Name: Knoxy Knox, owner and photographer at Knox Photographics, and her sweet little pup Edie.
Location: Austin, Texas
Size: 650 square feet
Years lived in: Rented; 3 years
It's hard not to be jealous of Knoxy as soon as you walk into her impeccably decorated house, catch a glimpse of her adorable outfit and taste her waffles and homemade whipped cream. But the wonderful thing about Knoxy is that though you'd have every right to be dripping with envy around her, she's created such a warm and inviting home and is so nice and welcoming that you're left with no choice but to ask to move in/be her best friend.

And with her friendly personality and open-door policy for guests, there's a very good chance you'd get a "yes" on both counts. With a style that's a mix of vintage, Hollywood Regency, classic and modern, Knoxy's home is definitely beautiful and full of ideas to borrow, but it's the way she enjoys using her home and seeing others enjoy it that makes her decorating and entertaining style so inspiring. You get the impression that anyone who walks into her apartment is greeted with a mimosa and a smile.
Does the architecture of her place look a little familiar? Knoxy lives next to
Christi Finley (and is in fact the manager of the six bungalows on the property), and we enjoyed seeing how two distinct personalities show through so strongly in similar-looking spaces. And, just as neighbors popped in to say hello for Christi's shoot, they also sauntered over to investigate the homemade whipped cream and mimosas at Knoxy's place. And before you have time to get jealous again of Knoxy, Christi and the rest of that property's perfect, sitcom-like, neighborly feel, a record's put on the player, Edie starts being ridiculously adorable and the waffles are moved outside for laughter on the porch.
Apartment Therapy Survey:
My Style: Inviting modern, I suppose. I've always been a huge fan of the mid century modern style, but it's not always the most inviting or welcoming approach. It's very important to me that friends and family feel free to "make themselves at home," so I strive to create a comfortable, yet intentional environment.
Inspiration: My incredibly creative and talented friends. Namely, I have so much respect and appreciation for my friend
Karen Morgan's design style, and my dear Phyllis O'Quinn, who has taught me so much about the art of aesthetic. I feel very lucky to have such inspired people in my life who continue to challenge and teach me.
Favorite Element: The fact that I live on the same property as some of my dearest friends. We are all very social people, so at any given time, on any given day, you can find us sitting out on the porch, listening to records, and spending time together — and don't get me started on the parties we throw. We pretty much look for any excuse to have a fete. I personally feel that entertaining is a dying art that so many people don't participate in anymore. To me, there is nothing better than sitting around a dinner table, or laying out on blankets in the front yard for hours listening to records and chatting with friends over delicious beverages.
Biggest Challenge: The lack of storage space is rough!
What Friends Say: My friends always tell me that my place is their home-away-from-home. More than a few people have keys to my house, so it is not uncommon to come home to someone making dinner or taking a nap in the guest room. I LOVE entertaining, so having visitors is a great way to fill the house with joy, and make some precious memories.
Biggest Embarrassment: The walls are very thin. I have an open door policy for friends and family who need a place to crash, or are visiting for SXSW or even just a weekend. It's always wonderful to have loved ones in the other room, but you can certainly hear a pin drop!
Favorite DIY element: I love the "head of garlic" photo that I took and printed on canvas. I built the frame and stretched the canvas myself, which definitely gave me a new appreciation for the medium.
Biggest Indulgence: Over time, my record and book collections have definitely added up!
Best Advice: If you have champagne tastes on a modest income, find a way to get what you want either by making the object yourself, or bartering for it. When I first moved into my house, I wasn't necessarily able to afford some of the pieces of furniture that I desired, so I bartered my photography services to earn them.
Resources of Note:
LIVING ROOM
• Jonathan Adler credenza
• Couch and ottomans: Star Furniture
• Dining table: Ikea
• Bar stools: CB2
• Record player: Crosley
• Book shelf: Design Within Reach
• Books and Records: Collected from all over the world
• Owls: Random vintage stores
• Giant mirror: Star Furniture
• Lamp by couch: Barter from Karen Morgan
• Light fixture over table: DIY cables from ikea, bulbs from the Light Bulb Shop
• Curtains: Bed, Bath & Beyond
• "Everything Here is Wonderful" map: Best Made Company
FLOORING
• Original hard wood floors throughout the entire house
KITCHEN
• Kitchen-aid Mixer: Williams Sonoma
• Nespresso espresso machine: Sur La Table
• Vintage metal press: Garage sale find
• Owl cookie jar: Hog Wild
• Wooden vegetable plate: Target
• Metal lamp: Target
• Mason jar full of antique spoons: Uncommon Objects
• Light fixture over oven: Barter from Karen Morgan
• Asian artwork behind kitchen sink: A garage sale in Boerne, TX
MASTER BEDROOM
• Desk: A barter from a client
• Black dresser: Left over from an old roommate
• Mirrored night stand: Target
• Wood stump stool under desk: Room Service Vintage
• Brass lamp on dresser: Uncommon Objects
• Jewelry box: Anthropologie
• Square mirror: Garage sale find
• Hand-shaped ring holder: Anthropologie
• Jewelry tray on desk: Jonathan Adler
• Vase on desk: Jonathan Adler
• Mirror above desk: Ikea
• Tall lamp by desk: Ikea
• Lantern by bed: Uncommon Objects
• Curtains: Urban Outfitters
• Bed frame: Rooms-to-Go
• Duvet: West Elm
• Throw pillows: West Elm
• Quilted blanket: Hotel Collection
• Accessory pillows: Hotel Collection
• Painting on wood: My amazingly talented friend
Leah Haney
GUEST BEDROOM
• Credenza: Ikea
• Infinity mirror: Ikea
• Black mirror: Left over from an old roommate
• Guitar: A gift on my 15th birthday
• Red lantern: Prototype Vintage
• Bedside lamp: Uncommon Objects
• Curtains: Bed, Bath & Beyond
• "Head of Garlic" photo on wrapped canvas by me,
Knox Photographics
• Small glossy painting:
Leah Haney
BATHROOM
• Shower curtain: Jonathan Adler
• Trash can: Jonathan Adler
• Tray and ring plate: Jonathan Adler
PORCH
• Furniture: metal table- CB2
• White chairs: CB2
• Light blue glider: Purchased from a friend who moved to NYC
• Portable record player: Crosley
Thanks, Knoxy!!
