Designer: Misty Adair
Location: Austin, Texas
Size: 1500 square feet
When the homeowner of this gorgeous mid-century bungalow enlisted the help of veteran Austin designer Misty Adair, they gave her few limitations. Important to them was creating a fun, hip and carefree modern home while staying true to the home's vintage heritage—and they wanted color! Completed over one summer, Misty was able to give this bold-loving homeowner exactly what they asked for...
The exterior of the home's controversial orange color was the homeowner's idea, and Misty took that cue and ran with it. This home's colorful palette was inspired by a gorgeous fabric with bold hues and circular patterns, now residing in the kitchen's banquette seating area. Everywhere you turn bright wall colors compliment equally bright furniture and accessories, but nothing seems too over-the-top. Misty did an amazing job of combining many bright colors without the space feeling overwheming. Vintage furniture finds mingle nicely with newer, modern pieces, and wall alcoves and open kitchen shelving provide the perfect resting places for interesting accessories.
Custom made window treatments add pattern and texture in coordinating colors. Lighting is super important in this space, and several gorgeous fixtures take turns illuminating nooks and crannies of the house. If the interior doors in this home look amazingly vintage—it's because they are. These doors are one of Misty's favorite elements to the home, plucked individually from piles of other doors and seamlessly integrated into their new home here. The only room in the house not sporting the bright color scheme is the master bedroom, where muted light blues and browns create a soft sanctuary. Our favorite part of this home's design: the details. The place isn't over furnished; it's not stuffed to the gills with furniture or accessories. Rather the tiny details, like the the penny mosaic tiles in the kitchen and the front porch, the gorgeous kitchen cabinet hardware, the one-of-a-kind doorknobs—all work together to create a truly fun and inspiring space!
AT Survey:
Our Style: The house is a mid-century bungalow, so we wanted to stay true to the nature of the house. . . but with a twist. The homeowner wanted the home to be a colorful playhouse that was full of things that would make people smile. There was a great deal of attention to detail so that visitors can constantly be amused by little surprises. We like the juxtapostion of vintage or slightly rustic items with cleaner, contemporary pieces. Everything was carefully chosen because either the homeowner or myself spotted it and instantly loved it, but there was no distinct "style" guiding our choices.
Inspiration: The mod concentric circles fabric used in the kitchen began our color palette by inspiring us to use juicy oranges and pinks, with cooler blues and greens.
Favorite Room: The kitchen. It really is the all purpose living space in this home and it was the starting point for our design choices. I love the tonal blue color scheme with the pops from the orange stove (originally in there), apple martini Caesarstone, and the penny round tiles. The marble countertops give the room a bit of sophistication and the comfy banquet counteracts that with outright informality, inviting the family to lounge as long as they want.
Favorite Element: I am really pleased with the vintage doors in the house because they were literally found treasures. I spent hours in a warehouse of architectural salvage looking for just the right doors to lend authenticity and interest to the house. The original doors had been replaced over the year with cheap hollow doors and I just could not bear it.
Biggest Challenge: Hardware. I was determined to find vintage doorknobs but that became a nightmare of hunting down intricate little parts to complete mortise lock sets. I managed to do one door, and then settled on vintage reproduction sets for the rest.
Most Talked About Element: The exterior color of the house. People either love it or hate it, and they voice thier opinions loudly! The homeowner picked the color because she wanted something vibrant that would contrast with the landscaping. I thought is was a bold choice and loved that she was willing to take a risk.
Proudest DIY: The seesaw in the front yard was inspired by a project in ReadyMade magazine.
Oldest Item in the House: Probably the oldest items in the house are the French farmhouse table and cupboard, which were bought at a local antique store.
Best advice: Be flexible. When you remodel an old house there are many surprises along the way (especially electrical issues) and they can be expensive. You have to be willing to change your plans as you go, allow more time for completion, and come up with creative solutions. You can choose to be anxious and miserable, or consider the remodel to be an interesting and exciting challenge.
Cleaning or Organizing Tip: Hire a professional organizer to push you to let go of your old, unnecessary stuff and to help you put new, efficient systems in place. You have to be willing to constantly revise your systems to adapt them to your current lifestyle.
