Interior designer Jaimie Anand, owner of Jaimie Anand Interiors in Austin, had never done anything on this scale before, much less on the timetable the new owners/developers presented. “We started in May of 2017, and were finished in less than four weeks. They had to open up and they needed it done.”
And done it was. The project with this killer timeline was Zilkr on the Park Condominiums, about as close to Zilker Park as one can get — literally steps away from one of Austin’s most popular greenbelt neighborhoods. The former complex-turned-condos project was a mix of studio, one- and two-bedroom units ranging in size from 538 to 1,300 square feet.
Anand enthusiastically dug in, mixing it up with four of the model units using variations on her own contemporary themes, with the other half featuring Western, European and Traditional styles. Her goal was to create a clean, airy ambience in each space that allowed viewers to picture themselves living there, and that meant striking a balance between not enough and too much. The condensed timeline also meant keeping it simple.
“It’s why we used a lot of local places that had stock on hand,” she says, “No time to wait four to six weeks for furniture delivery.” And definitely no time for custom furnishings. Still, Anand looked for distinctive pieces, often using HomeGoods. “A lot of vendors, when they’re low in stock, go ahead and send it to HomeGoods.” Collectic Home was another favorite. “Basically they carry all different vendors in a showroom, and then I ordered a lot online.”
In the dramatic Safari model, the open floor plan is shown to its best advantage by placing a dark espresso elevated dining table and stools from Target® to illustrate how the room doubles as a living/dining space. Behind the sofa is beautiful textured wallpaper from MDC Wallcoverings in Indigo; the dark blue is echoed across the room with textured velvet curtains from HomeGoods in Indigo. A gold finish mirror from Renwil Design hangs above the console table from Collectic Home. The wool area rug is from HomeGoods.
The bedroom continues the drama with a touch of whimsy, courtesy of oversized gold resin lips from Renwil Design (“one of my favorite things to use,” says Anand), perched over the double bed with padded headboard and footboard from Rooms To Go. Walls are painted in off-white Aria, with an accent wall in Flagstone, both by Pittsburgh Paints.
Abstract artwork sets off the corner of the room, where a modern chair from Eurway in white vinyl is right at home under a white-on-white print from HomeGoods. An abstract work in mustard and white from Renwil Design hangs over a white lacquer console table with chrome accents from New Pacific Direct (NPD) Furniture.
In the Transitional Glam model, Anand capitalized on the abundant natural light in a unit that looks out to Barton Skyway. “This is an indoor building,” she says, “with indoor hallways and stairs, so I needed to switch out some of the fixtures to improve the lighting. People don’t often think to change lighting fixtures but it makes a big difference.” The white leather sofas are from Rooms To Go, and the two armless chairs were from the previous owner. The area rug is from HomeGoods.
The sleek, efficient kitchen features black cabinetry that nicely plays off the hardwood style floor. “It’s very long and open,” says Anand, “a good size.” Granite countertops are standard in every unit, as are stainless appliances and track lighting. “I ended up changing out pendants and chandeliers throughout,” using local showroom Lighting Inc. A bistro table and chairs at one end creates a cozy breakfast nook. “It’s a very functional space but it doesn’t tie up the room,” says Anand. “These units are bigger than they look, but it’s the way you size and place your furniture that maximizes the space.”
The Modern Glam model features “a lot of pinks,” but Anand kept that as a surprise element in the ultra-cool bedroom. The queen bed boasts plush bedding, serene on the outside — and neon pink on the inside. “I thought bright pink sheets would be a nice surprise from the predictable grey and white, and people seemed to like it.” The over bed wall art is from Renwil Design and plays off the metallic sheen of the bedding. The tufted ottoman is from TOV Furniture.
Small spaces can be challenging, says Anand, but says the Zilkr project was “very fun, so much fun to experiment with different styles.” The project also let her exercise her downsizing chops, a subject on which she spoke at the Statesman ATX50 Speaker Series in October held at Zilkr on the Park — and a trend that’s here to stay.
“It’s about removing all the clutter, getting rid of things you haven’t seen or used in years. When decorating in a small space, think up instead of out. Use items that serve double duty, like storage ottomans with lids.” A favorite tip is tucking a dresser or vanity out of sight. “I put a six-drawer dresser inside a closet here, with room to still hang clothes above it. Even the smallest units here have walk-in closets. They are a must.”
Jaimie Anand Interiors
512-573-2484 | www.jaimieanand.com