This Revamped Tudor In Austin Will Inspire You To Go Crazy With Color

By  Elizabeth Stamp Updated
tudor home Erin Williamson

Tudor style homes are known for having a traditional, stately air, perfect for displaying art and antiques, but not exactly the ideal environment for a young family. But designer Erin Williamson knew that she could help a Tudor house in South Austin loosen up a bit. The dated space was dark and decorated in a dirty, khaki green from top to bottom. Her clients gave her a strict edict: "No bland, beige interiors." Williamson decided that every room needed an element of surprise, whether it was a bold wall color or an interesting vintage piece. Blues and greens dominate the color palette, with creams and blacks added to keep the interiors grounded.

Because of the kids, the design had to be fun but also durable. Wood floors and patterned rugs can stand up to spills, the furniture features stain-resistant fabrics such as wool, and even the walls are scrubbable. New lighting brightened up the space, and the dark walls and woodwork recreate the coziness of a Tudor home without the heavy wood paneling. The end result is a family-friendly update that still nods to tradition.

Living Room Buff Strickland

1. Living Room

Williamson used Benjamin Moore's Cappuccino Froth as a neutral backdrop in the living room and found the chairs and mirror at the Round Top Antiques Fair and the vintage desk on Craigslist. "A lot of vintage pieces were incorporated to give a sense of collected history so that nothing stands out as an unnecessary flourish," she said.

2. Dining Room

Dining RoomErin Williamson

A vintage Gaetano Sciolari chandelier illuminates the dining room, which was painted with Farrow & Ball's Arsenic. The vintage table and chairs are paired with a cowhide rug and a bench upholstered in a Clarence House fabric.

3. Sitting Room

Sitting RoomErin Williamson

The teal bookcases and walls — painted in Benjamin Moore's Dark Harbor — set a cozy tone in the sitting room. The vintage Danish rosewood sofa is topped with pillows by Four Hands.

4. Sitting Room

Sitting RoomErin Williamson

"Dark hues are balanced by creamy neutrals throughout the home. Although the colors and patterns are bold, a cohesive color palette keeps things from feeling chaotic," she said. Beyond the sitting room is a wall covered in Neisha Crosland's Zebra.

5. Master Bedroom

Master BedroomBuff Strickland

The master bedroom pairs a mix of patterns with metallic elements. The wallpaper is by Fornasetti from Cole & Son and the bed, nightstands, and bench are vintage.

6. Nursery

NurseryErin Williamson

Williamson even used vintage pieces in the nursery, including the reupholstered Thayer Coggin chair, chandelier, and art. The crib is Baby Mod from Walmart and a West Elm rug is layered over a Shaw carpet.

7. Kid's Room

Kid's RoomErin Williamson

The older child's room is painted in Benjamin Moore's Deep Secret, which complements the Pottery Barn Kids bed and the vintage rocking chair.

8. Powder Room

Powder RoomErin Williamson

In the powder room, a CB2 mirror hangs above the Carrara marble–topped vanity and a Christian LaCroix for Designers Guild print covers the walls.

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