Peek Inside a Custom Home That Elegantly Mixes Old and New

When a California couple needed help finishing the interiors of their new-build home in Austin, Texas, they hired designer Sara Barney of Bandd Design Interiors to tease out a style that married one’s love of traditional with the other’s preference for something more contemporary. And with three young kids and a dog, they needed it to be livable and durable.

Barney worked with the couple mostly remotely, using Houzz Pro software to manage the project. In a great room, she played with subdued color palettes and patterns for a traditional look, then mixed traditional furniture shapes with a few modern pieces, like a pair of white plaster coffee tables, to create a sophisticated transitional style.

In the kitchen, elegant quartzite countertops and slab backsplash join light wood upper cabinets and wall sconces for a traditional feel, while blue lower cabinets deliver a more playful vibe. The primary bedroom features a traditional canopy-style bed, but contemporary lines give it an updated appearance. The bathroom leans traditional with lots of white oak, marble and a beaded crystal chandelier. And a large family room gives everyone a modern-day spot to play and watch movies together.