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Collection by Monique Valeris

A Charming Renovation in Austin

It takes the right couple to find a dilapidated home and wholeheartedly believe it can be transformed into a dream property. That’s just what Ryan and Allison Burke did. Allison, an interior designer, and her architect husband, who is a partner of A Parallel Architecture, knew this particular East Austin, Texas, property had the potential of meeting their needs. “It was really disgusting,” Allison said honestly of the property’s state prior to the renovation. “[The former owners] smoked in the house for 60 years. The foundation was compromised, there wasn’t any insulation in the walls, and it was really dark.” The couple embarked on a complete gut renovation, working to open up the space and infuse a more modern aesthetic throughout. And to top it off, Ryan recently finished adding a second level to the home while Allison was pregnant with their daughter.

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White walls bring a sense of warmth to the living room, while furnishings like a Ligne Roset sofa and Eames Bent Plywood coffee table add a modern touch. A painting by Pat Diaz adorns the wall. “It was a pretty easy combination,” Allison says of blending her aesthetic with her husband’s taste. “I am more organic modern and he is more strict modern. Our style flows together.”
White walls bring a sense of warmth to the living room, while furnishings like a Ligne Roset sofa and Eames Bent Plywood coffee table add a modern touch. A painting by Pat Diaz adorns the wall. “It was a pretty easy combination,” Allison says of blending her aesthetic with her husband’s taste. “I am more organic modern and he is more strict modern. Our style flows together.”
The old kitchen was very small. The couple opted to enlarge the space, which now features salvaged cabinets that were updated with bold green paint. “It is a pop of color to contrast with everything else in the house,” says Allison. An island, crafted from an old architect’s desk, paired with vintage stools pull the look together.
The old kitchen was very small. The couple opted to enlarge the space, which now features salvaged cabinets that were updated with bold green paint. “It is a pop of color to contrast with everything else in the house,” says Allison. An island, crafted from an old architect’s desk, paired with vintage stools pull the look together.
When designing the kitchen, dining, and living areas, the couple knew they wanted to achieve a continuous flow between the different rooms.
When designing the kitchen, dining, and living areas, the couple knew they wanted to achieve a continuous flow between the different rooms.
Colorful art, including an ice cream cone painting created by a local artist and friend, fills the house.
Colorful art, including an ice cream cone painting created by a local artist and friend, fills the house.
“We opened the central bedroom to the dining room to create an office space,” says Allison. The nook highlights the gorgeous steel casement windows, which are original to the home.
“We opened the central bedroom to the dining room to create an office space,” says Allison. The nook highlights the gorgeous steel casement windows, which are original to the home.
A vintage modular shelving unit makes a statement in the office.
A vintage modular shelving unit makes a statement in the office.
The bedroom enjoys ample natural light, thanks to the windows on either side of the Charles Rogers bed. “We centered all our bedroom doors around the central hallway skylight,” says Allison. The painting is by Pat Diaz.
The bedroom enjoys ample natural light, thanks to the windows on either side of the Charles Rogers bed. “We centered all our bedroom doors around the central hallway skylight,” says Allison. The painting is by Pat Diaz.
In the bedroom designed for the couple’s daughter, the couple chose to mix old and new with Design Within Reach’s Min bed and a vintage cabinet from Flair New York.
In the bedroom designed for the couple’s daughter, the couple chose to mix old and new with Design Within Reach’s Min bed and a vintage cabinet from Flair New York.