Urban Home Austin-San Antonio

HOME

www.UrbanHomeMagazine.com

AUSTIN-SAN ANTONIO URBAN

Fe

b/

ma

r

20

12

Designs | Lifestyles | Investments | Improvements

Kitchens and Baths:Designing, Cooking, Relaxing

How much time do we spend in our homes? We did a bit of research and found that on average Americans spend approximately 568 days (Answers.com) in the bathroom and 2024 days (Justanswer.com) in the kitchen over a lifetime. But aside from the simple necessities of cooking and dressing that these two rooms provide, they are also the family gathering space and the place to comfortably begin and end each day, respectively. In many cases, the

conveniences in a kitchen make their way to a master suite with coffee machines, refrigerators and wine bars. So with good reason, these are the two rooms in the house most often to be remodeled and that bring the greatest return on investment.

In this issue we bring you three stylistically different kitchen areas, but all having the same purpose: they were each designed to meet the needs and match the lifestyles of the families that call them home. A contemporary kitchen and living area designed by Panache Interiors showcases an innovative space plan and is fitted with conveniences for the mobility impaired, while a kitchen remodel by Texas Construction Company and designer Kit Odom includes intricate cabinet details, a striking custom vent hood and soft colors throughout, all fitting the female-only household. Our final kitchen by architect McKinney York, Buddy Kinder Custom Homes and designer Robin Black features a fabulous glass art collection that is showcased in a space designed specifically for this purpose.

We also present two bathrooms that can both be described as classic interpretations of times gone by, but strikingly different in design. One project by CG&S Design-Build takes inspiration from Audrey Hepburn and the sixties with a modern chic form, and another by David Wilkes Builders is a retake on bungalow style where the lines are blurred between what is old and what is new.

Our cover home by James D. LaRue Architects and Reynolds Custom Homes, while described as contemporary with clean lines, open spaces and a nod to mid-century modern, is warm and inviting with wooden textures throughout, walls of windows providing spectacular views of the outdoor areas and a backdrop of muted colors that allows vibrant artwork to be displayed with almost a gallery-like quality. Careful and thoughtful considerations were taken with each material selected and placed within the home, garnering much recognition for its energy-efficient applications.

It appears that spring may come early again this year, so now is the time to take to the outdoors and plant an edible garden. We give you important tips on how best to create a garden that is not only beautiful, but delicious as well.

Did you know that our South Texas coast is a world-class birding destination? We highlight which species to see throughout the year and what non-birding adventures are also available when visiting the coast.

Please share this issue with a friend and be encouraged to recycle.

Trisha Doucette & Leslie Woods, editors

P.S. Find us on Facebook at Urban Home Magazine: Austin – San Antonio.If you have wonderful finds that our readers would enjoy, please share with us on Facebook.

On The Cover:

Consideration for its placement on the lot, for how its features respond to the Texas heat, and for the privacy of not only the homeowners but the neighbors as well, make this contemporary home, designed by James D. LaRue Architects and built by Reynolds Custom Homes, a thoughtful and appealing design. Page 18

Scan to view more features of this home.

From the editors

8 URBAn HOMe AUSTIn – SAn AnTOnIO urbanhomemagazine.com

2012 | VOL. 7 | NO. 1Publisher

Louis Doucette

EditorsLeslie Woods and Trisha Doucette

Contributing EditorsLeonard Guerrero – ABOR

David Davison – nARI AustinJustin Bravo – San Antonio nARI

Karen Matuszewski – By Design, Real estate Services & Custom Home Consulting

Contributing WritersClaudia Alarcon, Sharla Bell, Jackie Benton, Jennifer Bitzkie, Julie Catalano, Mauri elbel, Laura Jackson, Sue-ella Mueller,

Angela Rabke, Dana W. Todd

Advertising SalesSandy Weatherford

Gerry Lair

PhotographyAllison Cartwright/Twist Tours

Manuel FloresColes Hairston

Jonathon JacksonThomas McConnell

Andrew Pogue

Design and ProductionTim Shaw – The Shaw Creative

Printing and Direct MailSmithPrint

Phone512.385.4663, Austin - 210.410.0014, San Antonio

Fax830.981.8887

Business Office4714 Cambridge / Sugar Land, Texas 77479

Sales Office10036 Saxet Drive / Boerne, Texas 78006

[email protected]

Website www.urbanhomemagazine.com

Urban Home Magazine Austin-San Antonio is published by Big City Magazines of Austin, LLC. Advertising rates available upon request. All rights reserved by copyright. no part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part without the express written consent from publisher. every effort is made to assure accuracy of the information contained herein. However, the publisher cannot guarantee such accuracy. Advertising is subject to errors, omissions and or other changes without notice. Mention of any product or service does not constitute endorsement from Urban Home Magazine. The information contained in this publication is deemed reliable from third party sources, but not guaranteed. Urban Home Magazine does not act as an agent for any of the advertisers in this publication. It is recommended that you choose a qualified remodeling, home furnishings or home improvement firm based on your own selection criteria. Urban Home Magazine, does not act as an agent for any of the realtors or builders in this publication. It is recommended that you choose a qualified realtor to assist you in your new home purchase.

Urban Home Magazine will not knowingly accept advertising for real estate that is a violation of the Fair Housing Act. All real estate advertising in Urban Home Magazine, is subject to the Fair Housing Act that states “We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the nation. We encourage and support an affirmative advertising and marketing program in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin.”

© Copyright 2012 by Urban Home Magazine. All Rights Reserved.

AUSTIN • 10401 Burnet Rd. • (512) 491-6444

SAN ANTONIO • 7243 Blanco Rd. • (210) 541-8500

www.LightingInc.com

Lighting Inc.Established 1959

Hurry & Save!

$30 OFFPurchases $250 - $500

$120 OFFPurchases $500 - $2500

$250 OFFPurchases $2500+

Must present at time of purchase. One coupon per customer. Offer not valid on previous purchases or house

accounts. Expires 3/31/12.Excludes fans, recess lighting,

net items and ump pricing.

Drop by for some conversation.Light

HE SAID SHE

SAIDSundays from 6-7 pm

KJCE 96.3 FM & 1370 AM

Call in and talk to us live on

AWARD-WINNING INTERIOR DESIGN

custom homes • lofts • spec homes • commercial

512.443.3200 www.bellavillads.com

Stephanie J. Villavicencio, ASIDTexas Registered Interior Designer

26 30

Contents

cover18 Home of Dreams Photography by Coles Hairston

featured homes26 Black and White and Green All Over Photography by Allison Cartwright/Twist Tours30 When Pretty Meets Practical Photography by Coles Hairston34 Minimalistic Magic Photography by Thomas McConnell42 Channeling Audrey Photography by Jonathon Jackson and Andrew Pogue46 Bungalow Bathroom Photography by Thomas McConnell

trends60 Kitchen Mission Control70 Entertaining Edible Gardening and Landscaping74 Garden Durable Roses

highlights38 Texas Casual Cottages50 Why This Space Works, Designer Spotlight: Stephanie Villavicencio56 Community Service: Urban Home Dream Home64 Spa, Sweet Spa66 The Homefield Advantage68 Why Hire a Professional Organizer

departments fabulous finds

78 Birding on the Texas Coast

essentials58 New Products: Baths contributing editors40 David Davison, NARI Austin & Justin Bravo, San Antonio NARI54 Karen Matuszewski , By Design - Custom Home Consulting81 Leonard Guerrero, ABOR

82 Advertiser Index

February/March 2012

4234

18

74 78urbanhomemagazine.com

By AngelA RABke Photography by Coles HAiRston

Home of DreamsKevin Costner’s character in Field of Dreams

was haunted by the whisper of “If you build

it, [they] will come.” Austin homebuilder Greg

Reynolds heard a similar voice when he saw the

site for The Blanco House. “There were some

challenges with the site, but I knew if we built the

right house, we would find a buyer.” Reynolds

partnered with James D. LaRue Architects, also

of Austin, and they began work on the design.

“We were excited when Greg approached us

to design this home,” says LaRue. “In a way,

we were testing the waters. Because we didn’t

know whom the buyer would be, we had to think

in broader terms,” he shares. Reynolds agrees.

“There was a retention pond next to the site, and

no water frontage — so we needed to create a

great view with a combination of architecture

and landscape.” The finished product, while

widely appealing, reflects the intimate nature of a

thoughtful and personal design, and was actually

purchased by an observant passer-by while

under construction.

18 URBAn HOMe AUSTIn – SAn AnTOnIO

that I retreat back to. This process does not stop at the office; I am constantly thinking about design.”

In this case, that process led to The Blanco House, which includes a timeless, rectangular pool, several comfortable outdoor living areas, and five bedrooms, all situated in a residential area. nevertheless, there is a sense of privacy and a seamless connection to green outdoor spaces through the

t 6,500 s.f., the home is generously sized, yet special care was taken to create a design that worked in conjunction with the site. “In all projects, I love the initial site visit.

Walking the site tells me a lot about how a house will respond to it,” says LaRue. “In my mind’s eye I start to see a vision, and I can’t wait to transfer the visions from my mind on to paper. Iterations of the design evolve, but it is usually the first concept

a placed the master bedroom wing on the north side and limited the amount of windows to the same side,” says LaRue. “This wing was a buffer, giving both him and us privacy, but at the same time, opens up to the backyard allowing for wonderful views. The rest of the first floor is the more public area, with an open living room, kitchen, dining, breakfast, family and guest room/bar/bathroom. The guest bath also functions as the pool

thoughtful and abundant placement of windows and through the courtyard quality of the layout which wraps the home around the pool and the spacious backyard. “To the north is a retention pond and to the south we wanted to be considerate of the neighbor, so the result is a building that screens itself from both sides and opens up internally. The house wraps around the backyard, allowing for a lot of wonderful natural light. We

Warm wooden floors

and white walls give

the home a gallery-like

quality, and allow

vibrant art to remain

the decorating focus.

20 URBAn HOMe AUSTIn – SAn AnTOnIO urbanhomemagazine.com URBAn HOMe AUSTIn – SAn AnTOnIO 21urbanhomemagazine.com

possible. Cantilevered steel beams lend lightness to the quality of the porch structure, which houses a large outdoor television mounted over the porch fireplace—perfect for game-watching, and the adjacent dining space compliments the outdoor kitchen area. Intimate seating areas surround the pool, and provide peaceful spaces for quiet, conversational gatherings. The sloping lot required two floors, but cutting into the earth

bath with its close proximity to the outdoor living area. The three bedrooms and loft area, which the homeowners have now converted into a media room, are all upstairs.”

The steaming month of August makes it easy to forget that Texas boasts such long and pleasant shoulder seasons, but The Blanco House, with ample use of outdoor living space, draws the homeowners and their guests outside to gather as often as is

Generous counter

space and seating make

the kitchen a perfect

gathering spot, while

warm wooden textures

on the floor and counter

side panels add warmth

to the clean lines.

while allowing visible light to pass) to reduce sun exposure, while allowing us to use expansive pieces of glass,” says LaRue. Local limestone was used for the exterior stone surfaces and low maintenance standing seam metal adorns the roof. Metal roofs, in general, are considered a “cool” roof by the ePA and tend to be lower maintenance than asphalt or composition shingles. These, with the addition of smart heating and cooling

allowed the second level of the house to look less massive from the street elevation for an overall approach that is substantial, but not overwhelming.

exterior features respond to the environment in ways that speak to sustainability. “We designed large overhangs and used low-e glass (low thermal emissivity glass keeps radiant heat on the same side of the glass from which it originated,


systems, earned the home a 4-Star Green Builder designation through the Austin Green Building Program.

The interior spaces of the home are equally hospitable for social gatherings of all sizes. The kitchen, designed with the help of Christi Palmer of Palmer Todd, boasts two ovens, plenty of counter space, and a discreet butler’s pantry for out-of-sight meal preparations. The main living area feels clean and contemporary, with a fireplace featuring a mid-century, walnut-paneled surround. The composition of the paneling lines up perfectly with the horizontal coursing of the window mullions. (Fashionistas will compare this level of detail with the way a quality garment matches pattern at the seams.)

The entryway of the home, a steel/glass system built by Portella Steel Doors and Windows, is especially striking and memorable without feeling imposing. “We wanted the front entry to be a statement to the house,” says LaRue. “By running the exterior stone into the interior of the house, the distinction between outside and inside is blurred, making the entry a dynamic experience.” The connection to the backyard is punctuated with floor to ceiling glass at the opposite end of the foyer, and concrete pavers allow the grasses and landscaping to soften the sharp lines of steel, concrete and glass.

The final, inhabited iteration of the home feels contemporary, personalized and private. White walls contrast with natural wood flooring and offset a colorful private art collection. A unique sliding barn door feature partitions the modern office, while a gutter is replaced with a rain chain.

Reynolds acknowledges that a few people thought it was crazy to build this house of dreams in an unpredictable economy, but The Blanco House proves that if you build it (with great attention to detail), the buyers will come. v

James D. LaRue Architects512.347.1688 Larue-architects.com

Reynolds Custom Homes512.306.0001 Reynoldshomes.com

Palmer Todd210.341.3396 Palmertodd.com

Portella Steel Doors & Windows512.263.8851 Portella.com

A sliding barn door, generous

windows and limestone walls

blur the lines between indoor

and outdoor in the office.


