Mother's Day is only a few weeks away, and that means it's time to start thinking about a thoughtful present so you're not rushing last minute! If you don't have time or skills to create a lovely handmade gift yourself for mom, Austin's explosion of creative artisans (and their wares) is sure to be inspiring. More

One of our favorite house tours in recent memory is the Austin home of cute couple Jenny and Collin, who, despite living in one of those beige, cookie-cutter apartment complexes managed to create a bold, colorful and personality-filled home. To say we were surprised to learn their miniscule outdoor areas were given equally thoughtful design treatment would be a lie; we knew they'd be adorable. More

Name: Woodworker and craftsman Mark Maček, his lovely wife Pamela Peltz and three adorable cats
Location: Gullet Gardens — East Austin, Texas
Size: 1500 square feet
Years lived in: 7 1/2 years — owned

Mark Maček's first impression upon seeing a tiny photo of the exterior of this house in the MLS listing was that this looked like a "house." An archetypal structure, with a gable roof and a homey feeling. Like what you think of when you think of "home." It's good he had that initial thought about it, because what they found when they first visited wasn't exactly dreamy.

More

Name:

juanita

Location:

Austin, TX

Square Feet:

350

Division:

Teeny-Tiny

What I Love About My Small Home:

I love the pops of color and how breezy it is... and of course the bathroom. :)

More

One of the most fun parts of my travels is the opportunity to meet my fellow Apartment Therapy contributors as I move from city to city. So when Austin's resident tech guru, Chris Perez invited me to join him on the Smarter Spaces Tour last week, I jumped at the chance to tag along. More

With the weather getting so darn lovely outside lately, I've been spending time in my neglected-during-the-winter-months outdoor areas cleaning them up and dreaming about what sort of designs I might incorporate this spring. Feeling the need for some bold color inspiration, I hopped on over to a favorite spot of mine in Austin — and grabbed some shots so you could get inspired, too! More

After spending a few solid weeks in Austin, Texas, I'm starting to be swept away by its sunny skies, never-ending supply of tacos, and quirky vibe. A phrase I've continually heard throughout my time here is "Keep Austin Weird", and the locals are committed to doing just that. More

Name: Jeffrey Lamb
Location: Travis Heights, Austin, Texas
Size: 1650 square feet
Years lived in: 0 years; still looking to live here someday

Jeffrey, who currently lives in New York with his wife and two children, is accustomed to living small and smart. A self-identified DIY'er, he's also not afraid to get his hands dirty and involved in projects of all sizes. As he started getting things in order for a relocation back to his home state of Texas, he knew he had to put trust in a professional. See how they brought this mid-century style home up-to-date in a format suitable for his growing family.

More

Rebekah, who lives in the suburbs of Austin, wrote in to share this simple sandbox she put together for her daughter "E" - it took her less than a day and she only spent $50. Best of all, there's nothing permanent about it so it can be reconfigured next year or easily taken apart when her daughter outgrows it. More

I'm always interested in learning more about companies that manufacture products here in the US. Recently, I came across FireFly LED Lighting, an Austin, TX based company that was founded in 2009. They create energy saving LEDs, and their line includes replacement bulbs and fixtures, along with custom solutions for individuals and businesses. More