. You’ve seen it. The chairs and sofas have rounded leather backs and are very comfortable. Widely used in restaurants, resorts and hacienda-type homes, the style is perfect for homes around Texas with Mediterranean architecture.

We had a large round table with eight chairs, and a barbeque pit that my Dad had made from a metal barrel. With Christmas lights strung on the patio year-round, our setting was very festive and reminded me of the resorts my father would take us to in Mexico.

Recently, I have seen a huge trend of family life returning to the patio. Families are building fabulous outdoor living areas, and they have become standard features in high-end homes.

Sectionals, chairs and dining arrangements covered in a variety of colorful Sunbrella fabrics wear beautifully outdoors. And outdoor accessories create spaces so comfortable; there is no reason why outdoor furnishings can’t flow from the inside of the home to an attached patio area without missing a beat.

Cooking outdoors has also become so innovative that a person can spend as much time selecting appliances for their outdoor kitchen as they can for indoor products. Most recently, I was surprised to see that one of my favorite clients has a pizza oven, and a Big Green Egg installed in granite counters! By the way, if you have never seen the Big Green Egg then I suggest you Google it and do your homework because it is nothing short of amazing! This cooker does it all; it is a smoker, a grill and an oven, and you can literally cook anything on it from appetizers to entrees to desserts.

Whatever kind of outdoor living area you decide to build, whether it is an elaborate kitchen and bar area with a television, a sectional by a beautiful pool, or a simple patio under the mesquite tree, this is Texas, honey. We live outdoors all year long. The only difference between summer and winter outdoor living is a patio fireplace or fire pit. So spend time with your family and enjoy the great outdoors!

My two stores in San Antonio, Catrina’s at the Ranch and La Catrina, can help you create the beautiful outdoor living space that truly reflects you and your family! v

Entertaining n Trends

Photo courtesy of Soleil

Photo courtesy of Dan Mayers, Gibbs Smith Publishing

Texas Gulf to

A

mong Texas’ many natural resources, the Gulf Coast is abundant in exceptional seafood. So exceptional, in fact, that many Central Texas restaurants wouldn’t design their menus without a few Gulf Coast selections. Not only is it a sustainable and economicallyfriendly practice, but the bounty from this natural Texas resource is rich in flavor and variety.

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Urban Home Austin – San Antonio

Table

By Jessica Dupuy

Take it from longtime San Antonio seafood purveyor Groomer Seafood. A third-generation family establishment, Groomer Seafood has been providing more than 700 restaurants with premium Gulf seafood for more than 40 years. These days the ability to acquire seafood from around the world has become easier and easier, which makes for a busy import schedule for Groomers.

“Seafood is a worldwide commodity these days,” says co-owner www.urbanhomemagazine.com

with vivid flavors and presentations.” The cooking techniques he Rick Groomer whose supply includes more than 1500 different employs at Wildfish Seafood Grille keep the emphasis on using species a week. “When we started in the 1970s, 80 to 90 percent the correct preparation to bring out the best qualities of the fish, of our seafood came from the Gulf Coast. Now, the Gulf Coast is and using sauces sparingly to really let the flavor speak for itself. about 15 to 20 percent of what we sell.”

In Austin, wholesale, retail and restaurant local Quality Seafood But despite this increase in seafood diversity, Groomer still Market provides exactly that to restaurants and individual believes in the value of Gulf Coast fish and shellfish. With so much consumers: quality seafood. Owner Carol Huntsberger took over of the purveyor’s inventory coming from a safe and sustainable the 73-year-old operation in 2003 and quickly established a vibrant source, providing Gulf Coast seafood is an environmentally seafood restaurant menu to introduce responsible way of doing business. customers to different types of fish.

“It’s just something that has always Like Groomers, Quality brings in been important to us,” says Groomer. fish from around the world, but finds “We don’t believe in taking something the Texas Gulf an invaluable resource from the seas and leaving nothing for for red drum, haddock and shrimp. someone else to have. The Gulf Coast “There are so many incredible stories produces a number of species that of longtime shrimping families are plentiful and great tasting such down on the coast that make it as flounder, speckled trout, grouper, a privilege to order this product mahi mahi and swordfish.” locally,” says Hunstberger. “But even Nationally-recognized seafood more, Gulf Coast shrimp is plentiful restaurant, Wildfish Seafood Grille and beautiful, and it really has the also believes in Gulf Coast seafood. most incredible flavor compared to Chef Steve Warner of San Antonio’s Photo courtesy of Wildfish Seafood Grille any Asian shrimp.”