Black and White and Green all Over

By sHARlA BellPhotography by Allison CARtwRigHt/twist touRs

“WoW! THiS kiTCHen ReALLy PoPS!”

These were my initial thoughts when first I laid eyes on this incredibly buzz-worthy project. With its bold color

palette and geometric lines, there is no denying it has personality to spare. The kitchen is part of a whole

home project by Sharon Radovich, Jana Cates and Julie Frances, of Panache Interiors, that was in the

country’s first “all green” Parade of Homes. The kitchen has garnered much praise for its innovative design,

ADA compliant features, and incorporation of sustainable and energy-efficient products.

ccording to Radovich, the vision for the whole home was for it to be an “energetic and modern fit for our fast paced cultural reality. As the core of the home,

the kitchen needed to be flexible and dynamic!” Toward this goal, the design team began with “a classic black and white décor, softening the black by diluting it to gray, and adding the bright red for energy.” They selected black stain for the millwork, which is constructed of veneered formaldehyde-free MDF, an eco-friendly choice, and “incorporated horizontal strips to lighten the visual weight of the cabinetry and add a sense of calm, directing the eye around the space.” Because the house is quite angular, they “juxtaposed the hard lines by adding curves in the sinuous island and painted the red floor dot representing the work ‘triangle.’” To bring the red up to the line of sight, they added a red acrylic square backsplash, and Zita Designs painted the oversized arabesque graphic on the wall to pull the space together beautifully. And for a fun, funky twist, a pop of red was added with the “PLC Gelato Pendant” light from Lights Fantastic.

But while admiring the crazy cool color palette and geometry of the space, don’t miss the thoughtful design choices that were made throughout the kitchen in order to make it “easily accessible for the mobility impaired with a nod to aging in place.” Radovich details the wide variety of careful selections: “The cabinet doors are on push latches which pop open when touched; this is helpful for people with arthritic hands or mobility issues. The same thought process inspired the grab and go pantry and the open shelving by the stove. The back working side of the island is open so it can be accessible from a wheelchair. The end of the island stores a rolling cart that can be loaded and taken via the elevator to the second or third floors. An occupancy sensor controls LeD lighting installed under the toe kicks. The lights automatically come on when the space is entered, which is especially handy when your arms are loaded with groceries or illuminating a path when the house is dark.”

The pièce de résistance, however, is the hydraulic island table

a


that was born of the design team’s imagination and brought to fruition by Vintage Material Supply. Because the home is built on the grounds of the old Mueller airport, the design team wanted to honor ‘old’ Austin while rejuvenating the site. Vintage Materials had in their inventory pecan trunks cleared from a grove on another iconic Austin site, Shady Grove near Town Lake. The reclaimed pecan became the beautiful tabletop that adjoins the island. The team “specified the hydraulic base so that the table could be adjusted between table height and bar height. It can be raised for parties, lowered for eating, or used as an extension of the counter. The barstools are hydraulic too, so they can adjust with the table.”

Finally, the intelligent design continued with the environmentally-sound choices Radovich and her team made. eneRGY STAR® appliances and compact fluorescents as well as the LeD light strips at the toe kicks make excellent conservators of energy. The low VOC paint is healthful, and painted in light colors, reflects the natural light that streams though the large windows in the great room. Scored, colored concrete floors and the concrete island top are both beautiful and sustainable choices. And in order to integrate design and lifestyle, the team “incorporated a garden in the backyard which provides fresh herbs and veggies to support the sustainable mind set.” v

Lights Fantastic512.452.9511 Lightsfantastic.com

Panache interiors512.452.7773 Panacheinteriors.com

Streetman Homes512.329.9966 Streetmanhomes.com Texas Four Architects512.472.0887 Texasfour.net

Vintage Material Supply512.386.6404 Vintagematerialsupply.com

Zita Design512.785.6050 Zitadesigns.com

FIn

e S

TO

ne

GA

LL

eR

Y

21

8 W

eST

RH

AP

SOD

Y

S

An

An

TO

nIO

, T

eX

AS

78

21

6

2

10

-88

9-4

80

9

F

Ine

STO

ne

GA

LL

eR

Y.C

OM

We

Se

LL

TO

TH

e P

UB

LIC

CL

IMA

Te

CO

nT

RO

LL

eD

SH

OW

RO

OM

Spec

ial

Pri

cin

g fo

r A

SID

an

d A

IA M

emb

ers

natu

ral s

tone

, nat

ure’s

art

. . .

.lik

e you

’ve n

ever

seen

befo

re

MA

RB

Le

O

nY

X

TR

AV

eR

TIn

e

GR

An

ITe

RE

CE

IVE

A 1

0%

DIS

CO

UN

T D

UR

ING

OU

R G

RA

ND

OP

EN

ING

!28 URBAn HOMe AUSTIn – SAn AnTOnIO urbanhomemagazine.com

By MAuRi elBel Photography by Coles HAiRston

An expertly-designed kitchen cAn become

the heArt of the home – A centrAl

gAthering plAce where A fAmily convenes

not only for nourishment, but Also for

interAction And inspirAtion.

When Pretty Meets

Practicala Kitchen remodel Fitting

for an all-Female household

aced with the challenge of transforming a tiny, closed off kitchen to better suit the busy lifestyle of a single mom raising three teenage daughters, Austin designer Kit Odom

executed a décor so inviting it was capable of integrating itself into the rest of the home while inspiring her client to learn to cook.

“The previous space was a tiny galley kitchen – a shoebox of a kitchen,” says Odom. “Before the remodel, it was small and dark and lacked counter space. You didn’t want to spend any time in there. But now, my client can be in the kitchen cooking while the girls are at the island doing homework or talking.”

With the main goals of the project being to expand the size and increase the functionality of the cramped kitchen, Odom meshed

her client’s desire to incorporate feminine touches with her own streamlined aesthetic, transforming what was once a drab workspace into an appealing living space. To conquer the challenges at hand, Odom called on Austin architect Douglas Frey, local Mouser showroom owner and kitchen space planner De Humphries, and builder Royce Flournoy, president of Texas Construction Company, for a collaborative kitchen remodel that soon snowballed into an entire home renovation project of the residence.

“Originally, the kitchen was its own room, closed off from the living room,” says Flournoy. “We opened it up to the adjacent living room so it now allows the family to eat and watch TV and enjoy being in one big, communal space together.”

The renovation team knocked down walls to open up the space, moved the laundry room previously located beyond the kitchen upstairs, got rid of the outdated pantries and nearly tripled the size of the once 8-foot by 10-foot kitchen.

“I was really pleased with the way the whole open kitchen-living-dining area played out,” Flournoy says. “And having visited the client again several times and seeing everyone functioning in the space, I can see it was the right decision.”

now a southern traditional haven for a nostalgic-minded client who wanted to recreate the style of the home she grew up in while maintaining an air of femininity suiting for the all-female household, the gourmet kitchen is a flawless blend of pretty and practical.

Odom incorporated intricate details such as enkeboll® Designs’ hand-carved swags adorned with flowers and bows on the island cabinetry as well as the two panels flanking the five-burner, dual-fuel range, and she selected a soft color palette of Burnished eggshell and a custom Burnished Green. efficiency is met with unique features such as drawers located on both sides of the island that dual as homework storage for the girls, and a pull-out chopping block conveniently positioned next to the sink. The pantry, previously a walk-in, is now disguised in two large armoires equipped with space-saving, pull-out features surrounding the wine refrigerator.

The 1980s builder-grade cabinetry was replaced with Mouser Custom Cabinetry, a furniture-grade cabinet company that custom

F


builds its products specifically for each client. The creamy-colored cabinetry wrapping the entire kitchen is finished in an aged patina paint process that actually bakes on the paint for a more durable finish, adding to the antiqued aesthetic of the kitchen.

“each panel is painted with an intricate detail, and the finish they apply makes these cabinets seem very Old World,” says Flournoy. “I don’t think this is something we could recreate in the field.”

Brand new appliances including a Thermador® wine cooler as well as a KitchenAid® dishwasher and refrigerator were installed to bring the kitchen up-to-date while integrated panels and hardware help give the space a furniture-like feel rather than an industrial one, says Odom.

A custom-created vent hood hovers over the brand new DCS range, its copper verdigris finish serving as the focal point of the kitchen while coordinating with the green hue of the island’s lower cabinets. Just below the one-of-a-kind copper vent hood sits the ornate mosaic tiles and intricate mural from Architerra which adds to the modern kitchen’s antique charm.

Old, chipped Saltillo tile floors were replaced with white oak hardwoods stained in Red Mahogany, a look continued throughout the entire first floor. Outdated tile countertops finished with grout are surfaces of the past, replaced with smooth, freckled granite that lends itself to easier maintenance and a cleaner look.

“It is night and day,” says Odom. “Before, this space was just a

dark pass-through to get to the laundry room. It is now somewhere where family and guests want to spend time and hang out.” v

Architerra Design Studio512.441.5540 Architerrashowroom.com De Humphries512.656.1795 [email protected]

enkeboll Fine Architectural Woodcarvings866.578.2098 enkeboll.com Frey Architects inc.512.330.0334 Freyarchitects.com

kit odom512.736.3258 [email protected] Mouser Custom CabinetryMousercc.com

Texas Construction Company 512.451.8050 www.txconstruct.com

We’ve got great glass

www.VentanaMan.com512-388-94001609 Chisholm Trail #100, Round Rock


hen a local architectural firm, builder, and interior designer collaborated on a new home in

the City of Shavano Park on the edge of the Texas Hill Country, they were purposeful in creating a contemporary home in contraposition to the predominantly Mediterranean houses prevailing in the area. In keeping with the homeowner’s desire, the team designed and built a modern home with simple lines to display her glass art collection. The main goal: a home that is as much an art statement as the homeowner’s collection.

The heart of this home is literally the kitchen. The home is arranged in a rough “H” shape with one large all-glass rectangular pavilion encompassing the living, dining, and kitchen areas in the center, and four “pods” connected at each corner containing the other rooms. The centralized area became the focal point for displaying the homeowner’s art glass collection.

“In her previous house, the homeowner did not have a way

to cohesively display her extensive collection; it was all over the house. This method did not provide a good way to get a sense of the collection as a whole,” says Heather McKinney, FAIA, of McKinney York Architects. Using glass throughout the centralized living area – from display spaces in the dining room and gallery to kitchen cabinetry, McKinney and project architect Will Wood provide the artistic touch needed to integrate the collection in the new Shavano Park home.

Most of the kitchen’s features are purposefully simple in design, yet provide a powerful statement. The kitchen’s upper glass cabinets provide a degree of opacity for storing dishes, leaving the painted white ceiling-level cabinets a focal point for glass art objects. Choosing a thin hood vent allows the multi-colored linear Interstyle glass wall tile to shine, complementing the art objects placed around this room.

Interior designer Robin Black, ASID, chose european-style

MiniMalisticMagic

By DAnA w. toDDPhotography by tHoMAs MCConnell

The kitchen’s upper glass cabinets provide

a degree of opacity for storing dishes,

leaving the painted white ceiling-level cabinets

a focal point for glass art objects.

W


dark wenge wood base cabinetry to provide a harmonious contrast to the lighter solid-colored CaesarStone countertops and modern Italian Flos hanging pendant fixtures. “I chose the darker wenge wood to match the architect’s choice of ipe wood on the adjoining dining room ceiling,” Black says. A kitchen skylight furthers brightens the space, as does the attached breakfast bay enclosed by floor-to-ceiling glass on two sides.

Architects McKinney and Wood, and builder Buddy Kinder incorporated many commercial construction features, such as the breakfast bay’s curtain wall construction, to ensure artistry prevails throughout the main area. Often seen in commercial skyscrapers, curtain wall construction allows glass walls to shine, supported by hidden steel framing for its load-bearing capability. Commercial grade fabrics on chairs are easy care and resilient. Concrete floors layered with a thick commercial coating tinted the color of Venetian plaster make the kitchen and attached living areas durable and artistic.

Kinder says the simplicity of the kitchen’s minimalistic style actually makes for a more difficult construction project. “Custom contemporary cabinetry must be perfectly pieced together since there is no trim to conceal joints,” he says. “Smooth wall surfaces, transparent glass tiles, and recessed lighting without rims create the need for perfection in installation and construction. It’s a complex house because of its simplicity.” v

Mckinney york512.476.0201 Mckinneyyork.com

Robin Black, RID, ASID, IIDA210.826.2100 [email protected]

Buddy kinder Custom Homes210.710.4072 [email protected]


texAs cAsuAl cottAges

“We offer people a better and easier option to have their home in a rural setting,”

says Robert Moreman, sales manager for Texas Casual Cottages in Wimberley.

ou have the land and the dream. Who can you can trust to build that dream? Trendmaker Homes is your answer.

Whether you are looking to build a home for weekend getaways, retirement or to establish a permanent rural residence, Trendmaker Homes has the perfect Texas Casual Cottage.

“We believe that there are a lot of people that have land in rural locations that want a true rural styled home,” says Will Holder, president of Trendmaker Homes. “For that rural buyer wanting that specific style home, there were too few choices and none of those choices have the 40 years of experience and reputation of Trendmaker Homes.”

With that in mind, Trendmaker established a Texas Casual Cottages model home park in Round Top, Texas, to serve the Central Texas region. Trendmaker advertised the opening by sending postcards to clients already living in a Trendmaker home in Houston. Much to their surprise, more than 500 people came out to see the new rural homes.

