Name: Freelance writer/director Michael Holbrook Moss, his youngest daughter, Adrian, little dog Peanut and lab Zoe.
Location: Barton Hills — Austin, Texas
Size: 1950 square feet
Years lived in: 14 — owned
With cool blues music pouring out of a stereo from a gorgeous wall of built-in cabinets and surrounded by vintage furniture finds, we immediately felt at home in the house of talented writer and director Michael Moss. We were struck by the perfect balance of cool and hip pieces mixed with a comfortable, laid back feel.
We might have "Mid-Century Modern" in the title and the house might have plenty of great MCM gems, but this home doesn't feel like any sort of museum. It's warm, welcoming and all the cool furniture in there is used and enjoyed. We love the changes in level that occur throughout the house that really introduces you to different spaces as you step down a few steps and then back up, and we love all those windows that let lots of sunshine in. The color palette and design scheme really come from the found pieces that, because they're all from a similar era, just seem to flow together so well.
Apartment Therapy Survey:
My style: Modern but not militant.
Inspiration: Music and martinis. Idealized Manhattan apartments in 1960s dramas and comedies. Clothes to match.
Favorite Element: My office.
Biggest Challenge: Hairy and stinky dogs.
What Friends Say: Wow, this is so cool!
Biggest Embarrassment: My behavior.
Proudest DIY: Tearing out two walls separating the dining room from the living room.
Biggest Indulgence: Custom made, built-in cabinets made by my friend Adam.
Best Advice: Don't have anything you're afraid of scratching or staining.
Dream Sources: Music and martinis.
Resources of Note:
APPLIANCES
- • Sears
HARDWARE
- • Breed and Company
FURNITURE
- • My ex-girlfriend
• Vintage stores
LIGHTING
- • Home Depot
RUGS & CARPETS
- • Skandinavian (from an ex-girlfriend)
TILE & STONE
- • Real brick.
WINDOW TREATMENT
- • Try to avoid them.
ARTWORK
- • Original photography Keith Carter
• Original photography John Langford
• Original photography Michael Moss
PAINT
- • Sherwin Williams
Thanks, Michael!
Images: Adrienne Breaux
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I love Michael's answers.
LOVE
Lots to love here!
That photograph is beautiful!
Wow, he got some cool stuff from his exes. All I got was some emotional baggage and an umbrella.
Adorable dogs. My favorite thing is the purple door.
Dies. I have a very similar room divider waiting for me in my mother's basement. I NEED to get that.
Cool house. And nice work, Adrienne. Otis would like to meet Zoe.
Is that a rat terrier? Also, amazing home.
Really lovely! I love the outdoor space as well. But..um...it seems like the rug is way to small for the dining room table.
Excellent space! Love the round drop-leaf table... where was this from?
flawless execution, but zoe upstages the whole thing...she looks like a fine girl..and that rat- looking dog ain't bad either:P
Lovely space. I want those armchairs.
Definitely one of my favorite tours. I especially love the fact that just about everything is vintage here. I've seen every piece at 2nd hand/vintage shops myself and he puts it all together marvelously. Next time I need new flooring, I'm definitely going for the brick. Can't do that now, but I can have a martini!
Gasp!
So over the MCM look !
Everyones house I go to these days has the same lamps chairs rugs, etc and overall look .
VERY nice wood. Specially that dining table and sideboard. Nice grain.
LIKED the sitout and the dining cove.
Shuddered at the red tile what-dyou-call-it treatment.
AND the upholstery.
Apologies for being so blunt.
A pat to Miss dog.
And that center table in the living room. V nice.
I looove the room featured in the cover photo, but the rest just seems pretty.... regular.
Please consider replacing the light above the dining room table. It's a cool light, but not the right size or proportion for that location.
My favorite dogs are mellow, content, old ones like Zoe. Dogs aren't for every household, and I agree that dog hair and stink are big challenges. However, mine also are well worth the increased housework. My husband and I and our two dogs make a happy home together.
The teak arm chair with the yellow pillow on it....does anyone recognize it? I have that chair, haven't seen it anywhere else.
The house is lovely, indeed sleek without being sterile. The warmth of all your beautiful teak furniture helps. I am baffled as to how you keep white carpet with dogs. I have one dog and have resigned myself to a life without rugs. :( How do you do it??
sick. love it. great mcm style.
