Old Austin -- Home of the Week

I've shown you quite a few lakefront homes in and around Austin, but many people prefer to live in Central Austin. That part of town has several neighborhoods full of charming, old homes.

The mls listing calls this home an example of "Regency Modern Architecture". It was built in 1937 and has been extensively and recently remodeled. At 4,224 square feet, the sale price on this home is $2,195,000. Wanna know what the annual taxes are? Just a cool $20,234.71.








I find the front facade a bit flat, but the inside has been wonderfully decorated. I love the contrast of dark and light. It's obvious this home has had some professional design attention.

Home of the Week

I'm going to start a new blog feature called "Home of the Week." Most of the homes will be currently listed for sale in the Austin area, but you may get a little surprise now and then with houses from other parts of the country.

This lovely home lends a contemporary twist to European architecture. One of the disadvantages to featuring homes for sale is that the photographer is probably not a professional. Too bad, because I'll bet there's so much more to see of this beautiful home. (Click on pics for larger views). By the way, it's yours for just under $3 million.

I'm only starting out with the living room, because it's probably one of the first rooms you'd see as you walk into the house. Unfortunately, it's my least favorite, because the decor is a bit bland for such a grand home.


I'm not sure what to call this room, but would you look at that ceiling?! It reminds me of a yurt. And look at the round rug that mimics the ceiling.


I love this kitchen. I'm usually a white cabinet girl, but I also love dark, dark cabinets. As much as I love an eat-in kitchen, the table and chairs don't work here. An island might've worked, though.


I assume this is the master bedroom. Don't you just love the linen bedding? Swoon!


Another bedroom. Sparse but beautiful.


Bedroom 3. Looks like these people have lots of overnight guests. I've always wanted a guest room with two twin beds.


This outdoor kitchen could be even better with some well-placed seating, but I do love the shelter it gives while enjoying the outside air.


Here's the outdoor patio. I'd be happy to sip margaritas out here. Wouldn't you?

And finally -- the pool. Can you see yourself living in this house?

Life's Busyness

I really haven't intended to go AWOL with my blog. There could be many excuses, but the truth is work's been extremely busy.

I am the executive director for the Central Texas chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. I've spent a good 20+ years in the nonprofit sector and found myself at a career crossroads nearly two years ago.

I loved the nonprofit sector but was feeling unchallenged. A good friend and mentor advised me to move to a bigger market. I'd worked as an executive director before but felt that it was a stressful situation, and at the end of the day, I needed to be a wife and a mother. I started pursuing opportunities in headquarters or regional offices of the few national nonprofits based in Dallas.

As I researched nonprofits, I came upon the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF). I didn't know anything at all about this organization, but I liked what I saw and read. Unfortunately, CFF is based in Bethesda, MD, and I didn't want to leave Texas. Now, CFF did have a Texas job available, but it was for an E.D., and it was in Austin. It was the only Austin job I applied for and the only E.D. job I pursued. Fast forward a year and a half, and here I am.

Since my job is so busy, I'm going to write a series of blogs about cystic fibrosis, CFF and my chapter. I've long believed that God puts each one of us on this earth to help people. I realized as a young college student that I was not cut out to go into the mission field or Peace Corps, but I could use my strengths and talents in ways to benefit others. In my case, I parlayed my p.r. and marketing skills into fundraising and event planning and have definitely found my calling.