Austin Home Spring 2026

SPRING 2026

US $5.95

Business of Design Anastasia Casey Bolsters the Industry How Long Does a Reno Actually Take?

Evlo Fitness Founder Melds Work + Family

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B U I L T TO B U I L D

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C U P P E T T K I L PAT R I C K A R C H I T E C T U R E + I N T E R I O R D E S I G N • W H I T P R E S T O N P H O T O G R A P H Y

Maintenance and Small Projects

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VISIT OUR SALES CENTER TODAY AND ASK ABOUT OUR WINTER SPECIAL 14353 Commodores Drive, Corpus Christi, TX 78418 (361) 600-7986 | sales@whitecaplivingnpi.com ©Diamond Beach Holdings, LLC - All information and services are subject to change. Availability, prices, materials, and options may vary. All photographs, renderings and other depictions are for the sole purpose of illustration and are subject to change. Imagery is representational and does not depict specific buildings, views or future architecture, community, amenities or other details. Marketing & Sales by Strategyst LLC. V31376-260122-AH

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Not an offer or solicitation to sell real property. Whitecap NPI does not discriminate against any class of persons protected by federal, state or local law.

Designer: House Franc Photographer: Madeline Harper

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Landscape Design & Build

SPRING 2026

CONTENTS FEATURES

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In this intimate interview, Worrel reflects on nearly three decades in practice and the deeply intentional approach behind her work.

How Evlo Fitness founder Dr. Shannon Ritchey and designer Coco Greenblum crafted a home that supports creativity, family life, and a growing digital brand.

Inside the Amity Worrel Playbook

WHIT PRESTON

BY KAREN ZABARSKY BLASHEK

The Business of Balance

BY CODI CHEN

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Phoenix Rising After a devastating fire, Cuppett Kilpatrick helped a couple rebuild a sentimental family home in West Lake Hills.

BY LAUREN JONES

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The Coolest Carport on the Block When an ice-storm fire hit their Windsor Park home, Katie and John rebuilt with Moontower Design & Build—doubling down on the neighborhood they love.

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Best Builders We polled homeowners and industry pros to create this list of the top builders in the Austin area.

BY HANNAH SMOTHERS

ON THE COVER ANASTASIA CASEY ON THE STAIRS OF THE PROPER HOTEL. SHOT BY MADELINE HARPER.

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SPRING 2026

CONTENTS 20 Editor’s Letter 28 Elements Stay up to date with Austin’s art and design scene this Spring.

30 Design Futures | MYA Ashram How McKinney York found unlikely inspiration in a change to Austin’s zoning rules.

32 Profile | Anastasia Casey How Anastasia Casey turned her taste, tenacity, and talent for design into a multimillion-dollar creative ecosystem that empowers women entrepreneurs around the world.

40 Sky High | Paseo by LV Collective With bold design and a community-first vision, Paseo by LV Collective bridges Austin’s past and future — honoring the neighborhood’s soul while setting a new standard for vertical living.

44 The City | Nicole Nosek Nicole Nosek and Texans for Reasonable Solutions want Austin — and all of Texas — to grow smartly and compassionately.

46 Anatomy of a Remodel Four Austin design professionals unite under one roof to reveal what it really takes to bring a home from idea to execution through the Complete Home Workshop.

48 Get the Look | Clarkee Design Clarkee Design’s guest suite functions as a peaceful and plush escape to bring hotel luxury home.

52 Art | The Modern Our Arts Contributor peels back the curtain on his latest curation endeavor for one of Austin’s newest high rises, The Modern.

108 Home & Design Awards Finalists After receiving a record number of submissions, we are pleased to present the finalists of the 2026 Home & Design Awards.

112 In Photos | Winter Editor’s Preview

114 Curtains | Anita Erickson What will it take to make Austin the next global design hub? Founder of Marketplace ATX gives us her take.

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MADELINE HARPER

Page Architects (now Stantec) hosted us in their headquarters inside of the Indeed Tower to celebrate our Makers Issue and unveil the inaugural Form & Furnish furniture show.

Inspired by nature, born from technology

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Editorial EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Karen Zabarsky Blashek CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Kiernan McCormick, Kathryn Streeter, Canan Yetman, Paul L. Underwood, Hannah Smothers, Nick Campbell, Codi Chen, Lauren Jones, Anita Erickson

Art CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Mara Esquivel

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Richard Betancourt

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Casey Woods, Ches Rivera, Jessica Attie, Madeline Harper, Likeness Studio, Andrea Calo, William Abranowicz, Tina Finkel, Whit Preston Photography, Paige Newton, Chase Daniel, Erin Holsonback, Annie Ray, Kennedy Box, Lindsay Brown, Stephen Karlisch

Hearst Media GENERAL MANAGER

Randi Stevenson

Circulation CIRCULATION MANAGER

Kerri Nolan

Contact MAILING ADDRESS

8000 Metropolis Dr., Bldg. A, Suite 100 Austin, TX 78744 SUBSCRIPTION INQUIRIES

512-263-9133 or subscriptions@austinhomemag.com ADVERTISING INQUIRIES

advertising@austinhomemag.com STORY IDEAS

editor@austinhomemag.com POSTMASTER

Abigail Stewart

Send address changes to Austin Home, Hearst Newspapers P.O. Box 2171 San Antonio, Texas 78297-2171

Advertising

Events

Digital DIGITAL MANAGER

AD DIRECTOR OF SALES

Julie Lee

EVENTS DIRECTOR

Lauren Sposetta

VICE PRESIDENT OF MARKETING AND EVENTS

Sara Bryant

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Dana Horner, Teddy Ivanova, Jennifer Tully, Kiely Whelan

Corrections & Clarifications In our Winter 2025 issue, our “Material Conversations” feature included images from an incorrect project. The online version has been corrected. We appreciate our contributors’ collaboration in resolving the issue.

Additionally, our feature “Where Turrell, Chihuly, and Hopper Can Co-Exist” was incorrectly attributed; Lauren Jones was the writer.

© Copyright: Austin Home is published by Hearst Newspapers, LLC. No portion may be reproduced in whole or in part by any means, including electronic retrieval systems, without the express written permission of the publisher. Editorial content does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher of this magazine.

Editorial or advertising does not constitute advice but is considered informative. Austin Home is locally operated.

Statement of Ownership, management and circulation (required by 39 U.S.C. 3685). 1. Austin Home Magazine 2. Publication No. USPS 001-514 3. Oct 1, 24. 4. Quarterly, 5. No. of issues published annually. 4, 6. Annual subscription price $14.95; 7. PO Box 2171, San Antonio, TX 78297-2171 9. Names and addresses of Publisher and Editors are: Publisher, Mark Medici, P.O. Box 2171, San Antonio, Texas 78297-2171. Editor, Karen Zabarsky Blashek, P.O. Box 2171, San Antonio, Texas 78297-2171. 10. Owner: Hearst Newspapers, LLC, mailing address: 8000 Metropolis Dr., Bldg. A, Suite 100, Austin, TX 78744. Members of Hearst Newspapers, LLC are: Hearst Communications, Inc. (Managing Member), and Newspaper Holding, Inc., mailing address: 8000 Metropolis Dr., Bldg. A, Suite 100, Austin, TX 78744. See Item 10 above. 15. A. Total no. copies printed (Net Press Run). Average no. copies each issue during preceding 12 months, 14,885.

Actual no. copies of single issue published nearest to filing date 17,850. B. Legitimate Paid and/or Requested Distribution. 1. Outside-County Subscriptions. Average no. copies each issue during preceding 12 months, 2,746. Actual no. copies of single issue published nearest to filing date, 2,706. 3. Sales through dealers and carriers, street vendors, counter sales and other outside USPS. Average no. of copies each issue during preceding 12 months, 1,683. Actual no. copies of single issue published nearest to filing date, 4,584. C. Total Paid and/or Requested Circulation. Average no. copies each issue during preceding 12 months, 4,429. Actual no. copies of single issue published nearest to filing date 7,290. D. Nonrequested Distribution. 1. Outside County, Average no. copies each issue during preceding 12 months, 7,053. Actual no. copies of single issue published nearest to filing date, 7,159. 4. Outside the Mail, Average no. copies each issue during preceding 12 months, 2,398. Actual no. copies of single issue published nearest to filing date, 2,560. E. Total Nonrequested Distribution. Average no. copies each issue during preceding 12 months, 9,451. Actual no. copies of single issue published nearest to filing date, 9,719. F. Total Distribution. Average no. copies each issue during preceding 12 months, 13,880. Actual no. copies of single issue published nearest to filing date 17,009. G. Copies not Distributed. Average no. copies each issue during preceding 12 months, 1,005. Actual no. copies each issue published nearest to filing date, 841. H. Total Average no. copies each issue during preceding 12 months, 14,885. Actual no. copies of single issue published nearest to filing date, 17,850. I. Percent Paid and/or Requested Circulation. Average no. copies each issue during preceding 12 months 32%. Actual no. copies of single issue published nearest to filing date 43%.

17. I certify that the statements made by me above are correct and complete. Mark Medici, Publisher.

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KAREN ZABARSKY BLASHEK EDITOR-IN-CHIEF @KZBLASHEK

If there is one thing our cover star—the business-savvy Anastasia Casey—is comfortable with, it’s failure. “I think that’s what’s made me successful as an entrepreneur and as a boss,” she explains in our interview. “I am absolutely not afraid of failing… Once you eliminate that fear, it opens up a world of possibilities for you.”

This quality goes hand-in-hand with Anastasia’s gumption: her willingness to continuously experiment and adapt to what designers need. She has become something of a secret weapon for players in the design world, providing branding, business playbooks, and podcasts chock full of wisdom, with her pièce de résistance being Design Camp: a multi-day summit hosted at the Austin Proper Hotel and attended by interior designers from around the world.

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As Anastasia’s followers and clients know well, pretty pictures and polished home tours are a small percentage of what success in our industry entails. Greatness is built on strong business plans, relationships, and iterative approaches to getting it all done.

In this issue, we focus on the Business of Design, the infrastructure necessary to make beautiful environments come to life and create impact. We learn about Ashram, a multifamily project by McKinney York Architects, which implements a recently approved zoning ordinance in Austin. We hear from Nicole Nosek, a staunch advocate for Missing Middle Housing, who explains the importance of exploring housing typologies to make dignified dwellings more accessible to more people. We tour the home of Dr. Shannon Ritchey, founder of Evlo Fitness,

where designer Coco Greenblum melded family and work life seamlessly. And in her own words, founder of Marketplace ATX Anita Erickson explores what it will take to make Austin a true global hub for design, including her vision for a newly designated Austin Design District.

I am also thrilled to announce in this issue our list of finalists for the 2026 Home & Design Awards. The quality of submissions this year was unprecedented, and I look forward to celebrating the winners at our spectacular awards ceremony on April 2. Tickets are on sale now!

All designers—whether they are principals or interns—have something of an entrepreneurial spirit in them: a drive to imagine beyond what exists, believe in what could be, and then find a way to make it a reality. I hope this issue sparks that inspiration in each and every one of you.

CALL FOR ENTRIES Interior Designers + Architects

Are you one of Austin’s Best Interior Designers or Architects?

To learn more and nominate today, head to austinhomemag.com/ nominate.

Austin Home is seeking nominations for the Best Interior Designers + Architects in town. The annual list is part of our mission to showcase standouts in a region that provides international inspiration. Groups with the most nominations will be highlighted in an upcoming issue of Austin Home and online.

We invite you to nominate your favorite firm or your own, and to share the opportunity with colleagues and collaborators. Designers and Architects who do residential work in Austin or a surrounding county are eligible.

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IMAGE COURTESY OF ISTOCK BY NATALIA RIABCHENKO

Nomination deadline: May 15, 2026.

A first-of-its-kind summit of design talks, parties, and a taste of Austin’s design best.

