This Whole Austin House Is DIY, But the Kitchen and Sharpie Wall Are Extra Inspiring

Name: Lacy Hoysradt, husband Reed, and two daughters (one’s human and one’s a dog), Wilder and Padme.
Location: Austin, Texas
Type of home: House
Size: 2,000 square feet
Years lived in: 2 years, owned

Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: Honestly, I NEVER thought we would own a home. Before this house, we were house hunting and thought we had found the “one.” We were about to make an offer when I lost my job. It was devastating.

About a year later, my husband decided to start looking at homes again. I wanted no part in the hunt this time. I just could not get my hopes up once again. So my husband found our current house and put in an offer all on his OWN. Once the offer was accepted he took me over to see our new home for the first time. It was brand new and all kinds of beige and boring and blah, but it was ours. I knew we could take this blank canvas and make it ours.

I wanted to change up the builder-grade blah and turn it into something charming, unique, and modern. We make sure to inject our personality into every square foot that we transform. Our home is our safe place. If I get a wild hair and want to sharpie an entire wall, I do it! Yes, I’ve done it. Our main goal is to have fun and make it uniquely ours.

Describe your home’s style in 5 words or less: The arts flirting with the sciences.

What is your favorite room and why? The kitchen! It was a spontaneous renovation. I finally convinced Reed to take down some upper cabinets which turned into removing the backsplash. We scoured Restore Habitat for Humanity until we found tile that was pretty and in our very small budget. We painted the cabinets, added open shelving, replaced the microwave with a bold range hood, and made the island one-of-a-kind. Oh, and we started this renovation when I was six months pregnant with our very first child. I love how beautiful and unique our kitchen is… but I love the journey to get there even more.

What’s the last thing you bought (or found!) for your home? Holy Night art print by Fran Rodriguez.

Any advice for creating a home you love? Follow your heart! Don’t design your home for anyone else besides yourself and your family. Seriously, always lead with your heart. Find inspo in all the places and figure out why you love that inspo shot so much. Is it the feeling you get when you look at it, the rug, the color scheme, or just the whole vibe? This can give you a clear idea of not just WHAT you love but also WHY you love it. Inject your personality and hobbies into and throughout your home. I have an affinity for astronomy, so the art and the books reflect that in our home.

This submission’s responses were edited for length and clarity.