Urban Home Austin-San Antonio October/November 2015

CELEBRATING INSPIRATIONAL DESIGN AND PERSONAL STYLE

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1 5 O C T / N O V

HOME AUSTIN-SAN ANTONIO URBAN

August 13 November 29

FROM THE EDITOR “Design is a plan for arranging elements in such a way as best to accomplish a particular purpose.” — Charles Eames I tried to formulate my own idea of what good design is and couldn’t come up with anything that sounded remotely eloquent.

But I did ask a group of exceptional female AIAs who have been elevated to the status of Fellow, an accommodation that goes beyond their knowledge of the technical aspects of architecture. Between Austin and San Antonio, only ten women hold this title. Read on to see what they find interesting and inspiring.

In our feature homes, you’ll find a little bit of Americana and contemporary with some Art Deco thrown in. And two architects had the privilege of designing on two of Austin’s highest points.

A Parallel Architecture and David Wilkes Builders collaborated on a hilltop home where every room in the house features spectacular views, including downtown Austin. Perhaps considered modest at 2,900 square feet, the home lives large with clean-lined design and flexible, open spaces.

Designing what her client’s considered a modern farmhouse, Amy Slaughter pulled from their collections to create an elegant Americana-style home complete with homemade quilts, antiques and a soothing color palette.

Extensive water damage resulted in a complete home makeover, with the team of Realty Restoration, Recek Architects and Twelve Stones Designs in the lead. The final result reflects their client’s love of 1930’s Hollywood glamour and her three little dogs.

Day of the Dead is a popular tradition here with festivities centered on the whimsical costumes, folk art and foods. For those who choose to join in the merriment or simply prefer to reflect quietly with a homemade altar dedicated to their friends and family, you’ll find ideas to make the most of this special occasion.

Cappy Lawton is a restaurateur extraordinaire, and now he has published a book on enchiladas that reads like a cultural and gastronomical guide to Mexico.

Beautiful photography and step-by-step instructions make it easy for any cook to follow, and it’s perfect for your Day of the Dead celebrations.

Enjoy the change of seasons,

Trisha Doucette On The Cover: Built on the second highest point in Austin, this splitlevel, modern home features a rooftop deck and master suite that encompasses the entire top floor.

Designed by A Parallel Architecture and built by David Wilkes Builders, they overcame the challenges of building into a hillside. Page 20

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EDITOR’S ESSENTIALS REBELLE The wait is almost over. Rebelle, in San Antonio’s newly renovated St. Anthony Hotel, is the latest restaurant by Andrew Goodman and Chef Stephan Bowers of Southtown’s Feast. Scheduled to open in late October, it will offer sharing dishes prepared with local ingredients and multi-cultural cooking techniques. Their cocktail bar Haunt recently opened in the St. Anthony with a menu created by Bowers and televisions for watching sports in a contemporary lounge setting. Thestanthonyhotel.com WILL LARSON DESIGN Austinite Will Larson uses his fine art background in sculpture to design and create custom metal works with residential and commercial applications. Aside from public art and sculptural wall pieces, his varied portfolio includes home furnishings, gates and unique outdoor elements fabricated to customers’ specifications. He also works with interior designers, outfitting restaurants like Ranch 616 and The Grove. Willlasrsondesign.com AIA TOURS Each year, private residences designed by AIA members are opened to the public in self-guided tours throughout Austin and San Antonio. Housing types range from single-family residences to contemporary urban renewal to remote estates, but all have the commonality of outstanding design and quality craftsmanship. San Antonio’s tour will take place on October 17, followed by Austin’s tour on October 24-25. Aiasa.org, Aiaaustin.org FONDA SAN MIGUEL Dia de los Muertos is a Mexican holiday that Fonda San Miguel lavishly celebrates every year with a beautiful handmade ofrenda (altar) prepared by staff to honor the spirits and souls of loved ones passed.

The altar is trimmed with literally hundreds of Mexican marigolds (it’s said that the perfume from the flowers guide the spirits back to this dimension). The Fonda family and friends bring photos of their dearly departed to display. Sugar skulls, candles, a variety of fruit as well as wine, tequila, salt and all the ingredients for Puebla-style mole, are carefully displayed for the spirits’ arrival. Fondasanmiguel.com urbanhomemagazine.com

Push Pull Open Close The Mobile Decorative Hardware Store 2015 | VOL. 10 | NO. 5 Publisher Louis Doucette Editor Trisha Doucette Contributing Editor Catrina Kendrick – Catrina’s Ranch Interiors Contributing Writers Claudia Alarcon, Jackie Benton, Julie Catalano, Mauri Elbel, Cheryl Jividen Photography Topher Ayrhart, Paul Bardagjy, Christopher Davison, Tre Dunham, Chris Waters Dunn, Paul Finkel, Sunni Hammer, Michael Hunter, Mark Menjivar Architectural Publicist Diane Purcell – Ttlmgt.com Advertising Sales Sandy Weatherford, Chancey Blackburn, Gerry Lair, Janis Maxymof

“WE BRING THE SHOWROOM TO YOU ” To set an appointment call 512.694.7762 or jonathan.hiebert@pushpullopenclose.com

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October / November 2015

CONTENTS

cover

20 Hip On The Hilltop Photography by Topher Ayrhart

featured homes

28 Refined Family Farmhouse Photography by Michael Hunter

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34 A “Forever” Home Photography by Christopher Davison

highlights

50 Take Control Of Your Home 52 Coffee Tables Now 54 FAIA Women of Central Texas

departments

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Why This Space Works 40 Lovely Living Commercial Design 46 The Vibe At VOX Food Design 58 The Whole Enchilada Fabulous Finds 62 Day Of The Dead Contributing Editor 51 Catrina Kendrick, Catrina’s Ranch Interiors

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66 Advertiser Index

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LIQU I D A SS ETS 210 680 7665 512 444 5444

7201 BROADWAY, SUITE 219

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS 78209

WWW.LIQUIDASSETS-POOLS.COM

HIP ON THE

HILLTOP

By MAURI ELBEL Photography by TOPHER AYRHART

Skyline views of downtown Austin aren’t typical perks that accompany the highly-desired real estate tucked in the city’s hip Zilker neighborhood.

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ut for this modern home, sitting on one of the highest points within Austin’s city limits, downtown panoramas were part of the package –– and the driving force behind the purchase of this rare urban hilltop property.

Designed by A Parallel Architecture’s Eric Barth and Ryan Burke and built by David Wilkes Builders, the objective of this nearly 2,900-square-foot, four-bedroom, three-bathroom new construction home was two-fold: to maximize its spectacular downtown views and create a flexible floor plan that would accommodate the homeowners, a young family, both now and well into the future.

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“Every room in the house has a view of a tree or the skyline,” says David Wilkes of the striking residence which boasts floor-toceiling windows that flood the home with natural light and an impressive 520-square-foot roof deck that eyeballs Austin’s skyline.

Nestled into the edge of a hill, sweeping downtown views punctuated with the city’s most iconic landmarks like the University of Texas Tower and the Texas State Capitol are the unexpected highlight enjoyed from the home’s toplevel master suite and deck. Covered in gorgeous Brazilian garapa, the deck features a television built inside a custom made cabinet, a gas fireplace and built-in rooftop planters that screen neighboring rooflines while providing privacy for the master suite. Due to the steep approach to the house and desire for a flat yard, the home is partially sunk into the earth, allowing for vehicular access and parking down below and elevated living spaces up above.

“We wanted the architecture to embrace the slope of the site so we buried the garage in the hillside,” Barth explains. “By doing that we were able to raise the whole footprint of the house up to the level to the backyard –– it was very much an indoor/ outdoor experience from the beginning.”

The top story of the home functions as a sprawling master suite designed to access the north-facing roof deck and absorb views from all around. The home’s split-level design complies with city development restrictions while maximizing outward views and increasing privacy from the street below.

“We were trying to keep the building as low as possible since we were already up on the top of the second highest point in

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Austin,” says Barth. “Although the building appears high from the street, it is well under the allowable height by the city.”

The home’s clean-lined design proves modern architecture doesn’t mean sacrificing comfort, says Wilkes. The home boasts an open living, dining and kitchen area with a slightly sunken living room that makes it feel as if it is its own separate space.

Floor-to-ceiling windows and doors serve to dematerialize the rooms throughout the home, says Wilkes. The central core of the house is found downstairs with children’s bedrooms on one side and the laundry and powder rooms on the opposite side.

Throughout the construction of the home, Wilkes says there was a desire to express precision rather than cover it up with trim and texture –– an effort that required extreme attention to detail and thoughtful forward-planning.

“It was a challenging project to build,” says Wilkes of the project, featured on last year’s prestigious AIA Austin Homes Tour. “Any contemporary architecture requires very tight tolerances, and with this one, everything from the interior details to the exterior details was very well thought out so there was no room for error.”

