At Home in a 1930s Spanish Revival with Photographer Laura Murray

Rip & Tan: Whether in terms of style or simply the feeling it evokes, how would you describe your home? 

Laura Murray: Our home is Spanish style, built in the 1930s. There were so many authentic elements of the past that I loved and wanted to incorporate. My goal for the renovation was to echo aspects of the past but balance with some modernity. The project was an artful exploration of deciding which elements to keep authentic to its era and which to update. 

When I think of my home, the features that most stand out to me are the arched doorways, Spanish tile roof, original hardwood floors, plaster stairs, sculpted light fixtures, solid wood beams, and soothing tones & textures. It’s a place for the noise and bustle of family life, yet also for stillness and introspection.

Rip & Tan: In what ways did your photographer’s eye influence the way your home turned out?

Laura Murray: I have always been fascinated by light, composition, and form both in 2D (photographs) and in 3D (with interior design). At all stages of the renovation, I’d come over with my camera in hand because taking pictures helped me to best visualize the final space.

I was always looking for how things felt as you moved from one room to the next in our home. Photography is a beautiful medium for storytelling, but so is interior design. I wanted there to be a common thread woven from room to room in the design, a story of our home and the people who live in it, both past and present. 

Rip & Tan: Can you walk us through a few of the highlights of the design process?

Laura Murray: I stumbled upon this home on Zillow in the midst of the pandemic and the photos were quite terrifying. It had been neglected for over a decade and there was mold, asbestos, structural issues, a leaking roof, burst pipes, windows broken and covered entirely in vines, and a yard full of weeds. Needless to say, it needed a lot of work.

At the time, we had zero intentions of moving and were not in the market for a new home. But something about this home was calling me! All I could see was potential and the bones of the home were beautiful.

There were two things that I focused on during the design process. The first was light – I wanted the light to magically dance through each room, varying with the time of day/year. However, initially, it lacked abundant natural light, so we addressed this in the renovation. And the second was that I wanted to choose finishes that made sense for the home. It was built in the 1930’s and while it needed a fresh update, I always kept its original era in mind. 

When designing, I would sit in each room with piles of samples and paint chips and think through all the options. I kept the design cohesive with a master doc containing images of all the potential floor plan layouts, inspiration imagery, swatches, fixtures, and decor that I was considering. I would move the pieces around and around until it felt right.

Rip & Tan: From form to functional necessities, what were your interior priorities?

Laura Murray: Here are a few of my interior priorities:

-Installed two walls of floor-to-ceiling windows in the kitchen to let in lots of light.

-Removed the room directly above the entrance to make walking in free more spacious and grand.

-Large kitchen/dining area where our family could gather.

-Bold marble for the principal bath.

-Divided one big room off the garage into two (a mudroom and a playroom) to better utilize the space.

-Plaster finish on the staircase with an iron railing.

-Tones of cream, brown, black, and beige.

-Soft curtains everywhere.

Rip & Tan: From cozy accents to tabletop décor, everything feels so intentional. Do you have any favorite pieces? Any sourcing stories or sentimental attachments to them?

Laura Murray: Thank you! I sourced some of my favorite pieces at the Marburger Farm Antique Show in Round Top, Texas. I traveled there with friends and we antiqued for days. Fun memories with great people!

Rip & Tan: Where do you find yourself spending most of your time when you’re home? Why do you think that is?

Laura Murray: We have three young (and very active boys) so we spend a lot of time out in our yard with lacrosse sticks, baseball bats, tennis balls, bicycles, basketballs, etc. My kids want to do all the sports all the time! 

But when I have a quiet moment to myself, I love to read. In the wintertime, I’ll cozy up on the couch in front of the fireplace. There’s something so peaceful about being by the fireplace once the kids are asleep with a candle burning and a good book.

Rip & Tan: In the context of time spent at home, what does living well mean to you?

Laura Murray: Living well at home means being in a space that can fuel your inspiration, give you energy, make memories with loved ones, and allow for quietness to reset after each day.