Wildfish Seafood Grille takes pride Quality works with more than 150 restaurants across the state in sourcing the freshest, most premium fish from all over the from San Angelo to Houston, Dallas, and of course, Austin. world—and even more pride that some of that fish is straight from Relative newcomer to the Austin fine dining scene, Soleil is one one of Texas’ most valued resources. of them. The Robert Del Grande-inspired concept, overlooking “Anytime we have the opportunity to use Gulf Coast seafood, Lake Travis, features a predominantly seafood menu and a fresh it’s to our benefit both economically and environmentally,” says seasonal oyster bar. Chef George Thomas, a Baltimore native, Warner whose Texas Snapper Meuniere is a classic example of how leverages his relationship with Del Grande (of the famed RDG + to best enjoy Gulf Coast fish. “We always try to buy Texas shrimp, Bar Annie in Houston) to guide his menu. “It’s been great to have red fish, crab and flounder when it’s in season.”

Robert Del Grande to bounce ideas off of when we’re creating our Warner was the Executive Chef for Eddie V’s Edgewater Grille menus,” says Thomas. “He approaches things differently than a lot on 5th Street in Austin when the company’s owners recruited of chefs do and I’ve really learned a lot from him.” him to lead the culinary team at the first Wildfish Seafood Grille, Located next to the world-famous Oasis restaurant in the Oasis, which opened November 2005 in Newport Beach, California.

Texas Village, Soleil boasts a stunning panoramic view of the lake Warner describes the menu’s fare as “simple, fresh and light www.urbanhomemagazine.com

Urban Home Austin – San Antonio

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¼ cup milk ¼ cup buttermilk 1 cup flour seasoned with fine sea salt, white pepper and garlic powder to taste plus a heaping tablespoon of cornstarch Capers or sliced almonds (optional) Finely chopped parsley 1 lemon, cut in half Baltimore Style Crab Cakes using Texas Gulf Crab 1 cup good quality mayo 2 tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce 2 eggs 2 tablespoons Old Bay® Seasoning 1 pound jumbo lump crab meat 1 cup crushed saltine crackers Whisk first four ingredients together in a large bowl for about 30 seconds. Gently fold in the crab with your hands. Gently add the saltines and mix until it binds. Form 5-ounce cakes being careful not to be too firm with the cake. Either heat an oven to 350 and bake for 10-12 minutes or pan fry in butter 5 minutes per side.

Let rest for about 5 minutes. Serve with standard remoulade sauce.

Wildfish Gulf Snapper Filet Meuniere 1 8-10 oz. fish fillet (red snapper) 1 stick (4 oz.) salted butter Sea salt to taste White pepper to taste

and as the name, which means ‘sun,’ implies, it is in one of the best places to take in a spectacular sunset.

Influenced by the seaside flavors of the Mediterranean, Chef Thomas arrived by way of Truluck’s, Paggi House, and Maiko Sushi Lounge before taking the helm of the Soleil kitchen, and his passion for cooking with fresh, seasonal ingredients is evident in every dish. “We fly fish in from all over including Hawaii, Denmark and Canada,” says Thomas. “And we always use Gulf seafood when we can, especially snapper, grouper and crab. The oysters and shrimp that come from the Gulf are some of the best in the world.”

Having grown up crabbing and fishing on the Chesapeake Bay, Thomas knows a thing or two about preparing delicious seafood dishes and if you ask him for his favorite, he’ll give you a straight answer. “My all time favorite food is crab. We eat crab cakes for breakfast in Baltimore,” says Thomas.

So it only follows that Soleil’s crab cake is in the exact style of Baltimore crab cakes. “It’s exactly like we eat them in Baltimore.

When you grow up on the Bay like that you gain a respect for seafood that’s just part of your life.”

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Urban Home Austin – San Antonio

Photo courtesy of Wildfish Seafood Grille

Rinse fish and pat dry. Put butter in a nonstick skillet over low heat. Simmer butter until all water has evaporated; it becomes foamy on top and the milk solids are a light peanut-butter color. (This brown butter is called buerre “noisette,” French for hazelnut.)

