This Austin Remodel Is a Pastel Dream
Architect: Harmony Grogan, founder of Pluck Architecture
Location: Austin’s Zilker neighborhood. Many homes here are classic bungalows that were built in the 1930s but due to housing needs there are many more modern new-build homes now being constructed.
Size: 2,018 square feet
Style of Home: Side-gabled traditional 1930s
Project Completed: February 2019
With nearly two decades of experience in the industry, architect Harmony Grogan has developed a passion for remodeling historic homes, and recently, she had the pleasure of revamping a more than 80-year-old home for a young family, one in need of some serious interior layout updates.
Originally brought on for a master bathroom reno after a leak, it become clear that the house would need to be taken down to the studs.
“The home was once two homes that were merged together,” she says. “Thus, the floor plan just didn’t make sense at all.”
The master entrance used to be smack dab in the middle of the kitchen, and many spaces were small and seemed to have little purpose.
It was up to Grogan to maintain the character of the property, something that was a top priority for the homeowners, while giving each space its own function.
For the exterior, Grogan planned on rehabilitation efforts, mainly a fresh coat of paint to clean up its curb appeal, but inside she completely switched things up, resulting in a fun and quirky home with nods to traditional Queen Anne-style architecture with complementary pastel walls, Clay Imports tile, and plenty of storage.
Because the homeowners also had some chemical sensitivities, each and every adhesive, paint color, and cabinetry option had to be vetted, and Grogan worked closely with the construction team throughout.
The client was great and it was a very collaborative effort,” she says. “They had an abundance of imagery for me so I could very clearly see their aesthetic.”
For this project, pastel colors are what really make the home pop. In the kitchen, the star is the Jadeite Green Big Chill refrigerator, IKEA cabinetry, and copper pulls from Schoolhouse Electric so the home “still lives in the modern day but with that vintage touch,” Grogan says.
The laundry room shines with original golden yellow tile, while it’s all about lilac walls, Farrow and Ball by Cinder Rose to be exact, in the butler’s pantry.
What is your favorite room and why? The laundry room or the mud room. The laundry room because it was such a success and the mud room because it’s a great example of the tiniest space that has embraced the remodel just as much as every other room.
Any advice for creating a home you love? I think that it’s really important to understand and think hard about how you live and what makes you feel comfortable and to relay that to your architect.
What do people most get wrong about using color in their home? I love color and it’s a huge part of my designs, but the colors need to all work together and be used very intentionally. If you use a bold color, do so with purpose. There’s no harm in going big in one space and keeping the other spaces more neutral.
What are the biggest tricks/secrets to using color in decor?: Again, I think there’s nothing wrong with embracing color but always make sure it flows and there is cohesiveness. It’s okay to give each room its own personality through color, but look at the project as a whole when deciding on the palette.
What are some of your favorite colors to use at the moment? Right now, I’m really enjoying yellow. I think it works well with daylight, it’s bright, makes you happy, and feels very comfortable. The fun thing in working with older homes, which I do a lot of, is also looking to vintage colors that make sense with the style and period of the home.
Favorite paint color brand to use and why? I’m a big fan of Benjamin Moore. I’ve used that a lot in my own home. They have a great historic collection I often reference as well.