By Kate Abney| Photography by Michael Hunter
From the blueprints phase of the project, McBrearty teamed up with Austin architect Ryan Street of Ryan Street & Associates, allowing her to weigh in on the full gamut of finishes and architectural flourishes—from the white oak paneling to the turquoise-glazed terra-cotta tile to the Venetian plaster, which adds luminosity to nearly every wall of the house. “It’s like ice cream,” McBrearty gushes. “The color is so good, you could almost eat it.”
With 7-year-old triplets running around, the homeowners craved stylish yet durable décor. “They wanted something that would be a fresh reflection of their lifestyle with very open, clean spaces,” McBrearty says. “And they wanted a more subdued palette that still made an impact.”
One standout hue is the silvery sage that graces a number of upholstery pieces, including a plush bench at the foot of the master bed, a pair of armchairs flanking the living room fireplace, and a button-tufted Chesterfield in the study. Though McBrearty was careful to keep the overall hues subtle, she wasn’t shy about selecting statement-making artwork, much of it by contemporary Texas artists. The designer also gave special attention to lighting fixtures—one of her definitive hallmarks—as seen in an Art Deco-inspired Paul Ferrante fixture that appears to be more illuminated sculpture than functional apparatus.
Occasionally, McBrearty’s choices are a bit more romantic, as with the amethyst Murano glass chandelier anchoring the dining room or the blush-colored glass pendant presiding over the master bedroom sitting area. In each case, sound architecture—curvaceous door openings, intricate millwork, complex ceilings—helps set the stage for her scrupulous selections.
With the home complete, McBrearty reflects fondly upon the overall project. “When you’re lucky enough to be involved from the ground up, the result is something so harmonious,” she says.
Find more photos of this beautiful redesign in our March/April issue 2018 of Southern Home.