Visit AustinHomeMag.com for more details.

Historic gems.

Modern masterpieces.

And everything in between.

Austinite since 2003.

L E S L E Y TAY L O R Global Real Estate Advisor | Austin Specialist

lesley.taylor@sothebysrealty.co m @lesleytaylor_rea lty

PHOTO BY LIKENESS STUDIO

ACCENTS

An artwork by Louis Lopez Loza in the lobby lounge in one of Austin’s newest high rises, The Modern.

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ACCENTS WHAT’S NEW

ELEMENTS

A Tour Through Time Slow Style, High Design Rocha brings a new kind of design-led retail to Austin. Co-founded by retail veteran Albert Mendez, filmmaker Bettina Barrow, and interior designer Maya Nairn, the space feels more gallery than store—quiet, sculptural, and intentionally spare. Pieces are presented with room to breathe, from minimalist apparel to collectible furniture and vintage objects. With rotating installations, intimate programming, and styling as storytelling, Rocha invites visitors to linger, discover, and engage with design at a slower pace. As a fun little detail, local interior designer Benjamin Stelly stars in their latest campaign. rochathestore.com

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Preservation Austin’s celebrated Homes Tour returns April 18–19, 2026, spotlighting architecture, culture, stewardship, and history across the city. This year’s highlights include the historic Cranfill Apartments in West Campus. Founded in 1993, the spring event remains the nonprofit’s marquee fundraiser, with proceeds supporting its advocacy and educational programs. VIP tickets include access to a private opening party. preservationaustin.org

LEFT TO RIGHT: ABIGAIL ENRIGHT; JETT BUTLER; COURTESY OF NXT CABINETS; DANIEL DE LEÓN NORIEGA; COURTESY OF CLAY IMPORTS.

Interdisciplinary retail concepts, fresh showrooms, and mixing mediums define what’s new this Spring.

Print Culture, Reimagined on Brazos TOMO Mags, the 2025 brainchild of founder Vico Puentes, brings a rare dose of design-minded print culture to 411 Brazos Street in downtown Austin. The compact shop reads almost like a miniature gallery—quiet, intentional, and shaped by a love of materiality.

Here, one of the city’s widest selections of independent magazines sits alongside global design, art, and photography titles, each displayed to encourage slow looking. Puentes’ vision also extends beyond the storefront: the blue TOMO Mags bus now roams Austin, delivering curated print and small-scale design objects directly into the city’s creative pockets. tomomags.com

Craft Meets Technology Clay Imports Expands Its Canvas Long known for handcrafted Mexican tile, Clay Imports is branching into a new medium: wallpaper. Printed on demand in Austin, the collection invites richer illustration, quick turnarounds, and even custom “design-your-own” options. The series includes collaborations with local talents like Davey McEathron and Rebecca Holliday of Rock Paper Build, while still reflecting the brand’s signature aesthetic.

Trade partners can also explore both tile and wallpaper selections in person at the studio. clayimports.com

NXT Cabinets is unveiling a new North Austin showroom this spring, offering a closer look at its luxury, European-style custom cabinetry. The space—housed inside the brand’s manufacturing warehouse—features two fully outfitted kitchens, bathroom vanities, a pantry, a closet system, a bar setup, and a materials room. Visitors can also tour the adjacent shop to see CNC machinery and robotic technology at work, a behind-the-scenes peek at how NXT streamlines the production of made-to-order, high-end cabinetry. A refreshed website will launch alongside the showroom’s debut. nxtcabinets.com

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ACCENTS DESIGN FUTURES

WRITTEN BY PAUL L. UNDERWOOD PHOTOGRAPHY CASEY WOODS

STEP BY STEP How McKinney York found unlikely inspiration in a change to Austin’s zoning rules.

Units are efficient but flooded with natural light and views of trees. This typology opens up the possibilities for more attainable housing options in Austin.

It’s often said that form follows function. But with their latest project, the firm McKinney York Architects has found that form follows regulation.

Some explanation: In 2021, Austin loosened up the rules around single-staircase multifamily projects, so that three-story buildings would now be permitted. This change was driven in part by Jay Reddy, a developer and former member of the City of Austin Planning Commission, who long felt that ending this prohibition would help bring more housing to the city by encouraging builders to think more vertically, and create more density. (Simply put, a taller home can fit more humans onto the same parcel of land.) This code change also put Austin in line with other cities, and with guidelines from the National Fire Protection Association.

Reddy isn’t just an advocate; he’s also a practitioner. He’s the owner of the Ashram Multifamily project, believed to be the first single-stair, three-story multifamily building in Austin. He was also the first tenant. The space wasn’t always designed this way; it had been in development prior to the COVID pandemic, and the code change necessitated some architectural adjustments midway through the process.

“I could see a scenario where it would have been extremely inconvenient to change it to a single stair,” says Will Wood, principal at McKinney York Architects, the firm Reddy hired for the project. “But it just so happened that we had set it up in a way where switching it ended up being very successful. The dominant stair was on the north side of the building, facing the street.” The team jettisoned a second staircase on the south side. “From the beginning, [the north staircase was] considered a social location

— everyone’s front door and the stairway itself would be a social space where all the residents would see each other when they’re carrying their groceries up, or when they’re leaving for work.”

Toward that end, the project has been successful — the current tenants have a group text going for both emergencies and social calls, befitting the building’s name, a Hindu term referring to a place for spiritual retreat.

Remarkably, the building is built on what Wood calls an “awkward” sized lot, roughly 4,400 square feet, that’s smaller than what would’ve been allowed for a single-family dwelling under previous zoning laws. Now that lot hosts six units, including 10 bedrooms, enough to fit between 12 and 16 people comfortably. Given the demands of density, the finished result is still a stunner, with a modest rooftop that offers a majestic view of downtown.

“Architects in general are problem solvers,” Wood says. “You have to have some artist in you as well, but you’re not doing a good job unless you’re really listening carefully to what the owner is interested in doing.” He notes that McKinney York doesn’t specialize in multifamily units, so the firm only gets this type of work when there’s “an unusual problem to solve.” He adds that the building takes cues from something you might see in Europe, rather than America, in terms of having a central staircase that leads to a public space at the front. The smaller units also offer a more accessible price point to tenants, and are built to be energy-efficient, bringing down energy bills.

Naturally, it’s become a model for other developers considering their own singlestaircase multifamily units. Ashram might be the first, but it likely won’t be the last.

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ACCENTS PROFILE

THE INDUSTRY’S SECRET WEAPON How Anastasia Casey turned her taste, tenacity, and talent for design into a multimillion-dollar creative ecosystem that empowers women entrepreneurs around the world.

INTERVIEW BY KAREN ZABARSKY BLASHEK

Here, Stass (as she is affectionately known) shares her journey from a struggling freelancer to CEO of a multimillion dollar business.

KZB: I think a lot of people don’t know the full breadth of everything you do. If they are aware, they are probably wondering: how did that happen? How did you build all of this?

AC: I’ve been in Austin now for 13 years. I moved from San Francisco with my then boyfriend, now husband, for a job as Director of Marketing for a real estate company. We got a tiny bungalow in Hyde Park. And after three years there, I lost my job. I had been freelancing, doing web design for pretty much any creative business. Some of the referrals I was getting from my old job were attorneys and financial planners. But I was really interested in helping bakers and salon owners.

And so I’d been doing some side work like that.

And how did you even start doing that? Do you have a background in graphic design?

Yes. I went to art school, majored in advertising with a minor in graphic design. I didn’t learn anything about web design there except general composition and certainly how to design.

MADELINE HARPER

When it comes to the business of interior design in Austin, there is no greater powerhouse than Anastasia Casey. While many know her for one piece of her world or another, few understand the full scope of her ecosystem: IDCO Studio, a creative agency that produces branded collateral and business templates for interior designers; Kwin Made, a sister creative studio for anything bespoke; Interior Collective, her editorial site and podcast platform; and Design Camp, a conference on the business of interior design, held at the Austin Proper Hotel, that attracts design entrepreneurs from around the world.

ACCENTS PROFILE

CHES RIVERA

As part of IDCO Studio and Kwin Made, Anastasia provides art direction for photography and video content for designers. She also hosts her own podcast called The Interior Collective.

On the day of our shoot, she interviewed the fabulous Avery Cox.

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But when I was in college, Wix first launched, which is a web building platform that didn’t involve coding. And so I really just started with that and I had done a little blog for myself. I was totally self-taught outside of formal art school, but then I could skip the whole step of coding.

And so after I lost my job, I think I had 3,000 followers at the time that were mostly just friends.

I posted: If anybody needs a website, I’m your gal. And I remember in the first three months of doing just freelance web design, I had made my entire year’s salary and then some, and I thought – I’m onto something here. And I was so hardcore, I mean I worked until three in the morning every single day working on client stuff and absolutely loving it. It was so thrilling to be fully in control of your own financial capacity, your own schedule, all while helping other businesses. It was just like I was addicted.

Especially after your recent experience of being at the behest of somebody else, that freedom must have meant a lot.

Absolutely. And control. Fundamentally, that experience taught me to really question the concept of anybody putting a number on someone else’s value for an entire year of their life.

Because what you are capable of learning, doing, producing in a year of your life, for someone to say that’s worth $50,000 – I just had the experience of seeing, that’s not true. I grow a lot in a year. And to say that I can’t talk about this, we can’t revisit this for a year or in my case, I went three years without a raise. It really made me question the concept of it. That’s when being an entrepreneur was suddenly present in my brain and I realized – I don’t have to have someone else capping me.

And what’s cool is that through this venture of yours, you were helping a lot of other entrepreneurs.

Yes, every arm of my business is based on female financial independence, whether that’s through free resources like the podcast or Design Camp or our services at IDCO Studio, or in Kwin.

Everything is about helping women make money doing what they love doing, and that’s design. So we fill in the gap on the business side of things where most designers are on the creative side of things. They’re designing and they’re creating spaces or they’re designing furniture, whatever it might be. I help them solve hiccups or project growth through beautiful business solutions. And so it really does stem from me losing my job because it was such a very distinct moment of my timeline.

So going back to that timeline, tell us about how you pivoted from what you had started doing to just focusing on design or designers.

I was working with lots of creative businesses like event planners, salons. In my world of graphic and web design, there’s a woman named Fiona Humberstone. She’s known as the brand stylist, and she’s out of England. She hosted beautiful retreats for brand designers and she was hosting one in Mallorca. And I wanted to do this so badly.

I thought it was really important. I talked to my husband about it and he said – we can do it. I’ll cancel my gym membership. I’ll just run on the street. It was so sweet. So I went and it was very woo woo. There was a former psychologist there who was having therapy sessions with you. I am a business-minded person, so I was just surprised as to how feelings-oriented it was.

You’re like, where are the Excel spreadsheets at?

Right? Yes. Or just, do you want to look at my work? Would you like to see what I’ve done?

Can we talk about contracts?

But the whole time, they were talking about you have to pick your target audience and it has to be specific and you have to say no to the jobs that aren’t that. And I just remember really resenting that in the moment because I thought: I support my family. We had very much been check to check and so to say no to work, I wasn’t there yet. And then it was the last full day of programming there, and I was in this therapy session, and one of the exercises they had us do was to write your five favorite projects you’ve ever done. And when I did that, four out of the five were all interior designers. And I was like, oh okay, I get it.

So on my flight home from Mallorca, I rewrote our entire website copy. I completely changed my idea on how we were going to start creating content for marketing purposes. I just focused entirely on interiors. And it absolutely changed my life. I still am friends with Fiona to this day, and I tell her, you changed my life.

After I got back from that, I remember I was still in my place in Hyde Park and I did a trade with one of the designers I worked with to help me redo my living room. And I mean, it was a tiny living room and we had just had hodge podge furniture. And I was like, I’m ready. I think I told her: I have $5,000, can you help me redesign this space? And she did. And it was fabulous.

