Southern Living Idea House
Southern Living® Idea House
the 2011 idea house
This year, Ballard teamed up with Southern Living to outfit several stunning spaces in their new 2011 Idea House at Escondido in Horseshoe Bay, Texas. Hugging an inlet of LBJ Lake, the Mediterranean-inspired villa uses walls of warm, rough-hewn Texas sandstone and weathered wood to embrace the spectacular natural surroundings. Indoor and outdoor rooms flow from one to the other in an effortless blending of open living spaces.
“This year’s Idea House is all about relaxed living by the water,” explains Texas designer, Marcus Mohon, the decorating force behind all of the home’s interior and exterior spaces. “So I used natural textures in both the finishes and in the decorating.”
Marcus created beautiful watercolor renderings to help us visualize the space. With drawings in hand, he visited Ballard months before the house was built to select the products to be featured exclusively in the Casita (see the guesthouse pictured below), and in the loggia and terraces surrounding the pool.
q&a with marcus mohon
Marcus Mohon is the managing principal of Mohon-Imber Interiors, an Austin-based firm specializing in residential and hospitality interiors that are warm, elegant and approachable. Marcus and his business partner, noted architect Michael G. Imber, designed and decorated this year’s Southern Living Idea House at Escondido in Horseshoe Bay, Texas. The firm’s work has been featured in Western Interiors, Ville & Casali, and Coastal Living.
BD: The house reminds us of a Tuscan villa.
MM: I would call it Mediterranean with Southern European influences. We wanted it to feel like it could be dropped down in the South of France or Southern Italy where the living is relaxed and easy. Generally, the climate in the Austin area is very similar to the Mediterranean.
BD: You used several Ballard pieces in the kitchen and dining area. Why those?
MM: The kitchen/dining room area is where everyone ends up hanging out, so you need enough comfortable places to sit. We used a pair of Brockton benches in the dining room. And this great little metal hexagonal occasional table (Padova) next to them. I loved the upholstered benches because they soften the dining room and make it feel more livable. Their also great seating for a party. The little table is just convenient. It’s not in the way, but it holds everything you need. They both add so much atmosphere. We put a Suzanne Kasler linen on the bench. It’s a beautiful fabric, so it goes back to the idea of elegant living, but it’s also a perfect natural texture for this setting.
BD: You used lots of natural textures and finishes throughout the house.
MM: I used natural fibers and materials wherever I could. And if we used synthetic fabrics outside, we wanted them to look so good that they could pass for natural fibers. In my mind, the greenest products are the ones that have been used for thousands of years. For building, we went with plaster and stone rather than sheetrock, and wood floors, because they all endure.
For fabrics, I wanted natural fibers like linens and cotton velvets. They’re classic, timeless materials that are beautiful in any setting.
BD: You used Ballard products exclusively for the Casita and for the terrace and loggia surrounding the pool.
MM: The Casita is the home’s guesthouse and it’s a cozy 400 square feet. If we had put a traditional bed in there, it would have been just a bedroom. We chose the Ballard daybeds because they could function as beds and as sofas, turning the room into a flexible space where it could be a living/lounge area or a bedroom.
Everything we chose for the Casita had a strong graphic profile—the Sofia Chair, the Daybeds, the Aiden Serving Table with its dark cement top and “X” stretchers, the Eldridge Pendant—even the ceramic garden seat. We could have upholstered everything in muslin and the painted the walls white and it still would have worked because of the strong profiles and shapes Ballard does.
The texture and fabric choices are all icing on the cake. You spend a lot of time making a cake, but the icing is the first thing everyone sees. We used Ballard Sunbrella® fabrics inside, too, because the Casita is poolside and wanted everything to be durable. People have been going crazy over the burlap panels with the crewelwork because they embody what this house is all about—elegant, relaxed living by the lake.
People love the finish on the candle sconces. And I think for the price point, they’re great. They look authentic and add a touch of old world Italian elegance.
BD: Even though the space is small, you made it feel like there’s plenty of room.
MM: Since it is such a small space, I divided it up into four zones depending on how they might be used throughout the day. Then I picked things that spoke to me viscerally to fit each part. If I saw something I loved, I made it work. Two things to remember when you’re decorating: #1—Don’t get hung up on is whether something you do is right or wrong according to someone else’s external rules and #2—don’t waste time asking yourself what other people are doing right now. The basic questions to start with are: “Do you love it?” and “Do you think it works with everything else?”
