By MAURI ELBEL | Photography by PAUL BARDAGJY

The high-end residences soaring from

Austins downtown blocks often adhere to
a certain aesthetic: modern, clean-edged,
and occasionally, unapproachable.
ut leave it to designer Mark Cravotta and builder
David Wilkes to create a stunning space that
efectively marries modern and traditional with a
brilliant balance of custom creations and vintage fnds.
Im the frst to admit when it comes to design, Im not a
purist, says Cravotta. I love to mix styles. Im a fan of the
unexpected. I never want a room to look too new. Ideally, I want
it to look as if it were carefully collected and curated over time
even if it was not in actuality.
When a semi-retired bachelor purchased a 4,208-square-
foot home as a pied--terre in the Four Seasons Residences,
the downtown Austin high-rise designed by architect Michael
Graves, he wanted a place that felt like home.
Te sprawling three bedroom, three-and-one-half bathroom
home complete with a media room boasts spectacular panoramic
views of Lady Bird Lake and Austins iconic downtown from
balconies connected to the main living area and master suite as
well as foor-to-ceiling windows wrapping the spacious condo.
Inside, the design is a surprising mix of traditional ranch-
style elements and modern fnishes, resulting in space that is
unapologetically masculine yet elegant and timeless.
I love the way it feels warm, rich and artful yet totally
comfortable and accessible, says Cravotta. Tis is a place where
you want to plop down in every room of the home.
Te clients primary residence is a ranch outside of Austin
where he spends the majority of his time, but he also enjoys the
arts and entertainment scene a downtown lifestyle afords.
Tis client has lived all over the world and has sophisticated
taste so I wanted to design a home for him to not only refect
his personality, but also the new cosmopolitan vibe thats
starting to arise in Austin, says Cravotta. Te most important
B
PALATIAL PIED--TERRE
RICH AND RUSTIC MEETS WARM AND ELEGANT IN THIS
REMODELED DOWNTOWN AUSTIN RESIDENCE
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objective for the client was to have a fun and comfortable place
to entertain. Together we strived to create a space where guests
would be drawn in and want to linger.
Since this is a second home, there werent any existing items to
incorporate into the design, which provided a blank canvas for
Cravotta to fll with thoughtfully selected pieces.
We cast a wide net, scouring the world for beautiful and
interesting pieces and then composed those pieces into an
environment that felt right for the client, says Cravotta. Te great
room is an example of a space where almost everything is new.
Wilkes, who has a 20-year history of successful collaborations
with award-winning architects and interior designers, worked
closely with Cravotta to remove walls during the remodel of the
expansive space, enlarging the hallway and accommodating for
custom furniture pieces and designs.
Te wine room was created using part of a hallway and some
of the master closet, says Wilkes of the striking foor-to-ceiling
wine wall featuring custom mahogany wood shelving.
A warm red- and brown-toned brick wall runs along the
hallway, against the wine wall and continues through the living
area, furthering the rustic, masculine look that distinguishes this
residential high-rise.
In order to add the wall without the weight, Wilkes used half-
bricks which resemble full bricks and furred out the wall for
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added thickness to achieve the authentic look.
Our stone mason did an amazing job with the installation,
making it look as if it had been there for many, many years,
says Wilkes. I think the brick work gave it such a unique look.
In the kitchen, Wilkes reinforced the ceiling and hung a
custom-lighted pot rack in the center. Stainless steel pots foat
above the island, providing a shimmering focal point in the clean-
lined culinary space while cleverly creating additional storage.
Troughout the house, there is a clever weaving of old and
new. Gravitating toward some of his favorites, Cravotta hand
selected pieces from Flexform, Holly Hunt, Jean de Merry, Rose
Tarlow, Jim Zivic Design and Blackman Cruz.
Most items found throughout the home are new purchases
with the exception of certain vintage elements the 1950s
German oak and stainless steel night stands; the Gio Ponti
cocktail table in the master lounge, the sculptural bronze and
glass side table in the study and the 100-year-old Moroccan rug.
But a surprising number of items found throughout the
remodel are custom-designed by Cravotta himself. For example,
the Austin-based designer created both the dry bar and the dining
table seen in the great room; the overhead planters and cocktail
table on the terrace; the leather-wrapped steel bed and teak dresser
in the guest room; the small bronze side table in the media room;
and the distinctive bed and bench in the master bedroom.
Upon entering, an ageless charm captivates you. Cravotta
especially loves the entry featuring a spectacular 1940s Italian
breakfront thought to be by Ico Parisi as well as the custom
touches like the handmade drapery seen in both the master
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bedroom and lounge crafted by a talented Brooklyn-based artist.
Unexpected specialty fnishes command attention throughout
the home, from the hand-made gray-on-gray square paper
covering the master bedroom wall and unique ceiling treatments
to the impressive wine wall and entry walls covered in soft linen.
We used a lot of specialty fnishes, says Cravotta citing
eye-catching selections such as the handmade plaster wallpaper
imprinted with a shagreen pattern on the great room ceiling and
hand-painted wallpaper in the media room made to resemble a
starry night sky.
Decorative art lighting, sconces and suspended fxtures
provide a playful and efective glow throughout each room
from the pendants foating above the bar made of bronze castings
of hand-turned burl wood bowls to the bronze sputnik-inspired
chandelier in the master bedroom designed by Jean de Merry.
Te entry chandelier is a rare example of an early 20th century
art deco lighting by the legendary Swedish maker Orrefors while
the dining room chandelier is a one-of-a-kind vintage brass and
glass fxture from the 1960s that Cravotta found in Los Angeles.
In this home, the decorative lighting provides both warmth
and intimacy, says Cravotta. Tey also play dual roles in and
of themselves as both furnishing and art. v
BUILDER David Wilkes Builders
512.328.9888 | Davidwilkesbuilders.com

DESIGNER Cravotta Interiors
512.499.0400 | Cravottainteriors.com
34 URBAN HOME AUSTIN SAN ANTONIO urbanhomemagazine.com