Design Detail

From a farm in Downsville to the Texas capital, Mark Ashby is constantly inspired by the nature around him. He’s an accomplished designer, with a distinguished eye for detail.

article by MARÉ BRENNAN and photography by MARTIN G MEYERS

Tactile and organic, perceptive and respectful, youthful and sage, accomplished and smart. These are words that at once could describe Mark Ashby, the man, as well as the designer’s approach to interiors. Mark’s eponymous interior design firm, Mark Ashby Design, is synonymous with chic, thoughtful interiors sought after by the most discerning of clients from Texas and beyond. Specializing in residential projects, Mark Ashby Design, is based in Austin, Texas and has grown to include ten employees. “We choose to work with clients who are reasonable and kind. They trust us to help them interpret their style and tastes, and our team is really good at that. We always try to be sensitive, caring and dedicated to our projects,” says the exuberant designer who has just celebrated his twenty-third year in the Texas capital.

Mark grew up on a farm in Downsville, Louisiana, where he has been constantly inspired by the nature around him. Ashby’s roots are still firmly rooted on his family farm, as he has recently renovated (read that as in gutted down to the studs) a one-hundred-year-old cookhouse on the property for his own private get-away from the bustle of Austin. The cottage’s façade may look like a humble country outbuilding, but on the inside it speaks the fast paced language of New York, modern and edgy yet naturally so. Mark makes the trek back to his farm cottage every six weeks or so, enjoying the leisurely pace of life in Northeast Louisiana and spending time with his mother and sister’s and brother’s families.

“As a kid, I remember bailing hay with my dad, and I would pick up sticks and create an installation. Early on, my sense of composition was inspired by the things I found in nature on the farm. Now, I want my home design to look natural and collected, not self-conscious,” explains Ashby.

Known for his impressive client presentations, Mark credits Cedar Creek School as a formative part of his command of the English language. While attending the Ruston prep school, Ashby took advantage of journalism and yearbook experiences. “I had the same English teacher from 9th through 12th grade. She had us write so many essays,” remembers Mark. “My clients always comment, saying my writing is integral in setting us apart.”
Ashby attended Louisiana Tech for a year, before transferring to Northeast Louisiana University, known now as University of Louisiana-Monroe. Mark attributes his sociology degree in helping him deal with people and understand subtle nuances. While in college, Ashby began working for the venerable and talented Feather Your Nest owner, the late Sandy Hortman, who loved it, because he could “sell like crazy.” He also worked for the always-polished René Cascio, when she helmed her chic antique and flower shop. Developmentally, this job was a natural extension of his creative interests as a child, fascinated by the interiors of stylish relatives. Through working with René, Ashby was introduced to more iconic style-setters, including René’s late father-in-law, Victor Cascio, and antiques dealer and floral designer, Nick McKinney. “René and Victor indoctrinated me into the Continental style and influence and exposed me to a higher level of taste and sophistication,” credits the designer. “At the same time, I was working for Cathi French(-Roberts), helping her disassemble then re-assemble rooms. Cathi is always changing and re-inventing her interiors. Cathi is my muse. I think about her every day. Her approach to life is so stylish – from her bookshelves to her pressed napkins. Everything she does is done 100 percent.”

“When I moved to Austin in 1995,” adds the youthful designer, “I started working freelance for the nicest shop Austin has ever had. I didn’t know a soul here in Austin, when I moved. Cathi French made it happen for me by introducing me to Patty Hoffpauir, owner of The Garden Room, which featured home furnishings and boutique clothing.” For The Garden Room, Ashby began doing store redesign and fresh merchandising for Hoffpauir, ultimately assisting her with residential decorating projects for her clients. Having Hoffpauir’s connections into West Austin society was like winning the lottery for Austin’s newest, freshest faced designer. One of Ashby’s first big clients was Gay Gaddis, owner of T3 Advertising, a frequent Forbes contributor and author. For Gaddis and her family, Ashby has completed homes in Austin and St. Maarten, a New York City apartment and a ranch in the Texas Hill Country. While his company’s client list reads like a Who’s Who in Texan movers and shakers, the new wave of California’s high tech immigrants to the Lone Star State is definitely finding Mark’s concepts of design and responses to homes irresistible. In addition, his firm currently has projects in the works in Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Aspen and Montana.

Describing his work flow, Ashby says he always starts with the client and responds to the space. While his firm may have 20 to 25 projects juggling at any given time, some may be an extensive reinvention from top to bottom. Others are simply a revisitation of a past design to freshen it and make sure it continues to meet the needs of the family. When working on renovations, Mark adds, “My goal is to create a dream version of the original, to create a home that stays true to the neighborhood and responds to that neighborhood.” The designer frequently advises clients when they are house hunting. “I find that aspect very rewarding,” he adds. “Our approach is to design with an eye toward materials that are meant to last – leather, wood, marble, bronze.”
One of Ashby’s favorite early projects was the complete overhaul of the historic Pease Mansion 14 years ago for a young family. “I love working on a historical residence, being sensitive to its history but elevating it to respond to modern living,” says Mark of the antebellum estate which had been a former Texas Governor’s Mansion. “It was a total honor to be able to work on this home with this family.” Built in 1853, the Pease Mansion predates the current Governor’s Mansion. Mark had input on everything, from driveway material (he chose dirt) to exterior paint colors of subtle white on cream. The project was chronicled in Traditional Home and can be seen online at www.traditionalhome.com. Benjamin Moore Paints are his “go-to” hues. Some of his favorite whites include “White Dove” (“If I could only pick one white ever again, I would pick this one. It’s a true crisp white, but it’s not cold.”); Linen White (“A buttery white.”); China White (“A cold, crisp white.”)

