Ann and Jack’s Cozy Austin Abode

Name: Designer Ann Tucker, founder of Studio A Group, and Jack Sanders, founder of Design Build Adventure. Along with their baby daughter and Daryl, the 13-year-old lab.
Location: Austin, Texas
Size: 1000 square feet
Years lived in: 4 years, owned

When you think about the dynamic design duo of Jack and Ann, you’re filled with equal parts envy and awe. Creative and energetic, they’ve both made their mark on Austin (and beyond) with their warm and modern aesthetics. Together, they’ve created a home that’s a perfect blend of both their styles and an absolute joy to be in.

Hard modern surfaces like concrete floors, steel counter tops and shelves meet soft textiles found from travels and those newly bought for baby. Patterns inspired by global designs mix softly but dynamically with white walls and lots of light. Cute hand-me-down furniture for baby from when Ann was a kid works wonders with newer purchased items and an array of vintage furniture finds. Everywhere you look is the feeling of perfect balance: between two talented designers, between a house built for grown-ups that now accommodates a baby beautifully. Between old and new.

My Style: I hate this question. But, if forced to answer, I’d say I trust my gut.

Inspiration: Travel, travel, and travel. And the New York Times. Also my grandmother. Tiny lady — huge style.

Favorite Element: The light.

Biggest Challenge: Keeping the weeds at bay in the front yard.

What Friends Say: It feels like a good balance between Jack’s input and my input.

Biggest Embarrassment: I used to be embarrassed by the floors — with the exposed divots in the slab where we removed walls, but I love them now. Jack insisted that we keep them raw and he was right. And, our TV room is actually our closet. Or maybe our closet is our TV room? I secretly love that room with all the colors and textures. It’s our “soft” room – which became imperative after the baby was born.

Proudest DIY: Most of the house is DIY. Adding windows, removing the door to the third bedroom, the nursery, nursery shelves, nursery barn door, kitchen, kitchen shelves, kitchen countertops, kitchen table, bathroom sinks. The outdoor shower. Jack is certainly most proud of the outdoor shower.

Biggest Indulgence: Art and fabrics. The living room sofa fabric was a huge indulgence. Jack has no idea. Shhhh. The nursery fabric was also ridiculous. But I had to have it.

Best Advice: Trust your gut – but remember everyone is better with an editor.

Dream Sources: Travel finds / Markets and farm supply stores.

• Walls & Ceiling: Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace OC-65
• Kitchen Cabinets and slatted wood wall: Benjamin Moore Horizon 1478

• Rag rug: City Wide Garage Sale (Austin)
• White porcelain light fixtures: Roost

• Sofa: Grandmothers. Small section of a very large sectional. Sofa fabric is from Clarence House.
• Patterned Rug: Ann bought in Morocco.
• Blue and white rugs: Restoration Hardware
• Coffee Table: Ann’s grandmother’s.
• Rattan chairs: Uptown Modern (Austin)
• End table: Made in France (Houston)
• Stackable side tables: Baker (given to Ann via a Baker promotion)
• Art: From a street vendor in Brazil.
• Blue stripped pillows: JM Drygoods (Austin)
• Needlepoint pillow: August Morgan (Austin)
• Child’s table: Ann’s childhood table
• Large Mirror: Jack made the frame

• Dining room table (kitchen table) Jack made it.
• Chairs: New Orleans antique store Wirthmore Antiques.

• Countertops: Steel Shelves: Steel (Jack fabricated and installed all the steel.)
• Cabinets: Designed with integrated pull. I didn’t want any hardware or tile in the kitchen. Since our kitchen is our dining room — I didn’t want to over “kitchen” it.
• High chair: Ann’s when she was little

• Jack built the steel hanging rods.
• Sofa: Blue Bird Circle Thrift store in Houston. Fabric is a terrible microsuede that I chose about 12 years ago. It’s indestructible, but not my best choice.
• Rug: Ann bought in Turkey
• Tapestries: JM Drygoods (Austin)

• Everything is a hand-me-down except the art on the walls and the sheets.

• Jack’s studio Design Build Adventure built the steel (painted blue) shelving and brackets.
• Woven baskets: Land of Nod.
• Ottoman (folds out to a twin bed – genius) from Bo Concept. I had the cover custom made.
• Fabric is Pierre Frey
• Crib: Stokke Sleepi was a gift from our daughter’s grandparents. I found great patterned sheets for the oval crib mattress at Sheet World.
• Rocking Chair: Ann’s parent’s
• Striped rug: DwellStudio
• Round braided rug: By Green at Heart Rugs from Etsy. Hand made out of recycled cotton. So incredibly soft and machine washable.
• Barn door: A close friend of Jack’s gave us the long Walter Anderson blockprint as a wedding present.
• Art: pieces Jack and I have collected over time.

• Jack made the steel vanity bases and shelf tops
• Sinks: Ronbow
• Wall mounted soap holders and mirrors: Old Home Store (Ft. Worth)

• Soft Tiles for shaded play area
• Mosquito curtain: Mosquito Curtains

Thanks, Ann and Jack!

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