BD: The house rambles and wraps around a series of walled courtyards, terraces and gardens.
MM: Yes, they form the backdrop for the interior of the house—they are your view. Those outdoor spaces are really exterior rooms, so they’re furnished with the same approach we used for the interior rooms.
For example, when you go out to the pool, you’re not just going to a pool. You’re going to an outdoor living space. I didn’t want to the furniture to look like poolside equipment. That’s why we have upholstered chaises, and lots of throw pillows and outdoor panels.
BD: You chose Suzanne Kasler’s new all-weather wicker for the pergola just outside the family room.
MM: The finish is fantastic. A lot of all-weather wicker can look “plastic-y” and tends to be really, really dark brown or golden tan. Suzanne’s has a great taupe color that can shift to any environment. It can go warm or it can go cool. It’s versatile and really beautiful at the same time. Versatile sometimes can be bland and boring, but this is not. And it also sits like real furniture, so you can ease right out to it from the family room—essentially doubling the size of your room.
BD: For the loggia, you went with the Capri natural rattan chairs. What drew you to that collection?
MM: They sit like a club chair, so they’re comfortable enough for relaxing by the fireplace. And I also didn’t want all the outdoor furniture to look exactly alike. The natural rattan is a great texture and scale for the space. They’re also simple in form, so they add a youthful, modern feeling. That’s one of the things I like about Ballard—it’s transitional, so it’s not your grandmother’s traditional wicker furniture.
BD: Talk about the fabrics you used in the outdoor spaces.
MM: A lot of stone we used for the house’s exterior is warm in tone, so we accented with warm creams and yellows. The fabrics we chose for the pillows went with all the colors in the stone without matching it perfectly. As a result, it’s looks fresh and sunny, but with the sand colored upholstery, it’s very cool at the same time—not heavy on the eye.
I love the stripes and the batik fabric together and there’s a little bit of taupe in there, too. Even though we had a ton of outdoor spaces, I didn’t feel the need to go with tons of different pillows. I wanted two fabrics that look great together, so you can combine them in any way without worrying about where they go. With all the different shapes and sizes—squares, neck rolls and bolsters—you can combine them all in any combination and they all work.
BD: Before the Idea House, you hadn’t really worked with Ballard Designs. Now that you’ve experienced it for yourself, what do you think?
MM: What really surprised me about Ballard were the finishes. They obviously have taken a lot of time to develop them. We have a Ballard light fixture above the kitchen island and it’s amazing. The iron finish on it is really good.
The finish can make or break a piece. And to get great finishes at good price points is really encouraging. This house may become somebody’s permanent residence, but there’s a good chance it might be someone’s second home. And with the way Ballard does things, it doesn’t look like you compromised.
meet the designer
Marcus Mohon
Marcus is the managing principal of Mohon-Imber Interiors, a firm specializing in residential and hospitality interiors that are gracefully elegant, warmly approachable and distinctly geometric. With projects coast to coast, Mohon-Imber is based in Austin, where the South tumbles into the Southwest. The Texas location provides a unique perspective for interiors that combine the urban and rural, the elegant and humble, the refined and rough-hewned, affording the opportunity to impose beautiful comfort on genuine haciendas, urban high-rises, and coastal cabins.
Marcus and his business partner, noted architect Michael G. Imber, established Mohon-Imber Interiors in 2002, based on a shared philosophy that architecture, decoration, and furnishings should work seamlessly together. The firm’s work has been featured regionally, nationally, and internationally in publications such as Western Interiors, Ville & Casali, and Coastal Living.
A native Texan, Marcus has an economics degree from Baylor University. After working for an international relief organization, he studied interior design at the University of Texas at Austin. Because of his love for the Texas Hill Country, Marcus stayed in Austin to begin his career and lives there now with his wife, Autumn, and their four children.
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This house is incredible! Love everything about it! My dreamhouse!!!
Magnificent home! Luxury Ballard design and classy Southern Living all the way!!!.
What a beautiful house! I love it! So relaxing yet elegant.
What’s not to love?! When can I move in????
Very nice! I would love a home designed by your team. Lovely!!!
The house is exquisite!It is definitely comfortable, yet refined. The absolute perfect marriage of style and design.
Houses in this area are beautiful. We just returned last night from Horseshoe Bay which is about 45 Minutes from Austin, Tx. We are looking to purchase a home here. Great job!