And I shot it with Madeline Harper. And then The Everygirl Blog ran it.

Things really took off from there. I started posting a lot of interior design content features about that. It just started growing. IDCO used to be called the Identité Collective. It was based on branding and it was like building your identity.

And I started doing online interviews, just written interviews with people. I DMed Shea McGee and asked if she would let me interview her on my little nothing blog. And Shea through and through is the kindest person who will always show up for you. And she was like, absolutely, I’ll do it. And she was already huge. So I did an interview with her that definitely helped.

I did a few other interviews, but I was really just doing a lot of lifestyle content and putting myself in front of where my ideal clients actually hang out online and not thinking about creating content about logos unless they’re really ready to rebrand. They don’t care about logos, they care about interiors. So I hired my first person pretty quickly. She was part-time.

She ended up going back to a different job and then I started hiring. My first hires were actually editorial girls who were working on the blog and they were creating content while I was still doing the actual money earning graphic design and web design work.

And was there a business angle to growing all of that content? What was the opportunity there?

1000%. It was about: Where are my interior designers spending their time online? That’s the type of content we need to create so they can find you. I had a girlfriend that had reached out on Instagram who was doing a similar thing, but was not booking as often as I was. And so she started freelancing for me. And after about a year and a half or so of that, she had come to assist me on some client work. Here we are almost ten years later and she’s our creative director.

I still oversee all of the creative, but we built the team up to the point where we have heads of each department and they know everything should be sent to me on Slack, but if I don’t get back to you, I trust you and it goes out. I totally trust my team, but I still, as the team says, am sprinkling the “Stass Sauce” on things.

What are some of the biggest mistakes you’ve seen designers make with how they position themselves that you help with?

People come to us and say: I want a site like Amber Lewis’s. (And we did Amber Lewis’s site.)

So we start to mock things up and they’re like,

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Design Camp is an unprecedented conference that Anastasia and her partner, Lindsey Borchard, organize in Austin and California. Attendees come from all over the world to learn about the business of design, make friends for life, and explore Austin’s design scene.

You have a lot of public facing collateral you create, but also internal or client-facing templates. Can you tell us a little about that offering?

Yes, everything from contracts (which we work with a local attorney on), to proposals, to your investment guide. So when you get an initial inquiry from someone, you have a beautifully designed PDF that outlines how you work, how you bill, how you prefer to communicate. And that should go out to a client before you even get on a call with them because they might look at that and know this isn’t a fit. But more importantly, they’ll look at it and say, this is absolutely a fit. So you can purchase them individually or as a bundle.

We’ve had so many people tell us these templates were also sort of their business plan.

So this of course leads me to Design Camp.

How did you take IDCO and develop into everything else you’ve built?

During all this, I’m still producing a lot of interiors content because that was our marketing tactic and a passion project. At this point, I was very studied in interior design because it’s all I was doing all day. But I had one of my earlier interior design clients, Lindsey Borchard from Lindsey Brooke Design, hire me to do her social media content. We’d been working together for about six months when we were both speaking on a panel at Las Vegas Market. And that was the first time we met in person.

Lindsey and I just have so many things in common. Both of our husbands names are Quinn. We started our business a month apart from each other. She just is my soul sister in so many ways. But we worked together really, really well. And we’re sitting at a bar that wasn’t

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even open after our husbands had gone to bed, and I was telling her about that retreat I had gone on. Lindsey from the very beginning had these things called Monday Mentor Sessions on Instagram Stories. And people would ask her design or business advice and she would just answer the questions.

They were so good. She always had this real passion for talking about business. This isn’t a secret, we have to talk about it. We have to educate ourselves and we have to educate our friends. We have to be open. And I was telling her that is totally what I believe, as well. That’s what my whole purpose is in trying to help these designers. And she said: Well, what if we did a retreat? That night Design Camp was born. We had our first one March the next year, and that was March of 2020. One week before COVID took over the planet, but it was great.

It was here in Austin at the Wayback. And it was so fun. We bought out the whole property. We had 14 campers. Everybody had their own bed, but they were bunking up in the little cottages. So Lindsey and I were schlepping it back to my house every night. It was so grassroots. We were moving the concrete tables for each meal. We taught every session. It was very intimate and amazing, but it was so much work. And we made $0. But that first group of campers, they still text every day.

They still go to markets together. They still do one vacation together every year. It was magical.

But we did get to the point where we had to be able to scale. So we did two sessions back to back, so at least we could get through 28 campers. And that helped with the bottom line. But as with any small business, when we’re buying out a whole property and closing down their restaurant, their rates had to go up, too. So we had to look at a place that could scale with us.

And so Lindsey asked me, if you could do Design Camp anywhere, where would it be? And I said: It should be at the Proper Hotel. But I thought we could never afford it. There’s just no way.

And she said, well, I’m going to send an email.

She came back and said: I did all this math and if we can hit this number, then we’re profitable, and then we’d actually be able to pay ourselves.

And so we did the first larger format one in Santa Monica Proper, and we did three in a row before we then added in the Austin location. And from now on, Austin’s kind of our home base. The staff

here is so great. The service level is impeccable. I mean, it’s a treat to come stay for design.

How do designers feel about coming to Austin for an event like this?

It’s no secret that Austin has been a hotspot for 10 years now. Some might argue it’s been longer than that, but I feel like in particular, just since I’ve been here for 13 years, it’s really blossomed. Everyone is excited to come. But I get DMs all the time from people asking, what boutique should I hit up? Where else should we go? So we do a little Austin guide that we send out to all of our campers. And then we also have optional events before and after official programming. Supply Showroom always hosts our campers and they do a breakfast and then everybody gets to go and pull samples.

And Four Hands is an amazing partner. A lot of people don’t even realize they are based in Austin.

And so they host us. This year is the first time that they’re also doing private art studio tours.

So everybody’s excited to come to Austin. And I think that when people get here, they get to experience how unique Austin is, even with the big box brands that are starting to come in, everything’s still being designed uniquely to Austin. Even if it’s not the mom-and-pop shop that used to be on South Congress, it does still have a certain vibe that I think is just so fun to experience.

What do you hope to see over the next 10 years in the industry here? What would be good for interior designers and for the local design economy?

I would love to see Austin be more of the hub for everyone who’s coming into Round Top. I know right now you can technically fly into Houston and drive up, but I mean Round Top is an hour and 15 minutes from my house. And so I’m excited for people to get to experience that because I was just antiquing in Provence and I was like, Round Top prices are just as good and you’re not paying tariffs or shipping it home.

I’d also really like to see more designers here in Austin getting national press and coming up on the AD100 list because the talent pool that we have is incredible. And just the fact that it’s not on a coastal city, I feel like it’s made it a little harder for people to get those national recognitions. But

MADELINE HARPER PHOTO:

oh, it’s just so plain. And the problem is they want what Amber’s built or love Amber’s images and not necessarily her website. You have to take a step back and really identify: What is it that I’m admiring about this? Because then you can either recreate or emulate those specific things. And from that standpoint, invest in the professional photography, invest in the stylist, and use the same ones every single time before you ever come to us to work on your website or your branding. That is what matters.

PROFILE ACCENTS

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CHES RIVERA

ACCENTS PROFILE

Anastasia Casey gathers in her home with several members of her team, including her newest intern: her baby girl.

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the design work that’s coming out of Austin beats out work that’s coming out of New York or LA. You’re in so many of these different verticals and obviously expanding into more. Have you ever done anything that didn’t work?

Oh my gosh, all the time. I think what’s made me successful as an entrepreneur and as a boss, I am absolutely not afraid of failing. It is so not a big deal to me. And I think once you eliminate that fear, and realize that nobody remembers the things that didn’t work, it opens up a world of possibilities for you.

For example, I had a gorgeous, huge studio.

All the team was coming in. COVID hit, they started working from home, and they preferred working from home. And then I had this big huge studio of literally just me. And so I decided, well, let me pull product in because what if I had this concept where our designers locally could come in and essentially demo things or pull things for shoots to style with?

And so we did that for about a year just so that I could use up the space I was already renting.

And that did not work. It cost a lot of money to get all of that product. So we are in the process of downsizing that studio.

Other things that haven’t worked? I mean, there’s so many. Like the first five outfits I put on today, that didn’t work. See, there you go.

Daily things, daily failures.

Tell us about building a team.

I hear from my friends in the industry that that’s often the hardest part of what they do.

And for me, that’s the easiest part of what I do. I think trusting your team is number one.

Nobody’s going to succeed if you’re micromanaging them. And you have to pay people good money. If you want someone to be with you for five plus years, you need to pay them a salary that could let them stay for five plus years. And for designers, that’s really easy because you can make their work billable.

But I hear so often people say, I can’t find a junior designer for $25 an hour. Well, duh.

Because they could do a lot of other things for $25 an hour. They could be a TaskRabbit for three times that. And so you just have to build a company culture with all the benefits that you can possibly provide, and it means you’re going to have to pinch pennies somewhere else.

I’ve had to learn this the hard way. During COVID, when we boomed and we had multimillion dollar years, I built a team based off

of that. Then it slowed down, but I still have a team based off of a multimillion year. And so you have to be prepared for that.

There are a lot of benefits you can give your team that don’t cost you actual dollars, like no work on Fridays. You have to trust your team to get their work done so that they get an extra day with their families. That’s an invaluable thing. And for designers who often are billing hourly, there are ways to get around that. Maybe that’s admin day, and so you’re still working, but those were hours that wouldn’t have been billed for anyway.

You can also say: Hey guys, we’re going to work an extra hour each day during the week so that you get Fridays off, so you’re still getting the same billable hours, but your team has that flexibility. So you just have to make a culture where people feel safe to ask questions. People feel safe to make mistakes, and you can then decide at what point those mistakes are no longer a fit, but you just have to give grace to your team. And here I am nine years later with the same staff that I started with. I just see so much turnover in this industry. And I think that as business owners, you just have to say, what am I willing to sacrifice to make this work for my team?

There are so many people in the design community, maybe even women specifically, that I meet also who are interested in doing something entrepreneurial. Do you have advice for how to take that first step?

I think the best advice I could give someone is to be really honest with what your goals are. Do you want to be an AD100 designer or do you want to have a great pipeline of clients locally? To design houses locally with a small team that lets you clock out at six o’clock? Because the way that you get to AD100 and the way that you get to a very profitable local business, it’s a different path.

And if you can take the very natural, normal vanity metric out, and realize, I’m just looking at that because it’s glamorous, that’s not actually what I want my life to look like, you can be a lot more successful if you were just to focus on local press. Local press will be your biggest revenue source when you’re looking for local clients.

Well, we are fully supportive of that idea, obviously.

So I think in a world that’s so online and so public now, just really thinking about, do I want that because that’s what I want my career to look like, or do I want that because that’s how I want my life to look? And then from there you can come up with a better action plan.

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SKY HIGH ACCENTS

PASEO RISES TO MEET RAINEY With bold design and a community-first vision, Paseo by LV Collective bridges Austin’s past and future, honoring the neighborhood’s soul while setting a new standard for vertical living.

WRITTEN BY CANAN YETMEN PHOTOGRAPHY CHASE DANIEL

As the Rainey Street construction boom nears completion and the contours of the neighborhood come into focus, Paseo, a 48-story apartment tower, has unfolded in the heart of the district. Developed by LV Collective, the building’s experience-driven design celebrates Austin’s unique energy. CEO David Kanne says it’s Austinites themselves who provided the touchstone for the project’s vision as a living product. “We’re always hyperfocused on the experience and asking how someone wants to experience the property, whether it’s living, working, playing, or health and wellness,” he adds.

Intentional focus was placed on the building’s proverbial handshake with the street. Wide, welcoming ground-level windows shoulder the heavier masonry of the garage levels above, showing a friendly and familiar face to pedestrians. Brick, tile, and wood on

the façade connect to the neighborhood’s rich history, as changing visual rhythms break down the building’s scale.

