Home Sweet Modern Home Tour —
Most of us dream of owning Modern. Even if we may never get there – this weekend allowed us at least a little glimpse in – since it was time for the always fun, very voyeuristic Austin Modern Home Tour. Founded by Krisstina Wise of Goodlife Realty, it showcases our modern tendencies in Austin so very well.
But here’s the turnstylist’s take away: Big modern homes = on the wish list to have a party there one day; Small modern homes = real life, the best of daily life. These stunning, minimalist versions, were certainly studies in beauty. Large white walls being still the palette of choice, size-defying windows all around. Interesting and at times, impressive artwork might hint at the personality of the homeowner, but most seemed to lean toward the aesthetic yield a favorite sculpture might make against pristine walls. All truly dreamy really; it makes one wish for a future without any of the daily clutter mixing in. Alas, not in the cards I fear.
But that’s ok – one home in particular kept the dream alive, albeit a little more realistically for most of us. And this home perhaps for the simple reason that it was the smallest on the tour. Centrally located around the Congress Avenue area, it helped to bridge our dreams with our potential actuality. At least it felt more naturally attainable, in the sense that if one had a bit more financial leeway, it might be what one would strive for. Large window walls remained in place to reinforce the contemporary look hallmarking this tour, but in this, more diminutive space, they were well in reach so that one could open the windows personally; not 20 ft up and out the hand’s way.
Curbside, one was drawn into the property as a cocoon of sorts. Created by the large modern fence pictured here; one immediately felt welcome and protected all at the same time. The decor also of course felt like a home; personal, quirky choices that gave you a direction into the people owing it. And I suppose for us turnstylers, that’s the #1 criteria when it comes to anything modern. This one kept its lines clean, and as a remodel it held on to elements of its past, but somehow you could sense the presence of the homeowner so much more clearly; and therefore the projection of oneself was made more natural. Is it just that as humans, at some point taking down crazy scale will take things from our zone of discomfort to something being directly relatable? The surrounding old growth trees, the tree-line that therefore remains intact size-wise vis a vis the home, the personal touches… maybe it’s the difference between what’s truly defines modern and what’s delineates the contemporary…
We thank you Austin Modern Home Tour, an always enlightening and dreamy insight into the what-ifs and what-I’d-likes.
