My Houzz: Upcycled Boho Style in an Austin Townhouse

Rachel Anderson is a big fan of upcycling. The blogger and jewelry maker gets creative with less in her family's Austin, Texas, townhouse rental, which she shares with her husband, Scott, and their toddler, Ruby. In fact, her online shop, aptly called One Man's Trash, is an ode to recycled materials.

"I always brake for thrift stores and flea markets," she says. "It's not unusual to see me and Scott hauling old wood beams and junked furniture around our neighborhood." Incorporating secondhand finds and a playful sense of color, their rental home is a comfortable showcase for the couple's eclectic DIY style.

Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Rachel and Scott Anderson, daughter Ruby (age 3) and their Golden Labrador, Benny
Location: Austin, Texas
Size: 1,350 square feet; 2 bedrooms, 1½ bathrooms

This cozy seating area is centered around a stone hearth and built-in bookcases. Rachel recently painted the walls gray, added her DIY artwork and organized the library by color. "I start shuffling and changing and adding until things come together in a beautiful and often surprising way," she says.

Wall paint: Fashion Gray, Behr


This was what the space looked like before the Andersons moved in.


AFTER: The townhouse has an open-concept living and dining area, and tile floors that are ideal for the family's dog.

Almost every piece of furniture seen in this photo was either procured at a secondhand store or salvaged from Dumpsters, including the upholstered sofa that Rachel painted cobalt blue.


Rachel's sofa makeover used less than a quart of paint and cost just $25. She followed this online tutorial. "Our sofa was a shiny brocade, and I used the glossiest paint I could get," she says.

Using a stiff paintbrush and an equal mix of blue paint and the textile medium Delta Creamcoat, Rachel pressed the paint down firmly into the weave. She recommends using a flat paint for cotton finishes and misting the upholstery with water before brushing on the color. "You want an almost watercolor-like wash to bleed into your upholstery," she says. "It's as if you are staining or dying it, rather than coating it."

Sofa paint: Dark Cobalt Blue, Behr


Scott works as a first-grade teacher and has lots of practice keeping kids organized. He recently replaced the coffee table with an upholstered ottoman that stores their daughter's playthings. "If teaching has taught me anything about little kids, it's that they have to have a clear system for putting things away," he says. "Too many choices equals a mess, and everything needs a specific place. Then it becomes a game and empowers them to take care of their space."


A painted front door opens directly onto a staircase that leads to the home's two bedrooms. An original painting created by Rachel hangs in the foyer, while a vintage wall sconce hangs above a tufted thrift shop armchair. Rachel made the throw pillow with some scrap fabric. "I'm a sucker for vintage and never met a brass sconce I didn't like," she says.

Wall paint: Fashion Gray; door paint: Botanical Green, both by Behr


A 1960s-era console displays favorite books and vases beyond the reach of the couple's toddler. "Sometimes I think toddlers are the archnemesis of decorating. But realistically, with Ruby, I just can't have all that temptation sitting around; it's not safe," says Rachel. "Everything in our house keeps moving up, so the top 4 feet of our house is beautifully decorated."

The painting on the bottom right-hand corner of the dining room wall is a self-portrait by Rachel.

Blue lamp base: Target


A gallery of prints, vintage art and original paintings hangs above the dining table. Rachel is an avid collector and enjoys changing out the art when the mood strikes. "I love sumptuous bohemian patterns, but I also really appreciate clean lines, symmetry and some traditional elements," she says.

Wall paint: Fashion Gray, Behr; chairs: Stefan, Ikea


The Andersons counteract the lack of light in their galley-style kitchen with a strategically placed mirror. The mirror serves as a reflective light source in the darkest corner of the house.

Rachel covered the existing fluorescent light with an upturned basket-style lampshade found at a local thrift store. The natural basket weave casts a bright, warm glow on kitchen surfaces.


When the Andersons moved into their home, the backyard was empty except for a concrete step and a big tree. They added an outdoor seating area and a playspace for Ruby, shown here. A kid-size table and easel provide plenty of room for projects and imaginative play.


Ruby's sage-green bedroom has a mix of furniture purchased from Craigslist and thrift stores. Scott painted the bed a complementary bubble gum pink and suspended a gauze canopy overhead.

The chicken poster above the dresser was created for the 2012 Minnesota State Fair by Rachel's stepfather, Joe Heffron. Scott's first-grade students painted the surrounding artworks for Ruby when she was born.


The master bedroom has a boho vibe, achieved with saturated hues, ornate textiles and low lighting. Rachel created the makeshift canopy using a lacy piano shawl.

Wall paint: Spiced Plum, Behr


The bedroom includes a little office area for Rachel, where she can work on her blog, Beauty In Bits, and tend to her jewelry pieces and her Etsy shop, One Man's Trash. Rachel's original artwork hangs above the desk.

Purple file holders: Kassett, Ikea


Ruby, Rachel and Scott put playing princess on hold for a family photo with their dog, Benny. "My home is a place for self-expression," Rachel says.

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