While LV Collective brought together an internationally renowned collective of collaborators to bring this building to life– including AvroKO from New York and local hero Michael Hsu Office of Architecture–their in-house team led interior design direction, and facilitated all aspects of furniture selections, decor, and styling.

LV Collective’s Executive Vice President of Design and Curation, Chelsea Kloss, oversaw design direction along with Director of Interiors, Payton DeMarco. Kloss points to the project’s location as its north star. “We wanted to embrace being a part of Rainey Street and honoring its story,” she says, referencing its deep Mexican-American roots and connection to a culture of food, family, and community.

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SKY HIGH ACCENTS

Soulful and approachable spaces layered with bold colors, patterns, and textures feature details like hand-painted tile and vintage furniture from local vendors, as well as more than 500 real plants. The joyful maximalism provides a foundation that encourages people to relax and build community.

Paseo’s abundant amenities build on the design to blur the lines between apartment, hotel, health and wellness, and co-working spaces. Two pool decks and the penthouselevel Cielo room, a social space with a bar and panoramic view, are open to all residents. A second-floor lounge bookended by two massive fireplaces is the proverbial heart of the building, styled in the spirit of a boutique hotel lobby.

LV Collective also incorporated its Artist-inResidence program, inviting a curated, diverse slate of local creatives to live in the building in exchange for hosting cultural activations and events. For Kanne, it’s not only an inspiring approach to cultivating the arts, but also a smart business move that helps retain residents and keeps things interesting. “It’s something for everybody. It’s not trying to be one thing for one specific group. It’s trying to create a sense and experience that makes people feel welcome,” he says.

Food and beverage offerings draw the public into the building. The cozy Daydreamer café in the building’s lobby includes a patio that engages the street and on the 12th floor, Amaya restaurant serves Mediterranean fare in an al-fresco atmosphere. The site’s two original historic bungalows were moved but remain on property, facing Rainey, and will also be converted into restaurants. Kloss describes Paseo as embodying the best parts of every project LV Collective has completed to date. She adds, “It’s special to us as Austinites to deliver something that we feel passionately about and that we believe speaks with the voice of Austin.”

The design and construction team includes Chicago-based architects Pappageorge Haymes Partners, public realm architect Michael Hsu Office of Architecture, New York interior design firm AvroKO (with LV Collective), and general contractor JE Dunn.

Opposite Page: The Pool Deck (above) and new restaurant Amaya (below) on the 12th floor of Paseo. Above, the 48th floor jewel box lounge, a Pilates studio, and the ground floor coffee shop, Daydreamer Cafe, that opens up onto Rainey Street.

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WRITTEN BY KATHRYN STREETER PHOTOGRAPHY ANNIE RAY

Above left: In July 2023, Nicole and Texans for Reasonable Solutions hosted a grassroots town hall in Houston. Nicole and board advisors like Greg Anderson of Austin Habitat for Humanity toured a tiny home in Houston with Houston Habitat for Humanity.

Above right: Nicole leading a panel of Republican and Democrat legislators for the Carter Work Project for International Habitat for Humanity discussing property rights and affordability in Manor, TX in October 2025.

Austinite and founder of Texans for Reasonable Solutions, Nicole Nosek, is on a mission to make homeownership attainable for more Texans. The impetus came after she witnessed a few powerful homeowners block an Austin city code rewrite. In one stunning swoop, the decision collapsed efforts to broaden housing options for young families and workers.

It was a deeply personal moment for Nosek, and standing by wasn’t an option. It reminded her of the “tyranny of the few” politics she’d left behind in the Bay Area, where, on her $48,000 salary, buying a small place to call her own had been a fantasy.

Denied the American dream of homeownership by a handful of gatekeepers, she became laser-focused on the issue.

She wasn’t struggling when she arrived in Austin, but she didn’t hesitate, and started testifying at City Hall on behalf of everyday Texans. Acting on principle — not need — is a guiding force for Nosek. It was Aristotle, she says, who wrote that virtue means doing the right thing, not in times of necessity, but in times of comfort when there’s no imminent need for one’s own situation.

Turning lemons into lemonade, Nosek’s frustrations at watching the powerful turn housing into a luxury commodity fueled the birth of Texans for Reasonable Solutions in 2022.

If there’s one overarching theme that grounds the work, Nosek says it’s the quest to make Texas a place of abundance again — more homes, more energy, more opportunity — so everyday Texans can affordably build the life they dream of.

While based in Austin, the group works with City Halls across the state and the Texas Legislature to shape housing policy. One major

point Nosek makes is that current housing policy places a lot of attention on affordability, but skips over the “missing middle housing” problem.

This term refers to a housing type, somewhere between single family homes and apartment buildings, that provides more diverse and affordable housing options, increases neighborhood density gently, and supports walkability. In response, Texans for Reasonable Solutions led the fight for the passing of the HOME Initiative — a zoning reform that allows for multiple homes to be built on a formerly single-family lot. One year after this was passed, the results are staggering: permits in those neighborhoods jumped 86%, delivering hundreds of smaller, family-sized homes at lower price points.

“We’re fighting for a Texas where the dream of homeownership is still possible for young families and young people — not just the generations who bought homes pre-2010,” she says, warning that the current Austin landscape is bleak for teachers, EMTs, and police officers — endangering the American dream.

Not mincing words about the issue’s significance, Nosek says, “I’ve come to believe that the true test of a city’s character is whether it allows the prosperity of the many to win over the power of the entrenched few, especially on land use policy.”

Helping more Texans find homes to grow their families and build their lives is rewarding work. At the day’s end, she retreats to her own home, a place she describes as a refuge and springboard. “It’s where my family and I restore our minds, live out our faith, and gather strength for the adventures ahead — our training ground for becoming ‘knights of faith’ as Soren Kierkegaard might say.”

NEW MODELS OF DEVELOPMENT AND DESIGN CAN HELP US STEER TOWARDS AFFORDABILITY. 44

THE CITY ACCENTS

REASONABLE DREAMS Nicole Nosek and Texans for Reasonable Solutions want Austin — and all of Texas — to grow compassionately.

ACCENTS COMPLETE HOME WORKSHOP

ANATOMY OF A REMODEL ASHLEY WAINSCOTT SIMPLY HOME RENOVATIONS “Taking the time to plan, and ensuring materials are selected, ordered, and on-site before construction begins, prevents delays, protects your budget, and keeps the entire process calm from start to finish.”

DRÉA PETERS DRÉA PETERS INTERIORS “Use a comprehensive budget template that covers every line item—from backsplash to sofa—with both high and low parameters. These built-in “bumpers” keep the numbers in check and the project grounded, so you can relax knowing your team is coloring beautifully within the lines.”

REESE BALOUTINE SEEDLINGS LANDSCAPE DESIGN BUILD “Map sun and shade patterns, views, slopes, drainage, noise and erosion, before work begins. This gives us a true vision of how your property works throughout the year and design your landscape to be at its best in every season.”

“For any project that involves an addition, the first thing to do is a feasibility assessment of the property–a thorough review of the existing site conditions–which requires a current survey. Come prepared to the initial meeting with your architect by obtaining an up to date survey that includes topography, trees and the height of any overhead power lines, information they will need to determine what is possible.“

ACTIVE

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PASSIVE

COURTESY OF COMPLETE HOME WORKSHOP

CARINA COEL RESTRUCTURE STUDIO

Four Austin design professionals unite under one roof to reveal what it really takes to bring a renovation from idea to execution through the Complete Home Workshop.

WRITTEN BY KAREN ZABARSKY BLASHEK

The Complete Home Workshop is a new concept in Austin’s design scene—part brunch, part masterclass—created to demystify the renovation process for homeowners. Bringing together an architect, interior designer, landscape designer, and builder, the series offers an inside look at how a home truly comes together, from the first sketch to the final punch list. Through candid conversation and practical advice, the workshops reveal how collaboration across disciplines shapes both the beauty and function of a project, making design more accessible, transparent, and inspiring for anyone looking to reimagine their space.

TIMELINE 47

ACCENTS GET THE LOOK

GET THE LOOK: HOTEL LUXURY AT HOME

Clarkee Design’s guest suite functions as a peaceful and plush escape.

WRITTEN BY KIERNAN MCCORMICK PHOTOGRAPHY PAIGE NEWTON

This Spanish Oaks guest suite, brainchild of Clarkee Design, embodies the art of hospitality.

Designed for clients with a passion for entertaining, the suite acts as a five-star worthy retreat for guests and residents to relax in.

“Every detail, from the layered lighting to the bespoke custom furnishings, was curated to evoke a sense of luxury and ease,” Clarkee Design principal designer Kristin Osler and junior designer Anna Orlowski say. “Beyond hosting, the space also serves as a private sanctuary for the family — a staycation suite that seamlessly blends hospitality with home.”

A custom bed platform made by Gutierrez Custom Cabinets grounds the main space. The team positioned the bed against the room’s larger wall to establish balance in response to the new closet setup. Working around the existing window placement while planning a functional closet layout proved to be one of the greatest challenges during construction. A freestanding tub replaced the original closet, so the new version found its spot on the side opposite the bed. This arrangement creates a natural focal point for the Frame TV and complements the adjacent windows.

“Because the windows sat lower on the wall, we designed a bed platform that visually elevated the sightline, creating the illusion of full-height windows and enhancing the room’s architectural presence,” Osler and Orlowski explain. “This subtle asymmetry brought an intentional rhythm to the space—blending function with a refined sense of design harmony.”

Above the bed, three gray Palecek pendant lights—one large, one medium, and one small— make up a chandelier. Buster + Punch’s pull bars stand out on a custom Magnolia Interior Surfaces’ white oak nightstand that matches the bed frame and wall paneling, also by Gutierrez Custom Cabinets. This hardware suits Peter Bristol’s matte black sconce. In the corner, next to the windows, a sculptural black iron stool by Noir contributes to the room’s sense of

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ACCENTS GET THE LOOK

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BEDROOM: 1. Pendant: Palecek Large Andorra Wicker Pendant in white. Photo courtesy of Palecek. 2. Light: Visual Comfort and Co. Bend Medium Square Light in matte black by Peter Bristol. Photo courtesy of Visual Comfort and Co. 3. Stool: Noir Papillon Stool in Black Iron. Photo courtesy of Noir. 4. Rug: Overland Single-Pelt Australian Sheepskin Rug in Cappuccino. Photo courtesy of Overland. BATH SPACE: 5. Tile: MSI White Oak Marble tile. Photo courtesy of MSI. 6. Knob Handle Kit: Brizo Allaria Widespread Lavatory Knob Handle Kit in Matte Black. Photo courtesy of Brizo. 7. Chair: Arteriors Bahati Chair. Photo courtesy of Arteriors. 8.

Pendant: Visual Comfort & Co. Gable 1-Light Pendant

by Sean Lavin. Photo courtesy of Visual Comfort & Co.

minimalist elegance. A taupe Overland Australian sheepskin area rug serves as a patch of cozy cool over hardwood flooring. The curves and angles of Schumacher’s alabaster Labyrinth wallpaper provide an enlivening element to the space.

An Arteriors linen and iron chair accompanies the suite’s desk, illuminated by a Sean Lavin

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for Visual Comfort & Co. pendant light. The use of swan quartzite for the headboard, floating TV console, and bath area’s countertops creates a uniform look. Sleek matte black Brizo Allaria faucets pop against MSI White Oak Marble wall tiles.

The design duo says they found the challenge of reimagining an existing space gratifying, as it

required creativity, precision, and vision.

“There’s something incredibly fulfilling about uncovering the hidden potential within a space— reshaping its flow, enhancing its function, and ultimately crafting something that feels entirely new yet deeply rooted in its original character.”