Overall this design functions well both as a young family’s home and a place to entertain guests, featuring flexible spaces that suit the homeowners’ lifestyle now and are capable of being easily modified as their needs change in the future. For example, provisions were made to install a pool if so desired at a later date. Upstairs a flex room that currently functions as a nursery can be easily converted when little ones move into their own bedrooms –– the wall was designed to be removed to create an extension of the master suite that offers expanded downtown vistas.

Consistency within the details are found throughout the home –– the treads of the stairwell are made from the same Douglas fir beams that support the roof while cabinets, custom built by Keith Whitley of Signature Cabinets, featured in the kitchen and builtin units in other areas of the home boast a similar style.

Although the home sits just under 2,900 square feet, Barth says its split level design lives much larger thanks to the expansive roof deck, covered patios and extensive use of glass. Built to suit Austin’s climate, passive green strategies are employed throughout the residence including highly energy efficient appliances and HVAC systems, spray foam insulation and deep overhangs which shade walls of glass from the sun’s harsh glare and heat.

With clients who gravitated toward a modern aesthetic, A Parallel Architects strived to come up with a contemporary design that would still complement the existing low-slung ‘50s and ‘60s homes in the neighborhood. Utilizing design elements ranging from a low slope roof and deep overhangs to horizontal lines and a palette of natural earth-like materials, the new construction home blends in rather than overshadows.

“A lot of the elements in this design are just a more modern take on the style of the neighborhood,” says Barth. “And we worked with the clients right from the get-go to keep it at a modest budget.”

The exterior features an appealing natural palette of simple materials –– exposed concrete, integral colored plaster and cypress siding. But by detailing the materials in a natural, authentic way, they appear more exceptional.

“By treating them really honestly, it allows the beauty of the URBAN HOME AUSTIN – SAN ANTONIO

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actual materials to speak for themselves,” says Barth.

For example, rather than cover up the natural variation seen in the plaster and the concrete work, it was allowed to shine through, yielding a beautiful result.

“We built up the form work with two-by-fours and stripped off the formwork, and now you can see the vestige in the wood grain and the horizontal lines –– it is a beautiful finish that speaks to how it was crafted,” says Barth. “So not only did we 26

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save money by not putting a finish over it but we are also getting a really authentic result. The design is doing its job and we are showing it off and being really honest about it.”

Throughout the project, Barth and Wilkes worked with the homeowners to find creative alternatives that achieved the desired look and feel without going over budget. For example, using garapa wood rather than Ipe on the deck provided a similar look and durability for roughly half the price.

“Our approach was to really focus on spacial relationships and increasing natural light rather than spending a lot of money on decorating the house with expensive finishes,” says Barth.

“If you do it that way, the design will inherently be a great house. If you make sure all of those architectural concepts are working in tune with each other, then it’s not about decorating your way out of something not very well thought out.” v ARCHITECT A Parallel Architecture 512.464.1199 | Aparallel.com BUILDER David Wilkes Builders 512.328.9888 | Davidwilkesbuilders.com urbanhomemagazine.com

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REFINED FAMILY

FARMHOUSE

By MAURI ELBEL | Photography by MICHAEL HUNTER

Not every home is capable of making guests feel welcome as soon as they walk through the door. But Donna and Tom Pazera’s home, sitting on rolling Hill Country land just five miles outside of Fredericksburg, was designed to do just that.

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F

inished last summer, the 5,000+-square-foot, fivebedroom, five-bathroom elegant farmhouse has already become the perfect gathering space for their outdoorsloving family.

“With Amy’s help, it wasn’t difficult to achieve the look we wanted,” says Donna Pazera, crediting the talents of interior designer Amy Slaughter who helped the couple fine-tune their design. “This home has truly become a family gathering space that allows us to share our common loves of golf, fishing and being outdoors.”

From the large, open floor plan to the special accents that give nod to the couple’s hobbies and interests, the home remains light, cheerful and reflective of their warm personalities.

“We tried to hone in on the homeowner’s hobbies and interests and really designed the home around them,” says Slaughter.

Tucked in the private Hill Country golf course community of Boot Ranch, a few of the home’s exterior features include a chipping green, golf tee, horseshoe pits, fire pit and serenity garden nestled in a grove of oak trees — spots that both facilitate peaceful relaxation or entertaining their family, friends and grandkids. The covered terrace provides a fabulous area to convene for drinks, cozy up next to the fireplace during winter months or enjoy a casual outdoor summer barbecue surrounded by magnificent views.

Inside, simple Americana accessories and antiques pay tribute to the couple’s New England roots, explains Slaughter. Donna’s love of sewing and quilting is emulated through decorations

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such as cotton blooms, an antique spinning wheel, yarn spool candlesticks and large glass jars filled with antique yarn spools.

“Most of the accessories in this home are really one-of-a-kind,” says Slaughter of the furnishings and antiques which underscore the family’s various interests.

From the beginning, a primary design goal was to create a seamless integration between the outdoors and indoors, an urbanhomemagazine.com

objective achieved through glass stacking panel doors across the living room that open to the expansive loggia and give way to gorgeous panoramas.

“This design really expands on their living and entertaining space and capitalizes on their Hill Country views,” says Slaughter.

Divided light windows above the clear panel doors provide a charming look that furthers the farmhouse feel experienced throughout the rest of the house while grey Lueders stone featured on the home’s exterior is carried inside to the fireplace and interior accent walls. Hand-scraped hickory floors flow throughout the home, and combined with the soft wall colors, allow stellar Hill Country vistas to take center stage.

“During our very first meeting, she fell in love with one of the new fabrics in my showroom,” says Slaughter. “We developed her entire color palette around it. She wanted to keep the colors light and airy with blues and greens, which you find consistently throughout. Each bedroom was designed around quilts which Donna recently made for her two sons, and we integrated those colors and fabrics from the beginning, too.”

An adorable bunk room provides a fun and functional space for visiting grandchildren –– three aspiring anglers. A wall of URBAN HOME AUSTIN – SAN ANTONIO

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built-in twin bunks featuring storage below and individual reading lights remains the focal point of the room appropriately outfitted in fish-themed decor. The open floor plan provides plenty of space for little ones to play or create artwork on the circular gaming table featuring a durable “no-mess” zinc top.

A light and airy vibe is at play throughout the luxurious master bath, punctuated with elegant European accents like the 19th century pair of gilt wood Louis Philippe mirrors, a French iron chandelier, a garden tub featuring a French tumbled limestone skirt and surround and an antique French Parfeuille Terra Cotta tile floor made from reclaimed 150-year-old roof tiles.

“Rahnee Gladwin found all the tile that is in the master bathroom,” says Slaughter of the designer who has a showroom in Fredericksburg. “She is a very valuable resource with the ability to focus on our aesthetic and find exactly what we were looking for.”

Another favorite space in the home is the kitchen, an area Slaughter took back to the drawing board to redesign from top to bottom in order to accommodate everything the homeowners wanted the room to hold, from state-of-the-art appliances to extra storage. Rich blue cabinets and hand-painted decorative tile remain standouts in the spacious kitchen which now flows flawlessly into the living and dining areas.

Simple furnishings like the nearly 10foot French oval farm table found in the dining room and painted buffets flanking the fireplace underscore the home’s casual elegance while art commissioned by their artist friend, Maxine Price, adds color in a meaningful way.

“The colors represent land, for their Hill Country home, and sea, for their home on the coast,” says Slaughter. “Within every turn here exists a story, which exemplifies their simple roots and inviting home.”

From Americana accessories to soft hues, a comfortable, welcoming vibe remains at play.

“The first thing guests say to me when they walk through the door is how comfortable they feel here, almost instantly,” says Donna.

“It’s the highest compliment.” v DESIGNER Slaughter Design Studio, LLC 830.307.3397 | Slaughterdesignstudio.com ARCHITECT Pollard Hodgson Architects 318.868.3635 | Pollardhodgson.com BUILDER Big Sky Builders, LLC 318.218.7296 32

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AWARD-WINNING INTERIOR DESIGN custom homes • lofts spec homes • commercial Stephanie J. Villavicencio, ASID Texas Registered Interior Designer

512.443.3200 www.bellavillads.com

A “FOREVER” HOME

By JACKIE BENTON | Photography by CHRISTOPHER DAVISON

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t was the perfect new homeowner nightmare: the water pipes burst in her new

home before she had moved in, and the damage was extensive. It was definitely a Homeowner 911 situation. When Realty Restoration, LLC, Recek Architects and Twelve Stones Designs were contacted to help, their design team quickly moved into action, using their award-winning design/build relationship to make the best of this disaster. By renovating, remodeling and upgrading where needed, they maintained the home’s beloved natural aesthetics to create a “forever” home for their client and her three little dogs.

