Modern Farmhouse
An Urban Escape in East Austin
Words by Hannah Phillips Photos by Leonid Furmansky
When strolling past the corner of Garden and Navasota Streets in early spring, passerby are greeted by the scent of jasmine vines blooming along the fence line. Walking up the stone path to the house, guests receive an equally warm welcome at the home of Katie Stevens and Joe Simon. Succulents line the porch, original to the home. At first glance, it doesn’t seem like much has changed since they renovated the house in 2014, but the inside tells a different story.
“We definitely wanted to keep the integrity of that farmhouse, since it was built around 1910––and back then, it was one of the only houses on the block,” says Stevens. “And for the back house, we wanted to add more modern elements but still with a barn-feel.”
In the entry, a gray and terracotta pink oriental rug corresponds to the color palette in the guest room, almost untouched from a previous renovation. Across the hall is Katie and Joe’s bedroom, where the first hints of the couple’s frequent travels are scattered throughout the house, with international currency in mason jars above the bathroom sink and pictures on the wall of their Pinterest-perfect Hawaii wedding. Joe is a film producer and owner of Delivery Men, and Katie is currently wrapping up a 15-year career with Edelman PR team in order to help him manage the business.
Katie’s plant obsession can be spotted throughout the house with small and large greenery scattered in windows and on plant stands. In the bathroom, a vintage hamper from her grandmother rests next to the claw foot tub and reveals a farmhouse-meets-modern aesthetic consistent throughout the home: a delicate balance between old and new.
Katie’s grandparents own a farm in Oregon, where she spent much of her childhood. The memories formed much of her interior style, both in the bones of the house (like the exposed rafters and shiplap) and in its décor. Some pieces Katie transported from the farm itself, whereas others were simply inspired by it – such as the giant farmhouse stove that now serves as a bar between the kitchen and living room table, which she found in nearby Lockhart.
Turquoise tins are also dotted throughout the house. Katie’s great grandparents owned and operated a saltwater taffy factory in Seaside, Oregon, and the tins provide decorative storage reminiscent of her memories in Seaside. Adjacent to the bar is a chalkboard wall lined on one side with Polaroid photos from Katie and Joe’s recent Patagonia trek, while a list on the other side of the bathroom doorframe details their rigorous travel schedule.
“Traveling as much as we do,” Katie says, “the home needed to be the antithesis of a hotel room.”
Between the travel-inspired décor, her plant obsession, and the homey farmhouse elements, they certainly achieved this antithesis through the renovation, balancing their need to relax and yet providing the perfect place to host frequent creative gatherings. Perhaps the best example of this is the home’s newest addition: a covered side porch, where two hammocks swing from a roof extension built to meet the original roof. The sitting area spills out into the garden, shaded by a greenery wall that also doubles as a privacy screen. With evening sun streaming in, the hammocks are a favorite spot to relax, read, and recover from a hard day’s work.
“It was a shed roof porch before,” Katie explains, “and actually, the headers and posts are still inside because of code. We just built around them and came out to meet the roof line.”
Back in the kitchen, the modern farmhouse feel reaches its full effect, where Joe’s own obsession shines through in the lighting. As the resident filmmaker, Joe fixated on finding the perfect light fixtures throughout the home, working to create just the right ambiance in each room. The blue hues from the Stevens family taffy tins continue on the exposed kitchen shelving, which displays a gorgeous crockery set from her grandparents’ vintage fridge and a small square oil painting of Juan In a Million. Located just around the corner, the beloved neighborhood taco joint was also the site of their first date.
“Our favorite thing about living in East Austin is the proximity to so many great restaurants,” Katie says, “and to the trails, where Joe [a former BMX pro] loves riding his bike.”
“We also love…our neighbors,” she concludes, “and being so close to downtown without feeling like we’re right in the middle the city.”
Contact:
Architect: Kyle Norman
nossanorman.com