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A COLLECTOR’S EYE FOR THE SKY Our Arts Contributor, Nick Campbell, peels back the curtain on his latest curation endeavor for one of Austin’s newest high rises, The Modern.

WRITTEN BY NICK CAMPBELL PHOTOGRAPHY LIKENESS STUDIO

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ART ACCENTS

Opposite: An exterior sculpture by Manuel Lozano. Above and clockwise: An Ato Ribeiro piece sit behind the concierge desk. An Alexandra Valenti grounds the lounge.

How do you buy art for a building like The Modern? That was the question that first came to mind when Urbanspace invited me to collaborate on their newest residential project on Rainey Street. The Modern marks the extension of Urbanspace Design Studio’s high-end, single-family sensibility into the vertical world of luxury multi-family living.

Led by Merrill Alley and Urbanspace CEO Kevin Burns, the design team set out to create a building that feels personal, sophisticated, and distinctly Austin—a home, not just a high-rise.

At the heart of that vision sits a painting

by Julie Speed, one of Texas’s most celebrated artists, and, serendipitously, the former owner of the very land on which The Modern now stands. Her work occupies a central place within the building, both physically and conceptually, acting as a kind of anchor around which the rest of the collection took shape. In many ways, Speed’s imaginative, slightly surreal sensibility embodies the spirit of Austin itself: intelligent, mischievous, and deeply human. From that focal point, the art collection began to unfold as a dialogue between past and present, Texas and the wider world.

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ACCENTS ART

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Left: A flowing Kenny Nguyen piece anchors the Board Room of the Modern’s co-working space. Above: Antonio Tarsis brings movement to the club room.

The challenge for Merrill and Kevin was to avoid the sterile, commercial feel that so often defines large residential developments. Drawing inspiration from cities like Vancouver, New York, and Miami, they sought to merge urban sophistication with warmth and tactility. Their vision centered on timeless design: natural materials that age beautifully, considered millwork, and, crucially, art that connects emotionally with those who encounter it.

From the moment you approach The Modern, art sets the tone. A monumental bronze relief by Mexican artist Manuel Lozano, installed on the exterior façade, reflects the interconnectedness of Austin. Inside, a painting

by Louis López Loza adds vibrant texture to the lobby, while a 13,000-pound Italian stone reception desk introduces a sculptural presence

that bridges art and architecture.

When I (Campbell Art Advisory) joined the project, my goal was to extend this sense of balance—to source works that elevated the architecture while reflecting Austin’s creative pulse. We brought in dynamic pieces by Antonio Tarsis, whose vivid assemblages arrived from London, and Ato Ribeiro from New York, whose intricate wooden compositions explore heritage and craft. Equally important was highlighting Austin’s own talent, with thoughtful works

by Sarah Kitchen and Alexandra Valenti grounding the collection in local creativity.

The result is a body of art that feels collected, a conversation between materials, makers, and moments. The Modern stands as proof that when design and art are in true dialogue, even the tallest buildings can feel like home.

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Winter Joy

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THE 2026

HOME & DESIGN AWARDS APRIL 2, 2026

J O I N U S A S W E C E L E B R AT E A W O R L D - C L A S S PA N E L O F J U D G E S , N E W C AT E G O R I E S , A N D T H E B E S T O F A U S T I N D E S I G N I N A N I G H T TO R E M E M B E R .

TO P U R C H A S E V I P A N D G E N E R A L A D M I S S I O N T I C K E T S , V I S I T

A U ST I N H O M E M AG . C O M

PHOTO BY WHIT PRESTON

AMITY WORREL PROFILE

FOREST TRAIL

THE PHOENIX PAGE 82

PAGE 74

WINDSOR PARK RESIDENCE

BEST BUILDERS PAGE 98

PAGE 90

PAGE 66

FEATURES

Cuppett Kilpatrick brings exquisite detail to a home in West Lake Hills.

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LIKENESS STUDIO

INSIDE THE AMITY WORREL PLAYBOOK After nearly three decades in practice, Amity Worrel has built more than an instantly recognizable signature style. She’s created a business defined by proprietary systems, emotional intelligence, and a rigorously honed client journey.

INTERVIEW BY KAREN ZABARSKY BLASHEK

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INSIDE THE AMITY WORREL PLAYBOOK FEATURES

KZB: You’ve spent nearly 30 years working in high-end residential design. How has that depth of experience—especially your early years in New York—shaped the designer you are today?

On this spread, AW&Co’s Schulle Project, photographed by William Abranowicz.

This Tarrytown residence features an explosion of color and texture, designed in close collaboration with the homeowner.

AW: My early years in New York City were spent working in very high-end design firms where the teams were small and the work was demanding. I learned quickly that the effort all depended on me! Straight away, I was given an enormous amount of responsibility on large and complex projects. I was in charge of teams of builders and makers because the firms I worked in were high-ranking and were considered the lead on everything from hiring the architect and builder to overseeing all of the custom work.

There was an implicit expectation that we would run the show, and so we did! I did. It was stressful, but a wonderful learning experience.

The accountability required, along with the incredible breadth of skills I gained working with such talented designers on custom homes, shaped me into a strong leader in the field. I learned never to procrastinate, and to ask any

and all questions right out of the gate, even if I thought they were “dumb questions”—there was no room to be reticent or prideful.

I try to lead my team and my clients as I was shown. I stay empathetic and curious, and I don’t let complexity stand in my way. Perhaps it is PTSD that shaped me, but whatever it is, it seems to be working. I will say, however, that I try to give my team more practical support than I was given.

There are different expectations in today’s workplace. Building my team and clientele over the last decade and a half has shaped me, too. I have a deep understanding of Austin, and I love how discerning clients are becoming in this town.

Austin’s design scene is rapidly gaining national attention. How do you see your studio contributing to that momentum, and what do you think the broader design community still misunderstands about the creative energy here?

I love this question! Amity Worrel & Co. is contributing to Austin’s national reputation by showing up in different markets from Cape Cod to Philadelphia to NYC as unapologetic

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FEATURES INSIDE THE AMITY WORREL PLAYBOOK

On this spread: The attic floor of the Society Hill project in Philadelphia, originally built in 1811. Featured are handstenciled walls by Austin-based artist Julie Rodgers, and a needlepoint settee, sourced via Chairish. Photographed

by Liam Sheehan.

Austinites. We are showing the larger design world that Austin has a unique perspective.

Growing up in Austin, there was a spirit here of following your own individual path. We do not follow trends blindly. People have historically come to Austin from other parts of the world for school, for jobs, or simply because we have the gorgeous Hill Country, fantastic music, and something like 40 natural spring pools to gather around. When they arrive here, I think it is freeing to see that we are not a conventional place, but a place where they can be themselves, whatever that means.

That spirit continues today. The way it shows up in design is that in Austin, everyone wants the un-gettable: they want a space that reflects them completely, rather than something expected or seen before. I sometimes put it in terms of a fashion metaphor: in other parts of the world, folks want the Chanel suit because it is Chanel, and they see their friends wearing it. In Austin, folks want the custom-designed dress made by their friend’s neighbor, who fabricated it using hand-printed fabric and thread that they spun themselves. They want

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something no one else has because it is more interesting that way. I think the larger design world needs to understand that Austin has something important to contribute. We are not held back by tradition; we are new and young (well, some of us are young!) and we are leading, not following, in interior design. We are not chasing trends for inspiration; we are creating unique interiors that show sophistication and boldness that deserve attention. I think Amity Worrel & Co. is leading in that way, alongside Austin Home. Let’s show them what we are made of!

Your firm works on projects across the country, similar to how LA- and New Yorkbased designers operate. What draws clients beyond Texas to your approach, and how does designing nationally inform your practice back home in Austin?

My extensive experience working in other parts of the world—from the Bahamas to Aspen, the Grand Tetons, and the Hamptons—gave me the knowledge and confidence to navigate

challenges that may seem complex to others with ease. We have a Philadelphia client whom I have been working with for more than 20 years since my NYC days, but for the most part, the clients we work with beyond Texas are actually Austin clients who have branched out for vacation or workspace needs.

Because of their great experiences locally with AW&Co., they ask us to follow them.

Once clients see our expertise in design, coordination, logistics, and communication, it becomes apparent that we can manage long-distance projects easily.

As for how the projects in other areas inform our work here at home, I would say that travel keeps us feeling fresh and inspired.

It has always been important for me to share this with my team, and we’ve gone on trips to Paris, Mexico City, and Spain. These travels allow us to discover new makers, meet new artists, and soak up ideas left and right! It’s a true feast for the eyes. Travel is also rich with history. I have always been deeply rooted in the history of interior design, and that really sets our firm apart.

FEATURES INSIDE THE AMITY WORREL PLAYBOOK

Top: In a Greenwich Village project in New York, AW&Co. utilized an art piece from the client’s collection to anchor a makeshift entry, photographed by William Abranowicz

Top: The sitting room of the Townes Lane Residence in Austin, photographed by William Abranowicz.

Bottom: A sitting area in the home office of the Old West Austin project.

Photographed by Andrea Calo.

Bottom: The fireplace of this New York project in the Historic Pickwick House condominium. Photography by William Abranowicz.

Top: The living room of the Calcasieu Residence in Austin photographed by William Abranowicz.

Bottom: A bathroom in the Lago Verde project in Austin, photographed

by William Abranowicz.

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Custom work is a hallmark of your studio.

Why do you feel Austin clients, in particular, gravitate toward the bespoke, and how does collaborating with artists and makers help you deliver something truly “un-gettable”?

When I first returned to Austin after 15 years in NYC, it quickly became apparent that my experience with custom furniture design, custom window treatments, and elaborate cabinet design was not the norm here in Austin. I grew up in Austin and was a poetry major at The University of Texas before going to NYC to study at the New York School of Interior Design and Parsons while working full-time in the field. Knowing how to work with makers led me to seek them out and offer that service to my Austin clients.

Over time, we built a strong reputation because of these capabilities. As I mentioned, no one loves the unique, personal, and indelible more than an Austinite. It must be something in the water (or the tequila)—folks here love to express themselves creatively in music, art, and, if given the opportunity, in their interiors. We are here for it, and along with many incredible Austin makers, we have the capability to customize the heck out of their spaces! Sharing in that experience and giving our clients a way to express themselves through the sofa they lie down on at the end of the day is an honor!

You’ve built long-standing partnerships with craftspeople from all over. Can you share a recent project where a maker collaboration transformed the design outcome or unlocked something that couldn’t have been sourced off the shelf?

We have indeed collaborated with some of the best makers from all over the country. Caroline Lizarraga, a preeminent decorative painter out of San Francisco who specializes in custom finishes for furniture and interiors, has worked with us on two stunning projects to date. Boston Furniture out of Boston brought our custom sofa designs to life for our East Coast projects. Local company Mockingbird Made has built many, many custom pieces for us over the years, the most notable being a 12-foot scalloped white oak dining table for a French-style home in central Austin. Paige Martin has risen to every challenge we’ve given her, from faux-bois-painted pierced screens to large-scale murals to a plaster-relief vent hood.

Our biggest coup was a collaboration with Counterpart Studios. For our Cape Cod project, they designed and produced a custom wallpaper with Fort Lonesome, including motifs the client requested, from lobsters to whales, to a representation of the town sign welcoming visitors to the village of Osterville.

It was incredibly meaningful to the clients— decorative, funny, sweet, and creative. The paper covers almost 2,000 square feet of one of the most exciting basements on the East Coast, including a pool/game room, a gym, a wine room, a bunk room, a kitchen/bar, two

bathrooms, and a movie theatre. Custom stained glass doors designed for the space welcome you into the wallpapered basement. I cannot say enough good things about working on that project with Counterpart. They made it all look easy and did it lightning fast! Something that beautiful, sentimental, and personal is certainly not possible “off the shelf.” Mic drop!