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With its secluded and private location atop a hill offering a 360-degree view of Austin, the team quickly worked together on a plan to bring that sense of natural beauty and openness to help with the project’s sense of flow and balance between the home’s indoor space and the outside entertainment area, creating a unifying aesthetic between the home’s additions and updates with the original home design.

“Our client moved here from the Dallas-Fort Worth area to be near her family and grandchildren,” says James A. Recek, AIA of Recek Architects. “The extensive water damage led to an expanded scope of renovation in some areas, additions to accommodate their frequent visits and a pet-friendly home for her dogs. We felt that the client wanted to take the house to another level. She had a need for more space to allow her to make this her “forever” home and allow her to entertain her family and friends. We felt that her desires were to stay in tune with the existing nature and style because that’s what attracted her to the original home.”

“Having her grown daughter’s family located in Austin enhanced the client’s desire to create a sanctuary, complete with an amazing outdoor living space for entertaining,” says URBAN HOME AUSTIN – SAN ANTONIO

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David Davison, certified remodeler and president of Realty Restoration, LLC. “Our team worked hard to facilitate the feeling of bringing the outside indoors and vice versa to create a harmonious transition between spaces.”

Christy Bowen, certified kitchen and bath designer and owner of Twelve Stones Designs, describes the original house as a single-story rambling ranch-style home with a master suite at one end, and a single bedroom and standard bathroom at the opposite end. “The foyer split the living room from the kitchen and dining room areas,” says Bowen. “Even though the house seemed spacious due to lots of windows and natural 36

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light, the square footage was actually quite inadequate for an average household.

“This was an expansive addition and remodel project. Our team remodeled the foyer, kitchen, guest room, laundry room, dining room and guest bathroom,” says Bowen. “We added on an upstairs guest suite complete with full bath and an auxiliary space which the owner will use as her sewing room. We also added on a new dining room, large screened porch, an exercise room, a new expansive master closet and gallery. Exterior upgrades to the house and detached garage were an additional part of the scope as well.” urbanhomemagazine.com

The project was not without its challenges, says Davison, which included the city of Austin’s constraints regarding impervious cover overlays for the property, while trying to balance the client’s desires for additional space with the allowable square footages. “This property presented some unique challenges since it is in the Austin extraterritorial jurisdiction, but not served by the Austin Fire Department, nor by city of Austin water services,” says Davison. “Fire codes dictated we provide an automatic fire sprinkler system for all the additional square footage, while maintaining the residential character of the design. Much effort was put into concealing urbanhomemagazine.com

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the system and providing the water storage and pump system in a remote building.”

Davison upgraded or replaced all electrical, plumbing and mechanical systems. For year-round comfort, variable speed air conditioning units and air handlers were installed, to help control interior humidity on hyper-insulated building envelopes such as this one. The additions utilized spray foam at the roof decks, which created conditioned space of the attic, thus reducing the required tonnage of mechanical systems and corresponding utility consumption. In addition, an extensive rain water collection system provides water for the majority of the landscape sprinkler system.

Special touches can be found throughout the home. Appliance upgrades include a full professional suite of Thermador® appliances, with kitchen cabinets from Brookhaven by WoodMode® Fine Custom Cabinetry. A rare Minas soapstone graces the kitchen island and guest suite vanity countertops, while Lustrolite panels in the downstairs guest bath create a sleek look yet requires very low maintenance.

In addition to the much-needed repair and renovation work from the flood damage, the team worked with the client to give her home those little personal touches that would suit her lifestyle and would elevate her experience living there.

“The client had a laundry list of items she wanted to make this her final home purchase and more suitable to her lifestyle,” explains Bowen. “She requested cabinets and built-ins to the ceiling for maximum storage and for the over-sized glamorous aesthetic. She also desired more closet space and an exercise room that would lead into her ‘Zen’ garden. She wanted to capitalize on the expansive views and have as much connection to the outdoors as possible.”

And then there were the special touches for the client’s little dogs, to make the home as comfortable and accommodating for them as it was for her. “There were little specialty items here and there for her three small dogs,” says Bowen. “For example, she 38

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wanted a security dog door leading from her master suite wing to the dog run with a custom stainless steel niche and shelf for the dogs’ water bowls. She asked for a glass sash in the laundry room door in order to be able to corral the pups when needed but still be able to see them. And she wanted a terrazzo apron sink and an ergonomic, hand-held shower head that would make it easy to wash the dogs.”

The result is a look that combines modern with classic, and an impish sense of fun. “The house has more of a vintage-eclectic feel to it now,” says Bowen. “We mixed modern lines with classic shapes and materials to create a funky-yet-timeless look. All the materials are durable, but will wear and patina naturally with the home to retain a renaissance look. The homeowner is drawn to the glamorous 1930’s Hollywood style; a time when masculine, geometric, Art Deco lines co-mingled with the feminine, button-tufted look of the Victorian era. It’s a great combination and I loved creating that look, but with a 21st Century twist!”

Recek is also pleased with the completion of the product. “The existing home had a lot of natural materials in tune with the Hill Country feel and its surroundings. The new work keeps this aesthetic but elevates the finishes with softly gleaming accents,” says Recek. “This is one of those rare projects for a special client working with our team who was willing to see all the pieces work hand-in-hand together to create a truly spectacular home. The attention to detail by everyone at all levels during the project truly put this a notch above everything else!” v ARCHITECT Recek Architects 512.452.0229 | recekarchitects.com BUILDER Realty Restoration, LLC. 512.454.1661 | Realtyrestoration.com DESIGNER Twelve Stones Designs 512.705.2121 | Twelvestonesdesigns.com urbanhomemagazine.com

works WHY THIS

SPACE

By MAURI ELBEL | Photography by PAUL BARDAGJY

LOVELY LIVING Designer’s Top 10 Tips for a Living Room You Love

If you’ve ever walked into a living room to face a superfluous amount of furniture or fought the urge to shine a flashlight on an original painting hidden in the shadows, you’ve seen first-hand evidence of design gone wrong. While there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to designing your living space, Austin-based designer Robin Colton shares some common mistakes to avoid and key concepts to keep in mind. Hiring a professional is always the safest bet –– an integral step that can save you time and money and bring you a little peace of mind during a dizzying process.

But whether you work with a designer or brave it on your own, following Colton’s expert tips will keep you on track when it comes to creating a living space you will love.

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1. Don’t over furnish One of the most common mistakes people make is over-furnishing their living space.

“Often novices will feel like every part of their space needs to be filled in order to feel designed and lived in,” explains Colton. But before shopping for sofas, chairs, ottomans and accent benches which can unnecessarily crowd a space, she suggests sitting down and assessing the true needs of your space. “If you are a family of four and Saturday night movie night is a weekly ritual, then a big sectional sofa may be the right answer,” she says. While there’s no exact formula when it comes to deciding how much seating should be in a space, think about gearing it to your own lifestyle. The same principle applies to walls –– Colton warns against covering every wall, nook and cranny. “The eye needs natural resting spaces and breathing room in order to feel comfortable and to really enjoy being in a space,” she says.

2. Mix, don’t match Colton warns against buying a room full of furniture from the same source. “Big box stores are poised and ready for you to come in and purchase your entire home full of furnishings from them,” she says. “They make it easy by setting up vignettes throughout that demonstrate how their furnishings can be used, and they create a mood and feel that appeals, making it seem like you cannot possibly achieve this in your own home without utilizing only their pieces.” Rather than recreating what you see in a store or magazine, try to achieve a balance of scale and proportion in your space –– Colton says that’s the real key to making it feel collected, layered, and comfortable. “Don’t be afraid to use a large item in a small space or to use a tall chair with a lower ceiling,” says Colton.

“This balance of styles, scale and proportions creates a space that is uniquely you and not the image a big box store is selling.”

3. Use what makes you happy It’s a hard pill to swallow when you’ve spent money on a piece of furniture and it just doesn’t jive with the rest of the room. “My first rule of thumb when bringing an item in or deciding to keep an item, whether it be a piece of furniture or art or a tchotchke they inherited, is to assess if they love it and if it makes them happy,” says Colton. “Every time you walk into your space, it should feel lovely and fill you with a wonderful feeling. There should not be anything in your living space that makes you feel guilty, uncomfortable or stressed out.

4. Lighten up What’s the point of having beautiful fabrics and gorgeous urbanhomemagazine.com

paintings if you can’t see them properly? “Each space through your home should have full illumination,” Colton advises.

Whether incorporating recessed cans, chandeliers, pendants or lamps, think about ambient and task lighting and how it will serve the way you use the room. Reading a book on the sofa?

Displaying an expensive piece of art? Colton suggests thinking through a room’s uses and selecting and layering lighting throughout the room. “Dimmers on as many fixtures as possible are also one of the best investments you can make in your home,” she says. “Not only does this save you money on your energy bill, but it gives you maximum flexibility for all occasions.”

