Name: Christiane and David Erwin plus 4 kids, 2 dogs, 1 cat and 4 chickens
Location: Crestview Neighborhood — Austin, Texas
Size: 2140 square feet
Years lived in: Owned 11 years

To say Christiane and David Erwin are Mid-Century Modern enthusiasts is a bit of an understatement. They love the era and its style so much, when they couldn't find a MCM-inspired front door when renovating this Austin house in 2006, they started a company: Crestview Doors. Their home is warm, inviting, Mid-Century Modern — and has great doors!

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The remodel of the home in 2006 was quite an extensive one: a whole top floor was added, including a master bedroom suite, two kids' rooms and bathroom. According to Christiane, bedrooms for the kids were kept small to encourage more exploration of the rest of the house. Small bedrooms and a wide range of ages means the bedrooms are filled with space efficient designs and ideas. Also in the kids' bedrooms are some new products Crestview Doors is debuting this fall: stylish, patterned, cut-out Fancy Panels (these made into nightlights for closet doors.) In the master bedroom is another new product: Redi-Screens.

A second floor addition necessitated a staircase, and a beautiful wood one with bold railings was chosen. To balance out the statement of the stairs, a stone accent wall anchors the living space. A kids' activity room takes up residence opposite the living room, and definitely gives the whole home an exciting, energetic feel. The bottom floor guest bathroom is a perfect example of their dedication to the Mid-Century Modern era: though the pink toilet and sink were existing, the tiles were brought in to match the MCM spirit.

Apartment Therapy Survey:

My Style: Christiane: Mid-century meets Eclectic Chic. David: One part Josef Muller-Brockman and one part General Motors.

Inspiration: Our kids. Ray and Charles Eames — for their boldness and unabashed romanticism

Favorite Elements: The stairs.

Biggest Challenge: Keeping it clean with four kids and seven animals!

What Friends Say: It feels good.

Biggest Embarrassment: Christiane: Dirty walls and never-ending dust. David: Landscaping. Eeeesh.

Biggest Indulgence: Christiane: Vintage glass. David: Custom screen door by Susan Wallace.

Proudest DIY: Christiane: Right now: the new addition of the Redi-Screens to our bedroom. David: I started to say the kitchen, but really, I'm most proud of the architecture. Christiane and I spent 6 months designing and redesigning the house. We would email files back and forth. I think we have 150 different 3D files of our house. By the time we had a final plan I couldn't distinguish between her ideas and mine. It was just ours.

Biggest Advice: Christiane: Have fun! David: I asked a house appraiser if something would help the property value. He asked me if I planned on leaving the house feet first. I got it. Build to sell, if that's what you are going to do with the house, but build it to live if you are going to live there.

Dream Source: Room Service.

Resources of Note:

APPLIANCES:

    • Frigidaire in the kitchen
    • Maytag in the laundry room

HARDWARE:

    • A mix of vintage
    • Baldwin

FURNITURE:

    • Mostly thrift store and garage sale
    • Online consignment
    • Some IKEA

ACCESSORIES:

    • Mostly thrift store finds
    • IKEA
    • Target

LIGHTING:

    • Rejuvenation

RUGS & CARPET:

TILES & STONE:

    • Modwalls

WINDOW TREATMENTS:

    • Redi-Screens "Casbah" (master bedroom)

ARTWORK:

    • Posters collected from travels.

PAINT:

    • Downstairs bath: Ralph Lauren Polaris
    • Living room, office: ICI 924 Floating Lilly
    • Kitchen: ICI 797 Moonstone
    • Dining: ICI162 Red Maple (needs gray primer)
    • All bedrooms and upstairs hall: ICI 821 Honey Moon
    • Upstairs bathrooms: ICI 815 Natural White
    • All trim, whole house: ICI 815 Natural White

Thanks, Christiane and David!

Images: Adrienne Breaux

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