Have you ever put on an old pair of shoes and a sense of calm just pours over your body as you stand to take your first step? That’s how this old 1926 charming bungalow feels for me. Every night after work when I turn left on my street and glance over the park and see the University of Texas at Austin Tower lit up, I feel a sense of calm flood over me. I walk up the steps and always take a moment to look out on the park, which is basically my front lawn (super lucky, I know), and then take off my shoes before going inside. It took a lot of elbow grease and love to get this house to feel like a home. I even remember a friend telling me I was making a huge mistake before I moved in. Oh was he ever so wrong! But with some help from about four friends, we power washed, painted, scraped, replaced light fixtures, fans, appliances, toilets and voila, its bones were polished and could truly shine.

If I had to pick a favorite part about this house, which is hard to do, it would have to be the view from my bed, past the sunroom and out over the park while watching the sun rise. I can easily tell you my least favorite part; no central air or heating, which in Texas is NOT a luxury, let me be clear! However, this house brings me peace; it’s very old, very quirky, and very interesting. At the end of the day, there’s no place I’d rather be; listening to some music, sitting on my front porch, having friends over for dinner or just reading on my little green chair.  Oh and also, just watching people hang out and walk in the park every day is really friggin’ special. 

My Style: Collected, thoughtful, and full of stories and art from friends. 

Inspiration: I am always inspired by the way things used to be. My grandpa’s time, the way way back.

Favorite Element: The sunroom. I almost never actually sit in it, but sitting in the living room or in my bed looking past it like a painting is genuinely joyful. And it is the reason my house stays cool in the summer by creating cross ventilation! And getting to test out all my prototypes for Noah Marion.

Biggest Challenge: Repainting, power washing, and stripping the floor of old linoleum in order to bring out the beauty that had been hiding under nasty yellow walls and broken fixtures and about two million cobwebs. It was all worth it. 

Proudest DIY: Well the kitchen did not look or function the way it does now when I moved in. There was a miniature apartment fridge, a gnarly old white stove, and no place to prep. So I redid it and built the spice shelf and now it’s so functional and lovely and happens to fit within a millimeter, which was my proudest moment. 

Biggest Indulgence: I would say the Boos block table in the kitchen because I could’ve done without it, but then where would I create all the yummy food!? 

Best Advice: Never be afraid to try something wacky; you can always go back if it’s a disaster. And don’t buy everything at once; wait and search and only bring in items that spark joy or have a memory attached to them.

What’s your best home secret? I am an organizing machine; my best home tip is getting one of those old clicker tape labelers, it’s so satisfying and looks so good when you obsessively label everything.

• Manufacturer — I did a custom bright white in flat for the walls with a darker off-white in eggshell for the trim and doors from Sherwin Williams. 

• Vintage Antonio Bonet, Juan Kurchan & Jorge Ferrari-Hardoy Butterfly Chairs with
• White Mesh Covers from Circa50 
• Cowhide Rug – Tandy Leather
• PIKUNIKU turned figurine – Michael Yates and Tomoko Kuwahara
• Landscape Painting – Patricia Marion gift
• Pine Shelf –  Handmade by my Father in the 90s
• Metal Basket – Uline
• Leather House Shoes – Noah Marion
• 4 Small Paintings – Heather Sundquist Hall

• Chiclet Sofa – Chiclet Sofa by Ray Wilkes for Herman Miller
• Pine Round Coffee Table – Handmade by my Father in the 90s
• Green BearHug Chair – Craigslist find from San Antonio
• RAD Sign – Round Top Antique Fair hunt
• Large Green Chalkboard – Mockingbird Domestics gift
• Long Colorful Painting – Patrick Diaz gift
• Black and White Young Lady Print –  Ilia Isales gift
• Two Headed Silver Lamp – Round Top Antique Fair hunt

• Green Wire Chairs – Bertoia Side Chair hunted from old Cafeteria in New Orleans
• Marble Tulip Table – Saarinen Tulip Table with custom sized marble top
• Hairpin Bench – DIY build,  antique legs but Petrified Design can make them

• Pine Dining Table – Handmade by my Father in the 90s
• Aluminum Navy Chairs – Emeco 1006 found at old shoe store that was closing down
• Viking Painting – Art by Brian Phillips
• Home Painting – Luke Marion gift
• Bar Cart – Old restaurant cart, estate sale find
• Oak Chair – family heirloom
• White Ball Lamp – Uptown Modern
• Chalkboard – Uncommon Objects
• Leather Bags – Noah Marion
• The Wall Willy – Eric Trine 
• Plywood Bench – Found at Habitat for Humanity
• Black Ceramic Plate – Keith Kreeger gift
• Leather Playing Card Case – Noah Marion

• Boos Block Cutting Board Table – John Boos
• Le Creuset Dutch Ovens and Pans – Le Creuset  all vintage or hand-me-downs
• Pine Shelf – DIY pine shelf with Black Brackets on Etsy
• Cutting Board Serving Platters – Petrified Design
• Vintage Rug – I have a rug guy who just calls me randomly (lol)
• Native American Painting – Warren Cullar gift from my dad

• Desert Landscape Painting – Warren Cullar gift from my dad
• Pine Platform bed – Custom made by Ed Martin
• Grey Typewriter Table – Uncommon Objects
• Green Footstool – Estate sale hunt
• Linen Bedspread and Covers – Parachute Home
• Black Wire Rolling Armoir – Round Top Antique Fair hunt
• Ceramic Wall Pieces – Noah Marion

• Tobia Scarpa Black Leather Sofa – Craigslist find but available here
• Black Eames Round Table – Vintage Find available new here
• Ceramic Collection – Gifts from friends and some by me
• Pine Wall Shelf – DIY pine shelf with Black Brackets on Etsy
• Eames Side Table – Vintage Find available new here
• MARION neon sign – ION ART
• Eames Shell Chair Print – JoJo Marion gift
• Black and Silver Management Chairs – Vintage Finds available new here
• Aluminum Navy Chairs – Emeco 1006 found at old shoe store that was closing down

• Bed and Boxspring – Casper Mattress
• Pendelton Blanket – Hand-me-down from Dad available here
• Wooden Side Table Shelf – DIY project originally for records
• Tree Branch Lamp – DIY project with Amazon cord lamplight
• German Bier Bench – Round Top Antique Fair find
• Colorful floor Rug – Craigslist find
• Army Footlockers – Uncommon Objects
• Wall Art – Warren Cullar gift from my dad
• Marshall Bluetooth Speaker – ByGeorge Austin
• Aluminum Navy Chairs – Emeco 1006 found at old shoe store that was closing down
• Wooden Live Edge Serving Board – HumphreysBrand

• Hinoki Lotion and Handsoap – Le Labo
• Earthenware bowl – Oaxaca, MX trip
• Hinoki Tub Shelf – Small store in Marfa I forgot but here’s a cool one
• Tawashi Scrub – Online all over

Thanks Noah!