Season fillet with salt and white pepper. Combine milk and buttermilk, and place in a bowl. Place seasoned flour in a second bowl. Dip fillet in milk mixture, then dredge it in the seasoned flour and shake off excess flour. Fry fillet in browned butter on a low heat, cooking the fillet with the presentation (most attractive) side up first, until it’s about 2/3 to 3/4 done. Turn fillet over and cook the fillet presentation side down until light brown and crispy.

Cook just until opaque throughout and add capers.

Turn the fish over and place on a hot plate. (It is important to turn the fish over so that the side cooked last is facing up. This ensures that the coating is crisp.)

To serve, sprinkle parsley on the hot plate. Splash the browned butter over and around the fillet, making sure to get the browned milk solids from the bottom of the pan. The heat from the plate should be enough to “cook” the finely chopped parsley to a bright green color and release some fresh parsley scent. Serve immediately with a lemon half to squeeze over top.

Serves: 1 generous serving or 2 servings

Thinking About Remodeling?

Design for

Life

Having a similar natural resource in the Gulf of Mexico, it’s a philosophy Texans can easily understand. v Resources Groomer Seafood www.groomerseafood.com 210.377.0951

Success in your remodeling project is all about making good choices.

Quality Seafood Market www.qualityseafoodmarket.com 512.454.5827

Your most important choice is deciding on the “right” remodeling con-

Soleil www.soleilaustin.com 512.266.0600

ties and liabilities, living through a remodeling project and more.

tractor. To find out if we are right for you, attend one of our upcoming remodeling seminars or call to schedule a free in-home consultation.

We can tell you about design trends, budgeting, financing, responsibili-

Wildfish Seafood Grille www.eddiev.com 210.493.1600

Call us at 512-300-2273 or visit us online at austin.caseremodeling.com.

This business is independently owned and is operated under a license agreement with Case® Handyman & Remodeling Services, LLC • Austin Case Remodeling dba Case Handyman & Remodeling

www.urbanhomemagazine.com

Design Ecology - A landscape architecture design build firm specializing in residential estate master planning, pool design and the highest level of detail during the construction process.

We offer services ranging from design through construction of all elements within the outdoor built environment.

1706 South Lamar Blvd, Suite B, Austin, Texas 78704 512.914.0388 | decoaustin.com | info@decoaustin.com

Hil l

FA B U L O U S F I N D S

untry, Te Co

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HILL COUNTRY SCULPTURE GARDENS

Summer 201 1

destination Sculpture Gardens

By Julie catalano

W

ith more people expanding their living spaces into the great outdoors, it’s only natural that they would want to make an artistic statement – sometimes on a grand scale, other times understated. Whatever your space or taste, chances are there’s an outdoor sculpture that’s perfect for everything from the backyard to the back forty, in materials ranging from stone to metal to clay and beyond. Outdoor art is always a conversation piece, bringing a sense of expansion and freedom not usually found indoors except in the grandest interiors.

But here’s the good news: You don’t need acres to make an outdoor statement. Courtyards, patios, gardens and poolside can all be transformed with just one perfectly selected signature piece that draws the eye and delights the soul. And if you’re lucky enough to have the land? Pull out all the stops. Start your journey close to home in the Texas Hill Country towns of Fredericksburg and Johnson City, and prepare to be awed at some of the most unique, creative, quirky, elegant and downright spectacular outdoor artwork to be found anywhere.

THE Benini galleries and Sculpture Ranch

www.sculptureranch.com 830.868.5244 The undisputed champions of outdoor artists and their work, the power couple of Benini (he goes by only one name) and wife Lorraine own a sprawling 140 acres six miles west of Johnson City.

The aptly named Sculpture Ranch is literally an artistic journey of

epic proportions, providing the quintessential backdrop for more than 100 sculptures by national and international artists.

Visitors drive through the outdoor gallery of large-scale contemporary pieces with signs directing drivers through roughly a 30-minute self-tour (if you drive slowly). Or you can walk along paths if you wish, soaking up the natural and manmade beauty amid panoramic views of the Hill Country.

The visually stunning ranch is an 11-year labor of love and an ongoing testament to the passion these two share for art and artists

Urban Home Austin – San Antonio

“The Good Life,” one of Benini’s shaped geometric paintings of the 1990’s.

