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Complete Interior Transformation Turns Tarrytown Custom Home Into an Austin Gem

See how Sara Malek Barney of Bandd/Design personalizes a family's Austin home with vibrant patterns, bold colors, and unique touches

Kitchen with tan wicker chairs and a white marble island with pale blue cabinets.
The kitchen inside this stunning Tarrytown home where Sara Malek Barney fuses southern charm and English style for a one-of-a-kind family retreat. (Photo by Ryann Ford)

For a busy couple and their three young children, the quest for an interior designer for their new custom home in Austin began with an online search. The couple, relocating from San Francisco, ultimately landed on Sara Malek Barney of Bandd/Design in Los Angeles and Austin to help marry their two distinct design styles and infuse personality and character into the space.

“They were in urgent need of a designer to complete their home before their move-in,” explains Malek Baney of the four-bedroom, five-bath home in Tarrytown, just west of downtown Austin. “She wanted a southern traditional vibe, while he likes quaint English style. We wanted to blend the modern architecture with their primarily traditional style.”

Malek Barney worked closely with the couple to implement their design plan, blending their two distinctive preferences. She was tasked with creating a functional, open kitchen and living room; adding a living space above the garage for out-of-town guests; and incorporating thoughtful layers and details throughout the approximately 5,000-square-foot custom home built by Nalle Custom Homes.

Front exterior of this custom designed Tarrytown home.
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Front exterior of this custom designed Tarrytown home. (Photo by Ryann Ford)
Kitchen with pale blue cabinets and white marble countertops.
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Kitchen. (Photo by Ryann Ford)
Living room with a white coffee table, a small couch, and four plush chairs.
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Living room. (Photo by Ryann Ford)
Guest house bathroom with a gray tiled shower and a glass door.
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Guest house bathroom. (Photo by Ryann Ford)
Guesthouse bedroom with a queen sized bed and a twin bed and a small round top/seating area in between the beds.
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Guest house bedroom. (Photo by Ryann Ford)

Setting the tone

“They love to entertain, so the center of the house was an open concept kitchen-living-dining with fun patterns, colors and textures,” explains Malek Barney of the home awash in muted buff hues, blues, grays, greens, and soft pinks. “We also designed the apartment over the garage they lovingly called ‘The Cottage.’ It was designed with the intent of being an extended stay, luxury hotel-like space. We added vintage trunks, floral-patterned ceiling wallpaper, two queen beds, and a coffee bar.”

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To create a warm and welcoming space for dinner parties and overnight guests and an amalgamation of the two styles, Malek Barney paid extra attention to the living room appointed with a pair of tri-coated plaster Scout coffee tables from Oken House Studios; a 6-light aged brass Ripley chandelier by Hudson Valley Lighting; and a soft blue sofa with sand-hued swivel chairs by CR Laine. “

“We really focused on the living room,” explains Malek Barney. “It highlights how we designed the modern-traditional mix between furniture and architecture. The clients like color and pattern and mixing that with the modern backdrop of the room blends really well. We were also able to add in the client’s art over the fireplace and antique piece in that niche.”

In the light and airy kitchen, design features include a vintage runner from Etsy; angular, Gale pendant lights by Thomas O’Brien for Visual Comfort Co.; and cabinets in “De Nimes,” a deep blue-gray paint by Farrow & Ball.

Powder Room feautring blue tile and vintage wallpaper on the accent walls.
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Powder room. (Photo by Ryann Ford)
Office space with a tan wicker cabinet and white marble desk.
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Office space. (Photo by Ryann Ford)
Main bedroom with canopy bed and a white comforter with grey pillows and blankets.
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Main bedroom. (Photo by Ryann Ford)
Main bathroom with a white claw tub, marble sink countertops and tan wood cabinets.
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Main bathroom. (Photo by Ryann Ford)
Dining room featuring a white table and a bouquet of flowers on the table.
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Dining room. (Photo by Ryann Ford)

All in the details

Adding custom touches and capturing the family’s essence was a key factor throughout the design process. “It was all about getting the little details correct,” says Malek Barney. “From the herringbone flooring in the living room down to the metal finish on the p-trap in the powder bathroom, we iterated on a lot.”

Extra wow-factor moments are seen throughout the home, from a jewel box-like powder room with Pimpernel wallpaper by Morris & Co. and Geneva sconces by Visual Comfort Co., to the wife’s home office featuring wainscoting, bold floral wallpaper by Spoonflower, a bell-shaped Eduardo chandelier by Currey & Company, and a rug by Jaipur Living.

“I particularly love the office space, which we detailed down to every inch,” says Malek Barney, “I love the use of wallpaper everywhere, and the wainscoting paired with it is just so special.” The daughter’s bedroom is also a standout clad in a wall-to-wall blush-hued chinoiserie wallpaper by Wallpaperie. “It’s super girly,” adds Malek Barney. “She’s the only little lady in the house and they wanted to make sure she felt like the princess that she is. But, I did want to make sure it wasn’t too sugary sweet, so we added in pops of green to balance it out.”

Girl's room with a green comforter, a decorative wicker headboard, and pastel pink wallpaper.
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Girl’s room. (Photo by Ryann Ford)
Boy's room with a white crib, blue wallpaper and stuffed animals.
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Boy’s room. (Photo by Ryann Ford)
Nursery room with a bassinet, sheep rocking chair, and white shiplap walls.
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Nursery room. (Photo by Ryann Ford)
Playroom with vaulted ceilings, a white couch, gray bean bag, and a tan tepee.
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Playroom. (Photo by Ryann Ford)

Creating a timeless classic

The completed home, now a haven for the couple and their children with zones for lounging, playing, and gathering, is teeming with character and charm.

“This is a space that can grow with the family and remain just as classic as it was on day one,” says Malek Barney. “My favorite aspect of the space is how well it reflects the family’s personalities while maintaining a sense of cohesion throughout the home. I love how the design achieved a balance between polished thoughtful interiors and functional comfortable spaces for this busy family.”

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