Long-Distance Lifeline

June 27, 2024

Words by Christine Emming | Photos by Kieran Reeves

A local designer reinvents a short-term rental property in Austin as a soulful, masculine retreat—and quickly.

hen Andy Fromm relocated from Kansas City to Austin, Texas, the market was at a peak, making it difficult to find a local designer. Andy had previously worked with Kansas City-based designer Andrea Glinn of Glinn Interiors on a brand-new residence in Aspen, Colorado, and reached out to her again. For Andrea, who regularly hosts client meetings on Zoom, working on long-distance projects is an everyday affair, making her an ideal fit for the venture. Once reconnected, Andy and Andrea resumed their easy rapport to expedite this extensive interior redesign project.

The five-year-old house had been furnished for use as an Airbnb rental. Andy had no furniture and needed all the basics, but he also wanted someone to take the time to find some special pieces. Along with the usual series of Zoom calls for this project, Andrea traveled to Austin multiple times to ensure the client could procure custom, local pieces for this home.

“The challenge with this project was the timeline,” Andrea says. “The client wanted to move into the home six weeks after purchasing the house, and every single item in the home had to be sourced—he was bringing nothing with him.”

Since the project’s time frame was so short, Andrea was intentional about ensuring the necessities were move-in ready. Andy explains, “I wanted all the furniture for Thanksgiving with my boys, which was only five months after I bought the house and three-and-a-half months after I moved in.”

On one project-focused weekend trip, Andrea and Andy completed 70 percent of the decisions—all before he even owned the house.

Four functional guest bedrooms with Tuft & Needle beds ensure that Andy’s three children—and his guests—always feel comfortable. Here, in the primary bedroom, the antique, cerused oak desk from The Renner Project softens the impact of the masculine features with its feminine curves.

The designer used local Austin, Texas, fabricator, Yucca Stuff, to make a custom coffee table as the living room focal point. Kansas City-based Museo furnished the sofas, chairs and side tables.

The former Airbnb is outfitted with simple forms for an easygoing lifestyle at the empty-nester stage.

This page: The family room upstairs is a shared space, with a few pops of color in the art, pillows and skin tones of the RS Barcelona foosball table with diversified players.

“That was efficient, fun and a little crazy,” Andy says, “but I’m thrilled with how it turned out.”

While a few custom items had longer lead times, Andrea sourced as much as possible to be ready in time, assuring her client a fully functional home by move-in day.

Given Andy’s preference for natural materials used in a modern way, Andrea made a point of incorporating key pieces from local artisans. The custom coffee table by Yucca Stuff—an Austin fabricator—is similar to a smaller table in its furniture line, which Andrea wanted to make larger. So, she reversed the materials, creating a wood top with a stone base instead of a stone top with a wood base.

“Local Texas limestone is full of fossils and brings so much life and interest to the space,” Andrea says.

The duo also purchased pieces for the primary bedroom from Yucca Stuff, including custom headboards and a chest for the foot of the bed.

Because Andy loves pottery, he and Andrea met with local potter Samantha Heligman at Settle Ceramics to buy ceramics for daily use. Linen textiles by Libeco knit the rooms together with warm, natural tones. The capstone of the primary bedroom—the cerused oak desk made in 1940s-era France—is a curved focal point.

Andrea also accounted for her client’s lifestyle as an empty-nester who mostly lives on the first floor.

“I have three boys [who] I always want to have room for,” Andy says. “And when company comes, the living space and bedrooms upstairs are tons of fun.”

The house had great bones, but its Airbnb vibe felt a bit soulless. Some simple touches—from custom sheers that softened the light to a bespoke ceramic chandelier over the dining room table—easily warmed the whole space. Andrea furnished easygoing and cozy poolside seating and a fun upstairs living area to create multiple hangout spaces perfect for when Andy’s boys or other guests are in town. The custom foosball table from RS Barcelona diversifies the team rosters with women and people with a range of skin tones, adding yet another touch of whimsy.

Interior Designer: Glinn Interiors, @andreaglinninteriordesign