You'd Never Guess This Strikingly Modern Home Is in Austin, Texas

At first glance, it's hard to pinpoint the location of this strikingly modern home. Is it in Moscow, as the streamlined furniture and contemporary art collection seem to suggest? Or maybe it's in Los Angeles? The floor-to-ceiling windows would certainly be fitting in Beverly Hills or Brentwood.

The designer, James Saavedra of Saavedra Design Studio, divulges that, in fact, the design of this Austin, Texas home was influenced by a number of far-flung locales, spanning Moscow, New York City, Paris, Hong Kong, and Los Angeles.

Tasked with designing a home that imparts the kind of ease you feel when you arrive at your favorite hotel and you know all is taken care of, Saavedra drew inspiration from luxury hotels around the world; The Ritz-Carlton in Moscow, the Baccarat Hotel in New York City, and the Le Meurice in Paris.

The finished home is a modernist's dream, complete with custom furniture, incredible art, and luxe finishes. Keep scrolling to take a tour of the 2900-square-foot Austin, Texas abode.

Marked by modern textures, organic elements, and large-scale furnishings, the living room is decidedly modern. "Anchored by custom wool and silk rug in watery blues, the space has few but impactful pieces," says Saavedra. One of which is "a very large and low glass table that displays an assortment of modern and natural elements like quartz points, petrified wood, and art books," he explains.

Among the room's other standout pieces is a set of custom Saavedra Design Studio (SDS) consoles (pictured beneath the windows, here) that are comprised of Texas Lueders limestone and satin stainless steel. "Favor larger sized pieces over smaller ones—like the rug and consoles in the room seen here—to actually increase the amount of space you think you see and feel," advises Saavedra.

Another furnishing of note is Carl Hansen’s FH429 signature chair. "In rich, black leather, the chair has such a seductive shape that it is impossible to pass by it without sitting in it for a while," confesses the designer. "And despite the fact that it was originally designed in 1954, its graceful curves are right at home in this current space."

Hidden underneath the stairs is the primary suite. (The door is concealed within the stair's wall paneling and opens with the push of a button, explains the designer.) Here, Saavedra strategically used tonal, textural furnishings to impart a calm, masculine aesthetic. Shagreen, satin wool, patinated bronze, and woven rope are just a few of the materials that can be found throughout the space.

The luxurious primary bath was heavily influenced by the homeowner's travels and his stays at world-class hotels like The Ritz-Carlton in Moscow, the Baccarat Hotel in New York City, the Le Meurice in Paris, The Peninsula Hong Kong, and the Beverly Hills Hotel in Los Angeles.

Complete with stunning marble slab walls, a steam shower with eucalyptus aromatherapy, heated marble floors, a heated towel rack, and even a heated fogless shower mirror for shaving, the primary bath has all the amenities of a luxurious hotel bathroom.

Though many design elements imbue the space with color, few are as impactful as the custom SDS dichroic console in the entry. "It sets the tone for the edited impacts of color found throughout the home," says Saavedra.

The multi-color console is juxtaposed with a custom monolith door in ebonized oak, which "floats on a hidden track to reveal an intimate entertaining space complete with everything that one needs for a cocktail in front of the fire," explains the designer.

Inside is the ultimate lounge space, filled with a bold pattern, color, and art. Thanks to Saavedra, the room is a complete 180 from what it once was—and devoid of Southwestern-inspired design tropes. "Originally there was a silver-leafed antler chandelier and two black leather swivel chairs," divulges the designer.

To minimize visual clutter and maximize space, Saavedra designed a custom fireplace complete with a built-in bar—a standout feature in the room. Other custom SDS items in the lounge include the Tetris-inspired table with antiqued mirror insets, the L-shaped sectional, and the gilded drink table. 

Just beyond the vibrant lounge is the comparatively austere dining room. "Here, we desired comfort that organically flowed within the interior spaces and out to the outdoor oasis while maintaining a sense of privacy and intrinsic luxury," explains Saavedra. Floor-to-ceiling windows seamlessly connect with indoor and outdoor spaces.

To take advantage of all the natural light, the designer painted the kitchen walls and cabinets in the same shade of soft taupe. "It is a great way to soften and wrap a room," notes Saavedra. With every detail carefully considered, the completed home is a luxe modernist's dream.