Inside a Texas Lake House Where Serenity Reigns Supreme

Rip & Tan: We’d love to know a bit more about your journey to interior design? What about the craft most inspires or fulfills you? 

Marie Flanigan: I have always had a deep love for design and interiors. As a child, I was constantly rearranging and repainting my childhood bedroom. I’m so grateful for my parents, as they were very supportive—even when I chose a lime green and black palette. Experimentation is key!

I went to college and graduated in architecture. After graduation, I spent years working as a classically trained architect, but always found myself wanting to take projects further into the smallest details.  I wanted to have a role in choosing finishes both hard and soft. So, five years later, after getting my MBA in marketing, I started Marie Flanigan Interiors as a one-woman team and today we’re a team of 20 women working on projects from The Hamptons to Houston, Jackson Hole and Los Angeles. It’s been a wild and rewarding ride continually pushing me as an entrepreneur and designer!

Rip & Tan: How would you describe your signature style? What defines a Marie Flanigan home? 

Marie Flanigan: My architecture roots run very deep, so I’m always working to streamline interiors and structures to create beautiful harmony. A modern take on traditional interiors, my firm’s interior design style typically incorporates sophisticated uses of color, texture, and light accented by natural finishes and a nuanced palette

Rip & Tan: For this specific home, what were the client needs? What was the vision? 

Marie Flanigan: This home on Lake Travis, just outside of Austin, Texas, is a generational vacation home. The homeowners wanted a place to relax and unwind, while feeling enveloped and surrounded by nature. Inspired by Belgian modernism, our goal was to make the house feel like a part of the landscape with sweeping views, natural textures including limestone, reclaimed oak and copper, deconstructed finishes, along with a muted color palette.

Rip & Tan: Each of your completed projects features an impressive and truly unique array of art—how often are you sourcing these for clients? What’s your approach to incorporating a client’s pre-existing piece? 

Marie Flanigan: Our firm always starts by assessing our clients existing collection and determining what needs to be added, to help the home feel curated. We want to incorporate pieces that combine both meaning and value and also add texture to the home by combining different types of media and sculpture. The following are a few of my favorite galleries in Houston: Josh Pazda Hiram Butler, Kathy Dimmitt Contemporary Art, Laura Rathe, and McClain Gallery. We also have an array of favorite artists from around the country that we commission and shop from. 

Rip & Tan: Whether a finish, feature, or piece of furniture—is there an element you’re most obsessed with in this space? 

Marie Flanigan: I am so drawn to how primitive and raw the home feels. Each finish feels incredibly intentional and highlights beauty in its purest form. The sink in the powder room was a personal favorite that was sourced in Europe. We started with a single block and had it carved so that the custom sink to fit the room perfectly.

Rip & Tan: Not one to shy away from color, this is perhaps one of the more understated palettes in your portfolio. How did you bring texture and intrigue into the space in other ways?

Marie Flanigan: Our team pulled the color palette inspiration from the natural surroundings. We felt like the exterior landscape was the perfect setting for this earthy palette. This specific area of Texas is called the Texas Hill Country aptly named for its tall rugged hills of limestone and granite. We took full advantage of bringing the outdoors in with touches of natural splendor like 20” wide plank white oak floors, reclaimed blue stone counters, a split faced limestone fireplace surround and other hand crafted rustic elements.

Rip & Tan: Can you share any tips for styling a home that feels elevated and well-edited yet still lived-in?

Marie Flanigan: Incorporating natural textures and finishes into a space elevates its aesthetic by infusing a sense of organic warmth and authenticity. The nuanced variations in materials such as wood, stone, and linen contribute to a well-edited design, creating a harmonious and balanced environment. I love to embrace minimalism and allow the natural finishes to feel like works of art.  These natural elements not only evoke a welcoming ambiance, but also connect occupants to the surrounding environment, fostering a tranquil and timeless atmosphere.

Rip & Tan: What are some of your go-to strategies for grounding an interior? 

Marie Flanigan: My first step in grounding a room is through its color story and materials. I love giving the materials a moment to introduce themselves, creating interest and recognition as we weave the same finishes in varied ways throughout the home. The color palette is another way to create consistency and make the entire home feel like a cohesive space that tells a story when moving from room to room.

Rip & Tan: Interiors or otherwise, what are you most looking forward to this year? 

Marie Flanigan: This fall I’m releasing my second book and working with a dream team at Rizzoli! I can’t say too much now, but it’s been a beautiful and truly collaborative experience working with such a notable publisher. I’ll be sure to share more details as we get closer to its release date!