Favorite Store: In Austin, I like Mercury and Homegirls. There is an antique store in a small town outside of Austin where I always find amazing things, but I'll have to keep it a secret.
Place You Buy Things for Your Design Projects: Anywhere I can find them. I have a very democratic shopping approach of going to discount stores, chain stores, outlet malls, boutiques, antique stores, and design centers. I shop local as much a possible, but use on-line sources like Design Public as well.
Biggest Indulgence: The restored vintage O'Keefe orange stove was a huge splurge. . . and sadly had to be later returned due to a malfunction. It was gorgeous and was the highlight of the whole kitchen.
Resources:
Furniture: Zebra credenza and orange sofa from Century Modern in Dallas, French farmhouse table and kitchen cabinet from Dreyfus Antiques in Austin, ghost chairs and barstool from Topdeq, blue bed from Austin Antique Mall (we had it powedercoated), swivel chairs from Ikea, mirror side tables from Mercury
Accessories: CB2, Soco shops
Doors: Discovery Architectural Antiques in Gonzales
Cabinet hardware: Architects and Heroes, Alexander Marchant
Lighting: mostly Eurofase from Lights Fantastic
Rugs and Carpets: Rug tiles from Flor
Tiles and Stone: Caesarstone from Wilkinson Woodworks, marble and tile from Architectural Tile and Stone
Window Treatments: custom made by Leslye Womack of Best Dressed Windows
Carpentry: built-in furniture and shelving by Dean Holms of Homeworx
Fabrics: Interior Fabrics, Stockton Hicks Laffey and Silk Road in Austin, ReproDepot.com
Vinyl wall stickers: WallCandyArts.com
Photos by Adrienne Breaux
© 2009 Apartment Therapy
OMG what a clean & happy home... Kudos for using bold color to decorate your living space...
I love each room but the bathroom ROCKS!
view New York Muhtari's profile
What a fun house! I'm guessing the owners throw some great parties in that space.
view PhillyLass's profile
I love love love this space! Way to be fearless and fun! It makes me happy just looking at it, so it must be a very happy place to live.
view kimmersk9's profile
I like it a lot... Especially the bedroom and living room. Looking at those pictures, I think I really am afraid of colour! Although I love it, I would never be able to do something like that at home.
view jjanul's profile
Great use of color and distinct furniture pieces throughout the house. I really love the space. I think one of my favorite things is the couch. Where did you find it? I would love to find something similar. Was the orange the original color? Truly amazing find.
view monikatini's profile
This one is a winner!
view Khakigrl's profile
i'm really loving this!
view bijoux's profile
Wow, I'd never have the guts to slap that kind of color on my walls, but it works wonderfully!
view JH4285's profile
wowza. i love this home. it seems so inviting and fun.. so clean and perfectly edited. i absolutely love it! thanks misty for sharing your gem of a house!
view animalhouze's profile
This is just a masterful use of color and form. It's fun and well designed, yet looks like a place that people live in rather than a showroom.
I notice Misty was careful to keep the floors and ceilings relatively neutral, which prevents the bold color from being too overpowering.
view catrobmar's profile
where did you get your bedside lights in the kids room? its fantastic!
view pamcakes's profile
I LOVE your house. I want my kitchen to look just like yours. I love the way you've combined old and new and yet not lost functionality.
WELL DONE!!!
view ncantine's profile
absolutely gorgeous. i love color like that. unfortunately my partner and i disagree on color!
view terka27's profile
Totally awesome use of color!
view danze's profile
I adore the big orange couch! Is this home in the Fall Colors Contest?!
view Monica's profile
Please! I would love to know the paint colors/company used in the bedroom/kitchen and living room. I am looking for the perfect green gold color and I love that one!
view Garuda2121's profile
no words...
view bprophs's profile
OMG, I remember this house! I saw it on the MLS listings when it was for sale recently and fell in love with all the bright colors!! I wished I had the money to buy it. So rarely does a house come furnished and with all the rooms painted and remodeled so well, that you don't even have to do anything! So cute! Did you enter the Fall Colors contest??