(Images: Adrienne Breaux)
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You were right, it is hard not to be jealous of Knoxy. :D I'm in Austin and my place is about 100 sq. ft larger and sadly not a third as stylish as Knoxy and Edie's place.
What a nice home.
that is a camera ready dog..
Edie is adorable, and the place looks cozy.
I would like to know where to source an Edie, I've been looking for one of those.
Nice place too, btw.
Nice and clean. Love the lights above the dining table. Needs rugs.
Love: The red hanging lamp, the kitchen, the dining table and chairs, bathroom, cabinet where TV lives and the cute PUP.
Not so crazy about: mirrors, pictures leaning against the wall, animal skeltons on wall and light fixture over the dining room.
Over all, I think it's a sweet space and I love her hairsytle.
That's a lot of lovely style in so small a space!! I love how vintage it is without being overbearing. The dwellers are adorable, too!
I could totally see myself in this place. =)
the dog the dog the dog that dog!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You're not by chance selling prints of that garlic/antler canvas over your bed?
Love love love... If I was single and didn't have a little one this is how I wished my apartment would look like!
I love the blue curtain behind the bed, and the sort of "tiled" look of the living room mirror.
Also, Edie! My dog has exactly the same ears, with the same repertoire of positions for them. (As showcased in the "triptych" shot outside.)
Wow that apartment is really neat! And, yes, you just made me wanna have waffles and coffee at 4:50 pm...
the problem is no matter how cool the space or how well-organized/designed/ personalized that space is, pups are always going to steal the show. :)
thanks for the tour. and the reminder that life is better when humans take care of animals and love them. :)
ps: is your friend (shown in one photo) "christi f" from a recent and also-cool house tour?
Love. And the name Knoxy is just fabulous too.Austin is on my bucket list and every house tour or source suggestion feeds my desire.
I love everything about this space!
That is one scene stealing dog! Cute and cozy place, hide the key under the door mat, I'm coming for a visit.
Such a sweet and cozy space! Love it's nod to mid century with a very delicate touch. But that pup, oh my god. I wanna be the dog's BFF.
Love this! What did you use to cover the cords of the multiple lights (above the dining table)? It looks amazing! Also, where did you get the antlers? Are they real/painted or are they man-made?
It feels very warm and welcoming.
I wanted to play with Eddie's ears.
Nice to see Christi again!
I love that birds of paradise flower arrangement. The blue in the otherwise white bathroom makes it look clean and fresh when older bathrooms tend to look dingy. Also, the layered curtains behind the bed are a nice touch. I'm taking notes :)
This is one of my favourite's, and I totally recognized Christi - loved her place too!
i tend to look at the house tour photos first, then read the posts and if i had done so, i would have known that was indeed christi finley (duh). sounds like a fun neighborhood and group of friends. and it's fun to see the different ways people set up similar spaces.
and edie is still adorable. :)
I really like this house tour. The furnishings are perfect for the space. I've always loved the Ikea fusion table set and it looks great here. Definitely looks like a cool place to hang.
Fantastic kitchen.
Charming, fun, and oooh: a record player!
I wish my cats were as camera ready as that cute dog. I love my beautiful cats, but they do not pose for the camera.
Funny how you can really feel the vibe of this aparment and wen you see the owner and the dog this whole place makes sense.
This place is veRy welcoming and would make anyone feel comfortable right away.
