The Surprising Thing Missing from Danny Amendola’s Austin Home

You may associate pro-athletes with cheesy bachelor pad decor, but Houston Texans wide receiver Danny Amendola bucks that trend. 

Amendola, 35, who moonlights in front of the camera for Ford Models, opened up his Austin home for Architectural Digest, and it’s safe to say the sleek property was the perfect catch. But that doesn’t mean it was quick to complete. 

The home, which was built in 1968, needed a year’s worth of renovations. Along with architect Tray Toungate and the help of several others, Amendola worked to create his ideal oasis off the field.  

“There were so many moments where we’d FaceTime him and Danny would be walking off the football field looking at wall patterns,” Toungate told AD.  “He really took the time to make the space his.”

Inspired greatly by the mid-century modern aesthetic of Palm Springs, Amendola had the space filled with dark brown wood, sleek shapes, and retro patterns.

“What I wanted to do here was to create depth and weight with the various textures we used,” Amendola said. “There’s a lot of steel on the walls in the back and heavy tile for some of the living room to add more warmth, to make it feel grounded, defined.” 

The light-filled kitchen features stainless steel appliances, a large center island with extra storage, and custom-built shelves. Continuing out to the living area, a massive camel-color leather couch sits next to a table and bench under large mirrors. The living room also has a pool table, however Amendola is quick to state “I’m by no means a billiards shark, but I can hold my own.” The comfortable living area has unique touches of Amendola’s style, like Muhammad Ali wallpaper and artwork featuring Brigitte Bardot that Amendola bought at Art Basel. He says a lot of the art he’s curated for the space he’s had for years, and even waited to frame it “before putting them in a specific wall of a specific home.” Finally, a sleek, custom-built bar area features rich red tiling on the backsplash and an elegant L-shaped curve. 

In the primary bedroom, the stunning landscape of Austin holds court, thanks to a massive window overlooking trees and natural beauty. The primary bathroom is filled with mid-century modern inspiration, and has rich, wooden cabinetry.

The outdoor living space, which was inspired by the Soho House in Miami, was created for stylish comfort alongside the swimming pool. 

“I wanted to put a nice sofa on the deck and some daybeds by the pool to make it comfortable,” he said. “A place to escape a little bit.”

But there’s one thing you won’t find in Amendola’s home that’s a bit unusual for a professional athlete: there’s no gym. However, that’s a conscious decision.

“I’ve always tried to separate my exercise from my home life,” Amendola said. “I don’t want to go into the weight room feeling lazy and lethargic in my own house and get a mediocre workout in. When I’m at home, it’s my time to relax and be with friends and family. And whenever I go to the gym, I know it’s business.”