A True Mid-Century Modern Home

This true mid-century modern stunner was built in 1956. The original owners bought the plot of land on Lake Austin in 1954. When they were ready to build a home, they chose to work with the esteemed architect Charles Granger of the Austin firm Fehr and Granger. Mr. Granger was renowned for his innovative and minimalist modern style.  The home features exposed wood beams brought in from the northwest and adobe brick. It has a flat roof, and large windows that bring the outdoors in. The original owners spent their golden years here and lovingly referred to it as “the lake house”.

After the original owners moved out in 1987, their daughter and her husband moved in to the property, keeping the beloved lake house in the family. Recently, they decided on refreshing and redecorating the home to their specifications. We were brought in to carefully transform the space without compromising the integrity of this one-of-a-kind space.

In the living room, we reupholstered a mid-century style sofa that the clients had in storage from that era. Chairs were added in a similar style.  The leather chairs swivel so the owners can sit and enjoy their lake view, cocktail in hand.  The rug was selected to tie in the natural coral colored adobe brick walls and the blue of the water. It mimic’s the movement of the lake. The 50’s style light fixture, that our designer fell in love with, is hung in the corner of the room creating a cozy ambiance. The black chest was found at an antique shop and is original to the era.

In the kitchen, we painted the existing cabinets, added new hardware and new countertops. The backsplash color was chosen to reflect the lake. New flooring and lighting was added to update the space.

The dining room was in need of more seating for our clients growing family which includes several grandchildren. The table expands to create seating for 10. We chose the leather material because it’s not only gorgeous but it is also easy to clean.

We updated the bedroom using warm colors inspired by the adobe brick. Bench seating and shelving were created to add storage space. Matching side tables and lamps give the room a cohesive feel while a dresser with an Asian flare was chosen to tie in with the homeowners Asian style collectibles.

This home is a true Austin gem and was featured on the Heritage Society of Austin’s Heritage Homes Tour in 2008. We truly enjoyed working with this unique home!

Janice Hanks