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Retreat, Remodel, Renew: Austin Interior Design

Originally Designed in 1992 by David Shiflet, the site itself is what drove inspiration on this extensive two -year Westlake remodel, a collaborative effort between Shiflet Group Architects, Dalgleish Construction Company and Mark Ashby Design.

“It’s a gated estate on eight acres,” explains Mark Ashby of Mark Ashby Design, who was responsible for the interiors. Ashby was inspired by the land around the home. “How can we capitalize on the great light, great expansions of windows?”

Austin Interior Design
In the open and expansive kitchen, touches like a stainless steel and stone island elevate the room. “All those subtle details and the way the materials come together, that’s what this house is about,” says Ashby. Product credit: Chris Earl Indigo Splash Mugs, Nagasaki Coffee Spoons in gold. Jenny Pennywood tea towels, Azumaya Copper Kettle, Arbor round walnut and sycamore cutting boards, all available at Kettle & Brine.

The answer was to keep it (relatively) simple. “We did a lot of editing,” explains Ashby. The family wanted a house that felt comfortable but also fresh, and so he, along with Michele Lorenz of Mark Ashby Design, made sure each piece in the home was able to speak for itself. Says Ashby, “The pieces are finely constructed, but they don’t scream for attention.”

One of those pieces is the stunning light fixture above the dining room table, which Lorenz designed in collaboration with Warbach Lighting and Design (featured on our cover). “We wanted it to be the focal point,” she explains, which is why they chose not to put any art over the fireplace. “We wanted it to stand on its own as a structural piece… this was the first thing we presented . Everything else was built off of that.”

Austin Interior Design
The leather tiles on the wall were original to the house, and became a driving force for this room. The family was looking for a home office they could also relax in, which is what inspired the understated yet cozy design of this den.
In the master bedroom, lush greenery peeks through the windows.“I wanted the landscape to be integral,” explains Mark Ashby.
In the master bedroom, lush greenery peeks through the windows.“I wanted the landscape to be integral,” explains Mark Ashby.

The goal of the entire project, explains Ashby, was to “take a very handsome architecture footprint and make it modern day.” A lot of that work began with the architectural and construction details. The three — Mark Ashby Design, Shiflet Group Architects and Dalgleish Construction Company — worked together to make the remodel a reality. “There’s a mutual respect and interest in each other’s work that really drives the project,” says Ashby. “I’m driven by the architecture, they love what we do with the interior spaces. They really engage us.”

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Austin Interior Design
Even the closet off of the master bathroom is built to allow natural light into the bright space. Product credit: Clothing, shoes and front bag, available at By George

“We wanted to retain the exterior quality of the home,” says Sam Burch of Shiflet, “just update and freshen it up.” Taking out most of the walls to open the house up was a key step, as was careful attention to all of the finishings and construction details — from the unique color stain of the floor (“smoked honey stone”) to the polished look of the stone walls throughout the house. Originally rough cut limestone, the team wanted all the stone smoothed. “David Dalgleish tried to sand it all down, we brought in these giant grinders,” remembers Ashby, “but it ended up being more economical just to take it out and put it back in.”

It’s that level of detail and care “that makes these jobs exceptional,” explains Ashby. “There’s a lot of time and care and craftsmen that went into this place.” Says Burch: “It takes all of us to make that house what it is in the end.”

Austin Interior Design
The family’s two teenage girls weren’t sure what they wanted, but knew that they wanted color, explains Michele Lorenz of Mark Ashby Design. “Once they chose the colors for their room, and I got a feel for their personalities, that’s what kind of drove the rest of the room,” she explains, saying she aimed to create a space that was both a little bit playful and a little bit sophisticated.
The  children’s  common  room,  located  downstairs  between  the  two  girls’  bedrooms,  plays  to  both  of   their  personalities,  with  cozy  furnitur e and bright colors.
The children’s common room, located downstairs between the two girls’ bedrooms, plays to both of their personalities, with cozy furnitur e and bright colors.