Eric’s Stylish, Sunshine-Filled House

published Jul 1, 2013

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Name: Eric Marshall, technical writer
Location: Clarksville; Austin, Texas
Size: 600 square feet
Years lived in: 8 years; Owned

Fans of adorable, well-organized and refreshingly decorated small spaces that open out onto green, tree-filled natural wonderlands might want to brace themselves. Boasting DIY projects, great furniture finds, daring wall colors and a bathroom so cute we want to pinch it, Eric’s place is full of inspiration, and is every bit as envy-inducing as the photos might imply.

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

You enter the house, situated on a hill, at ground level, but walk out of his back door onto an expansive, fake lawn-covered wooden deck (a product called SYNLawn) that overlooks the neighborhood creek. A set of rickety wood stairs leads you to a small lower garden level with a simple seating area (but from the leaves covering it, it’s clear the action happens on the upper level). This wide openness to the outdoors makes Eric’s small space seem absolutely endless, and the amount of light that floods in provides a nice counterpart to the darker design elements. He redid the tiny bathroom, adding charming white tiles and dark grout (genius). In the bedroom he transformed the original flat ceiling into a vaulted one, and added doors out to the deck (which was built in 2003, so the original bedroom only had sash windows).

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

Apartment Therapy Survey:

My Style: Curated eclectic, with an emphasis on personal attachment to objects.

Inspiration: Nature. Prouve, Saarinen, Terence Conran, Paul Smith, Nick Olsen.

Favorite Element: The forest behind my house.

Biggest Challenge: Ensuring that every item I own has a home.

What Friends Say: “It’s SOOOOOOO cute!”

Biggest Embarrassment: Two cracked windows that I keep meaning to fix.

Proudest DIY: My gold-“leafed” ceiling [in the dining room].

Biggest Indulgence: I. Love. Lamps.

Best Advice: If you move into a small space, live in it for a bit. It will help you determine where to focus your design efforts. Avoid being in a rush.

Dream Sources: 1stdibs.com

(Image credit: Adrienne Breaux)

Resources of Note:

PAINT & COLORS

Chalkboard paint from Lowe’s
High gloss white from Lowe’s

ENTRY

Hall “closet” with mirror from PBTeen

LIVING ROOM

Rug from IKEA
Chesterfield sofa off of eBay
Factory cart coffee table from craigslist
Chairs from Pottery Barn and craigslist
Side tables from West Elm
Lamps from craigslist (Jielde) and Uncommon Goods
Amp Lamp by Nik Willmore
Pillows from CB2

DINING ROOM

Cushions from IKEA
Parsons table from West Elm
Chinoiserie chairs from Williams-Sonoma Home

KITCHEN

Prep island with Corian top from Williams-Sonoma Home
Shelving from Costco
Red trash can from eBay
Cow print by Julie Thigpen

BEDROOM

Storage bed from Pottery Barn
End tables from Williams-Sonoma Home
Desk from West Elm
Rug from Pottery Barn
Storage cubes from Pottery Barn
Black lamp from West Elm
Nun poster I found in my grandma’s barn and had mounted (it was my uncle’s)
Linens from Pottery Barn
Branch art I made myself.

(Image credit: Adrienne Breaux)

Thanks, Eric!

(Images: Adrienne Breaux)

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