Eyfells and Eyfells

Shortly after installation, Idaho sculptor Mark Stasz faces his sculpture, “Take Flight,” which weighs more than a ton and stands 14 feet tall. Photography courtesy of Benini GALLERIES and Sculpture Ranch

Benini Galleries and Sculpture Ranch, Photo by Carol Watson.

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“Marathon,” by Bettye Hamblen Turner is one of the most photographed sculptures in the state of Texas. It is featured on Highway 290 at the Flat Creek Road turnoff to The Sculpture Ranch. The Preserve at Walnut Springs, owners of the sculpture, positioned it there as the ideal marker for people to find their way to both projects. Photo by Voight.

Johann Eyfells working on his series, “Missing Links,” spirals that express openness and possibilities within the context of a system.

www.urbanhomemagazine.com

“The Bride at 3 a.m.”with exquisitely rendered bronze figures on its steel base, is a new sculpture by Walter Horak.

– the Italian-born Benini is a renowned artist in his own right – and the steadfast commitment they made from the beginning to provide a showcase for prodigious talent. “Those early pieces were by friends who welcomed the opportunity to place their new pieces outdoors,” says Lorraine. “It just grew from there.”

The outdoor art loop is only one part of the fine arts complex: a 14,000 square foot Studios Building features a fine arts library and exhibit galleries showing the progression of Benini’s work over an illustrious career spanning nearly a half-century, along with work

by Italian guest artists.

Their focus, she continues, “is education. We are not a commercial gallery in the usual sense, although many of the pieces are for sale.” Admission to the ranch is free, but guests must register upon arrival. Further, the couple requires no commissions from the artists, choosing instead to use any donations from them to purchase sculptures for the permanent collection.

The combination of art and nature sometimes takes unexpected turns. It is, after all, the great outdoors with the weather and wildlife coexisting with the installations. “It’s interesting to see the little creatures adopt the outdoor pieces,” says Lorraine. “We have several birds’ nests inside the sculptures. And a colony of bats has taken up summer residence in [Patrick] Lysaght’s 40-foot pieces, between the carved limestone heads and the steel pipes.” www.urbanhomemagazine.com

www.eyfellsandeyfells.com Long before Stephen Colbert’s “truthiness,” there was truthicity, collapsion, receptualism, and singularicity – all concepts born of the wildly creative Iceland-born sculptor Johann Eyfells, who needed words to describe his artistic processes, and so invented them.

On his property between Fredericksburg and Stonewall, Eyfells – who, at 88, says he is “not slowing down” – displays an eclectic assortment of outdoor sculptures. “You name any material and I use it. Aluminum, rubber, liquid rubber, bronze, metals, cloth.” His latest obsession is rocks and spirals, playing off the theme of static and dynamic natural forces in the Hill Country. “It’s a nice contrast.

Rocks are long range, and spirals are interested in the moment.”

The Sunken Museum (a former sheep barn) is a tribute to his late wife Kristin, known for her colorful celebrity portraits. After her death, he says, he found himself in “a kind of limbo,” living in Florida after retiring from a 35-year university teaching career. Someone sent him pictures of the Hill Country property, and he bought it sight unseen. “I liked the idea of Texas. It just seemed right.”

Bottom, “Receptual Cubes” Right, “Mirroricity”

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REALTOR’S ADVICE

&

The Truths Myths of

Real Estate TV

By Judith Bundschuh, Chairman, Austin Board of REALTORS®

Photography courtesy of Kirchman Gallery Danville Chadbourne sculpture in the garden.

Kirchman Gallery

www.kirchmangallery.com 830.868.9290 “For people in Texas, their outdoor space is as important as their indoor space,” says Susan Kirchman, “and when outdoor living areas become part of the home, so does outdoor art.” She should know. The California native and her Hawaiian-born husband Warren Vilmaire opened Kirchman Contemporary Fine Art Gallery in Johnson City in 2005 with an eye toward creating an outdoor sculpture garden amid the stately oak, pecan and cypress trees. “Warren’s not an artist, but with his engineering expertise he built most of what is now on the property. People don’t realize this garden is here behind the building.”

Located on Courthouse Square, the gallery’s central location has made it a popular gathering spot for art receptions, wine tasting and live music events held on the second Sundays and last Saturdays of each month.

