House Music

An Austin bungalow with its own stylish beat

An Austin bungalow with its own stylish beat

Windsor McKenna has a style all her own, and the home she shares with her husband, Austin, and two daughters, Jane and Mary Austin, immediately reflects her distinct point of view. A space that works equally well for both entertaining and family, the 1917 Deep Eddy bungalow is warm and bursting with a wide-ranging art collection, family heirlooms, and even a vintage jukebox.

McKenna, a freelance graphic designer , and Austin, who works in advertising, bought the home seven years ago a”er moving from New York. At the time, they both had hectic work schedules and Jane was only a year old, so when Austin was offered a job in Austin at McGarrah Jessee, the young family packed up and moved to Texas. McKenna immediately fell in love with the century-old Cra”sman, and the whole family enjoys living in the Deep Eddy neighborhood. “We can walk to the trail, and the girls can take the bus home from school. We walked to dinner at Fabi + Rosi last night.”

A native North Carolinian, McKenna grew up visiting flea markets, especially the Metrolina Tradeshow Expo, outside Charlotte. She credits those visits and her mom’s own vibrant style as a big influence. “Over the years, I have gladly taken pieces from my mom and grandmothers and had them reupholstered or painted. My style is a bit more colorful or eclectic, but comfort is also so important to me … I love being surrounded by beautiful things, but no part of the house is off-limits to kids or guests.”

The couple was delighted to have found a home they not only loved but also one that didn’t involve a huge construction project, thanks to the “thoughtful updates” made by the previous owners. “We have really only made aesthetic changes, mostly with paint and hardware. We did have the wall of bookshelves built in the living room to house books and Austin’s very large record collection.” And that same wall frames the family’s beloved jukebox, originally in McKenna’s parents’ house. A staple of her childhood — “My friends and I would dance to it,” she says — the jukebox captures McKenna’s vintage and offbeat style perfectly. It’s a happy addition to a home that is as fun as its owner.

_{Read more from the Spring Style Issue | April 2018}