5. Keep your walls open Placing furnishings along the walls of the room does not (as people often wrongly presume) open up the middle to make it feel more spacious. “This actually makes a space feel uninviting and URBAN HOME AUSTIN – SAN ANTONIO

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the look and feel of their fabrics, says Colton, who suggests alternatives like placing a lovely outdoor velvet capable of withstanding elements on your living room sofa. Storage is another key component to be realistic about. “When I meet with clients they often have piles of books and papers lying around, toys scattered throughout, and their kids artwork piled up in the corner,” she says. “While re-designing a space is a great opportunity to take the time to move through an organization and purge process, please be realistic about what the future holds.” If you have a first-grader with an increasing gallery of art or you’re a voracious reader with an ever-increasing library of books, don’t overlook a good storage solution. Colton wisely points out you need to leave room to grow which will allow you to add to your collection over time.

8. Don’t spread your love If you have a collection you love –– be it rocks or travel mementos –– create a focal wall in your living room rather than dispersing them throughout every room in your home which clutters your space and doesn’t allow your passion to be a unique focus. “Creating a gallery wall system in your entry that allows you to display all of your collected postcards not only creates a wonderful unique piece of art, but also tells the story of your travels and your life to all of your guests as soon as they enter your home,” says Colton. Culling through your collection to pull out the most important pieces allows them to shine and not be lost in the quantity of what you have, she adds.

disjointed,” says Colton. “Really thinking through the planning of furnishing placement can help create lovely conversation pockets and intimate spaces that allow for interaction and comfort.” Instead, Colton suggests forming comfortable paths between your furnishings which allows for natural flow through the space. In smaller spaces, anchoring some of the furniture on the wall while floating accent pieces is a great solution.

6. Rules of the rug Choose a rug that will anchor the room rather than look awkward because it’s too small for your space. “Rugs are an important aspect to any room,” acknowledges Colton. “They can add texture, color, pattern, warmth and a soft place for your feet at the end of a long day.” A rug that is too small for the room will only make it feel disjointed and uncomfortable. Make sure your rug is large enough to fit all legs of your furnishings or at least have the front two resting comfortably on it.

7. Design for real life Rather than design for the lifestyle you are dreaming of, keep your space functional for the life you actually live. “If you entertain housefuls of toddlers and young children on a regular basis, or if you have dogs with muddy paws, then selecting a white linen sofa for your living room may not match your lifestyle,” says Colton. “Keep in mind that life happens and accidents happen, and plan ahead accordingly.” Fortunately indoor/outdoor fabric manufacturers are making strides in 42

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9. Choose paint last Colton always tells her clients the quantity of paint colors are endless; furnishings, artwork, draperies, rugs and hard finishes are not. “Paint should be the last thing chosen for a space, keeping in mind the colors of the rugs and fabrics to be used in the space,” says Colton. “Also, take your time moving through the paint selection process.” A paint color that looked great in a magazine or someone else’s home will not look the same with your lighting and furnishings, says Colton. Sampling colors in a large format is key –– looking at every option and placing it around the space in both artificial and natural light, during the day and at night, is the only way to know if a color truly works, she says. “Also keep in mind that your paint color is the easiest thing to change when you get ready to sell your house so select colors that you love and feel good to you,” she says.

10. Don’t forget to accessorize Oftentimes purchasing new furniture makes such a big difference from what a homeowner is used to that they feel satisfied, but Colton says investing in custom window treatments and accessories can do wonders to elevate a space. “Keep in mind that it’s just like getting dressed in the morning,” she says. “From the main pieces to the accent pieces, accessories, jewelry, bags and shoes, a room should also have this type of layered feeling.”

Colton suggests replacing throw pillows that came with your sofa to bring in color, pattern and texture or layering treasures from your travels with books and flowers to create warmth. v ROBIN COLTON STUDIO 512.569.3453 | Robincolton.com urbanhomemagazine.com

Dawn F. Hearn, ASID, NARI, CAPS Texas Registered Interior Designer #9501

New Construction Remodeling Space Planning Consultation Furnishings Accessories

www.dawnhearn.com 512.930.0250

San Antonio’s Finest Wrought Iron Doors The threshold to your home is where so many of life’s simple stories begin and end — make every one of them special with a unique work of art from Supreme Iron Doors where we offer an extensive collection of elegant designs guaranteed to add beauty, security and value to any home, restaurant, retail shop or professional center.

Catrina's Ranch Interiors is now providing the same personalized service and quality you have come to expect in custom furniture and interior design with Custom Iron Doors designs for all of your home and commercial needs. Adding an iron door to your home is one of the few home remodeling projects that actually adds value to your home. In fact, it tops the list of the 5 Best Home Improvements for your money.

COMMERCIAL n DESIGN

THE VIBE AT

V OX

T

he New-American style restaurant opened at the end of April, but you might have already heard that the drinks served here are something to talk about –– an innovative array of artisan cocktails, craft beers and wines compiled by award-winning beverage director Travis Tober. A few signatures like the Danny Trejo, a sip-worthy concoction of tequila, lillet blanc, lemon, smoked pineapple ginger shrub, grapefruit oleo saccharum and Fire & Damnation bitters, are even available on draft. Much like the theme behind the popular children’s book If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, if you give a mom one of these cocktails on her night out, she’s likely to stay and order dinner. Especially when the food menu –– sectioned in culinary genres (Provisions, Leaves + Roots, Fins + Shells, Feathers + Beaks, and Hooves) –– consists of chef-crafted sharable bites that are as beautiful as they are delicious. Colorful plates of albacore tuna tartar tossed with grated horseradish, chile oil and avocado espuma, and smoked hamachi pipettes, a lineup of crunchy-meets-creamy pops stacked with tomato raisins, pickled cucumber and Thai chile skewered atop a burst of coconut-soy vinaigrette, were two of our favorites.

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The other night we stopped in for a drink at VOX Table, tucked into Austin’s new Michael Hsu-designed Lamar Union community complex.

By MAURI ELBEL Photography by PAUL FINKEL

Dining at VOX Table, bold bites and creative cocktails stand out against a minimalist stage punctuated with whimsical moments. And that was the point, according to Joel Mozersky and Clayton & Little’s Mark Olsen, who collaborated on the design. They say the intent from the very beginning was to create an ambiance that wouldn’t overshadow the food; rather, the restaurant was designed to take inspiration from the plates it serves: simple and well-crafted.

“We were trying to do something similar with the design,” says Olsen. “We tried to do something classic and modest that would allow the food and the patrons to be the life of the space.”

Whether dining or drinking, the ambiance at VOX Table is what invites you to linger, enjoy and savor the experience. No guesswork is required of patrons to figure this out. From the moment guests enter the foyer, their line of sight is directed straight to the kitchen –– a framed rectangular glance into the movements of chefs busily tossing pans over open flames and delicately compiling ingredients onto plates. Chefs’ garnish racks containing various fresh micro greens are on display and a row of chairs gives diners the opportunity to urbanhomemagazine.com

take a front-row seat to witness the entire farm-to-table progression.

“As one of the goals of the restaurant was to showcase the farm-to-table process and the craft of the chefs, the kitchen was positioned to be visible from the dining room and highlighted as one of the first things you see when you enter the space,” says Olsen. “To connect guests to that process and excite them about what food may be coming next.”

Inside VOX Table, a French modernism vibe translates through soft textures and a simple palette of grays and whites. Rather than create a design that yelled at you, Olsen and Mozersky explain they wanted a design that softly whispered –– a muted voice that can be heard through the selections and finishes found throughout the space. urbanhomemagazine.com

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The main dining room is a soaring space with a 20-footceiling wrapped by white plaster walls and expansive windows that flood the area with natural light. The restaurant’s white-ongray theme is punctuated with custom elements like the large light fixtures suspended from the ceiling, intended to enliven the space and add a touch of whimsy.

Inspired by the idea of a mobile, Mozersky took the sleek sconce heads of the Cedar and Moss (www.cedarandmoss. com) Tryon fixtures featured throughout the space to Warbach Lighting (www.warbach.com) to create these large-scale custom fixtures.

“We had a huge space to fill so we needed something sculptural,” explains Mozersky. “This really fits in the taller space and makes it more dynamic and interesting.”

In the private dining room, a bubble light fixture floats above the table –– a find Mozersky brought back from the Los Angelesbased Bourgeois Bohème (bobointeriors.com).

“I love this fixture,” says Mozersky. “And it is made out of plaster so the finish is cohesive with the walls.”

Tectum panels were selected for the ceiling, a cost-effective material chosen for its exceptional sound absorption. Aesthetically, the panels suit the restaurant’s simple palette, but they also serve as an affordable and functional option which significantly improves the acoustics in the tall dining space as well as other areas of the restaurant like the private dining room and foyer.