You’ve developed a proprietary onboarding system that guides clients through the process—from renovations to furnishing— with remarkable clarity. What inspired this framework, and how does it help clients navigate what can otherwise be an overwhelming process?

After many years in this field, I’ve had a frontrow seat to what works beautifully—and what can go off the rails—for both clients and teams. That lived experience, earned very much in the school of hard knocks, is what ultimately inspired our onboarding framework. About eight years ago, I decided to slow our growth and take a hard, strategic look at how we were working.

I brought in a consultant to help us better understand our clients and our team. She interviewed 25 past clients to identify where we delivered real value, where we fell short, and where we created moments of genuine “surprise and delight.” At the same time, she interviewed my team to understand which projects energized them and which drained them. From that process, our ideal client profile emerged—and it changed everything.

We refined our marketing, aligned our team around the right work, and created an environment where both creativity and satisfaction could thrive.

A few years later, I read Change Killers, a book about managing resistance to change, and immediately saw parallels with our work.

Interior design introduces enormous change into people’s lives—relocations, renovations, and shifts to daily routines. We also challenge their pocketbooks, and we do it all at their behest. It can be overwhelming. I hired the author Jan Kaderly, as a consultant, and together we developed a proprietary clientjourney workbook.

The system has two parts: one that helps our designers and project managers understand how clients make decisions and navigate change, and another that supports clients directly—setting expectations, normalizing challenges, and guiding them through the process with clarity and confidence.

The result is a smoother, more collaborative experience rooted in partnership, curiosity, and empathy. We’ve also included a few “stories from the wild” to add levity and illustrate common pitfalls—because a little humor goes a long way in an industry full of big emotions and even bigger transformations. After all, tragedy plus time equals comedy!

And we all need a bit of comedy in this industry.

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THE BUSINESS OF BALANCE How Evlo Fitness founder Dr. Shannon Ritchey and designer Coco Greenblum crafted a home that supports creativity, family life, and a growing digital brand.

WRITTEN BY CODI CHEN PHOTOGRAPHY TINA FINKEL

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FEATURE FOREST TRAIL

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Forest Trail INTERIOR DESIGN COCO GREENBLUM BUILD RAMOSILLAS REMODELING

When physical therapist and Evlo Fitness founder Dr. Shannon Ritchey envisioned her family’s Austin home, she wanted a space that could keep up with her life, a blend of business owner, mother, and content creator. “Every day looks different,” she laughs. “Having a home that feels comfortable, peaceful, and beautiful has been grounding as we navigate two kids under two and running a business.”

Founded in 2020, Evlo Fitness has grown from a few virtual strength classes during the pandemic into a thriving online community.

Shannon’s approach to exercise–building strength without burnout–has resonated with women worldwide through Evlo’s membership platform and her popular “The Dr. Shannon Show” podcast. The same philosophy that drives her business also inspired the foundation of her home: thoughtful, sustainable design that promotes calm and connection.

To bring that vision to life, Shannon turned to designer Coco Greenblum, who had watched the evolution of Evlo Fitness over the years.

“Shannon’s brand is geared toward helping women build strength in a sustainable way,” Coco shares. “I wanted her home to reflect that same balance through soft, neutral colors and natural materials.”

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FEATURE FOREST TRAIL

The result is a warm, layered home that balances family life with entrepreneurial rhythm. Completed in 2024 after eight months of renovation, the project encompassed the full scope from furniture and lighting to the kitchen redesign and fireplace rebuild.

Natural materials were nonnegotiable. White oak flooring grounds the home in organic warmth, while wool rugs, performance upholstery, and marble countertops keep things durable and family-safe. “I wanted to avoid synthetics. Anything the children touch is a natural fiber,” Coco explains. “Our goal was to create an environment that’s healthy and timeless.”

The kitchen island, topped with calacatta marble with neutral oysters and veining, connects visually to the limestone dining table and handcrafted Moroccan zellige tile surround-

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ing the fireplace. “All the materials talk to one another,” Coco smiles. “The palette is quiet and calming, but when you look closely, there’s so much detail.”

That quiet sophistication extends throughout the home. A forest green sofa anchors a multipurpose room upstairs where Shannon films Evlo workouts on occasion and social media content—an intentional nod to the flexible, hybrid nature of her work. “We needed furniture that could move easily and spaces that could shift from family life to filming,” Coco explains. “Everything had to function beautifully and feel effortless.”

Downstairs, Shannon’s home office doubles as her sanctuary, a spa-inspired space that echoes Evlo’s philosophy of gentle consistency.

Travertine and plaster-like wallpaper create a

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FEATURE FOREST TRAIL

“AS SHANNON’S FAMILY AND BUSINESS GROW, THEIR SPACES CAN GROW WITH THEM. IT FEELS WARM, NATURAL, AND REAL, MUCH LIKE HER APPROACH TO MOVEMENT.” - COCO GREENBLUM

soothing backdrop for creative sessions. “Anything I can do to calm my nervous system, I lean into fully,” Shannon emphasizes. “We live in such a vibrant city, I wanted to come home to a calm, peaceful place.”

The palette, rooted in warm neutrals and amber tones, ties the rooms together. Burnt orange mohair stools, merlot pillows, and vintage pieces add depth without disrupting the serenity. Shannon admits she initially hesitated on incorporating antiques, but has since fallen in love with their charm.

For Coco, the antique Italian lounge chairs in the living room capture the soul of the project. “They were hard to get approved at first,” she laughs. “But now they’re the family’s favorite pieces.”

Together, the designer and clients created a home that evolves with their story. “As Shannon’s family and business grow, their spaces can grow with them,” Coco says. “It feels warm, natural, and real, much like her approach to movement.”

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PHOENIX RISING After a devastating fire, Cuppett Kilpatrick helped a couple rebuild a sentimental family home in West Lake Hills.

WRITTEN BY LAUREN JONES PHOTOGRAPHY WHIT PRESTON PHOTOGRAPHY

THE PHOENIX FEATURES

The Phoenix ARCHITECTURE + INTERIOR DESIGN CUPPETT KILPATRICK ARCHITECTURE + INTERIORS BUILD DAVID WILKES BUILDERS LANDSCAPING STUDIO BALCONES

Reborn from the ashes of a couple’s former home, a two-story new build on a gracious, tree-filled lot in West Lake Hills has become a place of refuge and renewal. After losing their longtime residence to a 2019 fire, the empty nesters called on Cuppett Kilpatrick Architecture + Interiors and David Wilkes Builders to not only restore their sense of comfort on their property but to create an elegant, quiet home they have lovingly named the Phoenix.

“They were pretty traumatized from the fire and never expected to have to rebuild, but they wanted to stay on their property,” says architect Tim Cuppett.

The team faced new setback restrictions, steep slopes, and layers of limestone bedrock. “We lost length due to the setbacks,” says the architect.

“So the idea was almost cube-like — how do we carve dynamic, maximized spaces within a tight box?” What emerged is a restrained form clad in weathered Douglas fir and local limestone.

Upon entry, enveloping, wild greenery from Studio Balcones yields a sense of serenity. From there, a double-height screened porch centers the plan, opening the living spaces to views of the skyline and pulling daylight deep within its cozy, comfortable rooms. A continuous balcony stretches along the rear, a practical and poetic solution to the owners’ lingering fear of fire, providing an exterior exit from every bedroom.

The home also includes a full sprinkler system.

Cuppett’s process paired empathy with discipline. From the first meeting, he collaborated with David Wilkes. “We bring in the contractor early to establish a schematic design, create a preliminary budget with a contingency, and refine as we go. It prevents surprises later,” he says.

The lot was nearly all solid rock, so excavation was extensive to set the house where Cuppett and team envisioned. “West Lake is

challenging — tight access and strict hours — but when the architect and builder collaborate from day one, it works,” adds Wilkes.

Inside, the palette is calm and cohesive, drawing from tones of nature and allowing the couple’s art collection to shine. Clear-finished fir wraps the floors, cabinetry, and walls, its warm orange-pink grain softened by Venetian plaster, while natural light filters through skylight wells above the kitchen and bathrooms.

“In the dining room, Portuguese tiles salvaged from the fire were restored and mounted in a heavy metal frame,” says Cuppett. “It’s a memory preserved in plain sight.”

Here, scale was treated as both an important design factor and an innate business principle.

“We focus on proportion and right-sizing so homes don’t feel bigger than they need to be,” he says. “Our clients want comfort and light, not volume.” That philosophy has become a defining feature of the firm’s work and a model for building timeless homes with longevity.

A low, compressed foyer is anchored by a Vibia Wireflow pendant from Scott + Cooner, while the screened porch features a 20-foot limestone fireplace that draws the eye upward and visually connects the two floors. In the living room, green mohair chairs rescued from the fire have been reupholstered and now flank a custom fir credenza by woodworker Robert Logan. A Coptic cross artwork hangs above the sofa, and many antique furnishings passed down through the family link generations through design.

Handcrafted butterfly joists by Shota Yamaguchi Design, which stabilize the home’s broad wooden slabs, have become a welcomed element of craft, and rugs from Black Sheep Unique, B&B Italia dining chairs, and an Apparatus Arrow chandelier layer texture and light.

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THE PHOENIX FEATURES

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FEATURES THE PHOENIX

THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION PROCESS PAIRED EMPATHY WITH DISCIPLINE. 88

For Cuppett, who leads both architecture and interiors within one practice, that integration is as much a strategy as it is a creative pursuit.

“We design everything together now,” he says. “It keeps the process seamless and ensures what’s built truly reflects how our clients live.”

Although it began as a story of loss, the project has become one that exudes the power of collaboration, joy in the smallest moments, and the enduring strength of thoughtful design.

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PHOTO:

FIRE, FRIENDS, AND THE COOLEST CARPORT ON THE BLOCK

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When an ice-storm fire hit their Windsor Park home, Katie and John rebuilt with Moontower Design & Build—doubling down on the neighborhood they love.

WRITTEN BY HANNAH SMOTHERS PHOTOGRAPHY ERIN HOLSONBACK

Katie and John’s home remodel began in flames. During the ice storm that swept over Austin in late January 2023, a tall Arizona Ash tree in the couple’s backyard fell against the house and ignited a fire in the attic. While some may take the fallen tree, nearly an act of divine intervention, as a sign it may be time to move, Katie and John doubled down. They had just recently hired the team at Moontower Design & Build to renovate their one-story Windsor Park house. While they had dreams of features they didn’t yet have—like a hallway lined with floor-to-ceiling windows and a sunny yellow kitchen—they knew one aspect of their home couldn’t be replicated anywhere else: its surrounding neighborhood.

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FEATURE WINDSOR PARK RESIDENCE

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Windsor Park Residence ARCHITECTURE, INTERIOR DESIGN, BUILD, LANDSCAPE DESIGN MOONTOWER DESIGN & BUILD STRUCTURAL APEX ENGINEERS, INC

“I was like, I’m not going anywhere,” Katie says. “I just love the neighborhood. I’m really close with all my neighbors, and I didn’t want to leave. This has always felt like home.”

That love for the neighborhood, and a desire to preserve and highlight the home’s mid-century origins, was what initially attracted Moontower to this project. With an office off of Airport Boulevard in East Austin, the team of local architects and designers love taking on projects where it’s clear the homeowners value their neighborhood and want to use it as design inspiration, according to Frank Farkash, CEO and architect at Moontower. “We’re just trying to find homeowners that really love their house and love and appreciate design,” Farkash says.

Katie and John amply met that criteria.

They worked closely with Liz Whitlock, a senior designer with Moontower, throughout the entire remodel process, but what initially

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FEATURE WINDSOR PARK RESIDENCE

excited Whitlock about their particular project was a request to have a “really cool carport” for their “really cool car.” Carports dot Katie and John’s street and are found throughout Windsor Park, a neighborhood of homes built primarily throughout the 1960s. But only one carport covers a black TK car, an inherited heirloom from Katie’s late grandfather. A new window in the home’s dining room frames the parked car perfectly—another sneaky feature of Moontower’s design scheme.

