Houzz Tour: Austin Transplants Get Their Dream Bungalow
A couple from Miami work with their hometown designer to personalize their new home in the Lone Star State
When Vanessa Scotto and Mario Murillo moved from Miami to Austin, Texas, they put living in a quintessential Austin bungalow at the top of their list of home priorities. After they found a house that needed some work, they moved the hiring of an interior designer to the top of the list. “We knew there could be this next level,” Scotto says of their home.
The couple turned to Anil Kakar, who had helped them decorate their home in Miami, to make over the new place. “I had never been to Austin,” he says. “It was great for me to go and get the feel and vibe of the city.”
The couple turned to Anil Kakar, who had helped them decorate their home in Miami, to make over the new place. “I had never been to Austin,” he says. “It was great for me to go and get the feel and vibe of the city.”
As part of an exterior face-lift, Kakar replaced the front porch’s vertical railing. “It looked outdated. It didn’t look special,” he says. Austin has so many porches, he says, and they wanted this one to stand out. Switching to horizontal slats was a relatively easy fix that modernized the space but also tied in with the era and architecture of the home.
They also relocated the front door, moving it from a centered position to the end of the porch. That allowed them to install two new oversize windows and create a larger interior living space, which had previously been bisected by the door.
Exterior paint color: White Dove; trim color: Pashmina; front door: Jeweled Peach, all by Benjamin Moore
They also relocated the front door, moving it from a centered position to the end of the porch. That allowed them to install two new oversize windows and create a larger interior living space, which had previously been bisected by the door.
Exterior paint color: White Dove; trim color: Pashmina; front door: Jeweled Peach, all by Benjamin Moore
With the front door relocated, the homeowners have room to spread out and relax in the living room area. Anchored by a custom sofa, the space features a mix of pieces the homeowners already had — including the pair of red chairs — new pieces and vintage elements. “We wanted it to be comfortable,” Scotto says of the design. “Modern and soft at the same time.”
The built-ins, wood floor and wood ceiling were existing; the design team repainted and restained in more contemporary finishes that would complement the home, furnishings and desired aesthetic.
The built-ins, wood floor and wood ceiling were existing; the design team repainted and restained in more contemporary finishes that would complement the home, furnishings and desired aesthetic.
Wall and trim color: White Dove, Benjamin Moore
The kitchen got a slightly heavier remodeling touch, with new quartz counters, Cuban cement tile backsplash and tile floors.
They kept the same cabinets but painted them in Dove White by Benjamin Moore. New stainless steel appliances (including a new wine fridge) round out the kitchen upgrades.
Find cement tile on Houzz
Find cement tile on Houzz
One of the standout features in the kitchen is the lighting, an oversize black chandelier. “I always like to add beautiful chandeliers in the kitchen to make them look more like rooms,” Kakar says. Here the light fixture highlights the tall ceilings and can be seen from various rooms.
The dining room sits off the kitchen. The rustic wood table is a piece the homeowners already owned and is surrounded by new chairs Kakar selected — a welcome addition for the homeowners.
“My taste happens to have a lot of rustic and natural elements, but he has a way of encouraging me to make it more elegant,” Scotto says. “That’s the beauty of having a designer. They introduce you to things you would never do on your own.”
The bear photo was purchased at a local gallery. “At first I suggested it in a tongue-in-cheek [way], and they went with it,” Kakar says.
“My taste happens to have a lot of rustic and natural elements, but he has a way of encouraging me to make it more elegant,” Scotto says. “That’s the beauty of having a designer. They introduce you to things you would never do on your own.”
The bear photo was purchased at a local gallery. “At first I suggested it in a tongue-in-cheek [way], and they went with it,” Kakar says.
Kakar’s solution for enlivening the long, narrow hallway was to add a standout ceiling light and paint all of the door frames black. At first they tried it out on one door and then ultimately decided to paint all of the frames in the hall. “It turned out great,” Kakar says.
Designer tip: Don’t be afraid to use black. “I always tell clients that black is a great grounding color,” Kakar says. In this instance, it’s similar to using a black frame around a photo or a piece of art.