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“Tectum doesn’t always work in every space,” says Mozersky.

“It can often deter from the beauty of the design. But at VOX, it worked well with the other textures and color palette.”

Sunlight spilling in from the ample windows fills the restaurant with a warm, natural glow heightened by primary materials like the white plaster walls that extend from the interior and continue to the exterior.

“We selected a smooth, artisan-style plaster that would reinforce the simple material palette while giving a bit of warmth and texture to the wall surfaces,” says Olsen. “I love how the restaurant acts like a lantern within the larger development. In the evening it emits a soft, warm light that is very inviting.”

Rather than installing an array of artwork across the walls, Mozersky thought it would be better to come up with a cohesive custom mural and commissioned local Austin painter Jeremy Earhart to create the knotted, twisting pattern that now flows uninterrupted across the expansive dining room walls.

Gray oak hardwood floors were chosen as a softer alternative to concrete, continuing the warm experience felt in the space.

Gleaming white marble tabletops and countertops mimic the natural forms and patterns seen throughout the space. Jean Prouvé designed chairs and barstools provide interest with a classic punch of indigo in the otherwise monochromatic space.

“What I like most about this space is that it is refined yet approachable,” Olsen says. “Though the architecture itself is urbanhomemagazine.com

DECORATOR’S ADVICE

DESIGN

DILEMMAS

By Catrina Kendrick, Catrina’s Ranch Interiors

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ARCHITECT Clayton & Little Architects 512.477.1727 | Claytonandlittle.com

have been on several design calls to homes where the frustrated homeowner was trying to make things work, blending old and trying to work in a little new.

Often these design dilemmas can be easily solved with the perspective of another pair of eyes. If you can’t figure it out on your own, you might consider bringing in a good designer and getting a second opinion. It’s certainly worth the money in the long run.

One example was a client who had purchased a new sofa with two matching chairs. We moved the two chairs to the dining room to use as host and hostess chairs, and added a couple of leather chairs creating a living room that made sense.

For more extensive projects, Catrina’s Ranch Interiors will go to a client’s home, take photos and measurements of the rooms, assess what is needed and make a design book. This is an organized book with photos of the home in its present status and also photos of the rooms with suggested furniture, artwork and accessories. If there is a custom piece involved, we will add a drawing of what the piece will look like with the measurements and finish color attached. Then we include an itemized bid proposal listing each item room by room. This provides the client with a personalized reference book that they can have to consider each item or project and purchase as they can afford to. Not everyone can do everything all at once so it allows the client to select what fits their budget over time.

We manufacture large quantities of custom furniture for clients. This way we are designing for the home instead of just throwing furnishings in and hoping that they work out. It doesn’t cost any more to do this and the results are far superior to buying off a showroom floor and hoping for the best. Clients will often bring in their own wish books with photos from the internet or magazines. This is always helpful. We are partnered with a well-established wood factory which can manufacture just about any style of furniture. We build mostly in Canadian alder or mesquite, but pines and other woods are available. We also make custom lighting, window treatments and all kinds of custom metal doors and décor. v

BUILDER The Burt Group 512.275.0881 | Burtgroup.com

If we can ever help or just offer advice, please contact us!

830.755.6355 / 210.535.3070, Catrinasranchinteriors.com.

fairly subdued, the various artistic moments and the people within it cause it to be a lively and dynamic space.”

Despite many hurdles, challenges and surprises that accompanied numerous construction delays, Olsen says the clients were great to work with, and the builder –– The Burt Group –– was able to meet an ambitious schedule.

“From being involved in the project from the beginning and seeing the many challenges that arose, which the team had to work around, to still end up with a simple and elegant end product like we intended was a huge accomplishment,” he adds.

“I love how this space turned out,” agrees Mozersky. “It came out feeling like it was supposed to feel.”

I would concur. In Austin’s sea of trendy restaurants and bars, VOX Table boasts a design that makes it inviting to sit and stay awhile. Stop in for a drink; chances are you’ll want to stay for dinner. v

DESIGNER Joel Mozersky Interior Design Studio 512.913.3732 | Joelmozersky.com

TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR HOME

By BJORN DYBDAHL Photography courtesy of BJORN’S

When people think of updating their home, many start with appliances, flooring or paint. But a new trend has begun. Homeowners are starting to update and improve their homes to match their lifestyles by adding smart home technology, and they call on Bjorn’s, the leader in installing home entertainment systems

U

and custom smart home automation systems in San Antonio and Central Texas.

tilizing Control4®, homeowners can control and automate virtually any home function, including home theater, music, lighting, temperature, appliances and more, all from inside their home or anywhere in the world with the touch of a remote, tablet or smart phone. Control4® can even be integrated with a home security system such as video cameras and alarm systems or simply making sure a garage door is closed. It’s easy to use, can save money on electricity bills and provides homeowners with peace of mind in knowing that their home is safe.

Another custom smart home technology that is just hitting the market is SmartThings by Samsung®. SmartThings is a more affordable option for home automation. Start with the SmartThings app and Hub, add your favorite products, and control them from another room or another country. The ways to customize a home with SmartThings are endless. Add as many or as few smart devices as needed, choreograph them to work together in one free app and create a smarter home that automatically reacts as life happens. SmartThings can be used for home security (real-time monitoring coming soon), turning on appliances, automating lighting, playing a favorite play list, controlling the thermostat and so much more. In addition to helping save money by automating temperature and lighting, SmartThings can also limit the amount of energy that electronics and small appliances consume. SmartThings will be available for sale at Bjorn’s as early as December.

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Once you have decided what upgrades are needed in your home, Bjorn’s makes it easy by taking their customers through an individualized six step process. An initial home and plan evaluation ensures they are providing the best and most economic services for their customers. Every home or business is different so Bjorn’s begins with a physical walk-through to see firsthand the space in which they will be installing the system. A comprehensive proposal covering the design and engineering, installation of products, and cost is presented, and once approved, Bjorn’s will schedule the installation. Their custom installation technicians are highly trained, certified and skilled in wiring telephone/ intercom systems, whole-house distributed audio and video systems, networking and smart home automation technology.

When the installation is complete, they will program all products and systems for their customers. Lastly, Bjorn’s demonstrates the systems and educates the family members on how to use them.

Bjorn’s has everything a homeowner needs to customize their home to be a smart home and to fit their lifestyle. They take it a step further by not only providing top notch products but also providing real personal service before, during and after the sale to keep their customers satisfied — that’s something that is hard to find these days. And it can only be found at Bjorn’s, just Bjorn’s! v BJORN’S 210.828.3237 | Bjorns.com urbanhomemagazine.com

people to have enough personal space to lounge on the available seating, but you also need enough common space that is shared and easily reached by all. The coffee table is that common ground. This should be taken into consideration when selecting the appropriate size table for a living space. The area should be intimate enough to carry on a conversation across the coffee table, and each seating area should be positioned with access to the central table.”

DAWN HEARN, PHOTO BY TRE DUNHAM If the space gets too large, says Clark, start to create another grouping. “For large, open floor plans, you may need to make several different sitting areas that follow this same philosophy. Give each area a purpose directed by the table that it orbits around. Pub tables, coffee tables, game tables, dining tables... they all define the common purpose for the

By CHERYL VAN TUYL JIVIDEN people sitting in that area. Sometimes in spaces with a very large sectional, you may try using a collection of tables of different heights. This allows you a more abstract way to address ou need one that is certain, in fact a room can look the outreach of the table.” quite unfinished without one, but choosing the right coffee table for the job and how to style it, requires DESIGN & STYLE thought and consideration.

Once you have the size and functionality sorted out, you’ll want to consider design and style. Today there are many SIZE RIGHT choices available that are on trend. “The biggest thing I see Measurement and proportion can ensure functionality happening right now is that people are seeing the potential for whether in a family or living room, says Austin Interior Designer these pieces to be artistic focal points in the room. Coffee tables Dawn Hearn. “Leaving approximately 18 inches of clear space are commanding attention right now with metallic surfaces, between the coffee table and adjacent seating pieces looks sculptural bases and dramatic stone tops. Heavily distressed good, allows room to walk between and is still close enough wood surfaces are also being shown on contemporary bases to be accessible for use when seated. A rule-of-thumb for the for a sort of unexpected elegance,” says Clark. Hearn agrees. size of your table is two-thirds the length of your sofa. Keeping “The trends in coffee tables run the gamut of materials: acrylic, the coffee table at the same height of your upholstered cushion petrified wood, brass and glass, large upholstered ottomans.” height is ideal. Try to keep the table within a couple of inches below or above the height of your sofa cushions.”