Of the 45 artists the gallery represents, about six are outdoor sculptors, with Johann Eyfells, John Walker and Danville Chadbourne among them – working in highly fired earthenware, stainless steel and forged steel, all designed to withstand the elements, “so no one needs to be nervous about having them outside.” These artists’ works have been in collectors’ outdoor locations for years. The gallery can work with builders to install the pieces, recently accommodating homeowners who wanted a pedestal in the middle of their pool so they could swim among the sculptures. “It was a beautiful finishing touch to the space,” says Kirchman.

Photography courtesy of Whistle Pik Galleries

Whistle Pik Galleries

Sandy Scott, “ Las Palomas Fountain” and “Eat More Beef.”

www.whistlepik.com 800.999.0820 Tim Taylor is marveling at a recent turn of events. “In the 16 years we’ve been open I’ve sold maybe a dozen monumental pieces, and I’ve sold three of those in the last thirty days.” He has no explanation for it, except that he and wife Pamela, co-owners of Whistle Pik Galleries in downtown Fredericksburg, represent some of the most well-known names in monumental sculpture, at prices ranging from $25,000 to $300,000. Glenna Goodacre, says Taylor, “along with G. Harvey, is my most famous name.” She is known for her spectacular bronzes, including the Vietnam Women’s Memorial in Washington, DC; the 7-foot standing portrait of Ronald Reagan at the Reagan Library; and the Irish Memorial in Philadelphia featuring 35 life-size figures at Penn’s Landing.

Other bronze sculptors represented by Whistle Pik include Veryl Goodnight, Sandy Scott, Kent Ullberg, Jeff Gottfried, Mick Doellinger and Gerald Balciar, who also works in marble. Ullberg created the famous Christ statue (entitled “It is I”) overlooking Corpus Christi Bay. Goodnight’s magnificent seven-ton bronze monument to freedom, “The Day the Wall Came Down,” is located at the George Bush Presidential Library.

Sandy Scott’s functional outdoor bronzes are popular, says Taylor.

“We’ve sold her fountains to people at the Dominion,” along with her whimsical five-foot pig entitled, “Eat More Beef.” v

Left, Glenna Goodacre, “Crossing The Prairie” Right, Mick Doellinger, “The Getaway”

Foreground: John Walker, Stainless Steel sculpture, “Tantu Wind,” based on a traditional Samuri shape; Middle: Danville Chadbourne, Stoneware and Stone sculpture, “Memory of the Dimensional Path;” Background: Johann Eyfells, Cold Rolled Extruded Steel, “Two Spare Parts II” (artist’s proof).

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www.urbanhomemagazine.com

H

ave you found yourself watching HGTV and thought, “That looks easy, I think I’ll remodel my bathroom, too!” Well, don’t grab that sledgehammer just yet.

Home improvement shows like “Kitchen Impossible” and “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” often leave viewers with an unrealistic idea of what it’s like to go through a major renovation.

Here are a few home improvement TV myths and truths you should know before you don your weekendwarrior gear.

TV Myths

The real time frame – While most shows portray a major overhaul in a matter of days, what happens offscreen can be far from a fast, painfree process. In reality, it takes a large team of experts to complete the work that quickly. On your own, major projects can take weeks or even months to complete.

The real budget – Although a show may say a project budget is only $2,000 that does not mean that’s what it really costs. Most of these shows don’t factor in design and labor, which can be expensive.

Selecting contractors – The professional home improvement crews you see on TV are organized months in advance. Time must be spent obtaining bids and selecting the right contractor before starting a project.

TV Truths

Importance of kitchens and baths – If you want to renovate your home, bathrooms and kitchens are the best place to start.

These spaces add the most value to a home and can attract top dollars from buyers down the line.

Curb appeal is king – Whether you want to improve the image of your home or attract buyers, an attractive outside is a surefire way to accomplish this.

A little goes a long way – You don’t have to endure a huge remodel to enjoy a fresh new space. If a space feels dull or outdated, easy weekend projects such as de-cluttering, staging, refinishing cabinets or updating light fixtures can perk things up.

Overall, these shows offer great entertainment and inspiration.

