13 Mar 10 Powerful Pillow Goddess Picks – How to Modernize Your Wonderful Home!

Modern angles and warm interiors were “de rigueur” for several modern homes in this 2nd post of a 3-part series on the Austin Modern Home Tour produced by Modern Architecture + Design Society.

It was another FANTASTIC Tour!  I always find homes that inspire me – not to mention incredible architectural and design details – which make me want to run home fast to remodel.  (HA!! As we know, that’s not always possible, but the kitchens dying for a remodel!) Last week we talked about everything Mid-Century Modern HERE.  This second post, of three (up next week is Staging with Ruby Cloutier of Vazzo Spaces), highlights my favorite features throughout five of the 12 stunning homes on the Tour.

Take these 10 Powerful Pillow Goddess Picks below and see which ones you can add to your home this spring to kick up the modern factor. I think you’ll be very surprised with how changing a single lighting fixture can illuminate your home in a whole new light (pun intended).

Last year we added a new crystal chandelier by Lamps Plus. Ours is classic, not modern, but still made a world of difference. It’s perfect over our antique dining table. (I’ll be writing about selecting the perfect chandelier this spring).

This textured chandelier (below) is in the dining room of the remarkable ranch “River Road Remodel” (below) in my neighborhood (78704) by Barley Pfeiffer Architects.

Also, first impressions are so important and I must say that once I stepped into this home below, the [Bracketed Space] House by Matt Fajkus Architecture with interior design by Gingerwood  my heart skipped a beat.  It had EVERYTHING I could ever dream of, including a Miele range!

There were tons of people milling around in the dining room (below), as the home has 3 or 4 different levels. I will not be shy to tell you that this was my FAVE home on the tour!  The architect and interior designer worked in beautiful harmony to create a home that nestled into the trees and is perfect for relaxing with family and entertaining with your friends.

Now onto the 10 Pillow Goddess Picks to modernize your home.  It was hard to make final selections because I took hundreds of photos, but I tried to trim it down to the best of the best.  This in no way means that this is all that impressed me.  You should definitely put the next Modern Home Tour on your calendar coming up in April in Seattle. (Did you know that some attendees fly around the country just to see the Modern Home Tours? That’s how great they are. Oh, and sign up for our blog so you don’t miss a thing!

Here is how a Modern Home Tour starts….with shoes at the door. But compared to these beat up old shoes, you will be astounded by the inspiring features on the 2019 Austin Modern Home Tour. Let me give you a window into the Top 10 features I think will do wonders for your home and mine.

10 Powerful Pillow Goddess Picks to Modernize your home! If you see any architectural or design feature you can’t live without, please contact the architect or interior design firm for further details. I know everyone of them would be more than happy to help you.  All homes are listed on the 2019 Modern Home Tour website HERE (scroll down and you’ll see the 12 homes on the tour).

1. Welcome with Wallcovering

A couple of homes had wallcovering, either in bedrooms or bathrooms, although one home had it in on the ceiling of a daughter’s bedroom which was stunning, but this bold, geometric wallcovering (below) selected by Gingerwood  for the [Bracketed Space] House by architect Matt Fajkus was hands down the winner.  Remember, guests in your home use the powder room, so it’s an easy place, especially if it’s small, to modernize by making a statement with a cool wallcovering, lighting, a mirror or all three.

I was amazed to see how a tiny powder room could have such a HUGE impact! EVERYONE wanted to be in this fabulous little powder room nestled between artisan shelving units. It’s simply gorgeous with a wallcovering (from the Calico Collection) of rich “Night Abergine” and warm copper tones in a custom-designed pattern called “Magnified Geode”.

2. Lighten up with Lighting

As I mentioned in my intro, adding new lighting can completely transform a room. It can elevate it from ordinary to extraordinary.  I always prefer as much natural lighting and large floor to ceiling windows to brighten up a home. But in addition to that, I found several stunning, VERY modern and geometric-shaped lighting fixtures on the 2019 Austin Modern Home Tour.

In January,  I had attended the largest lighting tradeshow in the country LIGHTOVATION at Dallas Market Center. You can read about the TOP 10 Pillow Goddess Product Picks to make your home a knockout HERE. It’s no surprise that I love lighting (aka “jewelry for the home”) and that my eyes immediately noticed the lighting on 2019 Austin Modern Home Tour.