“Customer satisfaction is our hallmark. We’re in the top 5% of national home builders in terms of customer satisfaction,” says Lin Spear, vice president of

marketing for Trendmaker. “People know us, they trust us and they like us. So, of course, if given the opportunity, they would choose someone with whom they’ve established a solid relationship with to build their new home.”

Because of the success of the Round Top model home park, Texas Casual Cottages now has a second park in Wimberley, Texas, to serve those looking to build in the Hill Country region. Both model home parks feature rural styled homes from 1,500 square feet to over 3,700 square feet with oversized front and back porches.

“It is really the styling and construction methods that set Texas Casual Cottages apart. People love the huge porches, the raised floor foundations, the metal roofs and the all wooden interiors,”

Holder says. “And, what you see is what you get in our pricing; the models shown are not loaded with extras and upgrades. People love seeing what they get.”

While the model homes are all different in their own unique way, all have that rustic feel that is sure to transport you back to a different time. “These homes are not just city homes with a fake country façade,” assures Holder. “The authentic way these homes are being built

is really touching people in a deep way. It’s like their grandfather’s old house, except big and new!”

Sandy Reed, sales manager for the Round Top model home park, couldn’t agree more, “The look and feel of our Casual Cottages is relaxed, country style. The only thing “citified” about these country homes is their state-of-the-art construction and interior amenities.”

Clients are not restricted to the plans of the model homes and can choose to add rooms, a large garage or even a guesthouse. “We are constantly improving and modifying the plans by asking buyers how the plans work for them. They give us insightful feedback, helping us to make our product truly unique,” says Spear.

“We wanted the homes to appeal to the audiences of the different regions and, therefore, each model looks completely different,” says Heather Scruggs, who is in charge of interior design and merchandising for Trendmaker. “Our models in Round Top have a more artsy feel to them, a shabby chic look. We utilized lots of antiques and quilts from the area throughout the inside and outside of the houses. Whereas the Wimberley homes portray an organic,

rustic style with a contemporary twist. They have a warm and cozy feel with lots of leather and natural wood in a kind of Ralph Lauren look.”

Perhaps the best part about Texas Casual Cottages is that they can be built just about anywhere within the regional zones offered – lakeside, hillside or any side. Texas Casual Cottages is a unique concept according to Robert Moreman, sales manager for Texas Casual Cottages in Wimberley. “We offer people a better and easier option to have their home in a rural setting,” he says. “Building a house outside a large metropolitan area can be quite challenging. Texas Casual Cottages has the financial stability to follow through with the process.”

Spear adds, “We have a strong legacy of homebuilding in Texas and we understand what it means to create a place where people want to call home.” And that is important no matter where you hang your hat. v

For more information on

where we build or to visit

one of our model parks in

Wimberley or Round Top,

please go to our website,

TexasCasualCottages.com.

Y


Kitchens are the center of the modern-day home, and homeowners consistently rank this area as one of their most desirable spaces to remodel. Mixing green

elements into the remodel has several advantages, which is why many homeowners are incorporating more eco-friendly products and practices when remodeling their kitchen.

Deconstruction turns into donation - Although outdated, original kitchen materials and fixtures are often still in useable condition. When carefully removed, old kitchen cabinets and countertops may be donated to families or local organizations in need. Consider recycling materials by using them in other areas of your home. For instance, hardwood floors originally installed in the kitchen may be reinstalled in a playroom or den.

Green behind the scenes - Always upgrade the inner systems first. Consider updating electrical systems and insulation for a more energy efficient space. Structural changes may be necessary to open up a space and increase natural lighting. Sometimes removing a wall, adding French doors or a bay window will not only improve the visual appeal, but also utilize a southern exposure to increase the passive solar heating in the kitchen in winter and avoid the harsh western sun exposure during the summer.

Keeping it Cool - Replacing original windows with low-e high efficiency models will help the home overcome our hot Central Texas summers. According to the U.S. Department of energy, high efficiency windows can cut the cooling load by 10% - 15%. If structural changes are in the plans, consider extending the roof line to provide an over-hang which will shade windows and in turn help the home maintain a cooler temperature. Another important consideration is attic insulation. Adding several inches of insulation to your attic can help reduce in-home temperatures by several degrees, and in our long, hot summers every little bit is important.

Sustainable materials beautify the space - no green kitchen would be complete without sustainable materials. Cabinetry and flooring that is Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified or from a rapidly renewable resource such as cork or bamboo are great “green” options. Countertops made from recycled concrete and glass are not only beautiful, but help reduce landfills. Many of the products used in a traditional remodel can have dangerous chemicals and gases which contribute to poor air quality. Homeowners must be vigilant that the products being used are zero VOC’s, non-petroleum based, low odor and solvent free. v

If a sustainable remodel is in your plans, contact NARI to find

a contractor with the expertise to create the space of your

dreams. Austin NARI: austinnari.org, San Antonio NARI:

remodelsanantonio.org

A SuStAinAble Kitchen thAt’S AlSo FunctionAl

Justin BRAvo, President,

nARi san Antonio

DAviD DAvison, President, Austin nARi

REMODELER’S ADVICE

SLeek. STyLiSH. enViRonMenTALLy SounD. While not exactly the mantra of the high-glam, understated muse from which designer Mark Lind, Senior Project Designer at CG&S Design-Build, drew inspiration, I do believe Audrey Hepburn would have been proud of the work her persona informed.

According to Lind, “The design image that the homeowner had in mind was a kind of contemporary, sophisticated elegance. That’s really where the conversation began: a kind of classic, modern chic epitomized by the

young actress from the sixties.” In addition to this urbane aesthetic, both Lind and the homeowners were interested in continuing their efforts toward a green, eco-responsible home. The resulting master bath has all of the posh gracefulness of the sixties icon and all of the good intention of the sixties themselves.

Part of the second phase of the home’s remodel, the master bath needed to be both tied to the first phase of remodeling by elements such as the walnut, european-style cabinets by Amazonia Cabinets, as well as have a character all its own. Toward

this end, Lind selected the multicolored tile that spans the walls behind the vanities and the spa tub. The glossy, glass mosaic tile, appropriately called, “Serenade Blend,” sets the color scheme for the entire bath. “Since the colors in this tile are very subtle, we decided that they would be the only real color in the master bath, with the other selections being either neutral grey or the natural materials themselves, such as the stained walnut cabinets,” Lind explains. The overall effect is restrained and refined.

From a sketch by Lind upon his initial meeting with the clients, “the cantilevered vanity cabinets are composed of two overlapping materials: a grey CaesarStone® surrounding the sinks that is ‘notched’ around walnut cabinetry on the right side and below. Together the two materials form the master vanity, which projects from the colorful mosaic tiled wall, where custom steel brackets support freestanding mirrors paired with adjustable fluorescent light fixtures.” The clean lines of both the mosaic tile and the cabinetry belie the ethereal sense that the vanity floats above a sea of grey, and the unique adjustable lights cause the wall itself to glow with a kind of otherworldly radiance. Finally, in a nod to his muse, Lind searched all over for the “svelte, shapely, black light fixture along the lines of Hepburn’s iconic ‘little black dress,’ which illuminates the area to the right of the vanities.” Both this pendant light, as well as the selection of Kohler’s “Margaux” faucets, was in keeping with the sophisticated aesthetic of sixties chic.

The primary design element in the space is the large, central, three-sided frameless glass shower. Lind points out that “although

“The imprint of Miss Hepburn is absolutely, totally present . . . . . . she will be the most important look of the twentieth century.”

Manolo Blahnik, Designer

Channeling auDreyBy sHARlA Bell

Photography by JonAtHon JACkson AnD AnDRew Pogue

Photo by AnDRew Pogue




the two person shower is quite large, the selection of clear glass maintains visibility and a sense of openness within the room.” Inside the shower, a “composition of overlapping tiles—vertical, slate-colored ceramic tiles on the wall with large white glass tiles on a lower pony wall—creates a half-height ledge inside the shower that extends through the glass enclosure and behind the adjacent toilet.” The intended result is a seamlessly unified space that takes advantage of the monochromatic color scheme and the boundless light that a glass shower affords.

Implicit in the design of the master bath is the homeowner’s desire to minimize their carbon footprint. Lind, long an advocate of green design, took every opportunity to incorporate his expertise. From the choice of CaesarStone® countertops to the on-demand tankless water heater, the bath is a study in how-to environmental savvy. LeD can lighting, fluorescent vanity lights, low flow faucets, dual flush toilets, energy efficient windows, wet-blown expanding polyurethane insulation in the roof and walls: the list goes on and on. In addition to

specifying green products, Lind designed the large roof overhang on the east side of the home to shade the windows in the summer and had the exact size of the HVAC equipment calculated so as not to oversize it. even the roof above the master bath was an intricate part of the green design: it is an inverted ‘butterfly’ roof that channels runoff to both ends, where dual downspouts carry it to a collection area below the house in order to recycle and reuse any of the precious rainwater our Texas weather might provide.

This kind of careful planning and execution garnered the home its Five Star energy rating from the Austin energy® Green Building Program. In fact, both phases of the remodel were given this distinction. Lind says he “likes to think of it as the only house in Austin that has a ten star rating!” v

CG&S Design-Build512.444.1580Cgsdb.com

Photo by JonAtHAn JACkson

Photo by JonAtHAn JACkson


hen you realize how much time the average American spends in the bathroom each year, it’s

no wonder it also happens to be one of the rooms we spend the most time and money remodeling. estimates range from 30 minutes per day for most men, to 70 minutes plus for the ladies. Within only a year’s time, that’s about 8 to 18 days in the bathroom — more time than many of us take for vacation!

So, the goal of creating a secluded retreat where you can escape from the rest of the world is one that many of us share, whether that means a long soak in the tub, or just some peace and quiet during your morning shave.

David Wilkes of David Wilkes Builders explains that the owners of the lovely Austin 1924 bungalow remodel decided to create their own private sanctuary by adding a whole new level above their existing home. “When you want to expand, it’s often an excellent choice to go up, particularly if you don’t want to take away from your existing lot size,” said Wilkes.

As you enter their inviting refuge, the first thing you notice is the exquisite walnut door leading into their bright and airy space. “Making the most of natural light was an important focus for this bathroom and throughout the design of the home,” explains the architect and designer, Rebecca Devine of Devine Austin. By placing it on the east side of their property, she ensured that the bathroom was flooded with radiant sunlight for getting ready in the morning.

All of the cabinetry in the bathroom is custom built by expert craftsman Bruce Mende using a gorgeous walnut wood. The walnut supplies an abundance of deep, luscious tones and textures, while providing a beautiful contrast to the white hexagon subway tiles across the walls and floor.

The refreshingly open and abundant space is complemented by expansive frameless shower doors and top-rated Kohler water fixtures. The bathroom also features elegant Lacava custom sinks.

Meeting the clients’ objectives of using only the best products available as well as incorporating water-saving measures, they installed a Toto dual flush toilet and a Rhinnai water heater. There’s also a rainwater retention tank and energy-efficient windows throughout the home.

Wilkes understands how crucial quality building is to all successful projects, but when remodeling an older home, providing the right additional foundational support is indisputably essential.

Bungalow Bathroom

Cleans Up In Style

w

By lAuRA JACksonPhotography by tHoMAs MCConnell


Devine explained how her partnership with David Wilkes Builders was the perfect fit for the bungalow project. “In order for its contemporary design to look this clean and seamless, it is absolutely critical that the contractor provides the best structural base possible,” said Devine. Because the ground in Austin can move around so much, without the experience of skilled contractors, she has seen many homes begin to literally crack at the seams within mere months, popping tiles and essentially destroying the new, refined look they set out to achieve in the first place.

“One of my favorite things about the room is the way the sun moves throughout the day, highlighting the individuality of the wood and reflecting the best of its details,” said Devine. As natural

light infuses the master bathroom in this charming bungalow, it’s easy to see how its ageless materials combined with quality building, expert craftsmanship and design finesse really do make all the difference. v

David Wilkes Builders512.328.9888 Davidwilkesbuilders.com

Devine Austin512.751.6040 Devineaustin.com

• Custom home building

• Complete home renovations

• Custom Kitchens & Bathrooms

• Room additions

• Architectural & Interior design services

Dylan MartinHOMES & REMODELING

13625 Pond Springs Rd. Suite 102, Austin, Texas 78729

512.692.9212 • 512.350.1088

www.dylanmartinhomes.com • [email protected] URBAn HOMe AUSTIn – SAn AnTOnIO urbanhomemagazine.com

other than filling the room with natural light, what were the ideas behind surrounding the dining area with wrap-around picture windows?

This home is built at the back of the property to provide privacy from the street – you have to go down the driveway before you see it. The homeowners created a courtyard/garden in front of the dining room, and specifically wanted the windows to look out at this relaxing space when cooking. The view adds a calming element in the dining area. In addition to providing a fabulous view, the wrap-around picture windows are extremely energy efficient and protect the furniture from the harsh Texas sun. The home

was designed around the site, and the back kitchen window, equipped with a see-through solar shade to minimize glare during sunset, takes full advantage of the breathtaking view and the pool.

What purpose does the extended island serve for the homeowners?