I love..love ..love this look..I love Ballard..I have the perfect house
to decorate..that is for sure..
I refer this site to all of my clients..I am in realesate so all new
clients need decorating tips..I refer this site to everyone…
Linda
I love all the things you have and on line and catalog. Having a home designed by you all would be dream come true.
I appreciated the warmth and relaxed feeling put across by the design style. We have a hectic life and the idea put across that a room can be restful and warm is a jewel to be appreciated. Thank you for your ideas of southern living.
Love to move in. Love your designs.
Loved that the room, though heavy stone, was not filled with things on the walls and endless knick knacks..just simple with classic lines. Congrats on letting the stone refine the design, keeping things natural, and yet very comfy..you just want to sit and enjoy!
I want to sit right there with a glass of wine!
Dear Ballard –
We live in TX and I can’t figure out where this home is located. It may be near us – I’m not sure. We’re north of Dallas. Is there an option to get directions to the home on your web site? Thank you. Kathy
absolutly wonderful
Love it! When can you come decorate my home?
MAGNIFICENT
We live on Lake LBJ and have seen it being built. It looks like the
designer put a lot of personality in it. There are many homes here on
the lake that are designer homes and I can’t wait to see this one.
amazing. looks like a vacation home
would love it to be mine
Many folks can design and decorate to achieve a beautiful LOOK, but this FEELS just right too… That’s Talent.
Refreshing simplicity!
Enchanting to imagine living there with so much light and beauty.
I would love to have some southern charm here in Jersey. Beautiful!
Great house. I wish my home looked 1/2 as good. Let’s give it a try. All I need to to decorate with Southern Living furnature.
When I looked at the blue print of the 2011 Idea House it simply took my breath away. Being a long time admirer of Ballard Design, I cannot wait to see the house “come to life.” The perfect combination where comfort meets chic!
how can we get those same drapery panels? I don’t see them on the website.
Love it!
The stone work is wonderful…would love to have a home like this one!
I toured the home over the holiday weekend. It is more magnificent than the pictures show! Great job.
The just-right touches of cozy elegance makes me want to copy (the greatest form of flattery) the look and enjoy a staycation. *sigh*
Too cute…:)
I never thoughtI’d leave New England BUT to live in this house….WoW my bags arepacked
What a great team, Ballard and Southern Living.
AMAZING!!!
Great decorating. I’d love you to decorate my new house located on an island.
Love the room. waiting to see if I might be the lucky winner. Could use new furniture badly.
The ultimate rustic elegance in an awesome Texas location. Beautiful and inspiring designs of comfortable refinement leaving this Texas resident full of envy!
Bottle of Wine and company is all that is needed to make this house a Home.
Love it!! Love it!! Come decorate! I’m ready!!
STILL WATCHING FOR THE 12-TIMBERS WALL PANELS??? WHEN WILL YOU BE SHOWING THEM???? THANKS
What a dream come true that would be!
peace and serenity is the cornerstone of this home featured….team, please come and update my shambles of a home!
Omgosh! So beautiful! I {love} everything….Willow House with Nanci Burt
This is looks beautiful, comfortable and most important, inviting. I absolutely love it.
I can feel all my troubles floating away just looking at it.
I could look at these images for hours. So inspirational!
How beautiful and relaxing looking home. My house would love a make over by your terrific team.
Understated elegance, comfortable living, Couldn’t find anything I’d like to change. Job Well done on all levels.
Love the blend of styles! Simple, rustic and classic at the same time….I’d NEVER tire of sitting out here! Bravo!!!
I love the simplicity, I’m ready to move in!
I love the warmth and the feeling that the place has history, plus the tranquility of the restful colors.
Horseshoe Bay is beautiful!!! I love this house–could be very happy there!!!
Thank you for using the beloved Austin Stone in this house, it makes it feel like “home”!!
The house is just beautiful; so peaceful and uplifting. I have always admired Ballard for their design savvy and ability to stay current with the popular trends while staying grounded in timeless elegance. You are an inspiration to me and I’m so glad I am on your mailing list!
Beautiful…we are ready for a redo!
Would love to have a room just like that. Gorgoes!!!!! Great designer.
reallly realllllly nice
Ballard always does a room so well down to smallest detail. I have several Ballard pieces in my home and they are so easy to build upon. A great value for those who want to decorate their home on a budget.
I love your lovely designs and very intrigued with how you decorate each setting.