Whitlock used Windsor Park as a guide for the home’s possibilities. “It’s always fun for me when I get projects like this one when they’re like, ‘We love the neighborhood, we believe in

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the neighborhood, we want to stay where we are,’” she says. “That just really opens up a lot of design opportunities for us.”

The resultant home is one that’s deeply rooted in its specific locale, but is also an extension of what Katie and John love about other places they’ve been. Like Palm Springs, California, which can be felt immediately upon walking through the front door—the home greets you with a potted palm tree set against an orange breeze block wall that matches the bright hue of the front door. In the kitchen, a wall of yellow zellige tiles reflects the sun that pours in through a wall of glass sliding doors. A secondary bathroom houses an art

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WINDSOR PARK RESIDENCE FEATURE

THE HOMEOWNERS’ LOVE FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND A DESIRE TO PRESERVE AND HIGHLIGHT THE HOME’S MID-CENTURY ORIGINS, WAS WHAT ATTRACTED MOONTOWER TO THIS PROJECT.

deco-inspired mirror above a pastel pink sink, flanked by shell-shaped sconces. As Moontower designed the remodeled home around raised, vaulted ceilings and other contemporary touches that bring the house into a new era for its owners, its mid-century roots are still felt through colors, textures, and details that Whitlock helped curate for Katie and John.

Right before the end of our time together, Farkash asks Katie how the house feels, nearly a year out from the completed renovation. “Is it comfortable?” he asks, getting at perhaps the key element of what makes a place a home.

“I love waking up in the morning in that bedroom,” Katie responds, gesturing toward the sage green primary room lined with windows that overlook the now-treeless backyard. There are someday plans to put in a swimming pool, but for now Katie and John have a home that, from the outside, fits in seamlessly along their Windsor Park street, and, on the inside, feels like a representation of what they love.

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IMAGE COURTESY OF ISTOCK BY JARNBEER19

AUSTIN’S BEST BUILDERS

BEST BUILDERS

We polled homeowners and industry pros to create the list of the top builders in the Austin area.

Abode Modern Homes abodemodernhomes.com info@abodemodernhomes.com 512-401-3030

The Escobedo Group escobedogroup.com main@escobedogroup.com 512-312-2673

Level on the Level levelonthelevel.build lvlonthelvl@gmail.com 512-496-5698

Arrowhead Construction arrowhdtx.com info@arrowhdtx.com 512-994-4148

Foursquare Builders foursquarebuilders.com wes@foursquarebuilders.com 512-912-7533

Melde Construction Company meldeconstruction.com info@meldeconstruction.com 512-442-4479

Ash Creek Homes ashcreekhomes.com nleavitt@ashcreekhomes.com 512-328-2122

Gossett & Co. gossettco.com hello@gossettco.com 512-842-9904

Messer Design + Construction messerdc.com aj@messerdc.com 512-663-8003

Bijou Builds bijoubuilds.com brandon@bijoubuilds.com 512-590-2181

Hebert Custom Homes hebertcustomhomes.com slade@hebertcustomhomes.com 512-944-3496

Moontower Design & Build moontoweraustin.com hi@moontoweraustin.com 512-524-7253

Brohn Homes brohnhomes.com info@brohnhomes.com

Highland Homes highlandhomes.com 512-834-8429

Mosier Luxury Homes mosierluxuryhomes.com amy@mosierluxuryhomes.com 512-947-7255

Cedar & Oak cedarandoakhomes.com info@cedarandoakhomes.com

Highline Homes highlinehomes.com jake@highlinehomes.com 512-771-4244

Revent Builds reventbuilds.com info@reventbuilds.com 512-590-5223 Risher Martin rishermartin.com chris@rishermartin.com 512-495-9090 Risinger Build risingerbuild.com matt@risingerbuild.com 512-535-4063 Roost Custom Homes roostcustomhomes.com

CG&S Design-Build cgsdb.com db@cgsdb.com 512-444-1580 Classic Constructors classicconstructors.com office@classicconstructors.com 512-402-1660 Crowell Builders crowellbuilders.com info@crowellbuilders.com 512-328-9974 CT Builders ctbuildersllc.com info@ctbuildersllc.com 512-461-5848

Hilltown Building Co. hilltownbuilding.com max@hilltownbuilding.com 512-748-5833 Hudson Builders hudsonbuilderstx.com office@hudsonbuilderstx.com 512-731-3677 JGB Custom Homes jgbcustomhomes.com info@jgbcustomhomes.com 512-215-2797

chad@roostcustomhomes.com 512-731-2844 Simply Home

Neon Agave Homes neonagave.com info@neonagave.com 512-461-0382

simplyhome.co

Next Custom Homes nextcustomhomes.com hello@nextcustomhomes.com 512-905-4585

Skelly Build

Oakman Building Company buildoakman.com Info@buildoakman.com 512-565-7770 Olson Defendorf Custom Homes ODcustomhomes.com info@ODcustomhomes.com 512-243-6508

Joseph Design Build jdb.homes sales@jdb.homes 512-598-8000

Perry Homes perryhomes.com info@perryhomes.com

Dalgleish Construction Company dalgleish.net info@dalgleish.net 512-346-8554

Kirby Walls Custom Builders kirbywalls.com info@kirbywalls.com 512-466-5774

Rauser Construction rauserconstruction.com hello@rauserconstruction.com 512-481-8444

David Wilkes Builders davidwilkesbuilders.com info@wilkes.build 512-328-9888

Koch McIntyre Construction km.build jon@kochbuild.com 512-743-6767

RedOven Builds redovenps.com lucia.suazo@redovenps.com 512-580-6222

Dowbuilt dowbuilt.com contact@dowbuilt.com 512-768-8887

Lavaca Building Company lavacabuild.com phil@lavacabuild.com 512-766-8376

Remodel Boutique remodelboutique.com howdy@remodelb.com 737-747-3305

Enve Builders envebuilders.com hello@envebuilders.com 512-322-9889

LBR Homes lbrhomes.com info@LBRhomes.com 512-777-9509

Render ATX renderatx.com info@renderatx.com 512-436-3261

info@simplyhome.co 512-693-9340

skellybuild.com letsbuild@skellybuild.com 512-806-3021 Smock Studio smockstudio.co austin@smockstudio.co 847-239-0298 Southerly Homes southerlyhomes.com nick@southerlyhomes.com 512-831-3645 Southtown Design + Build southtowndb.com hello@southowndb.com 972-743-6804 Spaller Glover spallerglover.com

How This List Is Made Using an online survey, Austin Home solicited peer and public nominations, asking voters to nominate up to three interior designers they’ve worked with or know to produce outstanding work. Austin Home then tallied the results, selecting the top percentage of vote recipients before submitting the final list to our fact-checking process.

Companies do not and cannot pay to be a part of the list.

We recognize that many good builders are not included on the list; this is only a sampling of a huge array of talented professionals within the region.

We encourage all consumers to do their own research before selecting a builder.

Austin Home uses best practices and exercises great care in assembling content for this list.

It does not warrant that the data contained within the list are complete or accurate.

Austin Home does not assume, and hereby disclaims, any liability to any person for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions herein whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause. All rights reserved. No commercial use of the information in this list may be made without written permission from Austin Home.

If you see an error in the information listed, please contact editor@austinhomemag.com.

Builders: Congratulations! If you’d like to display this accomplishment with a plaque, please visit our official store at austinhomemag.com/plaques.

ivan@spallerglover.com Stewart & Co. stewandco.com ryan@stewandco.com 512-945-2321 Texas Construction Company txconstruct.com info@txconstruct.com 512-451-8050

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Classic Constructors is honored to be nominated as one of Austin's Top Builders. We are grateful to work alongside many talented, like-minded professionals, tradesmen, and suppliers who share our passion to build beautiful, durable spaces that nourish and inspire those who inhabit them.

Featured Project LAKE RETREAT Architect BALDRIDGE ARCHITECTS Architectural Photography CASEY DUNN

TOP BUILDERS 2026

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

JGB Custom Homes At JGB Custom Homes, we bring your vision to life. Our team partners closely with you to uphold the highest standards of craftsmanship, delivering a building experience that exceeds expectations. We don’t just build homes—we create thoughtfully designed spaces where life’s most meaningful moments unfold.

With over 450 collective years of construction experience, each project is supported by a dedicated team, including a project manager and project coordinator who work seamlessly alongside your architect and design team. From contract through completion, we ensure every detail is executed with precision.

Our commitment to efficiency and accuracy is reinforced by partnering with top-tier trades and sourcing high-end materials, allowing for productive collaboration and exceptional results throughout the build.

JGBCUSTOMHOMES.COM INFO@JGBCUSTOMHOMES.COM 512-215-2797

TOP BUILDERS 2026

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Perry Homes Perry Homes is the largest woman-owned homebuilder in the nation, proudly building a Tradition of Excellence for more than 58 years. Family-owned and operated since 1967, Perry Homes is known for its commitment to quality craftsmanship, timeless design, and exceptional customer care before, during, and after closing.

Trusted by more than 70,000 homeowners and earning a 95% satisfaction rating*, Perry Homes continues to evolve alongside the needs and lifestyles of today’s buyers. With more than 500 thoughtfully designed floor plans, each home features a refined selection of standard features and design options, including open living spaces, soaring ceilings, expansive windows, and flexible rooms that adapt to modern living.

Perry Homes builds in over 140 sought-after communities across Texas and Florida, led by Executive Chair Kathy Perry Britton and CEO Todd Chachere.

PERRY HOMES *Based on New Homeowner Surveys conducted since 2016.

WWW.PERRYHOMES.COM

Genuine care for you, your home and everyone involved in its creation.

Boutique by Design. Austin by Heart.

Introducing Drew Lane, a curated community of new homes made remarkably attainable in South Austin.

ASHCREEKHOMES.COM

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BUILD

20 26 ST

YEARS

BOULDIN AIA Home Tour 2017

LAKESHORE AIA Home Tour 2014

MERIDEN AIA Home Tour 2011

CLIFFORD AIA Home Tour 2014

NEW YORK AIA Home Tour 2019

ALEGRIA AIA Home Tour 2018

BRINGING ARCHITECTURAL VISIONS TO LIFE THROUGH AWARD-WINNING CRAFTSMANSHIP

YOUR PARTNER IN BUILDING EXCELLENCE 512.451.8050 | TXCONSTRUCT.COM

TOP BUILDERS 2026

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Highline Homes Full-service custom home builder | Austin, Texas Highline Homes builds true custom homes across Austin’s most sought-after neighborhoods, guided by a refined design vision and a disciplined, transparent process. We pair deep local know-how with close collaboration—homeowners, architects, and designers at the same table—so decisions are thoughtful, budgets stay clear, and execution is exact.

Clients choose Highline Homes for straightforward communication, proactive planning, and a hands-on team that sweats the details and stands behind the work. The outcome: homes that feel elevated and personal, built to last—and a build experience you can trust from first conversation to key handoff.

JAKE FRIEDMAN 512.771.4244 JAKE@HIGHLINEHOMES.COM HIGHLINEHOMES.COM HIGHLINEHOMESATX

THE 2026

HOME & DESIGN AWARDS We are pleased to announce this year’s list of finalists for the 2026 Home & Design Awards, our annual showcase of the best of the best in Austin design. Winners will be announced on April 2, 2026 at our Awards Ceremony.