The entire kitchen and dining room were made for entertaining, but the island features an extended counter-height bar where the couple, empty nesters with grown children, can eat their day-to-day meals when they don’t have guests. The countertops are not standard polished granite. The client wanted a simple, clean look which is what the Absolute Black

Granite with a leather finish provides. Part of the beauty of that product is that it is matte and it has texture. everyone who sees it wants to know what it is.

There is a generous use of cabinetry bordering the dining room and lining the appliances in the kitchen. What was the strategy on storage?

There is definitely ample storage in this house. The homeowner didn’t want any clutter; she wanted a place for everything which is why the built-in cabinets were designed to wrap around the dining room. Most of the kitchen storage is provided around the refrigerator and below the windows in the dining area. To the left of the refrigerator, the cabinets are slotted for trays, cookie sheets and cutting boards. And to the right, the cabinets serve as a pantry for everyday items. There are more built-in cabinets in the mudroom which the client uses for bulk pantry storage.

Tell me about the unique lighting features and the thought process behind the choice of appliances.

Having a hood over the range would have completely overtaken the room so a down draft was chosen to keep the space open. This allows you to focus on the beautiful grain of the mahogany cabinets and the surrounding view. The client really wanted a clean look without hanging light fixtures so Jenkins Custom Homes came up with the “cloud” features over the dining room and island. The rectangular ceiling features with cove lighting and recessed can lighting serve as the light fixtures and ceiling

features combined. A smaller flatscreen was incorporated in the kitchen because the client didn’t want a television to be the focal point of the main living space which sits adjacent to the kitchen. For these clients, a TV in the kitchen works because they can watch it while they cook and it doesn’t overpower the main living area.

What are your favorite elements of this kitchen?The mahogany cabinets with hardware we hand-selected to be

very simple, clean and modern are one of my favorite parts of this kitchen. I know they are simple, but they are so beautiful because of the way they feature the wood. It is a very clean and minimalist look which is exactly what the client wanted throughout the house. I also love the travertine on the floors and the tile on the backsplash. We took the color of the travertine from the floor and found a complimentary travertine in a linear pattern for the backsplash. The backsplash ties in nicely with the floor and provides a great backdrop to the rest of the kitchen. even though the home has more modern features, the warm colors of the walls and stain keep it inviting and comfortable. v

Bella Villa Design Studio512.443.3200Bellavillads.com

Jenkins Custom Homes512.402.9222Jenkinshomes.com

This Horseshoe Bay home epitomizes a modern take on Hill Country living;

its kitchen soaking up plenty of natural light through its ample use

of picture windows, and contemporary mahogany cabinetry providing the

storage needed to keep the space clean and uncluttered. We asked Stephanie Villavicencio, head designer at Bella Villa Design Studio, to tell us about the design thought process behind this contemporary yet cozy kitchen.

This is what she had to say…

worksWhy This sPaCe

By MAuRi elBel Photography by MeRRiCk Ales

Designer spotlight: Stephanie Villavicencio


austin.caseremodeling.com 512.300.2273

Independently owned and operated

Residential Repair, Renovation, and Remodeling

Your home is in good hands.

What is “the sexiest room in the house?” Of course, everyone’s first thought is a fabulous master bedroom suite. However, today’s kitchens and master bathrooms

have given the bedroom a run for the title!It is said that the kitchen is the “heart

of the home,” and whether it is new construction or a kitchen remodel, there is an unbelievable array of gadgets and finishes to choose from. Ovens were once a simple selection with options confined to gas or electric, and colors of white, black or stainless steel. Choices now range from the vintage look of a 19th century Italian wood-burning stove by Bertazzoni, to the ultra-modern look of manufacturers such as Miele, Dacor and Jenn-Aire. Built-in coffee bars that make lattes in addition to the traditional cup of Joe are becoming must-haves. Drawers, once just a place to store dishes are now freezers, refrigerators, dishwashers, warmers, microwaves or convection ovens. Cabinetry has risen to the status of fine furniture, and counter tops can be fabricated with materials from granite to concrete, wood, stainless steel and even glass.

Today’s master bathrooms with wonderful amenities rival some of the best spas in town. Bathtubs are jetted with water or air and can be scented with essential oils. Shower options include jets, rain shower heads and steam. Refrigerators as well as coffee and wine bars are making appearances in master bathrooms as homeowners view their master suites as a welcome retreat to both start and end their day.

The kitchen and master bath are often the most expensive rooms in a home and contribute greatly to the price per square foot. All homes, whether 2,500 sf or 4,500 sf will have a kitchen and a master bath. The cost of those two rooms gets spread out over the entire size of the home. If our 2,500 sf home and our 4,500 sf home had the exact same kitchen and master bath, the price per/sf of the smaller home would be higher than the larger home as there is less space to spread that cost over. This is one reason a smaller home will have a higher $/sf price than a similarly finished larger home. See my article in the Oct/nov, 2011 Urban Home issue entitled “Will the ReAL Price Per Square Foot Please Stand Up!” v

Have a question about the home building or remodeling process that

YOU would like answered? Send it to me at Karen_Matuszewski@

yahoo.com and you might find the next Custom Home Advice

column written especially for you!

The sexiesT room in The house

may noT be The one you Think . . .

By Karen Matuszewski, By Design – Custom Home Consulting

CUSTOM HOME ADVICE

DON’T LET BUILDING YOUR DREAM HOME

TURN INTO A NIGHTMARE

Using the services of a professional to help assemble your new home team can save you time, money and frustration. Karen and Rob Matuszewski are custom home consultants who have been helping clients build new homes for 10 years. They have earned numerous designations in home construction from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and the National Association of Realtors (NAR), and can provide references and credentials. Call us today for your complimentary consultation.

SERvIcES INcLUDE: Lifestyle Analysis • Community Selection • Lot EvaluationBuilder Interviews • Architect Interviews • Plan Design AssistanceProject Financing Options • Construction VisitsInterior Design/Landscape/Pool Referrals • Current Home Marketing & Sale Representation • Interim Housing Assistance

BY DESIGN custom Home consultingKaren & Rob Matuszewski

Real Estate Services & Custom Home ConsultingKaren • [email protected] • 512.917.2653Rob • [email protected] • 512.695.6498www.KarenSellsAustin.com

Dream HomeHOMEURBAN

Proud partners in the

HE SAID SHE

SAIDSundays from 6-7 pm

KJCE 96.3 FM & 1370 AM

Call in and talk to us live on

ow that planning and construction are underway on the second Dream Home, project partners are lining up to fulfill their roles in making the Mediterranean-style

home’s kitchen and five bathrooms the most beautiful, energy-efficient rooms in the Austin area. “Kitchens and baths are such primary rooms in the home, and we are excited to see all the innovative products our project partners are bringing that one lucky owner of this special home will get to enjoy,” says Dream Home project coordinator Karen Matuszewski.

Ferguson enterprises, Inc. is exclusively sourcing all Kohler faucets, sinks, tubs, toilets and other plumbing fixtures throughout the Dream Home, particularly because both companies share a philosophy on the importance of water conservation. Both are award winners through the environmental Protection Agency’s (ePA) WaterSense program, which seeks to protect the nation’s water supply by promoting water efficiency.

“Most of Kohler’s products are on the leading edge of

sustainability,” says Jeff Wilde of Austin’s Ferguson showroom. “Products are WaterSense approved, low flow, and low consumption. Typical kitchen faucets use 2.2 gallons of water per minute. The Kohler products we’re specifying use only 1.5 gallons per minute.”

“The shower heads we are installing in the home use 1.75 gallons per minute in comparison with the typical water usage of 2.5 gallons,” says Carvel Gardner, construction executive at Kohler.

According to the ePA, the average family of four consumes about 400 gallons of water daily, with bathrooms representing more than 50 percent of that usage. The Dream Home team is consciously mitigating the effects of water consumption with the installation of WaterSense products. The new homeowner can

N

COMMUNITY SERVICE

By DAnA w. toDD

Beauty Meets Sustainability in Dream Home’s Kitchen and Baths

Dream HomeHOMEURBAN

walk in and immediately enjoy an eco-friendly environment that leaves precious dollars in the wallet.

The master bathroom features Kohler’s Margaux™ faucets, modern fixtures that provide a clean-lined silhouette yet still fit well in a traditional home because of fluid, feminine curves and classic proportions. “In addition to low-flow faucets and high-efficiency toilets, the cast iron used in the tubs is 93 percent reclaimed material,” says Gardner.

Sustainability meets technology in the kitchen, where Wilson AC & Appliance is installing a room full of high-end Miele appliances, including a built-in coffee system, MasterChef™ oven, and RemoteVision™ refrigeration. See our December/January 2012 story on the Dream Home for details about each of these Miele appliances.

“The latest kitchen trend is installing appliances flush with cabinetry, which we are doing in the Dream Home,” says Gay Lynn Wilson of Wilson AC & Appliance. “Appliances and cabinetry sitting on the same plane provide a more integrated, seamless look. Miele is perfect for this application.”

There is an added benefit for the Dream Home’s buyer. All Miele appliances are both installed and serviced by Wilson AC & Appliance, a local Austin area, family-owned company, easing any future repair issues. “Having an in-house service department is unique in our industry,” adds Wilson, who also has in-house kitchen designers and five “live” kitchens for purchasers to explore in the showroom.

Proceeds from the sale of the Dream Home will benefit Ronald McDonald Charities of Austin & Central Texas. v

Thinking about buying a new home? How about one with lots of

upgrades and designer options without an upcharge in price? A

buyer snapped up the first Dream Home before we broke

ground. Now is the time to inquire about the “encore”

Dream Home by calling real estate consultant Karen

Matuszewski at 512.917.2653.

PRoJeCT PARTneRSAndersen Windows - Bob Garcia210.218.5991Andersenwindows.com eaglewindow.com

California Closets - Jill SiegelSan Antonio: 210.829.1991 Austin: 512.441.6061Californiaclosets.com

Ferguson enterprises, inc. - Jeff Wilde512.445.5140 Ferguson.com

Lighting inc. - Scott Bailey512.491.6444 Lightinginc.com

Miele uSA - Phyllis Cox512.791.9664 Mieleusa.com

Service Tech Audio Visual - Lisa Hall512.456.2800 Servicetechav.com Wilson AC & Appliance – Gay Lynn Wilson512.894.0907 Wilsonappliance.com

Design visions of Austin

MeeT THe DReAM TeAMKAReN MATUSzeWSKI – Project Coordinator

As a custom home consultant, Matuszewski put together the team that will design, build and sell the house. She is a national Association of Home Builders (nAHB) certified green professional and certified new home sales professional, and co-chairs both the HBA Benefit Home project and the 2012 HBA Tour of Homes. Karensellsaustin.com

KURT RACCA – Home Builder

Racca, along with partner Mark Schuh, are the principals in Markee Construction, Inc., a custom home company specializing in homes between $800,000 and $1,500,000 with a focus on energy efficiency in materials and design. Creating a home that works for their clients’ lifestyle, personality, and sense of style and budget is a Markee Construction, Inc. trademark. 512.480.9312

DeSIgN VISIONS OF AUSTIN – Project Architect

Founder and partner Curtis Raymond, Jr., along with founder and partner Chad Faucheux, have 18 years of combined experience in the realm of high-end residential architecture. “The homes that we create are not about the designer or draftsman but about the family’s lifestyle and their day-to-day use of the home. Being a smaller firm allows us to be personally involved with each project from start to finish,” says Raymond. Designvisionsofaustin.com

ROUgH HOllOW lAKeWAY – Development

Rough Hollow Lakeway is an evolving waterfront community with limestone cliffs and spectacular Lake Travis views. The options are endless with the ability to purchase custom home sites, Yacht Club Villas, custom homes and semi-custom homes. With the marina, the yacht club, air park, restaurants, the water-themed Highland Village and Country Club amenities, Rough Hollow offers a lifestyle and a place you will never want to leave. Roughhollowlakeway.com

AUSTIN - SAN ANTONIO URBAN HOMe MAgAzINe – Project Media Partner

Urban Home magazine is a bi-monthly, upscale home lifestyle publication that has been published in the Austin market for over 5 years. Its content focuses on local architects and builders, home related products and services, and is presented to readers in a very engaging editorial format. Urbanhomemagazine.com v

“Most of Kohler’s products are on the leading

edge of sustainability.” JeffWilde, FergusonEnterprises,Inc., AustinShowroom

“Appliances and cabinetry sitting on the same

plane provide a more integrated, seamless

look. Miele is perfect for this application.” GayLynnWilson, WilsonAC&Appliance


new proDuctS

For over 30 years Compas has been procuring the finest French limestone, rare marbles and reclaimed stone flooring for America’s luxury estates. Shown is an antique white marble oval sink with marble backsplash paired with pearl handles in polished nickel and petite Ducale spout. Compas Stone. 310.854.3023, Compasstone.com.

This bold stool is made from contrasting strips of horn and bone. It’s the perfect accent piece beside a free standing tub, platform bed or upholstered chair. Dawn Hearn Interior Design. 512.930.0520, Dawnhearn.com.

Stylized floral medallions from Ravenna bedding are rendered with extraordinary detail on this Jacquard-woven toweling. Made in Turkey from 600-gram-weight organic cotton, it’s plush and absorbent. Pottery Barn. Potterybarn.com.

