THE PROJECT

After many years in Austin, my clients decided to move to 5 acres in the Hill Country—but they weren't starting fresh. They had custom cabinets from their old home they wanted to keep, a lifetime of art and furniture, and very discerning taste. One partner managed the scope and timeline while the other took time finding just the right materials. My job was helping them select finishes that would work alongside everything they already had.

We brought in the pottery-inspired tile for the backsplash (the moment I saw it, I knew it would be perfect for their space), paired it with soapstone-look quartz—which felt more aligned with their aesthetic and the warmth they wanted—and selected blue pendants whose curves echoed both the tile and the soft greens and blues throughout their home. When their original tile search hit a lead-time wall, I connected them with a local showroom that understood their style and had what they needed in stock. The showroom partnership proved so valuable that the builder now recommends them regularly to their other clients.

THE BOLD

The bold move was saying yes to richness instead of simplifying. We didn't back off on the patterned tile, the layered colors, the curves—we selected finishes strong enough to stand alongside their art and collected pieces. Everything works together because nothing got lost, and nothing feels precious or out of place. This is a home where you can see that each piece was chosen for a reason.