While coffee tables and seat heights are fairly standard between 17 and 21 inches high, says Megan Clark of CasaPosh in Austin, she believes you can play with different heights to create different vibes in your space. “A low couch paired with a low, legless coffee table is going to have a very lounge-like, casual feel that invites people to get comfy and put their feet up. A more formal space may have a coffee table that sits a bit higher than the couch seat to ensure the safety of the delicate items that may sit on it.”

COFFEE TABLES NOW

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FORM & FUNCTION Clark provides additional guidance on functionality. “The coffee table should be the point that the sitting area orbits around both physically and functionally. In order to create a space that is inviting for conversation and gathering, you want 52

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CASAPOSH, PHOTO BY CHRISTINA WELCH

urbanhomemagazine.com

Many designers have go-to styles that are ideal for multiple design needs. Clark’s favorite coffee tables are Cubos by World’s Away. “They are 21-inch square, antique-mirrored cubes that I use in groupings to create several different looks in a variety of sizes. I love using them to change up surface texture in a space and add a splash of elegance. Mirrored surfaces work well with most styles and tend to make any space look more dynamic by bouncing light around. For families with children, I tend to select coffee tables with reclaimed wood tops. These distressed styles tend to hide the wear and tear and tend to have softly worn edges and that is important for families of little bitty ones.” For versatility, Hearn has a clear choice. “A clean-lined Parsons coffee table blends with most styles and allows a simple base for you to decorate with accessories that reflect your style.”

DECORATE & ACCENT Coffee tables offer a surface to decorate and enhance the room decor. But there are guidelines to help you find beauty and balance.

Hearn recommends: • Don’t put anything too high on the coffee table as you want to be able to see across the room to the T.V. or others seated in the room.

• Books are always good on coffee tables.

• A tray helps consolidate things on the table and keeps it looking organized.

• Curiosities, collections and flowers are classic items to display.

She follows her own recommendations at home. “Our coffee table displays several stacks of books, a large decorative bowl, a collection of antique Indian brass bells and a couple of small bamboo boxes.”

DAWN HEARN, PHOTO BY TRE DUNHAM

urbanhomemagazine.com

CASAPOSH, PHOTO BY LANDERS PHOTOGRAPHY

Clark says her favorite accessories to put on a coffee table are fairly basic. As for her own coffee table, “I like mixing textural extremes for a dramatic effect. Our home is contemporary black and white against rustic brown woods, accessorized with elegant crystal chandeliers, Lucite and of course, a touch of gold. My coffee table decor summarizes that vibe. The table is a simple rectangular Lucite silhouette that spans the long end of our sectional. I have a black and white Tom Ford book on it, a white orchid in a contemporary ceramic pot, a set of black snakeskin coasters with nail heads and a favorite vintage brass horse sculpture that I found while thrifting.

Clark’s things to consider: • Being the hub of your sitting area, the coffee table speaks volumes to your guests about your personal style and interests.

• A set of neat coasters can capture the essence of their space.

• A statue of some sort and a live element of greenery add height. v DAWN HEARN INTERIOR DESIGN 512.930.0250 | Dawnhearn.com CASAPOSH 210.347.0442 | Casaposh.com

DAWN HEARN, PHOTO BY TRE DUNHAM

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FAIA

WOMEN OF

CENTRAL TEXAS

By JACKIE BENTON

An architect’s life isn’t easy.

CAROLYN PETERSON, FAIA Ford, Powell & Carson, San Antonio Elevated to AIA Fellow: 1991 Over the years, working with historic and contemporary buildings, I have concluded that good design, in a wide range of material expression and cultural form, has a lot to do with the impact it has on one’s experience with the building….. especially if that sense remains with you over time. All of the design elements come together in a balanced interaction with one another, and the building does what is needed of it beautifully.

There are the long hours working into the night and into the next morning. The plans that are drawn up, scrapped and drawn up again. Meetings with clients.

Meetings with builders. Meetings with designers.

Meetings with decorators. The phone calls in the middle of the night letting you know “something happened” with the project and now everything has (pick one or more): changed / been put on hold / been scrapped / let’s start over. More hours. More plans. More meetings. And all the while, you’re constantly creating, honing your skills, your craft, your mind, your artistry, just so you can see the vision you have built in your mind become reality.

And one fine day, your hard work is recognized by your professional peers — the same people who have

JANE STANSFELD, FAIA J. Stansfeld & Associates, Austin Elevated to AIA Fellow: 1993 To paraphrase Sir Denys Lasdun, “Good design is when the client gets, not what he said that he wanted, but what he never even dreamt that he needed!” Good design is so much more than aesthetics. Of course it includes form, and response to the site, but function and economy are equally important. In addition, if a client knows exactly what he wants, then he doesn’t need an architect; he needs a good builder. Good design also includes a meticulous attention to the use of materials and details so that the construction awes at every level.

been through what you’ve been through, who know just how hard it is and how much it is all worth it, because they’ve been there, too. You are nominated, and then sponsored by American Institute of Architects members, and then elected to the Fellowship program. You receive an invitation to attend the investiture ceremony at the AIA Convention, where you will be honored.

In recognition of all that hard work, late hours and creative brilliance, you find that you are not to be inducted into the Fellowship program of the American Institute of Architects.

You are to be elevated.

Welcome to a very exclusive club.

Welcome to the College of Fellows of the American Institute of Architects.

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HEATHER MCKINNEY, FAIA, LEED AP BD+C McKinney York Architects, Austin Elevated to AIA Fellow: 2008 Good design is fitted to its context, exceeds the expectations of the client, creates delight and is responsible. To me that means that it conserves the earth’s resources, is energy-efficient and enduring. urbanhomemagazine.com

I think it is a “Lean In Moment” for our whole profession.

Women are more fully integrated than ever and together we must press on to meet rapidly changing needs caused by soaring populations and critical issues of global sustainability. – Emily Little

DONNA D. CARTER, FAIA Carter • Design Associates, Austin Elevated to AIA Fellow: 2010 To rephrase Louis Sullivan’s famous “form ever follows function,” “Design follows purpose or goal.” The art of revealing excellence in design, and the special quality an architect brings to any project is the ability to solve problems, answer the questions posed by the task at hand with a design solution at once sustainable and sustaining; accessible and engaging; of its time and timeless; functional and delightful; useful and inspiring. In every respect, resonating with the user and exceeding their expectations.

Photo by Patrick Wong Photography

DIANE B. HAYS, FAIA UTSA College of Architecture, San Antonio Elevated to AIA Fellow: 2010 Good design is rooted in an idea, is well proportioned, well-crafted with appropriate materials and connections, all of which are independent of “style.”

urbanhomemagazine.com

ELIZABETH DANZE, FAIA Danze Blood Architects, The University of Texas at Austin School of Architecture, Austin Elevated to AIA Fellow: 2009 Good design is what makes architecture relevant. It is seen in the exploration and understanding of problems at a range of scales: from a single piece of furniture to policies and infrastructure that effect entire geographic regions. Good design embraces different perspectives whether they be theoretical, cultural, social, technical or formal. At the scale of a building, good design in architecture poetically addresses the realities of construction while elevating the human spirit and the human condition. It has the potential to possess a quality that touches something deep within us and that transcends time, place and culture. The most extraordinary buildings have an ineffable quality, a quality that is difficult to put into words, but moves us deeply. Poetic application of intelligent, beautiful and compelling solutions to problems of any scale or type will change the world for the better. The power of good design in architecture has the power to unite all of us.

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ach year, the Jury of Fellows from the American Institute of Architects elevates elected members to the prestigious College of Fellows. Founded in 1952, Fellowship is one of the highest honors the AIA can bestow upon a member. Fellows are “elevated” before the public and their profession as architects who have made significant contributions to architecture and to society on a national level and are recognized for their great achievements as an individual.

Fellowship is also a very exclusive club. Out of the total AIA membership of over 85,000, there are just a little more than 3,200 members who have been elevated and recognized for their work.

Ten Central Texas women in architecture have been elevated to the coveted status of AIA Fellow, or FAIA. Some women embarked on their careers in architecture when the idea of having a female architect as part of a firm was considered quite the novelty, while others who entered the profession later can’t recall that there ever was a glass ceiling. And yet, for these women who entered architecture later, there is an appreciation of the groundwork laid, literally and figuratively, by their fellow women professionals. There is a sense of helping each other along, to get to that next level, to become recognized for good, hard, visionary work.

Jane Stansfeld, FAIA, now retired, has seen the shifts and changes in the profession, both in regard to gender and technology. Thinking back to when she began her study of architecture at the London University Bartlett School of Architecture in the United Kingdom, Stansfeld remembers architecture then as a very hands-on experience.

“In 1964, we wore smocks and drew our projects in ink on vellum and occasionally on linen. Our notes were in script. We had stand-up tables with parallel bars and used Rapidographs as our pens,” Stansfeld recalls. “In 1973 in the USA we drew in pencil on vellum with our notes in all caps frequently guided by a triangle set on the parallel bar. By 1985 computers were replacing manual drawings. By then I was managing projects and didn’t draw any more so when I ‘went out on my own’ the first thing I had to do was to learn to draft using the computer; now, of course, I’ve graduated to 3D software.”

