19 Feb Let’s Kick Off Spring with The Modern Home Tour Series!
Posted at 15:29h
in
Design
by Deborah Main
The redbud trees are blooming and it’s only February, but spring is almost here in Austin. The Austin Modern Home Tour kicks off spring every year with its annual Modern Home Tour series across the country and one right here in Austin, Texas. With over 20 homes coming up this weekend, this year’s Austin Modern Home Tour is proving to be incredibly inspiring. So let’s kick off spring with The Modern Home Tours!
These two stunning homes are by Cornerstone Architecture. Photography by James Leasure.
What is the Modern Home Tour Series?
Austin Modern Home Tour,
Saturday, Feb 24th, 10 – 4
Get your tickets HERE.
Founded by James Leasure of Modern Architecture + Design Society (MA+DS), MADS is mad about modern. Under James’ leadership, it acts like a forum to bring together members of the architecture design and lifestyle communities to share ideas, innovate, and feature “hidden gems” of modern homes across the country with the annual Modern Home Tour Series.
We love modern. Modern design, modern architecture, modern living. More than just an aesthetic, “modern” embodies new techniques and materials, and new ways of addressing old problems. “Modern” is not just what you live in, but how you live. From attainability to sustainability, the singular thread that connects “modern” is an outlook that embraces new possibilities in living and lifestyle – James Leasure, Founder Modern Architecture + Design Society/MA + DS Modern Home Tour Series.
Above is the cozy outdoors on the LBR Home by R & D Architecture, with lots of natural light and vegetation and sunlight streaming in showcasing the warm natural wood materials. Photography by James Leasure.
Let’s chat with the founder, James Leasure
PG: Hi James. It’s been a while. In fact, 4 years since we’ve chatted and a lot has changed with the Modern Home Tours. Please tell us a little about the growth of MA+DS and some of the changes for the Tours nationally. Have you added any new cities? Have you added more events in other cities, like the Austin Outdoor Living Tour?
JL: Obviously, COVID had a major impact on our home tours, but we sustained ourselves with virtual events (which people are still asking for – and we’d love to do more of them!) and more general marketing work for our previous home tour clients, but last year things really came back fast! I think people were (and are) excited to get back out and do things, and, for us, the massive interest in building, renovating, and loving our home spaces during COVID has provided us with a whole new group of homeowners, architects, and designers who are excited to show off their projects now that the world is open again!
These two interiors are in a classic mid-century modern home by architect Mark Odom Studio and built by Render ATX. Interiors are staged by interior designer Ruby Cloutier with one of our original MCM fabric long pillows, the Vintage Mustard Chain Link Pillow. Photography by Madeline Harper.
PG: I’ve heard you also are now going to offer tours specifically showcasing interior design. Please explain this, what cities, and how interior designers can apply?
JL: YES! We’re extremely pleased to announce our partnership with GRAY Magazine (
www.graymag.com) – an amazing media group that we’ve worked with in the Pacific Northwest for our modern home tours in that part of the country for years. Last fall I had a chance to sit down with Shawn Williams, their founder/CEO, and she and I discussed their growing national and international reach, and their focus on high-end interior design, and we started thinking, “What if…”. What if we put our heads and skills together and created an International Tour series featuring the best in interior design? What if Gray Magazine could invite people *inside* some of the homes they feature in their award-winning magazine? Truth be told, we’re both really busy with our companies, but it made too much sense NOT to do it – so beginning
April 6th, we kick of a 5-city pilot series across the USA, starting in Washington DC ! Here’s the entire new series:
https://www.graymag.com/design-tours.
These stunning interiors are by The Owen Group in the second Cornerstone Architecture home on the Tour, a lavish guest house on the fairway of the Austin Country Club. Built by Next Custom Homes. Photography by James Leasure.
PG: WOW! That’s incredible James and very exciting. Congratulations to both your companies! Since the Austin Tour kicks off spring this weekend, what exciting changes have you made? It looks like you’ve doubled the number of homes. I can’t wait!
JL: We’re excited to kick off another year of the Modern Home Tour series this weekend in Austin, and yes, we’ve added a Sunday event for the second time! Last year was Hill Country Homes, but this year we’re making a special effort to support the builders and architects who are kind enough to support our event every year. Here’s what that means: We all know that the housing market in Austin wasn’t what we were used to last year, and right now Austin has a large number of homes on the market, so we asked our architects, designers, and builders to give us their absolute favorites – and we’re featuring them on Sunday for a complete second day of Touring. The architects will still be there, the homes will still be furnished, and the designs really are incredible. I hope people come out in force on Sunday and support the folks that literally make the Austin Modern Home Tour possible every year.
These two kitchen and bath interiors are in the LBR Homes by RD Architecture, a classic Palm Springs-inspired mid-century home in south Austin. Photography by James Leasure.
PG: I know I’m very excited about Sunday on the Tour, two whole days to see magnificent homes and meet the architects. I’ve heard that some people who travel across the country to attend some of your tours. In fact, I have a friend flying in from California on Friday specifically to attend this weekend’s Austin Modern Home Tour. Is this common?
JL: It’s true :). There are many hardcore fans that I have the privilege of seeing in multiple cities every year, and while it’s MORE common to see people regionally (lots of Austin people travel to Houston, and vice-versa, and the PNW tours – Seattle, Portland, and Vancouver) it’s always a pleasure to see someone from the west coast here in Austin – it happens more than you’d think – and it makes me really happy to see our most excited fans every year 🙂
PLEASE PIN for easy reference
Austin Modern Home Tour,
Saturday, Feb 24th, 10 – 4
Get your tickets HERE.
The Austin Modern Home Tour is always exciting to attend cause we normally have beautiful weather and I come away incredibly inspired. To see such amazing architecture, interior design, landscape design and more on one tour is a thrill and this year your ticket gets you in to all the homes on Sunday as well. Get your tickets at
Mads.Media and preview all the homes online to decide which ones you want to see in person. I’m particularly excited about meeting some of the architects at the homes on Sunday. Follow along on our
Instagram. Look forward to seeing you there and Happy Spring! xoPG
NOTE: This blog post is sponsored by Austin Modern Home Tours. All photography is by James Leasure, except where noted. Opinions are my own.
Robin Burrill
Posted at 04:59h, 25 FebruarySome of the architectural imagination I see today really “wows” me…this looks like a great tour, Do you think any of these especially innovative ideas might look “dated” in 20 years? I wish I were in town to attend!! I’ll just have to follow any updates you share about it later.
Deborah Main
Posted at 11:48h, 06 MarchHi Robin. Thanks so much for stopping by the blog. It’s great to hear from you! It definitely was a fantastic tour. When it comes to architecture, I don’t really think so as long as they keep innovating. If they follow trends, then some parts of a design might be “dated”. But I find on the Modern Home Tours, inspiring innovation reigns supreme! Definitely come attend sometime. The next one up is in Houston on March 23rd.
Amy Wax
Posted at 09:49h, 25 FebruaryWhat an exceptional post Deborah, your photos and descriptions are so well done. If I was closer I would definitely making a trip to see this years homes! Thanks for sharing and showing such inspiring images.
Deborah Main
Posted at 11:50h, 06 MarchHi Amy. I’m so happy you enjoyed the post. You’re very welcome. I love to share the Austin Modern Home Tour. Definitely check out the NEW partnership with GRAY Magazine, as they’re kicking off the first Tour in Washington, D.C. in April. That too will prove to be inspiring!