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An outdoor shower—inspired by one Fox saw on her honeymoon in Kauai—features industrial fixtures against a simple stucco wall. CROCHETED HANGING PLANTER by Kati Von Lehman $100 themiaproject.com x3 WATERING CAN by Paul Loebach $67 kontextur.com
FOR INSPIRATION IN BUILDING HER ARTFUL TEXAS HOME,
REFERENCED HER OWN MODERN TEXTILES AND SCULPTURAL FURNITURE.
written by CAROLINE BIGGS
photography by MOLLY WINTERS
Fox kicks back at home near a beloved handmade ceramic pot gifted from a college friend. “It’s the perfect shade of pink,” she says. SHAPES RUG by Alyson Fox for
STILL LIFE
Nearly four years ago, after spending half a decade living in bustling central Austin, artist and textile designer Alyson Fox decided it was time for a true change of scenery. Fox, a Texas native—who regularly collaborates with the designers from Hawkins New York on textiles and furniture—and her husband, Derek Dollahite, opted to buy a stretch of land across a 20-foot ridge in nearby rural Spicewood. They then spent much of 2013 designing and building their ranch-style dream home from scratch. Along with the help of her brother-in-law, Blake Dollahite, the family forged a modern glass house inspired by the surrounding landscape. The layout includes a door in every room that leads directly outside, as well as a front-facing window with generous views of the rugged countryside. The couple spent the bulk of their modest budget bringing in glass and locally sourced fir wood to form eco-minded walls in all the main living spaces. “Environment informed everything about the home from start to finish,” Fox explains. “Timeless materials and a simple layout can’t compete with a gorgeous view.”
A vintage library table Fox found on Etsy is paired with a shapely stool of her own design. SHAPES STOOL IN WOOD by Alyson Fox from $500 alysonfox.com
Storage shelves are left open and exposed to help keep items clean and curated in the kitchen.
CREATIVE FREEDOM
Much like its blueprint, the interior draws heavily from the exterior landscape. A neutral palette of warm wood, concrete, and crisp white earth tones allow for colorful prints and enticing textures: Polished concrete floors, custom brass cabinetry, lush hanging plants, and ceramic-tiled walls offer unexpected moments of shine and texture. The sparseness also allows the home to double as a creative space for Fox to experiment with some of her latest ideas and designs. “I try out all of my objects in different rooms to play with context, and I’m always moving things around to start a new conversation,” Fox explains. Along with rotating artwork and furniture, she frequently reinvents the rooms with resourceful yet elevated edits—rearranged sofas, salvaged appliances, copper-covered doorways, and flea market finds—to keep the home feeling thoughtful and curated. “Things are always shifting, but the environment stays the same,” Fox adds. “The beautiful bones and views of this place make it easy to constantly reimagine its inside.”
Fox used a sharp sheet of copper sheath to conceal an unsightly water-heater door.
“AS A DESIGNER, I LIKE TO KEEP THINGS PARED DOWN; I’M CONSTANTLY EDITING.”
TILE American Olean Satinglo by Lowes lowes.com
“Bedrooms should be really calm,” Fox says. “Just the bare essentials: a bed, a bookshelf, and plants.”
SWING LAMP in Gloss White by One Forty Three $95 shop.onefortythree.com BLUE STRIPED BLANKET by Alyson Fox $195 alysonfox.com SKETCH by Alyson Fox alysonfox.com
Even the small-scale artwork in the bathroom is rotated regularly to breathe new life into the space.
BUCKET SINK by Alape $249 alape.com WALLPAPER by Alyson Foxalysonfox.com NUNO TOWELS by Kontex $42 persephonesupply.com ART“Landscape 15” by Alyson Fox from $1700 artstar.com
“I DON’T BELIEVE IN PERMANENCY. I LIKE THAT OUR SPACE CAN TAKE A COLORFUL RUG ONE MONTH AND THEN SOMETHING MORE MODERN DOWN THE LINE.”
A bright boucherouite rug moonlights as textured artwork inside one of the guest rooms. “Try turning objects upside down or backward for a fresh look,” Fox suggests.
VINTAGE COTTON LINENS by Matteo from $30 matteohome.com BOUCHEROUITE RUG (above bed) from Etsy etsy.com RUG(at end of bed) by Alyson Fox alysonfox.com COTTON BLANKET by Kiosk Kiosk $70 kioskkiosk.com