When Stansfeld enrolled in 1964, her class of 30 included six women, or 20 percent of the class. In the United States at that time, only two percent of students enrolled in architecture schools were women.

“After graduation, when I started my internship position with a small firm in London, my colleagues told me that the 56

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SUE ANN PEMBERTON, FAIA Mainstreet Architects Inc., UTSA College of Architecture, Construction and Planning, San Antonio Elevated to AIA Fellow: 2010 Good design is timeless. In historic preservation projects, any new intervention, additions or modifications should prove just as timeless as the building’s original fabric.

EMILY LITTLE, FAIA Clayton & Little Architects, Austin Elevated to AIA Fellow: 2013 Good design is a good response. Architecture happens because of a need, one that can range from personal to global, and one that encompasses every nuance of culture, technology, aspiration and economy. The architect’s challenge is to comprehend the entirety of context and insert a meaningful component that not only meets the need but inspires and delights as well.

Photo by Casey Dunn urbanhomemagazine.com

JANA MCCANN, FAIA McCann Adams Studio, Austin Elevated to AIA Fellow: 2013 Good design is bringing together an understanding of and response to project constraints and opportunities into a balanced whole that makes sense and brings both pleasure and function.

LAURIE LIMBACHER, FAIA Limbacher & Godfrey Architects, Austin Elevated to AIA Fellow: 2014 I like this thought from Yoshio Taniguchi, a Japanese architect who (among other things) did the recent addition to MOMA in New York City: “Architecture is basically a container of something. I hope they will enjoy not so much the teacup, but the tea.”

I think it relates to my point about architecture as a practical art, with both beauty and function.

Photo by Paul Bardagjy

partner who hired me was shaking after our interview and hesitantly announced, during their tea break, ‘I’ve hired a woman!’” laughs Stansfeld.

Stansfeld’s mother suggested she investigate architecture as a career. “She naively thought that you could design in the home with children running around under foot. Although she knew nothing about the demands of the profession, she did know me. She was right that I combined an artistic bent with a strong aptitude in sciences, including mathematics and physics. I adopted her vision and focused my life to the pursuit of becoming an architect; from then, until 1971 when I became registered, I didn’t let anything distract me.”

Stansfeld moved to the U.S. in late 1973, and accepted a position in 1974 with Caudill Rowlett Scott, working with them until 1994 when she started her own business. “It was my career as a project manager of very large projects which ultimately earned my elevation to FAIA,” says Stansfeld. “In my projects, I am the team leader and glue which holds the design team together and creates an environment in which good design flourishes.”

While the times and technologies have changed, and more women enjoy careers in architecture, Stansfeld believes there is one steadfast rule that will always endure: the ability to recognize and celebrate the excellent work of individuals in architecture.

“Nowadays firms hire the best candidate regardless of sex or ethnicity,” says Stansfeld. “I believe that every year we witness an increase in recognition of all female professionals and a willing acceptance by clients to treat them in the same way as they would men.”

So, what is the definition of good design? How does anyone know what good design is? Is good design a concept that can even be articulated? Or, is it something that is felt more than seen — a “you’ll know it when you see it” sort of experience?

Urban Home asked the ten FAIA Women of Central Texas for an example of their work, as well as a few words about what they consider good design — because as architects, they can show you as well as tell you in their own inimitable ways all about what good design personally means to them — what they found inspiring, whether through relationships and friendships, seeing another’s work or reading another’s notes about design. In a profession such as architecture, there’s ample room for a wide array of styles and concepts marking each architect’s work as her signature style — her own particular spin on good design, that employs both loyalty to time-honored traditions, while not being afraid to push the boundaries on a project to create something truly special. v URBAN HOME AUSTIN – SAN ANTONIO

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FOOD n DESIGN

THE WHOLE

ENCHILADA

By CLAUDIA ALARCON PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRIS WATERS DUNN, SUNNI HAMMER AND MARK MENJIVAR

After a long career conceiving, designing and developing nearly 29 restaurant concepts throughout Texas, San Antonio restaurateur Cappy Lawton set out to write a cookbook for his eponymous restaurant. Enlisting the help from his friend, San Antonio Express-News writer Chris Waters Dunn, Lawton started the process of writing the cookbook in 2012. “But it wasn’t fun,” he says. “I wanted it to be fun. In conversation with Chris, the idea of a book about enchiladas came up. We did the research and found that there wasn’t any book on just enchiladas available anywhere. So we got to work.” The result is Enchiladas: Aztec to Tex-Mex, a gorgeous and complete cookbook published by Trinity University Press, which Lawton admits “has a more universal appeal than a book about a restaurant.”

WATERS DUNN

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MENJIVAR

HAMMER

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Mexican cuisine is not new to Lawton, who started traveling to Mexico in his 20s and has continued to traverse the country regularly with his wife Suzy. A visit to their Alamo Heights home reveals the couple’s love for our southern neighbor: folk art on the walls, hand-painted dinnerware on the shelves, hoja santa plants and avocado trees in the garden. By 1997, the couple had decided to buy and refurbish the historic La Fonda on Main, revamping the strictly Tex-Mex menu and adding favorite regional recipes from their travels throughout the country. Talking to Lawton, it is obvious that he has a great love and respect for Mexico, its people and cuisine, and working on this book was truly a labor of love.

The team set out to do some serious research for over two and a half years to gather enchilada recipes from different regions.

HAMMER

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“Enchiladas are a good touchstone for all aspects of authentic Mexican cuisine.

But the book evolved into something deeper, including techniques, chiles, nixtamal, rice…” says Waters Dunn.

“I was amazed at how much diversity there is in interior Mexican cuisine. We finally had to stop.” Lawton and Waters Dunn had another secret weapon in their arsenal. Renowned chef Iliana de la Vega — former Culinary Institute of America instructor and owner of El Naranjo Restaurant in Austin (formerly of Oaxaca, Mexico) — who met Waters Dunn at the CIA and agreed to come on board as a consultant. “Chris and I became friends, and often talked about Mexican food,” says the chef. “One day he invited me to lunch at La Fonda MENJIVAR to meet Cappy and talk about their project. They were very passionate and honest about their approach, so I agreed.”

De la Vega’s role was to keep the book authentic. She spent hours researching recipes and history, and shared her knowledge of ingredients, preparations and techniques. “Things like how we cook chicken in Mexico, how we roast chiles, the spices we use,” says the chef, who was involved with the project for about eight months. “We started getting together every Wednesday for taste testing. I gave my honest opinion and they were very receptive.

Things like, this is a very tasty dish, but it’s not enchiladas suizas.

Call it something else.” Lawton agrees that the process was a very collaborative one. “We used pretty much every recipe as a special at Fonda. We were lucky to have lots of cooks from Mexico who helped cook, taste and improve the recipes.” Both Gabriel Ibarra,

HAMMER

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MENJIVAR

Executive Chef at Cappy’s, and Victor Maldonado, Executive Chef at Fonda, had a lot to do with recipe testing and development, contributing their own recipes to the repertoire.

Enchiladas: Aztec to Tex-Mex is organized in a way that makes it easy for any cook to understand and follow the recipes, whether an expert or a novice. “Chris is very meticulous and detail-oriented,” says De la Vega. “Everything was researched, tested and written very carefully. The recipes are factual, and are completely doable.” Thanks to its strong historical component, previous knowledge of Mexican cuisine is not necessary, but careful reading is in order and definitely recommended. Waters Dunn sees it as a miniature history of Mexico, from Precolonial and Colonial times to the French influence of the late 19th Century and into today.

HAMMER

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Part 1 is all about ingredients, describing in detail origins, varieties and preparations for some of the most ubiquitous necessities of Mexican cooking. Part 2 is dedicated to techniques. Here readers will learn how to make tortillas, how to handle and prepare different chiles, how to cook meats for fillings and more. Part 3 dives into the recipes, starting with accompaniments like salsas and toppings before delving into the actual enchiladas, which are divided into pork, beef, poultry, seafood and vegetable fillings, with a short chapter dedicated to Tex-Mex classics. Rounding out the project are full-color photographs by Sunni Hammer, Mark Menjivar and Waters Dunn, which make the book visually stunning and every recipe even more mouthwatering.

