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Remi Ishizuka and Nate Pontious, the wellness influencers and founders of online fitness brand HomeBodies, didn’t let the fact that they lived on a busy four-lane road in central Los Angeles stop them from pursuing their second passion: raising animals. “We were the weirdos on the street with chickens, ducks, and dogs in the front yard,” recalls Ishizuka. But when one too many neighbors voiced a complaint about the coops, the pair decided to move to a place where their wildlife could roam. Texas ticked the box.
They landed on a sprawling property just 30 minutes outside Austin. The ranch itself had been around for decades, but the 3,515-square-foot stone house on the property (circa 2018) was only three years old. The then owner and builder, Michael Contello, was the one who gave Ishizuka and Pontious the grand tour. “The moment I stepped inside, I was like, ‘Whoa, I love this house.’ I could tell so much love went into everything,” Ishizuka says.
She texted her close friend and interior designer Amanda Gunawan, who runs the firm OWIU Design alongside Joel Wong, to see if they could put their personal spin on the place. The stone walls were feeling a bit too busy, and the living room was in need of a proper focal point. Most of all, Ishizuka wished there was more natural light in the kitchen, the space where she not only entertains but shoots all of her food content. The OWIU team was up for the challenge, but to ensure they preserved as much of the structure and original craftsmanship as possible, they decided to work closely with Contello on the updates. “Whatever we could save, we saved,” says Gunawan.
Before any of the design work began, Pontious and Ishizuka brought in some backup for landscaping cleanup. “We wanted to clear all of the brush and thickets, and goats are the perfect animals to do that,” says Ishizuka of their crew. The cows, donkeys, pigs, horses, and chickens came shortly after. “When we first got here, the soil quality was terrible,” she continues. “We’ve used the animals to regenerate the land. Each pasture has really revived itself.” Ahead, Ishizuka and Gunawan reveal how they put a zen spin on the rustic setting.
Ishizuka: It took them two weeks to chip away at the edges—it was like a sculpture. Now we hang out there all the time. It’s more relaxed than sitting up high at a countertop.
Chairs, Carl Hansen & Son; Pendant Lamps, David Pompa; Pot Filler, Pfister; Utensil Holder, Material; Faucet, Titan Treasures; Dishwasher, Thermador.
Ishizuka: I wanted the countertops to be minimal, so we even hid the paper towel dispenser in a drawer. I get a lot of use out of the corner cabinet, which is multilayered and holds my blenders and appliances. It’s right next to the stove, and it’s where I put all my tall Asian cooking sauces so I don’t have to go to the pantry all the time. Our builder was very resourceful with using the existing hood. It has buttons that face outward, but we wanted to clad it with a steel cover. Instead of having us buy a new vent, he was able to cut out the buttons with a laser and move them to the bottom so we can still use it.
Espresso Machine, La Marzocco; Grinder, Mazzer.
Chairs, RH.
Gunawan: I like aesthetics, but Remi is a comfort person. Once I found this sofa, she was like, that looks really squishy and nice.
Rug, Zara Home; Sofa, Hay; Low and High Coffee Tables, Audo Copenhagen; Chair, RH; Chandelier, Serge Mouille.
Chandelier, George Nelson.
Sofa, Sixpenny.
Frame TV, Samsung; Lamp, RH; Chair, Crate & Barrel.
Ishizuka: There’s an LED light behind the bed that’s great now that we have a newborn. We can turn it down really low or even use the red light feature. That whole back wall used to be covered in stone and there was a fireplace in the middle. Now it’s very peaceful.
Sheets, Brooklinen.