Fireclay Tile (made from recycled glass, and crushed sinks and toilets), handmade in San Jose, CA, is available in over 40 colors, 2 finishes and 17 sizes. All kitchens and bathrooms should be this lucky! TreeHouseTM. 512.861.0712, Treehouseonline.com.

Experience a new level of calm that resonates deep within your body. With the Fountainhead’s VibrAcoustic™ technology, soothing instrumental compositions play above the water while acoustic vibrations sweep through the water and all around you, easing away stress. Chromatherapy lights accompany the acoustics for the ultimate relaxation experience. This bath’s extra-spacious 88-inch well is designed with ergonomic contours and a head pocket to comfortably support your neck. Morrison Supply Company. 512.928.1110, Morsco.com.

Temp-Touch Controls by ThermaSol are perfect for the modern bath, serving as a mini command center for maximizing the steam shower experience. ThermaSol. 800.776.0711, Thermasol.com.

1

BATHS

ESSEnTIAlS

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

2

3

4

5

6


it’s been dubbed the heart of the

home; we cook there, we eat there, we

congregate there. now, with the newest

technology, we can work, communicate

globally, gather knowledge and conduct

a mini media party right from the granite

countertops of our kitchen. This room,

which was once sealed off from the rest

of the home by swinging doors, is now

more akin to mission control.

MISSION CONTROL

Kitchen n TRenDS

“People are multi-tasking in the kitchen. Because of our busy lifestyles, we need to have multiple activities going on in there,” says Lynley Serratt, Director of Sales for Palmer Todd, a San Antonio-based kitchen design company. “We see a lot of media going into the kitchen. If you need to watch a cooking show to help you as you are preparing your own meal, you can do that right where you are standing.”

Other consumers not into the gadgetry are finding a way to hide their kitchen televisions. “We’ve installed hydraulic lifts so that the TV comes up from the countertop,” says Michele DeCorby, General Manager and Designer for Kitchen Craft® Cabinetry in Austin. “Of course, with this you need to be cautious of fluids and move it further away from the sink since it doesn’t have a seal.”

Audio and visual walls are also being set up in kitchens so families can have access to a larger screen. Speakers in the kitchen are routed through the main home system, and iPods and televisions can be connected for better sound quality.

Being able to stay connected to the outside world even while cooking a five course meal may be vital to many. However, many more consumers are concerned with time management and being able to cook a Thanksgiving banquet in under twenty minutes. While that may be a bit of an exaggeration, there are several new appliances that are bringing it closer to reality.

“Steam ovens have been the norm in europe and Asia for ages.

north America has just been slow to embrace this technology, but it is now becoming a growing trend in the states,” says Amy Kerr, Territory Manager for Central Texas Sub-Zero/Wolf. “Wolf is launching an in-wall steam oven soon. The Wolf Convection Steam Oven is a combination oven. You’ll actually be able to cook with convection and steam. The benefits of being able to cook with steam are great; it’s the best way to preserve food’s natural vitamins and nutrients, and it is definitely a time saver, increasing cooking speed by about 25 percent.”

Thermador®, too, has introduced this latest American trend in cooking. “The display piece is really getting a lot of attention. It has a 48-inch gas range with duel fuel – gas for cooktop and electric for oven. It also features a separate warming drawer,” says Scott Cardwell, San Antonio Branch Manager for Ferguson. “With the steam oven you can cook two different things in the same oven without having to worry about the flavors mixing. It also keeps food from drying out and losing moisture.”

Kerr adds, “It’s really great for warming things up. For example, when you put something like a pizza in the microwave, the crust gets chewy and has an almost rubbery texture,” she says. “Heat that same pizza in the steam oven and the crust seams to crisp back up.”

Kitchen appliance maker Miele, too, has a new oven on the horizon. This one combines the quick heat of a microwave with the even temperatures of a convection oven. Similar to the steam and convection ovens, this combination can

By sue-ellA MuelleR

left: The goal of this kitchen, designed by Palmer

Todd, was to create an exotic, yet modern and

elegant space. zebrano wood veneer and warm,

rich tones made this design a success. Colors

chosen for the backsplash and countertops as well

as the picture window on the range wall bring the

outside in, while combining texture and the use of

stainless steel elements add visual interest to the

space. The island contains ample seating for family

and friends. A Wolf 48 inch Dual Fuel range and

electric oven provide multiple cooking options,

and incorporating wine storage and a 36 inch

refrigerator/freezer unit by Sub-zero make this

the perfect space for entertaining.

Right: Wolf Black glass e Series ovens offer

several beautiful exterior options with exceptional

functionality. e Series Double ovens, coupled

with the Wolf warming drawer and microwave

trim accessories, make a stylish statement in any

dream kitchen.


be used independently of one another or combined. Busy parents can defrost an item and then begin the cooking process all in the same appliance.

not only are ovens heating faster today, but stove tops are, too. “Gas is still the most popular choice for stove tops, but the induction cook top is also on the rise. The use of magnetic force allows for a more focused heat source,” says Serratt. “The cook top surface only heats up where a metallic pot is placed and once that pot is removed, the heat shuts off. There’s not much heat lost and food cooks faster which means there is less energy lost.”

In addition, DeCorby says that some homeowners are taking steps to disguise their cook tops. “We’ve built in glass cook tops that are shaped like an octagon,” she says. “They are built in with the tile so they seem almost invisible.”

Miele, on the other hand, has chosen to take their “Lumen” line to a new, artistic level with the ventilation hood available in over 200 colors along with a soft, glowing light bar that creates an inviting ambience that can be adjusted to a number of colors as well.

With the whole family gathered in the kitchen, not only is it important for appliances to look good, but also operate as soundlessly as possible. The newest line of eco-friendly Miele dishwashers may just be the quietest dishwashers around. In addition, the line has auto-sensor technology which enables the dishwashers to monitor room temperature, adjusting dry times as needed. They also use 25 percent less water now and exceed the eneRGY STAR® standards for 2012. “Other dishwashers have built-in water softeners, a number of settings for washing everything from fine china to plastic cups as well as featuring inline garbage disposals so you don’t have to scrape dishes quite as much,” Serratt says.

The refrigerator has also had a few improvements made to it, according to Kerr from Sub-Zero/Wolf. “Our newest Sub-Zero side-by-side refrigerator has an internal ice and water dispenser,” she says. “With no dispenser on the door, this creates a feeling of continuity with wood panel units. It provides easy access to ice and water, and you are able to maintain the constant temperature of the freezer by not opening the door all the time to access ice. It’s also located at a height level that is easy for kids to reach.”

An eco-friendly step in refrigerators involves air-purification. “Thermador® refrigerators have an air purification system that will help keep fruits and vegetables fresh longer so you’re not throwing out unused food,” says Scott Cardwell for Ferguson. “In addition, it has an adjustable, motorized shelf. So, if your hands are full and you’re trying to get something in on the top shelf but you need just a little more room, you can adjust it with a push of a button.”

How about just a tap on the water faucet to stop the flow of water? “If you are working with chicken, then this faucet will allow you to do so without contamination,” says Cardwell. Additionally, different faucets are also featuring a soft luminary glow in a number of soothing colors.

Smaller appliances are also making a big impact in the kitchen. From built-in espresso machines that will have you brewing coffee like a true barista, to under the counter beer coolers that allow you to cool a beer to 25 degrees without freezing it, these novelties are making it easier for homeowners to get the luxuries they want right in their own home.

“Our clients are looking to us for ideas when it comes to building and remodeling their kitchens. We’re able to help steer them in a direction that works best for their lifestyles,” Cardwell says. “The most difficult part, however,

is keeping them within their budget. They see these great items in our showroom and they want it all. We have to reel them back in sometimes.” v

Ferguson Bath, kitchen & Lighting Gallery512.344.3013 Ferguson.com

kitchenCraft® Cabinetry512.302.3700 Kitchencraftaustin.com

Miele800.843.7231 Mieleusa.com

Palmer Todd210.341.3396 Palmertodd.com

Sub-Zero/Wolf Subzero-wolf.com

By delivering a superior balance of heat and moisture, Miele’s innovative

steam ovens cook quickly and efficiently without foods losing their vital

vitamins and nutrients.

Miele’s whole bean built-in coffee system

delivers espresso, cappuccino, latte or

regular coffee easily with incredible flavor.

Supplied by

7415 Burnet Rd., Austin, TX 78757 • 512.302.3700www.kitchencraftaustin.com

Uncomplicated Beauty. Competitive Affordability. Polished Service.

Come see what’s new at Kitchen Craft of Austin.


n The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy learns that there’s no place like home, and homeowners remodeling their baths into lavish spa-like retreats are echoing that sentiment. Con-

verting a conventional bathroom into a relaxing oasis has be-come one of the hottest trends in remodeling projects. expand-ing the square footage of the room, adding larger fixtures such as separate showers and tubs, and adding decorative fixtures and furnishings all work together to transform the bath into a soothing home retreat.

While many bath-to-spa remodels take their cue from a visit to a professional spa or luxury hotel, the best home spa make-overs draw their inspiration from the homeowners themselves, says Celeste Reese, owner of C Reese Design, an architectur-al design firm in Austin. “We don’t design any two projects alike,” says the designer. “Different people have different ways of achieving calm. For example, if you walk someone who is very cold-natured into a bath with the usual color palette of grey and travertine used in many high-end spas, that might not relax them – those colors tend to cause the muscles of cold-natured people to tighten. You need to use warmer greens, yellows and creams to warm them up.”

Lighting also plays a significant factor in creat-ing that perfect bath retreat, says Reese. Place-ment of windows also matters – frosted windows or a small high window placed in the shower might not provide enough light. “natural light is a necessity when you want people to relax,” she asserts, “especially for those whose workplace uses fluorescent lighting. We want to use lots of natural daylight, so we create certain areas where the placement of high windows will allow privacy but also allow natural lighting. The use of elements that reflect light, such as glass, mirrors and tile are very useful in achieving this effect.”

Creating a natural alcove in the bathing area that retains steam and warmth also allows homeowners to feel protected and relaxed, says Reese. “If the room has high ceilings, drop-ping the ceiling in the bathing area and not making it too large achieves this to a large degree,” she says. “You want a shower ceiling that is no higher than 8 to 9 feet high. You want to feel enveloped by the experience of your shower or bath.”

It’s the little things that count – and when it comes to transforming a traditional bath into a luxurious spa, the inclusion of those small details are what ultimately brings that luxury home. “There are so many elements that come into play, such as plumb-ing fixtures – are you going for something very Zen or spa-like? Or does elegance suit you? The choice of plumbing fixtures is one of the details that helps you achieve this. For a Zen-like feel, a streamlined waterfall-type fixture would be a great addition. For an elegant feel, something more substantial with rich traditional detailing would work,” says Reese.

now is a great time to add customized touches that up the ante on style, agrees Mike Cottrell, Showroom Manager for Moore Supply Company in Austin. “It’s amazing how much the plumbing

industry has changed over the past ten years,” says Cottrell. Cot-trell says that body sprayers, which consist of spray nozzles ar-ranged in different areas on the shower wall to spray the legs, lower back and upper back are in vogue, along with rain showers that feature a larger shower head and are attached to the shower’s ceiling. “It’s not like a conventional shower head,” says Cottrell. “There’s no pressure, the water just falls like rain. Men like this feature more than women, because women typically have longer hair than men and can’t get the shampoo out of their hair.”

Cottrell notes that the choice of fixtures seems determined almost by location: antiqued bronze finish is popular in San Antonio and Marble Falls where Tuscan-style architecture is popular, while in Austin, with its focus on sleek, modern, contemporary styles, chrome and brush finishes rule the day. “We’ve gone from a limited number of styles of fixtures to lim-itless, so this is an exciting time for bath remodeling projects,” Cottrell says. There’s a variety of finishes for your fixtures from which to choose.” v

C Reese Design is an architectural design firm based in Austin,

providing residential, architectural and interior design, as well as

commercial space planning. give them a call at 512.291.5717 or visit

their website at c-reesedesign.com.

Moore Supply Company is a top distributor of premier plumbing

products from the best manufacturers for residential, commercial

and industrial construction, with convenient locations throughout

Texas. Visit their website at mooresupply.com to find a location

near you.

Spa, Sweet Spa

By JACkie Benton

IPhoto courtesy of nAtive tRAils,

www.nAtivetRAils.CoM

Photo courtesy of MooRe suPPly

Photo courtesy of MooRe suPPly

Dawn F. Hearn, ASID 512.930.0250

Texas Registered Interior Designer #9501

www.dawnhearn.com

• New Construction• Remodeling• Furnishings

• Accessories• Consultation• Space Planning

For Parrish Companies, 2012 marks a

very special milestone — 40 years of

providing exquisite home enhancements

and excellent service to homeowners,

remodelers and builders throughout Texas.

To celebrate, we’ve recently opened a third

location, Parrish at Cardell on Main, and

have updated all our showrooms in order to

be an even better resource for our clients.

Our staff welcomes builders, remodel-

ers and the general public to stop by and

explore the latest cabinetry designs, as well

as our extensive collection of innovative and

stylish appliances, fireplaces, countertops,

garage doors, and much more.

We are family-owned and operated, so each

day our goal is to exceed customers’ expec-

tations on home building or

remodeling projects.

CELEBRATING 40 yeARSWITH A FRESH NEW LOOK!