“It was a lovely experience, getting to know them and building a friendship,” says De la Vega. “They were very conscientious about respecting traditions.” Waters Dunn, with a genuine smile and a gleam in his eye, adds: “we wrote the book out of great respect for the people of Mexico.” v ENCHILADAS: AZTEC TO TEX-MEX

BY CAPPY LAWTON AND CHRIS WATERS DUNN, © 2015 LA FONDA ON MAIN 210.733.0621 | Lafondaonmain.com CAPPY’S RESTAURANT 210.828.9669 | Cappysrestaurant.com EL NARANJO 512.474.2776 | Elnaranjo-restaurant.com

MENJIVAR

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FABULOUS n FINDS

DAY OF THE DEAD

By JULIE CATALANO

Move over, Halloween.

Thanks to popular films like The Book of Life and a growing fascination with ancient cultures and traditions, the Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) has gone mainstream in a lively holiday that uniquely blends remembrance and revelry.

In Central Texas, here are some people, places and things to help you get in the spirit.

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HISTORY Photography by Rebeca Barrera

It all began in Mexico with a confluence of cultures and the influence of Christianity in what’s known as syncretism, according to Rebeca Barrera, owner of Tres Rebecas, a San Antonio cultural design company and studio (3rebecas. com). “Mexico’s indigenous peoples celebrated their dead at the beginning of summer. They would decorate their homes and line the road with petals from the leaves of the marigold flower so that the dead could find their way back

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to their earthly homes for a visit.” The Catholic influence merged that feast day with their own All Souls Day and All Saints Day on November 1 and 2, where it is still celebrated in Mexico and elsewhere to this day.

Barrera, director of Latino Initiatives for Scholastic, has visited Pátzcuaro in the Mexican state of Michoacán, renowned for its dramatically elaborate Day of the Dead festivities. She describes winding processions of children and adults carrying baskets of bread, flowers, toys, candles and food to the mountain cemetery. All-night graveside urbanhomemagazine.com

MEXICO CITY ALTAR

by Kateri Aragón and Deidre Kateri Aragón (Sponsored by Live The Language), 2015, Mexic-Arte Museum. Photo by Sixto-Juan Zavala.

Skeletons during Day of the Dead are seen doing everyday tasks and participating in work and fun activities. José Guadalupe Posada, a famed graphic artist, pioneered the image of La Catrina, the elegant, aristocratic skeleton, which is still seen today.

Here we see a banquet of skeleton figures that honors Agustín Aragón Leiva’s El Banquete de Las Flores. Leiva, the founder of the Mexican Academy of Gastronomy (1939) (chef, historian, composer, writer and film scholar) and his wife, The Mayan Princess Nicte-há (promoter of Mexican culture, a performance artist who specialized in reciting indigenous poetry in Mayan, Nahuatl, Zapotec, Mixtec and Spanish) offered over 306 banquets honoring the cuisines of Mexico.

Close friends (including María Asúnsolo, Alma Reed, Dolores del Río, Jaime Torres Bodet), artists, politicians, clerics, Mexico City socialites and everyday people were invited to the AragónLeiva’s feasts. Nicte-há and Agustín did not make distinctions amongst social classes, political preferences or creeds. At their banquets, everyone harmoniously rejoiced in the food and the original music that Agustín composed and played for his wife’s poetry recitals after the meals.

PUEBLA ALTAR

by Emilly Arrenas, 2015, Mexic-Arte Museum.

Photo by Sixto-Juan Zavala.

In Puebla, the ofrendas are dominated by the color white and bedecked with angels, saints and the Virgin Mary. The fabric used is a decadent white satin that both reflects light and conjures up holiness as if the viewer was in an ornately decorated church. White is a universal symbol of purity and the divine. The mirror is used to present the image of the deceased person so she knows the altar is for her. Sometimes in Puebla the altars include lloroncitos: a kind of ceramic figurine (lloroncito roughly translates as “crybaby”). Marigold flowers decorate altars, often in the shape of a cross on the floor in front of the altar.

picnics, music, storytelling and decorating “are a very different way of honoring the dead and hoping they come to visit us.”

While some may find the rituals irreverent or macabre, Barrera believes that viewing death as a part of life is healthy and oddly comforting. “People talk to their lost loved ones as if they were still here. It’s not at all spooky. It’s a spiritual thing.”

THERE’S A PARTY GOING ON DOWN HERE Austin | Photography by Chris Caselli In Texas, the Mexic-Arte museum in Austin (mexic-arte.org, 512.480.9373) hosts the longest running and oldest Day of the Dead celebration. The 32nd annual “Viva la Vida” exhibition runs from September 12-November 22, and includes elaborate altars in the style of each state in Mexico. The mile-long parade on October 31 starts from Sixth Street and features a giant sugar skull float. “In the heart of Austin we see folks from all over the place,” says Adrian Orozco, membership associate. The gift shop is a must-see. “We have a new line of items for the home,” says Orozco. urbanhomemagazine.com

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| Photography courtesy of Say Sí In San Antonio, Say Sí’s Ninth Annual Muertitos Fest (saysi. org, 210.212.8666) takes place in Southtown on November 5-7. “Of all the Day of the Dead events in San Antonio, we put a little educational spin on our festivities,” says Stephen Guzman, communications manager. This year’s theme is “Tree of Life: Storytelling and Rituals,” featuring artwork, performances, food booths, artisan stalls, community altar projects, live music, family art workshops and more.

San Antonio

SHOP TIL YOU...YOU KNOW At Cosas (cosasonline.com, 830.249.1500), Día de los Muertos is a year-round affair. The 3000-square-foot shop in Boerne is filled with “one of the largest collections of museum quality folk art in the country,” says Amy Niederhauser, coowner with husband Bob of the 17-year-old store. “We buy from more than 150 artists throughout Mexico representing pretty much every state.” Items include handcrafted ceramics, wood carvings, tin, textiles for the home, wearable art and much more, including the popular catrinas (the satirical “Dapper Skeleton” of a fancy lady wearing a huge hat) that are a familiar staple of Day of the Dead. “We have a good variety,” says Amy, “that are wonderful and made of super fragile clay.” They build an altar in the store every year, this year’s dedicated to their dog Chula, who recently passed. “They are members of the family, too.”

ALTARS: IF YOU BUILD THEM, THEY WILL COME Colorful altars, or ofrendas, are the focal point of any Day of the Dead celebration, designed to commemorate the lives of loved ones and encourage the spirits to pay a visit. San Antonio artist/writer/playwright Enedina Vasquez (eneart.com) 64

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has designed and built elaborate altars for institutions like the Witte museum, San Fernando Cathedral and the Smithsonian Chicano Now! exhibition that toured the U.S. for seven years.

“Altars are constructed because we are not afraid of death. We embrace it,” says Vasquez. On a table representing earth and its four corners, Vasquez suggests using tiers made of boxes (she drapes hers with serapes) to show off the essential elements: Air: Delicate cutout banners called papel picado signify the fragility of life.

Water: To nourish the Monarch butterflies said to be manifestations of spirits.

Fire: Candles, to light the way of the spirits.

Flowers: Traditionally marigolds, the flower of the dead, said to lure spirits back home with their fragrance.

Bowl of salt: To purify and cleanse.

Photographs of departed family and friends, surrounded by examples of their favorite interests, hobbies, food and drink.

FOOD OF THE DEAD Who doesn’t love a good spread, here and in the hereafter?

Rich and flavorful moles, tamales, pan dulce, chocolate, fruits, candies and sugar skulls reign, along with tequila and other libations. In Austin, Fonda San Miguel restaurant (fondasanmiguel.com, 512.459.4121) celebrates with a lavish altar prepared by the staff, featuring photos of the Fonda family and friends. Here is their Pan de Muerto, a must for any Day of the Dead menu.

FONDA SAN MIGUEL’S PAN DE MUERTO (DAY OF THE DEAD BREAD) ½ cup milk ¼ cup sugar 1 teaspoon salt ¼ cup butter 1 ½ oz package dry yeast 1 egg and 1 yolk, beaten together 2¼ cups all-purpose flour 1 egg, beaten with 2 tablespoons water In a small saucepan over medium heat, bring the milk to a boil, remove from heat and add sugar, salt and butter. Whisk together until the butter is melted. Turn the mixture into the bowl of a standing mixer with a paddle attachment and allow to cool for five minutes. Add yeast and eggs and mix until the yeast is dissolved. Gradually add the flour to make a stiff dough.

Transfer to a lightly greased bowl, turning to coat all sides. Cover with a damp dishtowel and allow to rest for 30 minutes. Grease a baking sheet or line with parchment paper and set aside.

Divide the dough into three equal parts and roll each portion into a 12-inch rope. Braid the three ropes together and pinch the ends together. Place the braided loaf on the prepared baking sheet, cover with a damp towel, and set aside to rise in a warm, draft-free spot until doubled in bulk, about 1 ½ hours.

Preheat oven to 350. Brush loaf with the egg wash and bake 25-30 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack before slicing. Makes 1 loaf. v For further reading, The Skeleton at the Feast, Elizabeth Carmichael and Chloe Sayer (Austin: University of Texas Press, 1995).

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