Back in 2011, one of Mark’s friends, a bold, young restauranteur named Larry McGuire bought Jeffrey’s, the epitome of Austin fine dining at the heart of the Ashby’s neighborhood. “I’ve been called the Mayor of Clarksville,” laughs Ashby, who lives right around the corner from the restaurant and is a community fixture. Ashby’s design firm was also tasked to design the sister restaurant to Jeffrey’s, Josephine House, which is located in a renovated Clarksville cottage sharing the same block as Jeffrey’s.

Sitting in a custom designed banquette at Josephine House’s outdoor courtyard in a niche carved out of an existing garage space, Ashby explains that his favorite element in this restaurant’s renovation is the all-white, clean reimagination of the space as a country house or casual country club. Instead of sheetrock walls inside of Josephine House, Mark chose to white wash existing shiplap wood walls. A cool marble bar adds to the ambiance that you have gathered at a friend’s for brunch. “I like that it feels country, definitely rural but refined. Humble but sophisticated,” he adds.

A quick stroll down the block to Jeffrey’s, Ashby reveals his design aesthetic when tasked to renovate the acclaimed restaurant for its new owners. Jeffrey’s had been open since the 1970s, according to Ashby. “I wanted to reimagine the space, yet remain sensitive to Jeffrey’s history as the first fine dining establishment in Austin.” Inspired by 1920’s French Art Deco, Ashby knew materials used had to be hard-wearing but luxurious, able to withstand night after night of guests and “just keep livin’,” in the words of famous Austinite Matthew McConaughey. Jeffrey’s has been described as “The Great Gatsby meets The Royal Tenenbaums,” chic and venerable infused with Austin’s youthful exuberance.

Throughout Jeffrey’s interiors, Mark’s goal was for each seat to become “the most coveted spot, like The Chateau’s draped booths.” In the large dining room, deep jewel-toned ocean-y teal walls of Venetian plaster contrast with Ashby-designed, curving caramel-hued leather-covered banquettes with bronze trimmed backs. Teal mohair velvet lumbar pillows add an extra layer of comfort. Hans Wegner-designed Wishbone chairs in a natural wood and woven rush seats are timeless additions. Limed sycamore built-in cabinetry holds glassware. Dining guests in this room have a clear view of the busy chefs in the kitchen through an opening.

A central dining room features mohair velvet banquettes with caramel leather dining chairs. A graphic patterned carpet sets the tone for a moderne, 1970’s vibe, along with abstract art by John Chamberlyn, which was sourced from Heritage Auctions, and a herringbone-patterned wood ceiling. Large arrangements of fresh flowers in statement urns are an homage to New York City’s venerable La Grenouille. A large and colorful portrait of Johnny Guffer, a long-standing Jeffrey’s waiter, keeps watch over this section of the restaurant which is known as Johnny’s Room.

Mark, with a deep respect for Jeffrey’s storied past, designed the restaurant’s “Napoleon Room” with its adjacent wine cellar as an homage to Marie and Victor Cascio, filling one wall with an installation of Roebuck antlers sourced from the Cascio’s estate, as well as Saarinen chairs with indigo mohair velvet cushions. Other 1970’s references are walls covered in wood installed in a groovy herringbone pattern. The painting of Napoleon is original to the restaurant.

In the bar area, navy mohair velvet tufted banquettes in the manner of an Art Deco-inspired Chesterfield were customer designed by Ashby, along with Art Deco chairs and petite sofas covered in velvet as well. Small Saarinen tables with marble tops help delineate conversational groupings, especially near a cozy stone fireplace surround. Custom designed BDDW barstools and chairs in caramel leather beckon for patrons to linger longer at the sleek bar.

Even the restaurant’s restrooms feature sycamore walls which are painted and dyed in a painstakingly, complicated process. Ashby is a designer on whom details are never lost and are meant to unfold like sweet surprises. His spaces are feel seamlessly interconnected, yet remain intimate and familiar.

Mark and Tony Senecal’s own Clarksville neighborhood home was built in 1947 by an Army Corps of Engineer architect and doubles as a bomb shelter, with a 7 foot deep foundation with a unique 2 foot crawl space beneath the floor. Modern, resilient and stacked with style is just part of Ashby’s DNA.

For travelers who make their way to Austin, Mark suggests trips to Town Lake, now known as Lady Bird Lake, hitting one of the many trails around town and taking a dip in Zilker Park’s spring-fed Barton Springs Pool, which stays a constant 68 degrees. Also on Mark’s list is the new Public Library, designed by Blake Plato, which features exposed catwalks through the whole building, and you can check out 50 books at a time! On the food scene, Mark suggests Guero’s Tacos as it’s so authentically Austin. “Fonda San Miguel has the best interior Mexican food, it’s been open for 35 years, and like Victor Cascio, the owner is there every night,” says Mark. Rounding out the eateries for an authentic Austin foodie experience is Juan in a Million, known for their taco. By George is a high-end designer clothing boutique, also owned by Larry McGuire, that should be part of the Austin experience.

For the design-minded, Ashby suggests the following books to add to your nightstand reading list: “Peggy Guggenheim: The Shock of the Modern” which explores the 20th century’s heroine of modern art and “Loving Frank,” a novel about Frank Lloyd Wright and his illicit love affair with Mamah Borthwick. Ashby, who recently toured Unity Temple in Oak Park, Illinois with his partner Tony Senecal and son, describes how he is inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright and his view of the natural world. Although he had toured many other FLW structures, Unity Temple, ranks as his favorite tour. “Unity Temple is a revolutionary building,” says Mark.
For more information about Mark Ashby Design or to see his incredible design portfolio, please go to www.markashbydesign.com.