210.255.11252500 North MainSan Antonio, TX 78212ParrishOnMain.com

830.980.959526995 Hwy 281 NorthSan Antonio, TX 78260

512.835.09373600 East Old SettlersRound Rock, TX 78665

Join the conversation on Facebook!

facebook.com/#!/ParrishCompanySA

before


it should be the first consideration in any backyard de-sign. A shade struc-ture sets the tone of your space and can then be accented with landscaping, hardscaping, and c o m p l i m e n t a r y products such as an outdoor kitchen, a fire feature, a pool and other second-ary shelter options.

So, whether you welcome guests to your home by way of an arbor, look out to an ornamental or functional gazebo, prefer a pergola with a canopy of vines, or require a pavilion which offers full protection from the sun while housing and pro-tecting your outdoor furniture, kitchen or fireplace, a shade structure allows you to experience in comfort the sounds, sights and smells of outdoor living.

WaterThe element of water brings energy and charm to a space.

The sound of a backyard water feature helps create a calming effect, soothing away life’s daily concerns and adding beauty to your home at the same time. Whether you incorporate a mod-ular swimming pool, a simple pottery fountain, or a flowing waterfall and stream, your backyard will be the oasis you come home to every day.

FireFire, in all its forms,

adds beauty and func-tionality to your out-door living area. With its multiple functions, fire can be used for cooking, heating or unveiling the night

nce a space to contain the kids and dogs, back-yards have become one of the most important areas of the home. As Central Texans take to the

great outdoors for an extension of their indoor living areas, they need an expert for design and construction of these spac-es. HOMeFIeLD: The Outdoor Living Store has the broadest range of industry-leading products and services available. With showrooms in new Braunfels and Corpus Christi, they can easily create a backyard that will not only extend your home’s living space but create an outdoor area to be envied by friends and neighbors. You can elevate your backyard to sanctuary-status, whether you wish to incorporate the elements of land, shade, water, fire, play or shelter.

with light. In Central Texas where outdoor entertaining and cooking can be done year-round, your outdoor space may include anything from a simple grill to a Big Green egg to a complete outdoor kitchen, or you may simply wish to enjoy evenings by an open fire. A fire feature introduced to the backyard helps define it as a destination and it creates an area of entertainment and enjoyment.

PlayToday’s backyard has advanced from the simple tire swing

and sprinkler to elaborate play systems and sport courts. With industry leading brands such as Sport Court®, Rainbow Play Systems, Inc.® and SpringfreeTM Trampoline, HOMeFIeLD ensures safety and professional quality are the top priority when it comes to residential playground equipment.

ShelterShelters consist of sheds, garages, cottages and cabins. even

with limited outdoor space you can still create a private retreat. Regardless of whether your needs are practical or elaborate, a place to escape to and call your own can be easily obtained. From unfinished garden sheds to partially-finished home of-fices, or fully-finished guest houses, there are shelter options to suit any style including Old World charm, contemporary design, or Hill Country tastes. v

For decades, the team behind HOMeFIelD has continually aimed

to provide area families with the finest in outdoor living products

and services. Whether you want a full outdoor living environment

designed and installed or just one of the many industry-leading

products, visit the HOMeFIelD showroom at 1975 IH-35 North in

New Braunfels, and be inspired. 830.626.1971, Homefieldliving.com.

THE HOMEFIELDADVANTAGEA Look at hOMeFielD: the outdoor Living Store

lanDno longer just squares of grass contained by a fence, the

backyard, large or small, has become an extension of the in-door living area. Possibilities range from utilitarian such as fencing, mosquito control and storage, to luxurious, incor-porating decks, strategic lighting, and decorative furniture and accessories.

ShaDeWith our hot Central Texas summers, a shade structure

is a necessity, and anchors an outdoor space. Few elements can do more to enhance your outdoor living comfort, and

By JennifeR Bitzkie

O


By Anne MARie ASHLey

The number one difficulty people face when trying to remain organized in their home is the inability to stick to a system, which causes them to continually fail.

A ProFessionAl Organizer

why hire

We accumulate so many things over the course of our day-to-day life, from extra change, pens and pen-cils, pads of paper and boxes of clothes, tools and items that hold sentimental value. Usually we drop them in closets, entryways, garages and desks. Getting these things organized in your home may seem like an easy-enough task, so why do so many of us struggle with organization?

We spoke with Barry Izsack, an Austin-based professional organizer and owner of Arranging It All, to find out how a professional organizer can make your life easier. “My man-tra,” says Barry, “is that getting organized is not about buying product, it’s about finding a system and sticking to it. even a crude system works, if you can stick to it.” Jill Siegel of Cali-fornia Closets of the Texas Hill Country adds, “Organization is something everybody wants more of, but the task can feel overwhelming. Hiring a certified professional will not only hold you accountable, but will offer a fresh perspective. Most of us have been staring at our stuff for too long; an expert can help create and accomplish action plans that lead to a more organized life.”

What Can A Professional organizer Do For Me?The number one difficulty people face when trying to remain

organized in their home is the inability to stick to a system, which causes them to continually fail. Hiring a professional organizer can help you identify the system that works best for you and not only implement it, but stick with it. “A great pro-fessional organizer will organize first, dictating the products you need after,” says Barry. “Some professional organizers offer a wide range of services, while others limit their practice to a specialized niche.”

Ask The Right QuestionsConsider interviewing several professional organizers be-

fore you decide which one to hire. If you prefer to meet your organizer in person be-fore making a decision, some offer free consultations, while others may charge a fee, which is applied to their bill if they are hired.

• Are you a Certified Pro-fessional Organizer (CPO)?

• What services do you provide and what are your areas of specialization?

• What results can I expect from your service? • How do you charge for your services and do you have a

contract?

Where Can i Find A CPo?For most, the best place to find a certified professional or-

ganizer is the national Association of Professional Organizers (nAPO). On the nAPO website, you can search by organiz-ing-specialty and geographic location. You will be provided with a list of names and contact information for professional organizers who match your selected criteria.

What Will This Cost Me?“As with most professions, you will find that fees vary wide-

ly based on experience, credentials, geographic location and competition,” mentions Barry. Many professional organizers charge by the hour, while others will charge by the project. A professional organizer should look at your situation objectively and provide the support and encouragement needed to get you where you want to be. v

Barry J. Izsak is a Past President of the National Association of

Professional Organizers and founder of ARRANgINg IT All™ in

Austin. Visit his website at ArrangingItAll.com or Napo.net.

California Closets of the Texas Hill Country, Austin: 500 N. lamar,

Suite 180, 512.441.6061, San Antonio: 1111 Arion Parkway, Suite

120, 210.829.1991, CaliforniaClosets.com.

Photo courtesy of CAlifoRniA Closets of

tHe texAs Hill CountRy


ne of the hottest trends today in urban gardening and landscaping is planting edible gardens. There are many ways to do this, whether tucking herbs

and veggies into already existing ornamental beds, or creating specific spots for this purpose. now is the time to get those gar-dens going by choosing the adequate site, getting the soil ready, and planning the overall look and feel, as well as deciding what to plant before the spring is upon us.

If you are already a gardener but have not delved into edi-bles, it should be your next step. Perennial herbs are the easi-est to start with, as they do wonderfully in our ornamental landscapes and can be incorporated into everyday cooking. Rosemary is perhaps the most widely used for its tough na-ture; resistance to pests, deer and drought, and cold hardi-ness. The stark contrast between its needle-like, dark green leaves and the clusters of dainty lavender to blue flowers is an eye-catcher in the garden. There are upright varieties that work as a small shrub, perfect to use as hedges or as screens to hide unsightly garden necessities like faucets and compost containers. There are trailing varieties that are lovely drip-ping down a limestone retaining wall. Thyme and oregano, in their many varieties, are Mediterranean natives accustomed to sandy soil and little water that make amazing ground cov-

ers with leaves in many colors, scents and textures. Thyme’s minuscule blooms, ranging from white to pink, look like tiny clusters of stars. Culinary sage is an excellent perennial for the landscape that grows into a sturdy, medium size shrub with foliage in varying textures and tones -from gray and silver to dark green- topped by lavender-colored blooms in tall spires. Variegated types like “Tri-Color,” with light green, red and white stripes, and “Golden,” with strong yellow accents, are readily available in area nurseries and add layers of interest to any planting. Lemongrass is another easy-to-grow, high-ly ornamental perennial; provide enough water and protect from hard freezes, and it will come back year after year once established. Use the fleshy stalks thinly sliced in Thai or Viet-namese recipes and save the leaves for making a refreshing tea.

Seasonal annual herbs can be tucked in amongst the orna-mental landscape. Cilantro is a fast grower that can be cut down for your salsas and guacamoles, and it will come back over and over until the weather starts to warm up. Let its tall flower tufts mature in the garden; you can collect the seeds to use as coriander, and if they fall in the garden they will likely sprout next season. Spring and summer are the time for basil, a fantastic landscape herb that comes in many sizes and colors. Try “Purple Ruffles” or “Dark Opal,” with their dark purple

entertaining n TRenDS

OBy ClAuDiA AlARCon

EdiblE GardEninG and Landscaping

leaves, tucked amongst yellow flowering plants. “Spicy Globe” is ideal for borders or containers, thanks to its small leaves and a globe-like shape that develops as you harvest its sprigs, and if you like pesto, the broad-leaved Italian basil is a must.

Chef Randy evans, co-owner of Haven restaurant in Hous-ton and proponent of seasonal eating, grows Thai basil in the restaurant’s 70-foot garden because it doesn’t get bitter af-ter it blooms, and the little flowers feed the bees which they keep on-site. This gives the honeycomb, which they use on the menu, a subtle taste of licorice and spice. evans loves fall and winter vegetables like bronze fennel, whose feather-like foliage offers a delicate visual effect and its anise flavor complements fish and seafood. “I use it a lot in vegetarian broth soups,” he says. He also grows and cooks with a variety of greens like lettuce, Swiss chard, kale and mustard greens, which are some of the easiest vegetables to grow. Aside from being incredibly nutritious, versatile in the kitchen and deli-cious, they are very attractive plants that never look out of place in any landscape. Swiss chard stands out with bright red, yellow or orange stems, while kale and mustard greens have foliage in different colors and textures. “I especially like the “Toscano” variety, which some people call dinosaur kale. You can harvest the leaves and put them in the dehydrator or oven and make amazing chips.”

Award-winning Chef Monica Pope from t’afia in Houston is well-known for her uber-local approach to cooking, which in-cludes hosting a weekly farmers’ market and seasonal gardening at the restaurant, where the menu reflects whatever is available each day. “I look to see what’s ready in the garden and come up with things to make. But I don’t fuss too much, sometimes I just gather what’s there and throw it all together,” she says. Her current menu is filled with radishes, turnips, beets and lots of greens, plus cold-weather favorites like broccoli, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts. “I hear people say they don’t like Brussels sprouts, but it’s because they’ve never had them fresh from the garden,” says the dynamic chef.

If you are a novice and need professional help to join the ed-ible garden trend, there are many professional outfits dedicat-ed to installing them. Austin-based Green Collar, LLC, offers full-service landscaping design, fabrication and consulting, with an emphasis on productive food innovation and sus-tainability under the guidance of professional sculptor Randy Jewart. One of their flagship programs is Resolution Gardens, whose proud motto and call to action is ‘Grow food. We’ll help.’ “We focus on the educational aspect, offering hands-on, non-proprietary expertise to fill the gaps with the information that people need to succeed, and overcome whatever barri-ers there may be to build a productive garden,” says Jewart. Resolution Gardens will go to any home in the Austin and San Antonio areas and come up with a plan for any given loca-tion, working with homeowners to determine the best course of action for their space and needs. “We talk about their goals regarding how much time they are willing to put in, whether they want self-sufficient gardening or just a small complement to their diet or landscape; we talk about what they like to eat, consult on seasonal crops and on things that will grow well at their location that they may not be familiar with. I never ate turnips or Swiss chard until I started growing them myself.”

By the way, globe artichokes are an easy-to-grow and impres-sive plant in the landscape. Their leathery silver-green leaves form an arching fountain shape 4 to 6 ft. tall, and the arti-chokes themselves, if not harvested, turn into unique, brilliant blue flowers that last a long time and are great for arrange-ments. And if your landscape is missing small to medium-sized ornamental trees, there’s nothing better than fruit trees. Peach-es, plums, persimmon, figs, pomegranate and citrus all grow well in our area and provide year-round interest, with beautiful blooms, changing foliage and delicious fruit.

So whether you prefer professional help or like the do-it-your-self style, the rewards of edible landscaping are the same: fresh-grown vegetables, herbs and fruit that will add variety to your ev-eryday meals and a landscape that your neighbors will admire. v

ARtiCHoke

fennel swiss CHARD sAge

leMongRAss BAsil tHyMe


www.floresflowers.com • [email protected]

Adding carefree color

to landscapes since 1981.

