Name: Jennifer Chenoweth, her two sons, a dog, a cat, and chickens
Location: Central East Austin, Texas
Size: 1,700 square feet
Years lived in: Owned 10 years
When we came across the East Austin house of artist Jennifer Chenoweth, of Fisterra Studio, at the last East Austin Studio Tour, we were bowled over by this simple, unique and colorful home. Jennifer's put a lot work in this 102-year-old house, and she's filled it with her own art and furniture, art from friends and a lot of personality.
It's not often that you meet a homeowner who can claim they've made or designed nearly every piece of furniture in their home like Jennifer. A talented painter and metalworker, her unique designs fill the house, from the beds, to the couch, to the window rods to even the hardware and lighting. You may even remember seeing her unique style in a post we did long ago featuring her burglar bars. Also a professional paint color consultant for hire, we fell in love with some of the unique color ideas she's incorporated, like patches of color and dripping wall borders.
Accompanying all the handmade furniture are her pieces of artwork sprinkled around the house along with friends' work, like ceramic artist Jennifer Pritchard and others. We even like how Jennifer used the hanging decorations from a recent birthday party to add surprising punches of color in her bedroom. The kids' room, home to two rambunctious young boys, is bright and filled with fun toys. Our favorite part of the house has to be the kitchen and adjoining dining room. Featuring an original color palette and a great set of windows at the height of someone sitting at the table, the room's wood walls and metal tile-like ceiling are a fun and unique combination of colors and textures.
AT Survey:
My/Our style: Contemporary, artistic, handmade.
Inspiration: Philosophy, literature and Roman empire architects.
Favorite Element: My bedroom, the bookshelves and the paper flower-fireworks.
Biggest Challenge: It’s a 102-year old house, nothing is really straight or square.
What Friends Say: Can I house-sit?
Biggest Embarrassment: One closet… we don’t look in there.
Proudest DIY: Chicken coop.
Biggest Indulgence: Expensive glass tile backsplash that I put in, 8 years ago it was really pricey stuff.
Best advice: Vacuum out your attic.
Dream source: 17th Century China (the country).
Resources:
Appliances: Sears/Home Depot
Furniture: my workshop/studio
Hardware: my workshop/studio
Accessories: my workshop/studio
Lighting: my workshop/studio
Window Treatments: my workshop/studio
Beds: my workshop/studio
Artwork: my workshop/studio
Paint: Front Bedroom: Ralph Lauren Suede "Desert Cactus"; Hallway: Benjamin Moore "Rockport Gray"; kids' room and yellow splash in hallway are Benjamin Moore "Mulholland Yellow" and Kitchen trim color is Benjamin Moore "Rust."
Flooring: mostly original hardwoods
(Thanks, Jennifer!)
Photos by Adrienne Breaux
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I love this! The metalwork is gorgeous, I love the yellow stained glass (?), the colours and textures are wonderful...
Plus, I love Austin!
view mjr's profile
I'm so glad to finally see this house on AT! To see this house in person is to be blown away by the creativity that Jennifer possesses. It's really impressive.
view elizgonz's profile
Wow--it's awesome! I love it! Literally a dream come true. I wish there were more kitchen shots, though--I'd love to see the backsplash she mentioned!
view OneWallKitchen's profile
Onewallkitchen---
Sorry about the lack of a ton of kitchen shots. Jennifer graciously let me take these photos in the middle of the East Austin Studio Tour and her kitchen had been taken over by the previous night's catering company. And I admit I was so taken by the dining corner I let those shots dominate the shoot!
view adriennebreauxdotcom's profile
What a personal home. Jennifer and her sons seem to be a very interesting trio.
view Elise_B's profile
Man, this place makes my mouth water for some Stubbs B-B-Q and a cold Lone Star! This house speaks to the quirky nature of Austin, not to mention the daring nature of East Austin too! Dig it big time!
view jef613's profile
great house! love the creative mix of old and new, the old interior doors (my favorite photo is the close-up of the door knob and peeling paint door)
hooray for the east side! Hooray for another person opting to stay out of the suburbs, mentally and physically!
view Furpants's profile
Is the author or the artist the professional paint color consultant?
view kelleyk's profile
Chapeau !! It's great when I see someone whose style is completely different than mine, and I truly can love and appreciate it !
view AndyinFrance's profile
Vibrant and fun. Love.
view ponytailed_informant's profile
Lots of personality here. And it's nice when the exterior of the home is shown, too ... yours is lovely.
view rustypatina's profile
kelleyk--
Good awkward grammar catch. Jennifer the artist is the color consultant.
view adriennebreauxdotcom's profile
"It's great when I see someone whose style is completely different than mine, and I truly can love and appreciate it !" -AndyinFrance
Took the words right out of my mouth!
view typwc's profile
Not my style, but I agree with a previous poster: a lot of personality.
view niabassett's profile
What a lovely and unique home, thanks for sharing!
view michpc's profile
Funky! A modernized update of the "Pee-Wee Herman" style!
view MarshallO's profile
I'm excited to see this posted because I also saw it at the last East Austin Studio tour and I was very impressed. My family had to chase me out because I didn't want to leave.
view HopeK's profile