She's done everything right to make the absolute most of this space. Especially putting a fairly sizeable sectional sofa in a small spot, as I've learned from my tiny den-alcove, can make a welcoming, functional area that lives large. A unified style with great detail that belies its 650 feet really "transforms" this space.
hi ed! i agree on the rugs :) i used to have some gorgeous cow hide rugs, but they aren't conducive to potty training my puppy, so up they went!
hello cstewart! the "head of garlic" is indeed for sale on gallery wrapped canvas! email me at knoxy@knoxphotographics.com and we can discuss further- thank you for your interest :)
thanks apple! the cord cover is actually just a cheap cord cover from hobby lobby that i painted to match the walls for a more subtle appearance. i purchased the antlers raw from various antique stores throughout texas, then i spray painted them to coordinate with the rest of the decor- it's a super easy and affordable way to personalize a design!
thanks so much comicbookheroine! i LOVE having fresh flowers in the house, and the bird of paradise last so long, it's awesome. the story behind the blue curtains revolves around an awkwardly place window that is on that wall behind my bed- i thought i was an eye sore that would only be made worse by one single curtain, so i just covered the whole dang wall!
Dear Apartment Therapy,
Can you please round-up all of the house tours that showcase a dog and do a post dedicated to all of these adorable creatures? I realize this is not a dog website, but come on! You've got so many amazing little dogs in your archives. Maybe just once? Thank you in advance.
Love your art, love your garlic photo, love your space altogether...and of course I love that DOG!
Your place is a page I need to bookmark when I need to explain to people why I always say Austin is NOT Texas! (and you know what I mean)
thank you so much sistervashti! you couldn't be more right- austin is definitely its own place, unlike the rest of the lone star state. don't get me wrong though... i still have dead animal heads on my wall, drink a lot of whiskey, wear boots, and have been known to let my guest shoot bottles off of the fence with a bb gun at parties ;)
I'm one PROUD brother.....great job little sis!! Keep on doing your thing! I know great things will come your way in the near future. Kiss Edie. Love, BK
There's no doubt Knoxy has style, and her home shows it. But the layout of the living room makes me crazy; specifically, the way the sofa is crammed into the corner. I know it's a small space, and I agree that sometimes the best thing to do is put large furniture in a small space, but that looks really wedged in there. Then the dining table is equally pressed against the other wall, even when set for a meal. I feel like both those things could use a little room to breathe. It might help quite a bit just to move the ottomans (ottomen?) out a bit instead of having them also wedged against that end. And I saw her response about why she doesn't have a rug right now and it makes sense, but having one might help too, to break up the expanse of floor that emphasizes how pressed in the corner the sofa is.
Great tour! Really like the blue drapes behind the bed in the one room. Immediately knew she was in Austin before I looked hahaha.
eliz - as a frequenter of said home, I can tell you that the advantage of that couch in that spot is that it serves as the perfect window bench for the window next to it. It lets in the perfect amount of both light and breeze...making it one of my absolute favorite places to be. It has taken over as my Couch-home, which may mean little to anyone else, but is a critical rejuvenator for all energies.
Very cute place! I love the way you mix furniture from different periods. You've done a great job.
What 'hood is this in? I noticed that the Austin house tours rarely mention the neighborhood whereas other cities do.
Neftalirr-- Fair enough! It is absolutely an inviting couch, in a stylish home that looks like a great place to visit a great person and a world-class cute pup!
What an amazing apartment - I love your art collection, and it takes skill to use a lot of retro pieces while still making the overall feeling fresh and crisp. I want to listen to Etta and have a waffle! Is there a requirement to live in these bungalows that you must be a non-standard gorgeous person with a cute dog?
Love, Love, Love this home. I love the dining room set, the dog, the sofa, the waffles, the hair, and all of it. I wanna crash there myself.
Not a huge fan of the antlers...but everything else looks great! Thanks for the ideas!
Photographer for Karen Morgan's Black Bird Bakery cookbook? Which is awesome as well.
I so wish I lived in the same city as Uncommon Objects - I love that store (I LOVE your bedside table lamp)!
Your home is wonderful - you have some really great pieces. My favorite things were the artwork placed behind the sink in the kitchen, the master bedroom and bedside table top, that delicious and pretty-looking waffle spread and your little bathroom vignette! I too am a fan of Tokyo Milk. :)
Thanks for opening up your home for all to see - you've done such a great job!
Check on your area shelters first!! Happy New Year!!
I thought Christi looked familiar, too! Knoxy's hairstyle is rockstar worthy.
one-in-the-same! i adore karen, and had so much fun shooting her gorgeous food for the book.
tell me about it- uncommon objects is like crack to me, i have to stay away from it sometimes because i'm so addicted to their amazing finds!
Great place! Being an avid record collector myself you should seriously consider upgrading your system. Hit up CL for vintage speakers, receivers and record players. There is a ton of info on-line as to what is good and what is not. A couple years ago I did just that and not only does everything sound amazing but it was also a whole lot of fun learning about vintage sound systems. Trust me, you will notice a huge difference.
thank you for the recommendation!
Love your house and your style. You dog is super cute too!
This is such a well put together apartment, love every little detail about it. I have a really serious question though - what kind of dog is Edie? She is the cutest thing I've ever seen.
hahahaha i know, she kills me with cuteness every day. she was a rescue dog, so i can't be sure of her breed, but i think she is a jack russell mix.
thank you so much!