This article was written by Megan Stacy, and first appeared in the San Antonio Express-News on July 11, 2010.
SPACES: From candy factory to living space (2nd of 3 posts)
A row of cowboy hats on the headboard in the master bedroom is a decidedly Texan touch for a bed neatly made up with throw pillows upholstered in the Union Jack flag.
“The Allegas purchased the loft sight-unseen while abroad but wanted to move into a home ready for living. They hired Julie Risman of The Inside Story Design and began what Risman calls a ‘digital design relationship.’
“’They wanted something easy, fun and modern,’ she says. By the time the Allegas moved in, 80 percent of the home design was complete, all conducted via e-mail and phone calls. Risman calls the design ‘an homage to where they’ve been and where they come from.’ For example, the living room is anchored by a contemporary burnt orange leather couch, which reminds the couple of their connection to the University of Texas at Austin, where they met.
for more information on interior design for lofts, contact Julie Risman
An art piece from France hangs in the dining room.
“A black leather lounge chair reclines in one corner beneath a picture of Philip’s favorite London bridge and of a poster advertising the New Orleans Jazz Festival. The staircase to the basement level is lined with framed Fiesta posters, each from a year representing a milestone: Philip’s first Fiesta, the year they fell in love with the Southtown area, the year they moved to San Antonio.
“The couple’s 4-year-old son, Austin, has a bedroom in the basement. The room is whimsically decorated with furniture painted with images from The Adventures of Tintin, a cartoon series wildly popular in Europe. Having experienced different ways of living on their travels, the Allegas are happy to have landed in an urban space with a vibrant social community.”
…to be continued…
