An East Austin Home Showcases A Modern Art Collection
An Art-Filled, Airy Retreat Reflects an Inner Aesthetic
Words by Jessi Devenyns Photos by Andrea Calo
For Jenn Perron and Andy Josuweit, their home is an oasis. While each room of the 2,100 square foot home offers a retreat of its own, each individual favors a nook that was explicitly designed to reflect their personality.
Jenn spends most of her time perched between two bookshelves near the front of the house. “I call it my kitty cat corner because [we] get so much light, and I just sit here all the time,” she gestures to two plush armchairs gathered between rays of sunshine and accented by a side table supporting a chilled glass of rosé. The laden bookshelves serve both as a display case for dozens of tomes and a functional divider to the entry. Despite their artful curation, the books are not just for decoration; Jenn has read nearly every novel.
Downstairs, the home could easily have become an airy loft with its lack of defined spaces; however, Jenn explains that when they remodeled their home under the guidance of Amity Worrel and Andrée Chalaron, the designers were able to create three separate living spaces within the flowing open floor plan. The kitchen is the most distinct space, but it is one that she says is primarily occupied by Andy. As the chef of the house, he is the one who dreams up the dishes served to the running list of guests the couple entertains in the bright space accented by whimsical pieces that create a unique, homey feeling. “We entertain quite a bit…Andy loves cooking, and obviously, we love to party. I think that was a big part of the reason we just wanted to make the place comfortable to welcome friends and family,” she smiles.
While art can be a focal point in any home, Jenn and Andy upped the ante by integrating their art collection permanently into each space. The back of the uncovered bar and the interior of the powder room feature Emily Eisenhart’s art, and the walls are covered with commissioned work from local artists that express the couple’s love for the originality of a good statement piece.
While the overall aesthetic of the home is calming, to arrive at the current arrangement, Jenn explains that it was like piecing a puzzle together, from side tables picked up on the curb to Instagram gems. In order to make this house into the home it currently is, Jenn admits that she spent a significant amount of time on a scavenger hunt for the perfect pieces. “You have to buy a lot of bad to buy any good,” she laughs. “But that’s the fun part.”
The Perfect Fit
Working with Amity Worrel & Co. was a done deal from the get-go. For the couple, having a firm that handled both the design and the construction was a must. Plus, homeowner Jenn explains that the design duo’s personalities and aesthetic fit in just perfectly with their Eastside home.
An Eye for Art
From Marfa to Roundtop to the Austin Studio Tour, Jenn and Andy carefully select their art pieces as they adventure around the state. The art may seem eclectic as it ranges from murals to tapestries to ceramics, but each purchase fits like a puzzle piece into their home.
Contact:
Amity Worrel Design
(512) 387-3146
815 E 52nd St.
amityworrel.com