view TrueTex's profile
oh I love this! Thank you for sharing!
view hanako66's profile
Incredible. Makes me think my own spaces may look like this at some point.
view miss monte's profile
My partners at my firm are all in an uproar over the intricate delicacies of this fantasy paradise. John likes the over-the-top exterior while Patterson just adores the spacial mutiny. I personally like the butterflies. Great home. Can't win them all! Call Dulles, Patterson and Cojack for all your legal needs!
view cojack7's profile
I am absolutely floored. Never have I liked something so much that is so opposite of my personal taste! It's so bold and over-the-top, yet done to perfection. WOW!
view als1's profile
PS... where did you find the pendant light that's in the butterfly room? Does it attach directly to any bare bulb pendant?
view als1's profile
this is what i'm talking about! it is COLORFUL and, even more important, well thought out. Some of the other places we've been seeing touted as colorful are just a mess. even over-the-top colorful homes need order and every color chosen should have a reason. In this home, all of the colors relate to eachother. in the living room i LOVE the blue curtain against the green wall!! that combination reminds me of my place actually.
oh and i LOVE the kitchen!!
view Bobbycat5's profile
... should be a colour entry!!!!!
view ilovebc's profile
what an absolutely beautiful happy upbeat home...
view happiestcamper's profile
I love the outside areas the most! (And the kitchen and livingroom and baths...and everything!) But the small tiles and the orange colour! Love it!
I wonder what the neighbours think?
view Lilli K.'s profile
Great house! I love all the tile.
Why are you keeping the antique shop a secret??
view jamiealyse's profile
wow wow wow wow
view formosagirl's profile
I've never said this about a house on AT yet...but...
I love it!!
view amiencc's profile
oh geez...this isn't working with me today
there is a big wet droooly spot in the middle there... I've never drooled over a house yet :)
view amiencc's profile
i smiled through the entire slide-show. i looooove color and you guys did an amazing job.
view elinka189's profile
When I first saw the front pic I considered skipping the slide show, but there's a lot I like about this house. All the lamps for one. And using the same colors inside & out is very clever also. The orange & green make me smile.
view MoJonson's profile
I'm not usually a 100% fan of Mid-C, but I LOVE this.
view JosieDaisy's profile
The front pic of the article (with the birds) not the front of the house-which I like very much. Sorry. Rambling.
view MoJonson's profile
Why isn't this in the Fall Colors contest? Or is it?
view MamaChilanga's profile
Lovely colorful home!! I really liked that blue in the kitchen and they have the exact same wine fridge i have.
Jen Ramos
'100% Recycled DESIGNER Cards & More'
www.madebygirl.com
madebygirl.blogspot.com
--
view jenniferramos's profile
Oh my Gosh! This is GORGEOUS! I am bookmarking the home right now!
view Zohreh's profile
the house is just wonderful!
love it!
thanks for sharing!
view panka's profile
Incredible! You've made every space creative and fun yet practical and functional. My favorite is the kitchen-I would love to hang out there everyday!
view abear's profile
So cute!!!!! You are so not afraid of color and you did an outstanding job.
view LoriSF's profile
thnk you for the great inspiration! this is one of the best tour ever, compliments!
view plch's profile
fabulous!!! too bad they didn't enter the color contest instead.
view Lady J's profile
Love the tour. I think kitchen decor is a really hard place to decorate - the functionality part always is a kicker. I used these DecoSticks Wall stickers and they helped decorate very quickly, and with great success.
In fact DecoSticks Wall Stickers were a great idea!
view jm2u's profile
Love the colors! Awesome place!
view suzy8track's profile
From the designer . . .
Thanks so much for the positive feedback over this house! My team and I worked very hard to make this house unique and I am delighted that others appreciate our efforts. I also want to give kudos to the homeowner who has a great sense of style and was willing to let me just run with it. I will try to answer some of the questions posted in follow up comments.
view mistola's profile
The pendant lamp in the butterfly room is the MIO Bendant lamp. It comes flat packed and attaches to a bulb. You can order it from 2modern.com .
view mistola's profile
The amazing orange sofa is a refurbished piece that came from Century Modern in Dallas. All the items are unique but you can see their website for the current inventory.
