Cherrywood Cheer Up

Kasey McCarty Interior Design (KMID) interior remodel and exterior refresh project in Austin’s Cherrywood neighborhood of a typical early 2000’s style spec home. Each room was a basic white shell clean palette ready to receive. The clients, a young family of four, needed an update to match their savvy design aesthetic while matching their energetic lives.

Stemming from the work-from-home years post pandemic the owners realized their home needed a smart update. The result is a modest, but complex, phased remodel to improve areas' function and details and incorporate much needed areas the family discovered they lacked. Thoughtful focus on a few custom built-ins and walls that pack a punch. The designer also pumped in texture and color inspired by owners art.

To make this home approachable designer set about some simple moves. The existing carport facade was a clog and major downer, by cutting down the overgrown hedge, and the existing carport wall, and painting a welcoming shade of pink on top of a new minty green terrazzo tile floor, this new “carpatio” is ready for hosting the next neighborhood night out.

For the targeted budget, selective areas inside were improved with the focus on the needed function. For a family that are serious TV watchers and music lovers, their existing living room lacked any detection of that spirit. For this area, we focused on updating the sitting area by expanding the layout in proportion to the room size plus we made use of an existing white box niche. The designer designed a custom walnut cabinet to capture this spirit of TV and music. For the furniture, a new vibrant Hay sofa from DWR and new rug was brought in to sit alongside existing Ligne Roset lounge chairs and a new pink and green checkerboard upholstered Eames Lounge chair was introduced to tie all the colors together.

The powder room was another opportunity to breathe life into a basic shell bathroom. The existing vanity set up was easily removed and all the walls and ceiling papered in Flavor Paper Andy Warhol Flowers. The designer thoughtfully designed a curved walnut vanity to allow for a new hidden glide door to pocket. A blue Concretti sink sits atop a Texas terrazzo-like pink granite remnant cut to size and a Jaclo bubblegum wall mounted faucet installed. Custom wrapping mirror mimic the exact shape and curves of the vanity. A Pani Jurek pendant light fixture sourced from 1st Dibs meets the very post mod moment.

The garage was converted for a home workout area/mud room and gear room. The fun mud room now has new built-in storage center with colored peg center. All the doors facing exterior were converted single lite doors to allow for more light. The workout areas are perfectly sized for Peloton and a yoga mat/weights/stretch zone. The gear room makes use of original garage door to house all the family’s bikes/toys and other activity-friendly equipment.

The second level was improved with a new custom bookcase and bedrooms and bathrooms were uplifted with wood wall details, elevated wallcoverings, texture, and pops of color.

For their primary bedroom suite, the designer installed a walnut wood panel ling on as a backdrop for their bed, framing the existing window with walnut case detail. Their existing Blue Dot bed was flanked with new nightstands from Blue Dot. Layers of corals, marigolds and teal in the linens and accents were introduced to complement the large Patrick Puckett painting and custom Flor carpet tile rug. A newly purchased vintage mid-century modern walnut console balances the room.

The primary en suite bathroom, the designer continued the wall paneling at the entrance wall leading you into a cosmetic refresh of the bathroom. All the walls were papered with Jill Malek wallpaper-deep inky blue in the vanity/tub area and pinky mauve in the water closet complement the new pink color of the existing cabinets adorned with new postmodern brass half-moon hardware. Terrazzo pendants were added.

The office is situated on the mid-level landing of the three-level home. To give them the function and fun they needed, a basic stair handrail and wall replaced with a custom green double-sided bookcase. The new cabinet is filled with purpose and allows for flexibility-#WFH, storage, printers, kids’ reading and bonus…. kids slide. Designer kept working those angles throughout the small area with new stunning postmodern zebrawood console acquired from Chairish. The oversized Theodore Alexander pendant centered above keeps the post mod forms in check. The second floor shared bath and laundry were also given facelifts. The shared bath was papered in a deco/mod geometric Jupiter10 wallcovering and new hardware followed the theme. A punch of color with a Dutton and Brown sconce updated the look. The Laundry was converted a side by side clumsy closet to a stacking with storage and full opening doors.

Overall, this targeted refresh for a vibrant family provides a solid foundation for their active lives and their design sensibility.