I love the fluted-like shape on this chandelier, not to mention the (contrasting warm and colorful rug!) in one of the bedrooms (below) of the [Bracketed Space] House by designed by Matt Fajkus Architecture and Gingerwood   and the teardrop chandelier in the dining room (below) at the Wild Basin Ledge Home by Cornerstone Architects.

 

Below are additional lighting fixtures in the [Bracketed Space] House by Matt Fajkus Architecture and Gingerwood that I found to be incredibly striking, ultra modern, and absolutely perfect complements to the interiors and architecture of the home. I tried to give you a full view of the room, and in some instances, a closeup of the modern lighting (apologies for detail view not being crystal clear).

 

 

 

 

 

But even if you fall head over heels for any of these statement chandeliers, let’s say you just can’t swing putting in a new fixture right now (although I will show you this spring how easy it is to do in our own home!). You can opt for a modern pendant in a breakfast nook (Cornerstone Architects) , or take an even simpler route by adding a modern reading lamp by a chair (Modern Redux) or sofa (MJ Neal Architect).

 

 

 

Now let me share something I discovered in the brand new construction by Joseph Design Build Home, Sky House, on the Tour – ATX LED.  I had never heard of this company or seen any of this at the LIGHTOVATION show in Dallas. It doesn’t mean it wasn’t there, but I only had so much time to see lighting showrooms and I’m still learning about the technology. I didn’t have much time, only to grab a flier, but after a phone call with one of the owners, I was fascinated to learn of this new software that takes the voltage pressure off an individual LED light bulb and instead puts it all in, let’s say, a circuit board in your garage or some other central location in your home. It’s basically SMART software for SMART homes, but only available for new construction. Joseph Design Build is just one of several SMART homes that is market testing this new software in Austin.

Here’s 3 main things it does (in layman’s terms):

1. It takes the power conversion out of each individual light bulb and puts it in a central location.
2. The SMART electronics are then at the click of a switch instead of in each light bulb.
3. Lastly, the software itself, once properly installed in a new home is easy to make it SMART, all in one place for Google, and all other smart devices.

So if you want Efficient + Affordable + Reliable + Smart + Green, then you should definitely check out this new ATX LED.

 

But the real showstopper lighting, for me, as it instantly grabbed my attention, was in the [Bracketed Space] Home by Matt Fajkus Architecture with interiors designed by Gingerwood . Check out these stunning views (below) of the ultra-mod Avenue Lighting (by Richard Allen & Associates) in the gorgeous dining room. It really is the piece de resistance!  Interestingly too, the dining room was designed as the center of this modern home, anchoring all the other levels and seen from the street. You’ll have to go onto their website and watch their video which shares such great behind the scenes details of how they designed the home and why the dining room is situated the way it is.  Absolutely love it!

 

 

In addition to meeting Amanda Stephenson of Gingerwood (see last post HERE) I also was able to meet the architect Matt Fajkus and part of his team. I find it really super nice and almost essential for the architects and interior designers to be at their home on the tour. I know that’s not always possible, and sometimes large architect firms send someone else, but it’s thrilling to meet them in person and get a chance to talk to them briefly about their design work.

3. Bathe in Modern Beauty

Four trends, that have been around for awhile and still going strong, were evident in the bathrooms I saw on the tour:

• Black fixtures
• Touches of gold
• Artisan handles
• Large soaking tubs

 

 

 

 

 

And last but not least, essential for a modern bathroom to bathe in beauty is the deep soaking tub.  All designers who happen to be on a Kitchen and Bath Tour ( I was lucky to attend one in NYC in 2014 for the Modenus Blog Tour) manage to find their way into the tub.  The docent on the Modern Home Tour was kind enough to indulge me!

 

4. Captivate with Color + Texture

If you follow The Pillow Goddess blog or Instagram  you’ll know that I LOVE and LIVE BY color + texture!  Well, there was no shortage of color and texture on this year’s Austin Modern Home Tour, particularly in the Mid-Century Modern homes but also the very modern [Bracketed Space] Home with a rich blue sofa and rugs interiors by Gingerwood All the color and texture added such warmth that I mentioned in the 1st post in this 3-part series HERE, that I’m seeing a lot more, and is a growing trend, in modern homes.

 

 

 

Color and texture makes for a cozy bedroom at the Joseph Design Build new construction.

5. Get Sleek with Modern Kitchen Cabinetry & Countertops – The kitchens on the 2019 Austin Modern Home Tour, like last year’s Tour, all tend to still be open and combined with living/family rooms. They still, in my opinion, are not designed merely for cooking. No, they are much too streamlined for that. With their sleek cabinetry and smooth countertops, they are designed to be clean, beautiful spaces, a central gathering place for friends and family to mingle.