However, without the magic of TV, it is best to proceed with caution and set realistic expectations for major renovation projects. v

A DV E RT I S E R I N D E X ARCHITECTS

Texas Casual Cottages by Trendmaker www.texascasualcottages.com 979.278.3015

ASSOCIATIONS

Case Handyman www.austin.caseremodeling.com 512.300.2273

James D. LaRue Architects www.larue-architects.com 512.347.1688 Austin NARI www.austinnari.org 512.708.0637

NARI San Antonio www.remodexxlsanantonio.org 210.348.6274

CONCRETE REPAIR

Trim-A-Slab www.trim-a-slab.com 512.943.7655

CUSTOM DOORS

Portella Custom Iron Doors www.portella.com 512.263.8851

CUSTOM CABINETS & MILLWORK

HOME REMODELING

CG&S Design-Build www.cgsdb.com 512.444.1580 Crystal Sunrooms & Remodeling www.crystalsunrooms.com 512.832.4786 Realty Restoration www.realtyrestoration.com 512.454.1661

INTERIOR DESIGN

Bella Villa Design www.bellavillads.com 512.443.3200

Austin Wood Works, Inc. www.austinwoodworks.com 512.259.3373

Catrina’s at the Ranch www.catrinasattheranch.com 830.755.6355 / 210.535.3070

CUSTOM HOME DESIGN CONSULTANT

Dawn Hearn Interior Design www.dawnhearn.com 512.930.0250

By Design Custom Home Consulting www.karensellsaustin.com 512.917.2653

CUSTOM METAL WORK

Christopher Voss – 4th Generation Craftsman, Inc. www.christophervoss.com 210.843.4332

DEVELOPMENTS

Rough Hollow www.roughhollowlakeway.com 512.617.1776

La Catrina www.lacatrina.com 210.695.2100

KITCHEN & BATH

Countertop Valet www.countertopvalet.com 1.888.50.VALET Homewerks www.homewerkssa.com 210.499.5760

FURNITURE

Morrison Supply Company www.morsco.com 512.928.1110

GARAGE DOORS

Parrish Companies www.parrishandcompany.com Round Rock: 512.835.0937 San Antonio: 830.980.9595

GLASS & WINDOWS

Design Ecology www.decoaustin.com 512.914.0388

Kreiss www.kreissaustin.com 512.476.2121 Hill Country Doors www.hillcountrydoors.com 512.977.7200 Anchor Ventana www.ventanaman.com 512.388.9400

HOME BUILDERS

Foursquare Builders www.foursquarebuilders.com 512.944.4520 Hobbs’ Ink www.hobbsink.com 512.261.6226 New Urban Home Builders www.newurbanhomebuilders.com 512.626.0360

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Urban Home Austin – San Antonio

LANDSCAPE DESIGN

Pearson Landscaping www.pearsonlandscape.com 512.386.5900 Manuel Flores www.floresflowers.com

LIGHTING

Legend Lighting www.legendaustin.com 512.251.0000 Lighting, Inc. www.lightinginc.com Austin: 512.491.6444 San Antonio: 210.541.8500

MORTGAGE BANKING

BBVA Compass Bank, Cindy Tuttle, CMPS www.bbvacompass.com/mortgages/ctuttle 512.431.9965

OUTDOOR LIVING

BBQ Outfitters www.bbqoutfitters.com 512.347.1988

Bedrock Stone & Design www.bedrockstoneanddesign.com 512.266.8080/512.288.0505/512.263.2288 Big Grass www.biggrassliving.com 210.735.7999 / 877.735.7999 Everything Outdoors www.everythingoutdoorsaustin.com 512.918.0010 Greenhouse Mall www.greenhousemall.com Austin: 512.250.0000 and 512.617.8888 San Antonio: 210.558.1818 HomeField www.homefieldliving.com 830.626.1971 Infinity Exteriors www.infinity-exteriors.com 512.289.7336 Out Back Patio Furnishings www.outbackunlimited.com 830.798.9761

PHOTOGRAPHY

Ad Imagery www.adimagery.net 210.274.5767

Fine Focus Photography www.finefocusphotography.com 512.413.0329 Jason Roberts & Associates www.jasonroberts.biz 210.340.2033

POOLS & WATER FEATURES

Liquid Assets www.liquidassets-pools.com Austin: 512.444.5444 San Antonio: 210.680.7665

REAL ESTATE

Austin Board of Realtors www.austinhomesearch.com

SOLAR PRODUCTS

Solar Tex www.solartexonline.com 512.371.0399

WINDOW COVERINGS & AWNINGS Texas Sun & Shade www.txsunandshade.com 512.402.0990

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