Three stunning houses in a development by Oasis owner Beau Theriot are featured in this year's Women's Symphony League of Austin Designer Showhouse Event.
The tour, which continues through April 29, offers people interested in architecture and interior design a chance to see creative ways of making living spaces compelling and beautiful.
This year's homes, which overlook Lake Travis, include one with classic European elements, a second that blends traditional and contemporary styles and a third with a modern vision and numerous art pieces.
All are part of Theriot's new Villa Montaña development on a hillside near his famed Oasis restaurant. The tour, which is called "Villas, Vistas and Violins," is open Tuesdays through Sundays.
Villa Montaña has 98 home sites, priced from the $190,000s to the $750,000s. Thirty-two of the lots have been sold, and 24 are under contract, said Elise Goldman, a Realtor for the development.
Tour organizers expect up to 15,000 people to attend. The fundraising goal is $200,000, said Sharon Butler, co-chairwoman of the showhouse committee. The money goes to the Austin Symphony Orchestra and its educational programs, which introduce symphonic music to thousands of Central Texas schoolchildren every year.
"I've always tried to help charities that have to do with children," said Theriot, owner of the Oasis and the Comanche Canyon Ranch, the company developing Villa Montaña.
The women from the Symphony League "are friends of mine, and this is a wonderful way to introduce the neighborhood to the general public," he said.
Butler said she is grateful for all the time and effort donated by the people designing the houses. Many interior designers in Austin spent weeks each doing a room or area of one of the houses, giving the various parts of each home flair.
"None of the designers are paid to do this," Butler said. "I'm not sure the community realizes how much heart goes into this. There really is a lot of personal investment in this project."
Another part of the fundraiser is the silent auction of several violins, all decorated by local artists. The violins are on display in the homes, and anyone may bid on them.
Luxury in wood ⋅ Address: 7112 Cielo Azul Pass, Austin, 78732 ⋅ List price: $2,975,000 ⋅ Agents: Mark and Elise Goldman, Comanche Canyon Ranch Realty ⋅ Builder: George Custom Homes ⋅ Measurements: Five bedrooms, 5 1/2 bathrooms and 6,106 square feet
This house features creative uses of wood and other materials. The kitchen has rosewood and walnut cabinets, set off with a glass-block backsplash that lets in light from outside.
Most of the house was decorated by Theriot and showcases his eclectic style, which combines such things as African-print carpet, a large stained-glass window in the stairwell and a cypress ceiling in the loggia.
Mark Cullen of Parke Interiors decorated the master bedroom and bathroom.
Hanging from the library ceiling is a massive, solid-wood chandelier. The centerpiece of the dining room is a walnut breakfront, a large cabinet with a protruding center section. The breakfront is from Austria and dates to the 1870s. It's worth about $45,000. The list price for the house does not include the furniture, although the furniture is for sale. Another lovely spot on this property is the pool area, which overlooks the lake.
Beauty in orange and gray ⋅ Address: 7025 Cielo Azul Pass, Austin, 78732 ⋅ List price: $1,375,000 ⋅ Agents: Mark and Elise Goldman, Comanche Canyon Ranch Realty ⋅ Builder: Heritage Custom Homes ⋅ Measurements: Three bedrooms, 4 1/2 bathrooms, 4,180 square feet
Jackie Depew, an interior designer and owner of Depew Design Interiors in Austin, headed a team of more than 15 designers representing 10 local companies.
They chose an orange and gray color scheme to help unite their various designs. Each firm was in charge of one room or area. The overall effect is a mix of traditional and contemporary styles, "contemporary that doesn't look like it's holding its breath," said Julie Evans, who designed the living room.
The chandelier in the living room features long silver overlapping circles with crystal teardrops. The circles are more modern, and the crystal pieces are more traditional. The chandelier is $3,600 and is from Evans' store, JEI Design Collection at Whit Hanks.
The kitchen features jatoba wood cabinets, black backsplash tile designed to look like crocodile leather and a curved, granite-topped center island. Depew designed the kitchen.
A third-floor "owner's retreat" is a small room with huge windows on three sides. The windows overlook the lake and have excellent sunset views, said Bruce Wardlaw, president of Heritage Custom Homes.
Page Gandy of 3Fold Design helped design the study, which has Italian couches and a relaxing atmosphere. Like many rooms in the house, it has good views.
"The views are the main star of the show here," Gandy said.
A showcase for art ⋅ Address: 13229 Villa Monta˜a Way, Austin, 78732 ⋅ List price: $1,250,000 ⋅ Agents: Mark and Elise Goldman, Comanche Canyon Ranch Realty ⋅ Builder: Mangum Custom Homes ⋅ Measurements: Three bedrooms, three bathrooms, 4,200 square feet
Greg Mangum, owner of Mangum Custom Homes, said his goal with this house was "something open, with a very light and airy feeling, a comfortable place to work or play that feels very serene."
The home is packed with innovations, including a kitchen wall that features a built-in steam oven, a microwave, another oven and an espresso maker.
De Humphries, who owns the De Cucina design firm, oversaw the kitchen, which also has a slanted glass vent. Normally, vents are large, bulky and made of metal, but this one is bright and transparent.
Sharon Radovich of Panache Interiors oversaw a team of more than eight designers for this house.
Laura Britt of Laura Britt Design was responsible for the master bedroom. The emerald-green walls, large silver stars over three tall windows and giant white headboard make this a surprising but effective space. The master bathroom also has green walls, which make a nice contrast to the bright white counters and bathtub.
Best of all for tour guests, Radovich and her designers filled the home with works by local artists. Each of the houses on the tour features interesting work from Austin artists, but this house's art is the most dramatic and intriguing.
Artist Caprice Pierucci Taniguchi has two pieces, including an undulating sculpture of treated wood that resembles a fire. That sculpture is in the living room.
Artist Amy Scofield combined strings of chrome beads with river rocks for her "Petroglyph" work, which hangs on the second floor.
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