Shannon’s Soothing Mix of Styles
Name: Shannon Schelbert of mac+cam photography, along with husband Michael, sons Mac (10) and Cam (8) and dog Tottenham (named after Tottenham Hotspur) and cat Messi (after soccer player Lionel Messi)
Location: Aldridge Place — Austin, Texas
Size: 2500 square feet
Years lived in: 3 — owned
It’s all about details and materials in this Central Austin home. It’s also about customizing a home to fit the residents’ needs. Not only has the house been modernized in many ways, it’s been expanded to fit a family of four (six if you count the pets) and transformed into a rich and sophisticated space with unique details that burst with character and personality.
So how did Shannon, a wonderful photographer, and her husband create a home that was wildly unique? They started with Shannon’s great tastes and then mixed in the skills and talents of local architect Nicole Blair of Studio 512 (whom you may remember from Erin and Aaron’s Austin home). Realizing that an architect isn’t just for building new homes, Shannon enlisted Nicole’s help to revamp the kitchen and the bathroom, as well as add in efficient personal touches throughout the house.
Expanding the tiny existing galley kitchen into an adjacent hallway meant opening up the space, creating plenty of room for feeding a family and for entertaining guests. Again, it was about efficiency and detail: gorgeous warm wood shelves line the wall and surround a brick column. A banquette breakfast nook is made sumptuous with great materials and a surprising metal detail. Two more affordable fridges are made to look combined with the addition of an extra long metal grill across them. Customized pull-out shelving in the pantry is an organizer’s dream. Modern details like inset-in-the-counter utensil jars delight.
The master bath might be our favorite space of all, where bright light from the window that overlooks the pool floods the space and surprising tile grounds the room. A chandelier over the bathtub makes the room feel special and ties in with the other lovely light fixtures sprinkled throughout the house. Sliding medicine cabinet doors reveal storage behind the sinks and innovative bathroom corner cabinetry maximizes space in a tiny room. Every room seems to benefit from Shannon’s strong eclectic tastes and Nicole’s clever details to create an overall pretty darn inspiring house.
*A note about the cat: long-haired Messi had gotten its fur in quite of a mess and the haircut it was given was both necessary to banish some mean knots, and also turned out really adorable.
Apartment Therapy Survey:
Our Style: Casual, rustic, industrial.
Inspiration: A country home in France. Design blogs like 79 Ideas, House Doctor and The Black Workshop. Etsy.
Favorite Element: The tile in master bath.
Biggest Challenge: My kitchen doesn’t have direct access to the side pool.
What Friends Say: Comfortable and cozy.
Biggest Embarrassment: The living room chandelier is WAY too small, but I adore it.
Biggest Indulgence: I love tile.
Best Advice: Do what you like and don’t worry about anyone else.
Dream Sources: Pinterest! Really love Lindsey Adelman Studio.
Resources of Note:
FURNITURE
• Ebay first for almost everything!
ART & ACCESSORIES
• Check out my Etsy profile for my favorite stores and items I’ve bought in the past.
• Shannon’s photography!
TILE
• Ann Sacks
LIGHTING
• Schoolhouse Electric & Supply Co.
Thanks, Shannon!!
Images: Adrienne Breaux
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