MAnuel Flores

Landscape Designs and Consultations

r e c i p e c o r n e rGUMbO Z’HERbSCourtesy of Randy Evans, Co-owner and Chef, Haven

2 tablespoons vegetable oil1½ cups medium diced onions½ cup medium diced red pepper½ cup medium diced green pepper1 cup sliced okra, optional2 tablespoons minced garlic6 cups vegetable stock1 tablespoon Crystal hot sauce1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce2 teaspoons Creole Seasoning2 teaspoons salt3 bay leaves, ground to powder¼ teaspoon dried thyme6 tablespoons Creole Brown Roux4 cups mixed greens (kale, turnip greens, spinach, mustard greens, collard greens, Swiss chard and parsley), torn into 1-inch pieces2 cups cooked white rice2 teaspoons gumbo filé

FOR THE GUMbOIn a heavy saucepan, heat oil to the smoke point. Sauté on-

ions and peppers until onions are translucent. Add okra if de-sired and sauté 1 minute longer. Add garlic and 1 cup of broth to deglaze pan. Then add hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, sea-sonings and remaining broth. Bring to a simmer; add the roux. Return to a simmer for 5 minutes. Add greens; simmer for 45-60 minutes, until greens are tender. Adjust seasoning if nec-essary. Ladle gumbo into warm bowls and top each with rice; sprinkle with gumbo filé. Serves 6-8.

bROWN ROUxMakes 3 cups2 cups vegetable oil3 cups all-purpose flour1/3 cup minced yellow onion1/3 cup minced green bell pepper1/3 cup minced celery1 teaspoon minced garlic

In a heavy 4 to 6-quart saucepan, carefully bring the oil to the smoke point. Add flour, ¼ cup at a time, letting it get a dark, nutty brown before the next addition. Stir continu-ously so the flour doesn’t burn. When all of the flour is in and mixture is a nice brown color, remove from the heat. Stir in

the remaining ingredients. This will start to cool the roux, bringing out more color and adding flavor. Transfer the roux to a bowl or container; and when cool, refrigerate until ready to use. (Some of the oil will come to the top; mix it back in before using the roux.)

CREOlE SEASONINGMakes 1½ cups½ cup salt¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons paprika3 tablespoons granulated garlic2 tablespoons plus ½ teaspoon granulated onion2 tablespoons finely ground black pepper2½ teaspoons cayenne pepper

In a food processor or bowl, mix all ingredients until thor-oughly combined. Cover and store in a cool, dry place.

SEASONAl SlAWCourtesy of Monica Pope, Owner and Executive Chef, t’afia

Red cabbageGreen cabbageBrussels sproutsSunflower or buckwheat sprouts, freshly snippedWatermelon radish or red(Any selection of greens can be used, such as kohlrabi, tur-nips, carrots, collards, kale, napa cabbage, raw beets, etc.)Spiced nuts, like pecans, macadamias or walnutsDried fruit like sour cherries, craisins, dates, figs, or freshHerbs of choice, like cilantro and mint or basil or parsleySalt and pepper to tasteSweet Sesame Dressing

Thinly slice the greens of your choice. Coarsely chop the nuts, fruit and herbs. Lightly toss with dressing and season with salt and pepper to taste.

SWEET SESAME DRESSING6 ½ tablespoons lime juice1 stalk lemongrass, peeled and thinly sliced3 tablespoons maple syrup2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil1 teaspoon soy sauce¼ teaspoon chili flakes4 tablespoons light olive or grapeseed oil

Combine all ingredients until emulsified.


Durable Roses

By MAnuel floRes Photography by MAnuel floRes

T

“But do I weave too many roses in my wreath, Glaucus?

They tell me it is thy favourite flower.”

“And ever favoured, my Nydia, be it by those who have the soul

of poetry: it is the flower of love, of festivals; it is also the flower

we dedicate to silence and to death; it blooms on our brows in life,

while life be worth the having; it is scattered above our

sepulchre when we are no more.”

Edward G. E. Bulwer-Lytton,

The Last Days of Pompeii, Book III, Chapter IV

garden n TRenDS

ing them from the moist and verdant se-clusion of an east slope.

In Yunnan and Sichuan, the highly-fractured landscape is home to the great-est concentration of species and forms of wild roses on the planet. From antiquity, comely forms of Rosa chinensis and Rosa gigantea were selected for propagation around homes and temples. Centuries of further selection and hybridization yield-ed more sumptuous blooms, in more col-ors, and borne on plants from dwarves to giants.

The first introductions to europe of China Roses were ‘Slater’s Crimson China’ (1792) and ‘Parson’s Pink China’ (1793). These are still grown and ad-mired in sunny climes where limestone forms the bedrock.

One of the great horticultural mys-teries that perplexes gardeners in Cen-tral Texas is the longevity of shrub roses in country cemeteries and around the decayed ruins of old homes, as op-posed to the short and disease-ridden life of newly-purchased modern roses. A rose is a rose is a rose. Right? Unfor-tunately, not.

The indestructible heirloom roses passed from generation to generation in San Antonio, Austin and the adja-cent Hill Country are usually derived from species originating in the lime-stone hills of Central China. They are propagated from cuttings and grown on their own roots.

Their sickly kin have invariably been propagated by grafting or budding onto

‘Double knock out ’

Accidented topography gives rise to a great diversity of habitats. Barren, rocky summits stand in contrast to lush bot-tomlands. north slopes are more in-hospitable to tender vegetation than south-facing ones. The aridity of nearby sun-baked west slopes shocks those view-

hat which we call a rose was well known to the ancients. The Greeks and

Romans admired their floral beauty and fragrance. They cultivated them around their homes, con-sumed rhodomel (honey of roses) at decadent feasts, bathed in rose water, and immortalized them in verse and art. At the eastern extreme of Eurasia, specifically in the hilly, limestone terrain of West Central China, rhodophilia took root even earlier.


a convenient rootstock. Convenient for the propagator, that is. The mass-produced grafted or budded roses from the West Coast or east Texas are given a rootstock that thrives in well-drained, sandy soils of acidic reaction. Inconveniently for us, our soils have poor internal drainage due to a high clay content and are alkaline in reaction.

Aha! The mystery is no more. Rosarians, to be successful in this zone, need to grow own-root roses descended from lime-stone-loving species.

Another drawback of many modern roses is their utter lack of fragrance. For too many years, rose breeders concentrated their efforts on perfecting the floral form, as well as delaying the loss of petals as the blooms age. Often, the roses most highly touted by garden writers and the horticultural press were vegetal invalids requiring hothouse cultivation and the removal of lower, secondary buds to allow the topmost bud to develop properly.

Grafted or budded Hybrid Tea roses, grown by some of our Central Texas brethren in raised beds of sandy soil, require spe-cific pruning in mid-February. Hardy roses grown on their own roots do not need such drastic pruning. They are best grown like shrubs, with thinning of their oldest shoots (canes) accom-plished after their spring blooms have faded.

The fruit of a rose is called a hip. In some varieties, the hips are borne profusely and are quite showy, especially when colored a vivid red. even the more demure pink hips can appeal to connois-seurs of callipygian forms. In most cases, rose hips are edible when made into a jam or jelly. They are said to contain Vitamin C.

Commercially Available old Roses & A Few Modern ones

Antique roses, old garden roses or old-fashioned roses are three names for a group of extraordinarily beautiful flowering shrubs and climbers for our alkaline-soil landscapes. Unlike the modern hybrids, these are longer-lived because they are on their own roots. Many of them are more disease-resistant and have the fragrance that was bred out of so many of the newer selections. They also do not require frequent, drastic and spe-cific pruning.

Rosa chinensis - China Rose (Includes some back-crosses with Rosa X odorata).

Rosa chinensis ‘Archduke Charles’ - A red China Rose. Rosa chinensis ‘Cramoisi Superieur’ - A long survivor of

tough Texas weather. It’s a very fragrant red China Rose. Rosa chinensis ‘Grüss an Teplitz’ - Another red China Rose.Rosa chinensis ‘Hermosa’ - An old variety in the southern US.Rosa chinensis ‘Louis Philippe’ – A red China Rose.Rosa chinensis ‘Minima’ - Sometimes sold as, ‘Highway 290

Pink Buttons.’Rosa chinensis ‘Martha Gonzalez’ - Perfect for a dwarf hedge

or as a potted specimen, or as a mass planting. Its mostly single, red flowers occur almost year-round.

Rosa chinensis ‘Mutabilis’ - The Butterfly Rose - some call it, Rosa X odorata ‘Mutabilis’ -The petals improve with age, going from yellow to pink to red.

Rosa chinensis ‘Old Blush’ – Also known as, ‘Parson’s Pink China.’ This variety has been known to europeans for almost 220 years and was grown in China for centuries before its “dis-covery.” There is also a ‘Climbing Old Blush.’

Rosa chinensis ‘Old Gay Hill’ - Very much like ‘Martha Gon-zalez’, only taller. The intense, scarlet flowers appear for 9 to 10 months over the semi-evergreen and disease-resistant foliage.

Rosa chinensis ‘Slater’s Crimson China’ - One of the earliest introductions from the Orient.

Rosa chinensis ‘Viridiflora’ - Green China Rose. Noisette - Derived from a hybrid of ‘Champney’s Pink Clus-

ter’ and Rosa X odorata.‘Blush noisette’ - Bears double, pale pink flowers in fall.‘Jeanne d’Arc’ - A semi-double white-flowered climber, its

blooms are especially abundant in the fall. ‘Madame Alfred Carriere’ - The pale flowers fade to white.‘Maréchal niel’ - An ethereal pale yellow bloom with great

fragrance.Rêve d’Or - A fragrant, yellowish climber with a peak floral

display in the fall.Polyantha - Hybrids of Rosa chinensis and Rosa multiflora.‘Caldwell Pink’ - It’s ever-blooming, compact, disease-resis-

tant, tolerant of alkaline soil and does very well in containers. ‘Cecile Brunner’ - The traditional ‘Sweetheart Rose’, known

as a 4’ shrub or 20’ climber. They bloom for 9 months in sun or semi-shade. It is very disease-resistant and long-lived.

‘Climbing Pinkie’ – An indestructible rose for our area.‘Clotilde Soupert’ – ever-blooming and almost thornless.

The white to pale pink flowers are filled with dozens and doz-ens of petals. It’s fragrant and remains under 4’.

‘La Marne’ - An outstanding hedge rose.‘Marie Daly’ - A pink-flowered mutation of Rosa X polyantha

‘Marie Pavie.’ ‘Marie Pavie’ - Wonderfully fragrant white flowers grace

these 3’ to 4’ plants. It is useful for hedges, mass planting or containers.

‘The Fairy’ - Bears double pink blooms. There is also a climb-ing form of this shrub.

Tea Roses - Hybrids of Rosa chinensis and Rosa gigantea. Hy-brid Teas are Tea Roses hybridized with Hybrid Perpetuals.

‘Altissimo’ - Hybrid Tea with elegant, single red flowers.‘Bon Silene’ - A beautiful old rose with pink blooms over a

long period. It’s fragrant and thrives in this area.‘Duchesse de Brabant’ – A popular and carefree Tea Rose.‘Fortune’s Double Yellow’ - Rosa X odorata ‘Pseudindica’ - A

spectacular climber renown for its spring flowering.‘La France’ - Introduced in 1867 as the first Hybrid Tea

Rose, its pink flowers are double.‘Madame Joseph Schwartz’ - A white sport of ‘Duchesse de

Brabant.’‘Maman Cochet’ - Beautiful in form, fragrance, flower and

foliage. It is of compact shape with very few thorns and dark green, substantial leaves.

‘Mrs. B. R. Cant’ - Can grow quite large, up to 8’ in diam-eter. This 1901 introduction is found in many San Antonio gardens.

‘Mrs. Dudley Cross’ - A thornless, old Tea Rose. The fragrant blooms are a peachy-pink grading to yellow.

‘Sombreuil’ - A large, white Tea Rose. v

Manuel Flores has been providing horticultural knowledge and

products for more than 30 years in Central Texas. Visit his website:

www.floresflowers.com

Rosa chinensis ‘Archduke Charles’

‘Blush noisette’

Rosa chinensis ‘Mutabilis’

Rosa chinensis ‘old Blush’

Rosa chinensis ‘viridiflora’

‘Jeanne d’Arc’

‘Climbing Pinkie’ ‘la Marne’ ‘Marie Pavie’ ‘the fairy’

‘Duchesse de Brabant’ ‘la france’ ‘Madame Joseph schwartz’

Ro

sa c

hin

en

sis

no

ise

tt

eP

oly

an

th

at

ea

Ro

ses

old Roses & a Few ModeRn ones


Te

xas Gulf Coast

02 2012

They come from all over

the world, binoculars at

the ready and birding life

lists in hand. Year after

year, avid birders – you

should pardon the expres-

sion – flock to the Texas

Gulf Coast to experience

the world-class opportuni-

ties to spot hundreds of

species on our shores,

dunes, lagoons and

wetlands. But even if you

don’t give a flying flip

about birds, no need to

get ruffled. Rich in history,

outdoor recreation and

cultural attractions, there’s

plenty to see and do at

both of these beautiful

beach hotspots.

No binoculars required.

ROCKPORT

Called the “charm of the Texas Coast,” Rock-port – or more accurately the combined small towns of Rockport-Fulton – has earned part of that charm by being a vital link on the Great Texas Coastal Bird-ing Trail. The confluence of the Central and Mississippi flyways bring hundreds of species to the area during migration seasons, making it the ideal location for unpar-alleled birdwatching.

“Our year goes like this: the peak periods are the spring and fall migrations,” explains Diane Probst, presi-

dent/CeO of the Rockport-Fulton Chamber of Com-merce. “But year round you can see more than 75 species in a day.” (Make that up to 150 during the winter.)