Rosedale Residence by Stelly Selway Finalist for Best Interior Designer

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OBJECTS OF DESIRE

THE CULTURAL LAYER

Art Gallery

Event Space

Lora Reynolds Gallery | Texas Construction Company

Assembly Hall | TB/DS

Custom Furniture

Hotel Design

Lola Dining Table | Seer Studio

The Leona Lockhart | Sarah Stacey Interior Design

Planter Collection | Muhly Studio in collaboration with Plants & Spaces The Serafim Sofa | Brooke M. Davis Design

Office Space Design

The Umi Credenza | Growler Domestics

360 Plastic Surgery | Britt Design Group 816 Congress | IA

Home Furnishings

ECC Creative | A Parallel Architecture

Holiday Installation | Cottage Home Shoppe by Cottage & Key

LV Collective Headquarters | LV Collective

Home Decor | Living Oak Jazelle Dining Chair Havana Brown | Four Hands Pierre Coffee Table | Metaphoric Shop Lighting Lin Lighting Collection | Muhly Studio Millwork NXT Cabinets Save the Good Stuff Skelly Built Cabinetry | Skelly Build

Restaurant Design Cosmic Saltillo | Clayton Korte + Ten Eyck Cousin Louie’s | Kim Lewis Designs Loudmouth Pizza | Kempt Studio Paperboy South | Kempt Studio Retail Space Design Anderson Parker | ALIGN Austin Architects First Light Books | Edgerton Studio Korman Jewel House | Michael Hsu Office of Architecture Mellow Johnny’s Bike Shop | Dick Clark + Associates

Stone Stratus Surfaces Textiles Counterpart Studios x Eloi Dilly Dally | Counterpart Studios Counterpart Studios x Fort Lonesome Moon Snake | Counterpart Studios Looksee Collective x Mercedez Rex | Looksee Collective Supply Collection | Supply Showroom Vintage Furniture Rajasthani Door Table | Studio Vastu

SCENES OF LIFE Children’s Bedroom Avana Second Story | Audrey Scheck Design Big View Girls’ Bedroom | Christina Cruz Interiors Club Ranch Kids Bunk Room | 3R Interiors The Little Seal’s Room | Avery Cox Design Dining Room 3003 Oak Haven Dining | Highline Homes

Counterpart Studios x Fort Lonesome Moon Snake

Ellery | Cedar & Oak

Finalist for Best Textiles

Rocky River Dining Room | Cravotta Interiors Serendipity Dining Room | Sarah Stacey Interior Design Full Bath Westoak Residence | Highline Homes Pool Bath Charmer | Pluck Architecture The Circle House | Cary Paul Studios Zilker Residence | Amity Worrel & Co. Kitchen Serendipity | Sarah Stacey Interior Design Travis Heights | Murray Legge Architecture Westoak Residence | Davey McEathron Architecture

IMAGES ON THIS SPREAD BY LINDSAY BROWN.

Windsor Residence | Clayton Korte Landscape Design Backyard Escape | Double B Design Casa Colibri | John Garrett Design East Austin Bungalow | Texas Construction Company Timberline Continuum Garden | E D E N Library/Study/Home Office Cherrywood Project | Audrey Scheck Design Clarksville Residence | Urbanspace Design Studio Driftwood Office | Cravotta Interiors Wooldridge Residence | Chris Cobb Architecture

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HOME & DESIGN AWARDS

SCENES OF LIFE

FOCAL POINTS

Living Room/Great Room

Custom Cabinetry

Alta Vista | Scheer & Co

44 East Custom Cabinetry | Kelle Contine Interior Design

Big View | Christina Cruz Interiors

Avenue D Custom Shaker-Style Cabinetry | Bambi A’Lynn Interior Design

Mid-Century Prairie: A Literary Sanctuary | TIPLER Design

Double Duty Live/Work | Pollen Architecture & Design

Overlook Residence Living Room | Allison Burke Interior Design

Westoak Residence Custom Cabinetry | Davey McEathron Architecture

Powder Bathroom

Deck / Patio / Porch / Outdoor Kitchen

Coleridge Powder Bath | Palmetto Interiors & Renovations

Hilltop Ranch | Dick Clark + Associates

East 10th Party Bathroom | Love County Interiors and Design

Lakesong Deck/Patio/Outdoor Living | CoXist Studio

Signal Hill Dr. | Rachel Peck Interiors

Manor | Cedar & Oak

Westoak Residence Powder Room | Davey McEathron Architecture

Project Wellness | Mark Richardson Architects

Primary Suite

Fireplace

Barton Hills Greenbelt Primary Suite | Jameson Design Group Hyde Park Primary Suite | Studio Burgoon Rosedale Primary Suite: Nesting in the Canopies | Stelly Selway Serendipity Primary Suite | Sarah Stacey Interior Design Specialty Room Big View Hobbit Reading Nook | Christina Cruz Interiors Octant House Garage | Matt Fajkus Architecture Project Wellness | Mark Richardson Architects Turner Ranch Leisure Studio | Texas Construction Company Wine Room/Bar A Very Happy Hour | Cathlyn Davis Design The Dipaola Lounge | CG&S Design-Build The Linden Bar | Kelle Contine Interior Design TIPLER Showcase Home: “Trust Me You Can Dance” | TIPLER Design

3003 Oak Haven Fireplace Surround Detail | Highline Homes Ashworth Fireplace | Kelle Contine Interior Design Clearview Fireplace | Enve Builders Project Wellness | Mark Richardson Architects Indoor / Outdoor Relationship Onsen Moor | Ben Newman Studios (BNS) Sandeul Breeze | Dick Clark + Associates The Campground Outdoor Living Room | Jobe Corral Architects Timberline Primary Ensuite Landscape | E D E N Millwork Clarksville Residence | Urbanspace Design Studio Clearview Millwork | Enve Builders Deer Creek Residence | Abode Modern Homes Mesa | Abode Modern Homes Swimming Pool or Water Feature Backyard Escape | Double B Design Grand Mesa Retreat | Heidi Houdek Interiors Octant House Lap Pool | Matt Fajkus Architecture The Sterling Cooper Residence Deck House Pool | Candace Wong Architecture + Design

Serendipity Residence by Sarah Stacey Interior Design Finalist for Best Primary Suite

Use of a View Grand Mesa Retreat | Heidi Houdek Interiors Hill Country Estate | O’Hara Interiors Pemberton Place | Raise Design Plein Air | Jenkins Design Build Use of Color Artistic Family Salon Range Surround | Hey Now Interiors Corona Color Kitchen | Moontower Little John | Kim Lewis Designs + Render ATX Manchaca Project | Audrey Scheck Design Use of Daylight / Fenestration Oaklane Residence | Davey McEathron Architecture Tree X Tree House | North Arrow Studio Turner Ranch | Texas Construction Company

Use of Vintage Barrister Bookcase | Hey Now Interiors Hyde Park | Studio Burgoon Maison Pearle | Kim Lewis Designs Manor | Cedar & Oak Wall Treatment Bas-Relief Limestone Accent Wall | M. Elliott Studio Garden Home Project | Audrey Scheck Design Mesa | Abode Modern Homes Travis Heights Tudor Wallpaper Wrapped Playroom | MB Sullivan Design

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LEFT: STEPHEN KARLISCH; RIGHT: CASEY DUNN

West 7th Passive | Forge Craft Architecture & Design

WHOLE HOME ADU Casa Cuadro | North Arrow Studio Double Duty | Pollen Architecture & Design South 5th | FAB Architecture Stealth House | Specht Novak Apartment/Loft/Condo East Side Flat | Liz MacPhail Interiors LL Apartment | Guta Louro Designs Scenic View | Urbane Design Studios SoCo Condo | Blueberry Jones Design Architecture City Park Residence | Alterstudio Architecture Heritage Oaks | CoXist Studio Redbud Trail Residence | Matt Garcia Design West Rim Modern | Ryan Street Architects Climate Conscious Brushy Creek Retreat | Barley|Pfeiffer Architecture Central City Elegance | Barley|Pfeiffer Architecture Holly House | Thoughtbarn West 7th Passive | Forge Craft Architecture & Design Residence by Michael Hsu Office of Architecture

Community-Oriented

Finalist for General Excellence in Architecture

Clubhouse for Cadena at the Falls | Canales & Co. Interiors The Record Room at Rambler ATX | LV Collective & Krywicki Interior Design Flexible Living Haskell Street House | Pollen Architecture & Design High Rise Tower The Modern | Urbanspace Design Studio Vesper | Pearlstone Partners

TOP HONORS General Excellence | Architecture

Historical Renovation

Alterstudio Architecture

Hartford Residence | Restructure Studio

Clayton Korte

Schulle Ave | Amity Worrel & Co.

CoXist Studio

Second Century House | Nicole Blair

Michael Hsu Office of Architecture

West 7th Passive | Forge Craft Architecture & Design General Excellence | Best Builder Home in the Hill Country

Abode Modern Homes

Mason Residence | Michael Hsu Office of Architecture

Cary Paul Studios

Prairie Residence | ALIGN Austin Architects

MELDE Construction Company

Quail Run | Edgerton Studio

Render ATX

Terrace Mountain Residence | A Parallel Architecture General Excellence | Interior Design Interior Design

Chupik Design

Big View | Christina Cruz Interiors

Kim Lewis Designs

Mid-Century Prairie | TIPLER Design

Scheer & Co

Overlook Residence | Allison Burke Interior Design

Stelly Selway

Serendipity | Sarah Stacey Interior Design General Excellence | Landscape Design Remodel

dwg.

Austin Country Club | Matt Garcia Design

EDEN

Bridle Path | Point B Design Group

Ten Eyck Landscape Architects

Indian Trail | Edgerton Studio

Twistleaf

Old Enfield | LaRue Architects Rising Star Award Waterfront Project

Ashley Ferguson Interiors

Blue Lake | Etch Design Group

Canales & Co. Interiors

Overlook House | A Parallel Architecture

Jordyn Garcia Studio

Waterfront Project | Spaces Designed, Interior Design Studio

Studio Burgoon

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PHOTOGRAPHY KENNEDY BOX

CURTAINS IN PHOTOS

IN PHOTOS: WINTER EDITOR’S PREVIEW 1

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Thank you to everyone who joined our epic Winter Editor’s Preview and Furniture Show, FORM & FURNISH! More than 300 Austinites showed up for design. Beyond getting a first look at The Makers Issue and the furniture featured within, guests heard from local leaders Michael Hsu, Amity Worrel, Felipe Gomez, and Jett Butler.

Thank you to Page Architects for hosting us at Indeed Tower as we connected, heard some big ideas from leaders in the issue, and partied the night away. Thanks to Bluebonnet Collective for the charcuterie spread of our dreams and Britt Design for providing the delicious cocktails. And very special thanks to our event sponsors, Cabinet Couture and Britt Design Group.

We’ll see you all next time for the Spring Issue Editor’s Preview.

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1. Editor-in-Chief Karen Zabarsky Blashek with Cesar Fuentes of Cabinet Couture. 2. One of 19 furniture makers display: Rhodes Hinman’s Creature Cabinets. 3. Another exhibiting maker, Carson Leh of Obsidian Leather Goods chatting with interior designer Ali Burgoon Nolan. 4. A room flush with design talent gathers to hear the panel. 5. Our panel: Moderator Karen Blashek, Michael Hsu, Amity Worrel, Jett Butler, and Felipe Gomez. 6. Sharpdressed attendees enjoying the furniture show. 7. Designer Benjamin Stelly. 8. Principal of Page (now Stantec) Wendy Dunham Tita with a crowd. 9.

Designer Begonia Barbancho and Mitzi Avila of Cabinet Couture. 10. Attendees enjoy a tour of the Page offices. 11. A featured maker, Jordan Goetz of Growler Domestics with Anna-Nicole Morris of Amity Worrel & Co. 12. A mirror by Daniel Morrison of Yucca Stuff.

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Austin’s design community has the vision, the skill, and the heart—what it needs now are the platforms to match. In this essay, Anita Erickson, Founder and CEO of The Marketplace, lays out a blueprint for how Austin can evolve into a true global design hub, from a Design Week to a dedicated Design District. Read her words on austinhomemag.com.

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ANNIE RAY

CURTAINS