Love the Capri Collection! Immediately tried to order, but very disappointed that the love seat is no longer available
Two of my very favorites teamed up together. What can I expect but perfection!
Its beautiful the southern living love the look!
The house looks beautiful! I’m trying to get my house to look like it is out of a magazine.
Where can I get the horse print??
Loreli: The print is going to be available in our August 2011 catalog. You should be able to view it online the last week in July.
The Style Studio Team
What color is the blue on the exterior doors? I love that look!
We built a Southern Living featured home several years ago and I drooled over the way it was decorated. I used a decorator for several rooms but it doesn’t compare to the “Ballard” style. Love you guys!!!
Courtney: The Blue Exterior Trim is called Cobalt Blue and is from Marvin Windows. That was the inspiration for the colors within the house.
The Style Studio Team
Beautiful and Calming! I love the driftwood mirror…is that available?
The lighting fixture I’m looking for is actually shown on the Q and A page. Where can I get this? Is it Ballard Designs. I’m looking for a light and would love to have this one.
What an absolutely perfect combination – Ballard Designs and Southern Living!! My husband and I just bought a new home and those drapes would be PERFECT!! Where are they available for sale??
Dear Sharon: The mirror will be available in our August/September Catalog and available online the last week in July.
The Style Studio Team
Amanda: The Chandelier is called the Villard de Lans Chandelier and will be available in the August/September Catalog and on our website the last week in July.
The Style Studio Team
Love this house, perfect blend of rustic, serene, and chic! Are the draperies the “essential Ballard panels” with stencils or are these available yet?
We just visited the 2011 Idea House yesterday on our way back from a Horseshoe Bay getaway. It is truly stunning!
The drapery panels are called Burlap Crewel Damask Collection and it will be available in the August/September catalog.
Absolutely my dream! Beautiful!
Ballard is and has been for years my FAVORITE! Love, love, love it.
This is just fabulous! Hope it becomes mine.Lois
Building (ourselves) a French style home on the shore of Lake Ontario, NY (les petit bijou sur la lac..the little jewel on the lake)…in about a year we’ll be ready to decorate…looking to your designs for my complete inspiration. This is it!!!
I would love to know the paint color/mfg. used for the walls…the “seafoam” color. I have been searching forever for a color like this for my dining and living room and haven’t been able to find the right color.
Thank you!
What color blue is that in the picture with the isabella daybed amd the horse picture?
Beautiful, the prefect color blue. This is my dream room.
What is the beautiful blue color used on the walls of the guesthouse? Love it all!
My Husband and I built one of the Southern Living Homes almost twenty years ago, and have enjoyed every minute of it. I love Ballard Designs, and have used their designs to redocorate several areas of my home this year. This home is fabulous, love the simple, but elegant design.
The color is Waterscape SW6470 from Sherwin Williams.
Kari: We do have a taupe umbrella that may work well. As you probably know the teak outdoor furniture will eventually turn gray over time. We also think you could add some red pillows for a “pop” of color.
The Style Studio Team
Transports me back to the Tuscan countryside…timeless design and a slice of heaven.
Loved the color scheme, and would appreciate it if I could get the brand of paint and color used in the living room of the casita.
Much Thanks,
Virginia
everything is beautiful….inside and out……BUT the blue trim on the house did not work…..it was as if WHOMEVER just picked their favorite color and used it.
I really love the glicee horse print.
How can you lose with both SL and Ballard’s? Wonderful house.
Love the house; however, wouldn’t want to live in TX.
Can you tell me the color of the mattress cover on the 2 daybeds in the Casita room? Also, what is the color of the paint in the same room?
Visited the house in August-so beautiful!
Hill Country, Ballard products and Southern Living. Classic and inviting. Would love to visit the house. Where are the directions?
Just had a spinal fusion! If I won this house, I would crawl from Florida to Texas to live in the world’s most perfect house!Thank you all for your talent and creativity! Blessings to all involved with this masterpiece!
Absolutely beautiful. . . but, I can’t imagine sitting outside on this patio without some covering from our hot Texas sun. Even an umbrella would hardly be enough protection.
The bedside lamps should be about 2/3 the height of the end table. This is just a rule of thumb and is not etched in stone.
The Style Studio Team
I’m so grateful to live in my dream home at this stage of my life; however I can’t help but admire very much the beautiful designs of Marcus Mohon. I do have the magazine, and I enjoy every minute of seeing the beautifully decorated rooms.