This Austin Home Is a Show-Stopping Example of Modern Eclectic Style

For years, the aesthetic du jour when it comes to home décor has been overwhelmingly white, bright, and airy interiors combined with neutral colors and clean lines. And while that’s a style we’ll likely always love, there’s something extra enticing about a home that isn’t afraid to make a stronger statement.

And when that statement-making style still succeeds in feeling bright and airy? Now that’s a home worth writing about.

For designer Elizabeth Mollen of Stone Textile Studio, creating those truly statement-making homes is something of a specialty. She uses her own personal style, which she describes as “modern eclectic,” to inform her choices as she creates spaces for her clients that not only feel like home but like something special and worthy of showing off too.

“My clients have said that they love my passion for mixing vintage pieces with modern pieces,” Mollen tells MyDomaine. “I love the hunt. Each room should have a special piece that tells a story.”

When it comes to this 4-bedroom home in Austin, Texas, it’s clear Mollen succeeded in creating spaces that have something to say. Each room has a distinct style, but taken together, the story is cohesive and a great example of how the designer couples her own modern eclectic tendencies with her clients’ wants and needs.

“We took one room at a time, each was meticulously designed to meet my clients’ needs,” she says. “It was important for them to live in the house for a little while to see how each room feels and what each rooms purpose was. Entertaining is also very important to them, so we wanted the house to have a very relaxed flow.”

Upon entering the home, guests are greeted by a well-appointed entryway with a gorgeous tile floor (the Los Feliz pattern from Cle Tile) and a pair of vintage benches accented by a vintage rug.

“We wanted to break up the hardwood floors and install some bold patterned tile in the entry,” Mollen explains.

Directly past the entryway, a welcoming formal living room awaits. To accentuate the room’s high ceilings, Mollen painted the walls in Benjamin Moore’s Simply White. The ceiling panels were also painted white, which amplified the room’s natural brightness.

“We reworked the fireplace and painted the wood ceiling panels white to brighten up the space even more,” Mollen explains. “The fireplace tile has a subtle wood texture which I love with the nature surrounding the property. The herringbone layout gives the formal living room a more relaxed vibe.”

While the kitchen now looks like a breath of fresh air thanks to the soothing blue cabinets, gold details, and geometric tile, it wasn’t always that way.

“The kitchen used to be purple with a red and green tiled backsplash. It was a lot,” Mollen tells MyDomaine. “We reconstructed the kitchen island and reworked the kitchen cabinets, countertops, fixtures, and backsplash. My clients were sold on the light blue cabinet color from day one. We probably tested 10 different colors and landed on Benjamin Moore Soft Chinchilla.”

"The neighboring breakfast nook is an extension of the kitchen,” Mollen says. “Keeping the same color story in mind, we wanted to create a comfortable spot for morning coffee and small intimate dinners at home.”

While each space in the house is as gorgeous as the next, perhaps no room is as striking as the dining room. The floral wallpaper, large scale vintage art, and sumptuous emerald velvet chairs add the perfect amount of drama without feeling unapproachable.

“We wanted to have a wallpaper moment in the house and the dining room had to be it,” Mollen explains. “We chose a beautiful floral by Kelly Ventura design. I love the dark blue/black backdrop and the amazing floral patterns. The vintage art from one of my favorite shops in Austin was the perfect fit. The large modern geometric piece against the floral is such an unexpected mix. The colors were perfect for each other.”

One of the more subdued spaces in the home is the primary bedroom, but in no way does that mean the space is boring. The softer colors and neutral accents are perfectly suited for sleeping chambers.

“We wanted to keep it simple and neutral in here,” Mollen explains. “A large canopy bed works perfectly in this space as the ceilings are also very tall. The jewel toned vintage rug came first and we built the concept around the rug pulling colors from it for the side chair and decorative pillows.”

Not only is this Texas home an impressive example of Mollen’s design skills, it holds a special place in her heart as well. It’s the last large residential project she worked on in Austin before her recent move to Chicago.

“It was a special project to end on,” she says. “Seeing it transform over the last year and a half has been amazing.