From november to March, the whooping crane reigns supreme. Only a few hun-dred of the majestic birds are left on the planet, and each year they make the trek from Wood Buffalo national Park in Canada to their Texas home. Capt. Tommy Moore, owner of Rockport Birding and Kayak Adventures, is one of several boat tour op-erators who takes birdwatch-ers from all over the world to the Aransas Wildlife Refuge, where the cranes spend the winter. “We’re expecting 300 birds this year,” he says. “We usually get within 100 yards of them. I like to show people something they’ve never seen before.”

September’s stars are the hummingbirds, which “brings birders by the bus-loads,” says Sandy Jumper, the chamber’s director of tourism. This year the HummerBird Celebration is from September 13-16 and features talks, seminars and shows. “We know they’re hummingbirds; ’Hummer-Birds’ is sort of a local title we give to them.”

The area isn’t resting on its birding laurels. The new-est endeavor is the Aransas Pathways Project, designed to increase eco-tourism in Aransas County by linking birding, cultural, historical, recreational and artistic sites, aided by maps and apps for mobile devices. “That’s the future,” says Probst. “This first year we’re doing 13 enhancement projects. next year over 100 are planned. So it’s on the horizon.”

BirDingOn the

texaS COaStegret at sunset by steve sinclair

whooping Crane by Dave taylor

Hummers at feeders by Diane loyd

Aplomado falcon by Robert Burton

Roseate spoonbill flock, and close-up above, courtesy of

Rockport-fulton Chamber of Commerce

Atlantic green sea turtleby Julie Catalano

Rockport-fulton Chamber of Commerce

By JuLie CATALAno

Make a statementwithout saying a word.

“ “

Let one of our window covering expertsinspire you to make your own statement.

Our new showroom has a fantasticselection of blinds, solar control windowfilm, automated shades, plantation shutters, custom draperies and much more.

As always, we provide professionalestimates and installation at no charge.

Visit our new showroomLOCATED IN THE SHOPS AT THE GALLERIA

We are located at the intersections of Bee Caves Rd/Hwy 71/Hwy 620 at the Shops at the Galleria (across from the Hill Country Galleria) next door to Barbeques Galore.

PROFESSIONAL SERVICE FREE INSTALLATION FREE ESTIMATEPHONE 512.608.030212918 SHOPS PARKWAY, SUITE 700BEE CAVES, TEXAS 78738austintatiousblinds.com

512 608 0302

&

620

2244

HWY 71 HWY 71

HILL COuNTRY GALLERIA

SHOPS AT THE GALLERIA


If the kitchen is the king of the home, then the bathroom is the queen. Potential buyers make a beeline for these two areas when touring a home to do one of two things—make a list of all the

improvements needed or envision themselves enjoying the space with their family.

Updating your kitchen and bathrooms is a great way to keep buyers from walking out of the door. However, before you start seeing dollar signs, it is important to be realistic about what you can expect in return for your investment. exactly how much you recoup in costs depends on several factors, including the direction of the housing market, the value of homes in your neighborhood, when you plan to sell the home and the nature of the project itself. I recommend talking with an Austin ReALTOR® about what improvements make the most sense for you.

Regardless of the size and scope of the kitchen and bath improvements you may be considering, here are two important things to keep in mind to ensure you gain the best return on your investment.

First, freshen up but stay cohesive. The best return for your money will be updates that make your kitchen and bath look modern, yet still harmonize with the rest of the house. Focusing narrowly on only one room can be a mistake. If the rest of your house was last updated 30 years ago, it could look antiquated in comparison to the upgraded kitchen.

Second, have a broad appeal. As mentioned above, potential buyers want to be able to envision themselves in the space. Therefore, it’s best to choose updates that have a broad appeal to attract more potential buyers. Keeping colors neutral, windows open and rooms uncluttered will allow potential residents to visualize how they can put their personal mark on the home.

Today, most buyers want move-in ready homes that they can picture themselves in. Be sure to take a step back and view these royal rooms through the eyes of potential buyers. Confer with your Austin ReALTOR® to plan the best updates for your home. v

The Reigning Rooms of home

improvemenTBy Leonard Guerrero, Chairman, Austin Board of ReALToRS®

REALTOR’S ADVICE

MORe TO exPlORe:Galleries Galore. The art colony of Rockport is one of

the most notable in the country, with shops, galleries and studios dotting the downtown area. Check out Ruben Sazon’s whooping crane art and jewelry in the Art Heritage district. (sazonandthewhoopingcranes.com)

Tie one on. Fishing in Rockport is some of the best around, with drum, trout, redfish, shrimp, crab and oysters topping the menu. Fishing excursions abound in the bay, including Doc-tors Orders Charters for fishers of all levels. (rockportfishing-tours.com)

It’s good to be free. The Aquarium at Rockport Harbor is free (and dog friendly!) and focuses on local species. Open from 1-4 p.m. Thursday through Monday, special tours are available upon request. (rockportaquarium.com) The impressive Bay education Center features Science on a Sphere, created by the national Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (nOAAA) to display astronomical, geological, oceanic and atmospheric information on a 68-inch-diameter sphere. Free and open to the public Tues-day through Saturday from 1-4 p.m. (utmsi.utexas.edu)

Do nothing. Really. They encourage it here. Rockport has a variety of relaxing accommodations, from budget-friendly to luxury. Try the Angel Rose Bed & Breakfast, a charming 1881 remodeled Victorian home complete with full breakfast, and rockers and a swing on the front porch. (angelrosebb.com)

SOUTH PADRe ISlAND A perennial spring

break favorite, there’s a whole other kind of wildlife going on at the world’s longest barrier island at the southern-most tip of Texas. Bird-

wise, the crown jewel of South Padre Island is the Laguna Atas-cosa Wildlife Refuge, 90,000 acres of natural bliss boasting 415 species of birds – more than any other wildlife refuge in the United States. About 30 minutes from the town of South Pa-dre, the refuge is home to the green jay, ringed kingfisher, buff-bellied hummingbird, crested caracara, the lively and plentiful chachalaca, and many more, including wintering waterfowl that sometimes virtually cover the peaceful lagoon.

“Peak season here is november and it goes right through April,” says Stacy Sanchez, wildlife refuge specialist and one of about 18 on staff at the refuge. Like other coastal sites, birders come from all over the world in the hopes of spotting a find. “Our rarest species are the painted buntings, gross beaks and the blue bunting.” Sanchez remembers only one of the latter, a few years ago. (fws.gov/refuges/profiles/index.cfm?id=21553)

But you don’t have to leave the city limits to find fabulous

birding. The almost-new (2009) South Padre Island Birding and nature Center is right in town, luring hundreds of species to its 50-acres model habitat of marshes, wetlands and dunes punctu-ated by 4,800-linear-feet of boardwalks. A five-story observation tower atop the 10,000-square-foot nature center gives – literally – a bird’s eye view of it all, including the habitat at South Padre Island Convention Center next door. (spibirding.com)

For “armchair birding off a boat,” as Capt. Scarlet Colley calls it, her Fins to Feathers tours offer a real treat. “I have a rare bird on my tour called the mangrove warbler. It’s in a very spe-cial place.” Colley limits her passengers to six, and some tours could rightly be called “two-fers” in that they’re ideal for both birders and non-birders. Known in these parts as “the dolphin whisperer,” visitors marvel at the sight of a frolicking tribe of bottlenose in the Laguna Madre, many of whom Colley knows by name. Magical. (spinaturecenter.com)

MORe TO exPlORe:build your dream castle. Forget everything you think you

know about building sand castles. Top-notch (and very fun) pro instructors Andy Hancock and David Goins at Boomerang Billy’s Beach Bar and Grill will have you talking about this for years to come. no experience necessary, and don’t forget your camera. (allamericansandcastle.com)

Come out of your shell. Sea Turtle, Inc. was founded by the famous “Turtle Lady” of South Padre Island in 1977 to call at-tention to the plight of the endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtles. Today it specializes in rescue and rehab for 90 percent of the ailing turtles that come through the facility. Observe five non-releasable residents, including the famous Allison the Atlantic green, the only prosthetic-wearing turtle in the world. A sum-mer highlight is the Kemp’s ridley nesting season and hatchling release as newborns make their way to the sea. (seaturtleinc.com)

Chill out. Smaller than the new Braunfels flagship loca-tion, the Schlitterbahn South Padre version built in 2001 is an especially family-friendly water park. The award-winning Transportainment® system allows guests to float from attrac-tion to attraction without having to get out of the water. Find restaurants, clubs and nightly entertainment in a beachfront setting. (schlitterbahn.com) v

FOR MORE INFORMATION:Aransas Wildlife RefugeFws.gov/southwest/refuges/texas/aransas/

Friends of South Texas National Wildlife RefugesFriendsofsouthtexasrefuges.org Great Texas Coastal birding TrailTpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/wildlife/wildlife-trails/coastal

white Pelicans by Diane loydsouth Padre island Birding

and nature Center

Plover Point Boardwalk by Robert Burton


AUDIO VISUAlService Tech Audio Visualwww.servicetechav.com512.456.2800

ASSOCIATIONSAustin NARIwww.austinnari.org512.997.nARI

NARI San Antoniowww.remodelsanantonio.org210.348.6274

ClOSET DESIGNCalifornia Closets of the Texas Hill CountryAustin: 512.441.6061www.californiaclosets.com/austinSan Antonio: 210.829.1991www.californiaclosets.com/san-antonio

CONCRETE REPAIRTrim-A-Slabwww.trim-a-slab.com512.943.7655

CUSTOM DOORS & WINDOWSPortella Steel Doors & Windowswww.portella.com512.263.8851/877.263.8851

CUSTOM HOME CONSUlTANTSby Design Custom Home Consultingwww.karensellsaustin.com512.917.2653

CUSTOM METAl WORKChristopher Voss – 4th Generation Craftsman, Inc.www.christophervoss.com210.843.4332

DEVElOPMENTSRough Hollow lakewaywww.roughhollowlakeway.com512.617.1776

FURNITURE & DESIGNIKEAIKeA-USA.com/livingroom

GlASS & WINDOWSAnchor Ventanawww.ventanaman.com512.388.9400

GRANITE & STONEFine Stone Gallerywww.finestonegallery.com210.889.4809

HOME bUIlDERSbuffington Homeswww.mybuffington.com512.382.0629

Foursquare builderswww.foursquarebuilders.com512.944.4520

Jimmy Jacobs Custom Homeswww.jacobshomes.com512.930.4041

Markee Construction, Inc.512.480.9312

Texas Casual Cottages by Trendmakerwww.texascasualcottages.com979.278.3015

HOME REMODElINGCase Handyman & Remodelingwww.austin.caseremodeling.com512.300.2273

CG&S Design-buildwww.cgsdb.com512.444.1580

Dylan Martin Homes & Remodelingwww.dylanmartinhomes.com512.692.9212

KM builderswww.kmbuilders1.com210.680.5626

lone Star Remodeling & Renovationswww.lonestarsa.com210.690.4663

Realty Restorationwww.realtyrestoration.com512.454.1661

INTERIOR DESIGNbella Villa Design Studiowww.bellavillads.com512.443.3200

Dawn Hearn Interior Designwww.dawnhearn.com512.930.0250

Panache Interiorswww.panacheinteriors.com512.452.7773

KITCHEN & bATHThe bath & Kitchen Showplacewww.bkshowplace.com512.454.4619

Countertop Valetwww.countertopvalet.com1.888.50.VALeT

Ferguson bath, Kitchen & lighting Gallerywww.ferguson.comAustin: 512.445.5140San Antonio: 210.344.3013

Homewerkswww.homewerkssa.com210.499.5760

KitchenCraftwww.kitchencraftaustin.com512.302.3700

Mielewww.mieleusa.com1.800.843.7231

Morrison Supply Companywww.morsco.com512.928.1110

Parrish & Company, Inc. www.parrishandcompany.comRound Rock: 512.835.0937San Antonio: 830.980.9595

Wilson AC & Appliancewww.wilsonappliance.com512.894.0907

lANDSCAPE DESIGNManuel Floreswww.floresflowers.com

Pearson landscape Serviceswww.pearsonlandscape.com512.386.5900

lIGHTINGlighting, Inc.www.lightinginc.comAustin: 512.491.6444San Antonio: 210.541.8500

OUTDOOR lIVINGHomeFieldwww.homefieldliving.com830.626.1971

Out back Patio Furnishingswww.outbackunlimited.com830.798.9761

PHOTOGRAPHYFine Focus Photographywww.finefocusphotography.com512.413.0329

Jason Roberts & Associateswww.jasonroberts.biz210.340.2033

POOlS & WATER FEATURESliquid Assetswww.liquidassets-pools.comAustin: 512.444.5444San Antonio: 210.680.7665

REAl ESTATEAustin board of Realtorswww.austinhomesearch.com

Phyllis browning Companywww.phyllisbrowning.com210.824.7878

RESIDENTIAl DESIGNDesign Visions of Austinwww.designvisionsofaustin.com512.583.0059

WINDOW COVERINGS & AWNINGSAustintatious blinds & Shutterswww.austintatiousblinds.com512.608.0302

Texas Sun & Shadewww.txsunandshade.com512.402.0990

A D V E R T I S E R I N D E X

210.843.4332www.christophervoss.com

FOURTH GENERATION CRAFTSMAN, INC.

VOSS CHRISTOPHER


Documents

Urban Home Austin-San Antonio