A Design Enthusiast’s Guide to Austin
October 15, 2019
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Design is near and dear to our hearts at the Heywood.
In 2011, after three years of DIY ingenuity, we transformed the Heywood from a 1920s bungalow home to a unique seven-room boutique hotel. We proudly incorporate Austin artists, makers and textile designers throughout the property, as well as hand-finished furniture and details from the original home. Our award-winning boutique hotel has also been recognized by AIA Austin and featured in design publications like Apartment Therapy, Wallpaper*, Design Sponge, Monocle and Conde Nast Traveler.
Lucky for us, Heywood Hotel is in good company as good design can be found on nearly every corner in Austin. Austin’s design community represents a wide range of mediums, from stunning architecture and interiors to handcrafted local goods.
Here are our recommendations for must-see spots and events for design enthusiasts visiting Austin.
Places
Central Library
Named one of the World’s Greatest Places in 2018 by TIME, Austin Central Library is a can’t-miss stop on your tour of Austin’s best designs.
The library became the new hub for Austin’s public library system in 2017 and has since become much more than a place to check out books. The six-story building is flooded with natural light and features a cafe, an art gallery, a rooftop garden with the largest solar installation in downtown Austin, and reading porches with views of Lady Bird Lake and Shoal Creek. Not to mention, the space has a Platinum LEED® Certification for its sustainable design and amenities.
When it comes to design, a wide array of mid century modern classic furniture can be found throughout the space. Major modern designers such as Eames, Bertoia, Saarinen, Knoll and Herman Miller are represented in the pieces. The library also won a prestigious AIA award for its design, which can be credited to architects Lake Flato and Shepley Bulfinch.
Ellsworth Kelly’s “Austin” Installation
Located on the University of Texas campus, the Blanton Museum of Art is home to temporary exhibitions and permanent installations, such as Ellsworth Kelly’s “Austin.” Gifted to the museum by the artist himself, the structure features colorful glass windows that capture the light in a picturesque way. The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday, with free admission every Thursday.
Nannie Inez
Equal parts contemporary, minimal and vibrant, Nannie Inez is a design destination for furniture, interior decor, and home goods. The South Lamar shop carries a select group of artists and designers across a variety of global design styles like HAY, Normann Copenhagen, and Muuto, to name a few.
Miranda Bennett Studio and Take Heart
Austin-based clothing designer, Miranda Bennett is known for her signature plant-dyed textiles that come in a range of apparel styles like dresses, tops and jumpsuits. The sustainable collection embodies the contemporary, cool style of Austin.
Miranda Bennett Studio recently opened their flagship shop on East 11th Street in a modern space that also houses local boutique, take heart which offers a curated selection of home accessories and unique gifts with an emphasis on Japanese minimalism. A visit to either one of these shops is sure to spark design inspiration.
EA/ST Co. and Fail Jewelry
About a mile down the road from Heywood Hotel is the thoughtfully-curated boutique, EA/ST Co. The shop carries home goods and art from local and national makers with a focus on high-quality craftsmanship. Here you’ll find ceramics, contemporary wall art, and apothecary goods, among other things. The shared space is also home to Fail Jewelry, a local and handmade jewelry shop.
Heywood Hotel
While we’re on the topic of good design, we might as well include a shameless plug!
Originally a 1925 Craftsman bungalow, Heywood Hotel was purchased and renovated with the goal of crafting a uniquely “Austin friendly” hotel experience. The hotel’s unique design was completed by Austin-based architecture firm KRDB, who creatively reimagined the original home into its current seven-suite, boutique-hotel format.
Our vision was to preserve as much of the original home as possible, and maintain the appearance of a modest Austin home from the street. Heywood’s interiors were designed by Kasey McCarty in collaboration with the owners, with a goal of creating a warm, home-like environment that “feels like Austin.”
Events
AIA Austin Home Tour
Architecture enthusiasts, mark your calendars for the AIA Austin Home Tour. The self-guided tour takes place every fall, with this year falling on October 19-20 2019. The tour, which has been held since 1987, gives the community access to 12 stunning homes across the city, all designed by AIA Austin Architect Members, and is one of the leading architectural home tours nationwide.
Austin Design Week
Going into its fourth year, Austin Design Week brings together the design community to celebrate innovative design through workshops, panel discussions, studio tours and more. This year’s design week is taking place November 4-8 2019 at various venues around the city and will explore the theme, “Make Space.” The events offer the unique chance for creatives from all backgrounds to learn new practices and gain inspiration from designers across a variety of disciplines.
East Austin Studio Tour
One of the biggest art events in the city, East Austin Studio Tour (E.A.S.T.) is a free, self-guided tour of East Austin artist studios. Spanning two weekends, November 16-17 and 23-24, tour-goers will have the chance to visit local studios and galleries, meet the artists, and get to know Austin’s creative economy.
Located in the heart of the action, there’s no better place than the Heywood to serve as your home base for E.A.S.T. Within an easy walk or bike ride from the Heywood are more than 500 participating artist studios, galleries and happenings.
Nearby Canopy is the main hub for E.A.S.T. as it houses the nonprofit that puts on the event, Big Medium. It’s also home to a few local shops that can be visited year round, like ceramicist Keith Kreeger and Son of a Sailor, a boutique with handmade jewelry, accessories, and leather goods.
Feature image courtesy of Nannie Inez.