Wonderful house. I'll never get tired on MCM, my parents had it, I tried other styles & went back to it. It's easy to tweak, it's design is pleasant, it stores easily, moves easily... it's fun...
Love the floor in dining room, love the dog... I agree that pets are worth the extra 15 mins a day of housework!
on= of ...
So you're the one that snagged that awesome teak credenza from Room Service... (they had one just like it)
I love love love the tilework.
Light, concise, and love the Adrian Pearsall coffee table.
Love, love, LOVE! Definitely swank. And did you *really* get that FABULOUS arc lamp at Home Depot???
Arc lamp but not Arco. It's lovely. I am assuming it is a FIND rather than from the Depot. Please answer kelliblue's inquiry.
This is a long shot, but can someone please name the designer of the black metal/"rubber band" bar stools? I have two chairs that look identical. I found them in a thrift store, and have a feeling they might be by some fancy designer.
Very nice,, neat..clean...organized...i like the colors u added to take the brightness out too,,the wood is very nice beautiful.. the only i don't like is the white carpet..like inviting instant dirt to come in and show the the spots on the carpet easily..hope the dogs can keep it clean,, other wise you did a nice job with everything you have... thanks....
Just seeing this on a Sunday morning while drinking coffee and love what you've done and decided to comment, my first comment in months.
What I like is that while it's heavily in the MCM camp, it's not quite all that, which helps keep it from looking too much like a museum.
The living room has more of the MCM look, but the lamps look post MCM, more mainstream mid to late 70's thrown in - as is the family/TV room across from the kitchen, it's more mainstream mid to late 70's modern than merely contemporary.
I like it! It's more my style as well as I decided while in Jr High that I liked modern, mid century especially and I've stayed with that look, throwing in more of the 70's mod/modern aesthetic in to boot.
Soooo not into MCM, but I can appreciate the loveliness of this home, and the serious dedication that went into creating it. Here's my hope: it wanes as a trend, and we all win: I have to see less of it everywhere, prices fall, and die-hard devotees have access to more pieces.
Stunning space, and beautifully furnishe, even better to hear its lived in and not just a museum piece! Would love to display my retro pieces in that living room!
Wow, this is one sweet home!
I really like how the greens balance the warmth of the wood and brick.
I'm with changup and baba yaga - I am SO over MCM. I've never actually been a devotee - it just leaves me cold for some reason. No offense to those who do love it - it's true craftsmanship. I just think it's better in small doses and not as an overall theme. I like seeing someone's own personality shine through in their home. I do love the outdoor area and the pup.
Wow, I am LOVING that brick floor. How unique. And cute doggies too. :-)
a very nice house straight out of the 1960s/1970's. it looks exactly like my parents' house did back in the day. nothing new, nothing exciting, just another mcm house. the only thing exciting not to be found in a normal mcm house back then is the indian pillow on the couch.
lovely but inspiring for me at least.
I dug it. While there has a been a rising tide of MCM backlash, for some of us (ahem, 40-somethings) it is a nostalgic aesthetic from our childhoods. I take odd comfort in angles and lines. This home looks lovely and inviting. The dogs are ADORBS.
Nice,love the furniture.And the doggies.
Why did the girlfriend leave the good stuff? Loved the house but with his droll answers there has to be an interesting story re the love affair and breakup
Love the dogs! Nice house!
But all I see is too much teak and walnut ( ie brown ).
Dining room light is much too high! try lowering it to be 29-31" off the top of the table.
Lots of furniture with similar legs.. a sea of brown legs!
Dining room rug is way too small too.
Not feeling relaxed. Feeling like I'm in a vintage store in Sweden.
Love the fact that he puts it out there though.
And really it is quite nice overall. Very neat!
some really beautiful mid century pieces, i am very impressed the doggies dont try to destroy them:)
Single ATX mid century gal right here :)
Thankyou for a charming MCM home without pretensions that looks very livable and comfortable, well done. Good to see the dogs at home as well.
Your place is wonderful, congrats and thanks for sharing :)
I love this- well done!
Yes, very, very late MCM - more like California Modern of the 70's. Nice job.
In the last photo, what is the orange and yellow ball-tree decoration called? I would really like to find one!
swoon.
LOVE both the coffee table in the "formal" living room and the bar stools at the breakfast counter. Can anyone point me in the right direction to find something similar? Thanks for your help!