Trim color: Wrought Iron, Benjamin Moore
Designer tip: Don’t be afraid to use black. “I always tell clients that black is a great grounding color,” Kakar says. In this instance, it’s similar to using a black frame around a photo or a piece of art.
Trim color: Wrought Iron, Benjamin Moore
Wall art adds personal touches throughout the home, as seen in this guest bedroom. Kakar used art that the homeowners already had, arranging it in a gallery style. The black frames tie in with the black doorways.
The bathroom was the only full gut of the remodel. Before the renovation, it featured a small bathtub and oversize shower, but they decided to make room for a larger tub, going against the trend in bathroom renovations. “I wanted a nice, big, comfortable tub I could soak in,” Scotto says.
The bathroom, like much of the house, features mostly white and neutral finishes, with a colorful accent coming in the form of the freestanding storage shelf. The graphic Cuban cement floor tile was requested by the homeowners. “My husband is Cuban and Ecuadorean,” Scotto says, and the couple wanted to include that heritage in the design. Their Miami home also featured this type of tile, and they wanted to continue the tradition but with a twist. “We wanted it to look a little more like Austin funk,” Scotto says.
The homeowners used Houzz to find inspiration for the bathroom and its patterned floor, refining their vision with the designer. “She would send me images from Houzz,” Kakar says. “That just gave me a good visual of what they wanted.”
See more bathrooms with cement tile floors
The bathroom, like much of the house, features mostly white and neutral finishes, with a colorful accent coming in the form of the freestanding storage shelf. The graphic Cuban cement floor tile was requested by the homeowners. “My husband is Cuban and Ecuadorean,” Scotto says, and the couple wanted to include that heritage in the design. Their Miami home also featured this type of tile, and they wanted to continue the tradition but with a twist. “We wanted it to look a little more like Austin funk,” Scotto says.
The homeowners used Houzz to find inspiration for the bathroom and its patterned floor, refining their vision with the designer. “She would send me images from Houzz,” Kakar says. “That just gave me a good visual of what they wanted.”
See more bathrooms with cement tile floors
They chose a wide vanity with a single sink, as they felt the wall wasn’t long enough for a double vanity.
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Shop for bathroom vanities
The team turned the previously unused backyard into an outdoor dining room, complete with an Austin trademark. “We wanted to have the Austin lights,” Scotto says, referring to the patio string lights that illuminate outdoor areas all over the city.
Vintage chairs surround a new table made from salvaged wood. Beneath are stone pavers and gravel, which make for a fun, easy-to-use and low-maintenance outdoor space. “It has to be practical and comfortable above all,” Kakar says. “Once I leave, you have to live here.”
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Vintage chairs surround a new table made from salvaged wood. Beneath are stone pavers and gravel, which make for a fun, easy-to-use and low-maintenance outdoor space. “It has to be practical and comfortable above all,” Kakar says. “Once I leave, you have to live here.”
More
See more inspiring homes on Houzz
Work with an interior designer
House at a Glance
Who lives here: Mario Murillo and Vanessa Scotto (shown here), a married couple who both work from home. She is a counselor and he works in international sales.
Location: Austin, Texas
Size: About 1,500 square feet (139 square meters); three bedrooms, two bathrooms
Designer: Anil Kakar of Kakar House of Design
The homeowners wanted to bring a taste of their home in Miami to Austin while also embracing the Texas city’s distinct home style. “We wanted a cute, funky Austin-style house [that was] clean and well-designed,” Scotto says. Having worked with the couple before, Kakar already had a sense of their taste and preferences. “The fact that I had worked with them made it easier,” he says.
The house, a 1950s bungalow, had been updated and maintained over the years, but it didn’t reflect the warm and eclectic style the homeowners and designer wanted. “It was a typical ’80s renovation,” Kakar says. ”It was white and beige and white and beige. It had lost its soul, character and charm.”
Because the house was in good shape, much of the improvements centered on new paint and furnishings. “We wanted to keep it a neutral palette on the wall,” Kakar says, and “inject their personality in the tile, artwork and the furnishings.” C. Haynes Construction, a local contractor, helped execute the project.
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