The Tarrytown Renovation That Launched Hudson House Interior Decoration

When Phillip and Boomer Hudson got the call to take on a gorgeous 1930s Tarrytown home on Bowman Avenue, they knew it was the request they had been waiting for. At the time, the spouses and now principals at Hudson House Interior Decoration were living in Houston. When the owners of this Austin home asked them to help reinvent their house to better serve their young and growing family, Phillip says the rest was history.

“That call not only really launched our business, but really made us take a look at our lives, decide to come home to Austin and finally go into business together,” says Phillip. “We were able to dive in, put our whole heart into this project and create our own version of interior design.”

For the Hudsons, their design process starts by getting to know the client.

“We gear all our projects to our clients’ needs and really learn how they want to live in their home,” says Boomer. “Of course, we always sprinkle our projects with a little Hudson House style. We source objects, art and furniture collected from around the world.”

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The home’s original stained-glass window remained the focal point as Hudson House updated the living room for family life. (Photo by Michael Hunter)

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A spacious sectional and doors to the patio make this family room a place for the whole household to spend time together. (Photo by Michael Hunter)

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Hudson House enlarged the powder bath and covered its walls in Iksel wallpaper, giving the room a new sense of character. (Photo by Michael Hunter)

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A detailed landscape mural wraps the renovated powder bath, while dark trim and a marble vanity bring the design into focus. (Photo by Michael Hunter)

Preserving the home’s character

And the Bowman Avenue home needed that Hudson House touch. The English manor-style house was built in 1935, then given a facelift with an addition in the 1990s, which maintained the traditional style. When the Hudsons met the client, they had a slightly tweaked vision.

“The Bowman house was entirely too small and poorly designed for the way this family was living, especially given their young and adorable twins,” says Boomer. “We wanted to preserve the character of the house while giving it a complete update.”

While the project started as a kitchen and primary bathroom renovation, it turned into a full home renovation to make it more livable for the whole family. Along with Hudson House, the owners hired architect Will Washer, as well as the landscape architecture firm RAiZ Design Group, to round out their team.

When the contractor, Kelly Scanlon of Integrity Custom Home Renovations, started working on the kitchen remodel, he found that parts of the house were supported by ancient wood stumps, which was the first obstacle. Additionally, the design for the living room revolved around an original stained-glass window. A few of the glass panels were cracked, so the team worked with Blue Moon Glassworks on repairs. The window now washes the living room with an amazing spray of gold, green and blue.

The powder bath had been previously updated but lost its original character over time, so they decided to enlarge it and enrich its design. The team selected a spectacular Iksel wallpaper and updated all the surfaces.

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Patterned chairs and Roman shades bring a softer touch to the light-filled dining area. (Photo by Michael Hunter)

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In the formal dining room, a sculptural light fixture and vivid green mirror give the historic home a contemporary edge. (Photo by Michael Hunter)

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A colorful painting and yellow patterned chairs give this cozy seating area a playful feel. (Photo by Michael Hunter)

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Hudson House gave the bedroom a quieter palette, with blue seating and a landscape painting adding color. (Photo by Michael Hunter)

Dream project

As for the kitchen, it did not function for a young family with two children, so they worked to create a space that was better suited to them, with ample storage and a connection to the rest of the house.

“This is a dream project,” says Boomer. “Here you have a home built in the 1930s and located on a large corner double lot with heritage oaks in the heart of old Austin. What a great opportunity to take this historical home and give it a contemporary spin. It’s exciting to know that this house has been around for almost 100 years, and I hope it’s here in another 100.”

While this Bowman Avenue home may have opened the door to launching their firm, Phillip and Boomer have since worked on projects across the country, from Texas to New York to Montana to Colorado. The couple had worked in the design world for years, but Phillip notes that it was the first time they were able to work on a project together. “It was the first time we got to make Hudson House magic together,” says Phillip. “It really showed us that we make a strong design team and have a lot of fun in the process. So, this project will always be special to us.”

Like all good projects, their work on the Bowman Avenue home is still ongoing. “We are working on the upstairs flex room,” says Phillip. “We are creating a library where the family can display books and treasures from their travels and where the two adults can retreat to work.”

At the end of the day, it’s all about the relationships for Phillip and Boomer.

“We don’t work on houses,” says Phillip. “We work for the families.”

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