 

 

 

Of course, you guessed it, my favorite kitchen was in the phenomenal [Bracketed Space] House by Matt Fajkus Architecture + Gingerwood . Below is the gorgeous kitchen enveloped with White Opus Quartzite counters and backsplash. The selection of this sleek white glossy cabinetry is also stunning against the Quartzite. This bright white kitchen opens right up to the living room and the patio, with the living room fireplace also encased in the same Quartzite.  It truly is two rooms in one with magnificent views from all angles!

 

6. Entertain in Dining Rooms – Entering the [Bracketed Space] House by Matt Fajkus + Gingerwood was the very first time seeing a dining room so prominently displayed as the key, central room that connects the private part of the residence with the public, social living side of home.

I’ve always loved a formal dining room, but they often have been neglected in homes or converted into an office, as it seemed that people wanted to hover in the kitchen and not be bothered with a dining room.

Well on the 2019 Austin Modern Home Tour, and in this home particularly, that has all changed! This dining room below took center stage in a remarkable way. It clearly can be seen from the street, was designed with your view just below the front lawn and was magical with its crystal clear view of the pool.  THIS room would be THE room I would definitely want to entertain in and spend an entire evening, if not more!

 

 

7. Decorate with Detail

There was a lot of detail on the 2019 Austin Modern Home Tour and I wish I could share it all with you. But instead I’ve decided to feature just this ONE vignette that captured my heart because it was perfection!

This vignette was in the grand dining room of, you guessed it, the [Bracketed Space] House!  It is a mixture of a 19th Century Antique Empire Sideboard with a textured coral bowl, bookended by horn statues with a contemporary and spectacular wall sculpture above by artist Holly Hunt.

I think it speaks for itself, but I also want you to see it at the end of the dining room in the context of the entirety of the breathtaking interior design by Gingerwood , the rich blue rug, the Italian marble dining table and the dramatic chandelier. All of this with sweeping views of the trees and outdoor pool and patio.

Please enjoy my favorite room on the Tour and think about what pieces of art or sculpture you can put out on display that can transform your dining room into a modern work of art!

 

 

 

 

8. Relax Outdoors with Patios + Pools

Nothing speaks modern these days louder than an outdoor pool and lots of patios. And there were plenty on the 2019 Austin Modern Home Tour.  Below are a few of my favorites, the [Bracketed Space] House by Matt Fajkus Architecture + Gingerwood, Casa Marrakesh home by Bercy chen Studio, and Wild Basin Ledge by Cornerstone Architects.

I could have lounged all day at these backyard pools, patios, decks and even this sunken fire pit (below).  The last home my friend Sandy and I visited (before I headed up to the new Starlight Village Homes – see Part 1 blog post on Mid-Century Modern HERE) we stopped by the Casa Marrakesh home by Bercy Chen Studio.  We were not allowed to take photos because someone lives in this fabulous home right now. But since when do I follow the rules??  I only snuck in this one photo of the courtyard.

 

 

 

 

 

 

9. Mix it up with Art + Antiques

A great and simple way to modernize your home is to add a single piece of modern art or home decor like chair, bureau or side table in with any existing antiques and other art in your home. This first image below at the River Road Remodel by Barley Pfeiffer Architects is a perfect example of mixing a Mid-Century Modern pair of chairs and a modern side table with an antique chest of drawers and a painting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10. Cozy up with Cushions 

To conclude this rather lengthy post, I saw so much warmth in the bedrooms with color and texture and cushions.  The last image features Deborah Main Designs luxury Mid-Century modern pillows in the uCRANE house by Newcastle Homes with home staging by Ruby Cloutier of Vazzo Spaces.  More on that home in next week’s Part 3 of the 2019 Modern Home Tour.

 

 

 

That’s a wrap friends!  I hope these 10 Powerful Pillow Goddess Picks have inspired you to find ways to add modern touches to your own home.  Which one do you think you’ll do first?  Let me know and I might be able to include it in a follow up post.

Up next week are 5 Styling Tips from Home Stager Ruby Cloutier of Vazzo Spaces.  In the last post of this 3-part series, I will feature more of the wonderful uCRANE House by Newcastle Homes. Till then, the fog has lifted in Austin, so enjoy the sunshine and the last weekend of SXSW!  XO PG

NOTE: All photography is done by me except the one Bercy Chen Marrakesh home where noted; opinions my own.