My "secret" place for accessories. . . believe it or not, there are a couple of fantastic antique stores that I found in Llano, TX. One of the vendors at Whimsey's has a great eye for objects and arrangements. And the prices are even better.
view mistola's profile
I loved the question, "What do the neighbors think?"
The answer is that they love it or hate it. When we were working on the outside of the house, people would walk by and comment frequently. Once a couple made it very clear that they thought the orange exterior was an eye sore and were appalled that anyone would ever make such a choice. But it's South Austin and anything goes really.
view mistola's profile
Regarding paint colors . . . most of them are from Sherwin Williams and some were from the Martha Stewart line that they don't carry anymore. The green in the living room is Melange Green SW6710. A slightly toned down version of that green gold that my clients love is Ryegrass SW6423.
view mistola's profile
Sorry, but I have to part company with the majority here. The colors are way too cartoonish to be taken seriously. It looks like the winner of a challenge on an episode of a teen version of "Top Design".
view beddybee's profile
Wow! This home is ADORABLE. I love the little circle mosaic tiles on the outside of the home. What a fun and festive detail, and a neat way to add more color. Really outstanding design. Austin is clearly a fun place to live!
view AmandainAustin's profile
Finally! The use of bold colors but done in a tastefull fashion. Not a easy thing to do. You pulled it off!
view Patrick F. aka PsychoPat's profile
this house is amazing. i would move in in a heartbeat.
view Linda @ thebargainlife.com's profile
I love love the sleeping rooms. Both!
Congratulations
view sweetlime's profile
This is an interesting place. It contrasts old and new, and the colors are fascinating.
view trehcurb's profile
You can take the cowgal out of Texas, but...
Of course. Leave it to me. Despite living a decade in Europe and the myriad enthusiasms and influences from this and much travel elsewhere, I am utterly drawn to - and inspired by - this house back 'home' in the Lone Star State! The colors and shades, and especially the contrasts and highlights, are superb. The use of color is oh so well controlled, a lesson I need to study while reeling in my own, more chaotic, color tendencies.
I love the bedroom café curtains (the least colorful element in the house alas) and their sibling shades above that meet for full coverage if needed. The built-in kitchen seating and the half-wall/shelving room divider combine solid, practical design and full-on character. I also admire boldly using a duo blue/green trim, and wow for all the chunky wood elements (original columns?) that you rightly copy for the kitchen shelves, etc. And⦠much more covered in comments elsewhere.
[warning: texas musing ahead] This house, to me, represents so much of the character and originality that will always endear me to a certain breed of creative Texans - uniquely stylish folks unafraid of displaying an offbeat levity in life (a sense of merriment, whether in ornamentation or elsewhere, not to be confused with superficiality). It's not what most people immediately associate with it, but this house is so Texas! And with a very Austin sensibility, although the orange exterior is much nicer than the longhorn shade. Cheers and yeehaw from a 'recovering' Texan in Amsterdam
view amsterdandi's profile
what a great house. adorable and fun. i love it.
view brand-eye's profile
where did you get the bedside light in the butterfly room?
thanks!
view pamcakes's profile
Now that's what I call color!!! Great Job! Fun spaces, a real delight!
view rachelrachel's profile
I love your banquette in the kitchen. Can you please tell me where you got that seating? Or was it a DIY? I just emailed it to my husband and said "This is what we need"...
view KellyKelleye's profile
Kelly -- The banquette seating was built by my carpenter. I have used this sort of thing in several small dining rooms lately and it works like a charm. You can email me at designontheside@grandecom.net for more details.
view mistola's profile
We specialize in supply imperial wood vein marble,grey wood grain stone,golden wood vein stone,etc.
It is excellent materials to for wall and flooring decorations due to its unique natural wood vein.
Size: 15*60cm,20*40cm,30*60cm
Thickness:1.3cm
Surface: acid,polished
Packing: wood crates
Email:zengerstone@gmail.com
http://www.china-stone-marble.com
view Zenger Stone's profile
This is the epitome of South Austin done right.
view bluemamie's profile