Shifting Gears Summer 2022 Designers know to prepare for surprises and setbacks, but how do you handle an entirely new brief on a project? A year into designing a pied-a-terre for a couple, designer Mark Cravotta learned that his clients had decided to divorce. The husband retained the apartment in a sleek downtown Austin high-rise - and Cravotta had to come up with a new vision. He reconceived whole areas, including the kitchen, and maximized the space, transforming a narrow corridor into a home office. A custom shelving unit with frosted-glass backing both welcomes light and blocks the view ..read more

A High Rise at the Austin Proper by Mark Cravotta Written by Kelli Lamb | Original Article With the children off to college, husband-husband newlyweds were feeling like empty nesters in their downtown Austin abode. Located in the residences at the Austin Proper, the 1,646 square foot condo was beautiful, but lacked the character and charm the couple loved. “The homeowners wanted a home that was purposeful – a home they could fully experience,” designer Mark Cravotta shares. “They prioritize artistry and craftsmanship, so many pieces throughout the home embody this, such as the ..read more

Texas Two-Step Original Article How do you reconcile a client’s desire for pattern and texture in a sleek contemporary house? Mark Cravotta has more than a few ideas on how to create an artful atmosphere in a house with few walls to hang art. For clients in Austin, designer Mark Cravotta drew on his experience as a ceramicist and jeweler to add distinction via pattern and texture and a variety of standard furnishings. The soft lines of the living room sofa play off against the organic forms of the Vincenzo De Cotiis coffee table. Upholstery in the dining area evokes Africa, a reference furthe ..read more

Group Dynamics Original Article Asked to design a tenant lounge for a new glass tower in San Antonio, Michael Imber turned to designer Mark Cravotta, and together they conjured up the Cypress Lounge, an inviting “living room” that invokes the city’s storied past via a steel and glass entry vestibule, warm Japanese cypress walls, and soft sculptural plaster ceilings, all of it executed by Mac White with the precision and delicacy of a jewel box ..read more

Austin High + Low Written by Nadia Dabbakeh | Original Article Designer Mark Cravotta creates a luxe Austin abode using the most humble of materials In Austin’s hip Bouldin Creek neighborhood, distinguished by rolling hills and enormous live oak trees, sits a very modern home that designer Mark Cravotta has infused with a palpable warmth. “I worked closely with architect David Webber of Webber + Studio, and the client is the owner of the IT company that services both of our firms,” says Cravotta about the unique project. “We’ve worked with him for close to 20 years now, and when he came to us ..read more

Editor’s Picks A WARM WELCOME Designed by Mark Cravotta of Cravotta Interiors, Austin restaurant Oseyo (“welcome” in Korean) has a robust menu of traditional KoreanAmerican favorites and nontraditional dishes inspired by Mom’s recipes ..read more

Top Designers Predict 2021’s Biggest Kitchen Design Trends Written by Lauren Wicks | Original Article The Resurgence of Craftsmanship Cravotta says he is seeing a strong trend across the board toward designing with furnishings, materials, and craftsman finishes that can be fully lived in while still being high-quality, unique pieces. "You can still have beautiful pieces without having to worry about stressing over the next time a guest is having too much of a good time," he says. "There have been tremendous advances in outdoor upholstery (which is beautiful enough for the indoors now) that yo ..read more

22 Beautiful Kitchen Backsplash Ideas That Will Add Personality to the Entire Room Original Article Handmade Abstract Waves Austin, Texas-based designer Mark Cravotta has predicted the resurgence of craftsmanship in kitchen design in 2021, and we couldn't be more excited about that. "In the kitchen, there are so many more options now that are better than polished granite," Cravotta says. Backsplashes are ideal places to showcase craftsmanship and artisanry, as these handmade tiles illustrate ..read more

An Austin Design Team Fuses Sleek Architecture and Warm Interiors Written by Mindy Pantiel | Original Article The whole point of building a house is to embark on a journey you’ve never been on before,” says the owner of this Austin residence several years after beginning just such an adventure with her husband. The couple envisioned a clean and modern exterior, with inviting and organic interiors holding artifacts from their travels—all while tying in the outdoors with plentiful natural light. In their current role as philanthropists, they also needed a backdrop for fundraisers benefiting a l ..read more

Cravotta Interiors’ Hi-Fi Lounge for Kips Bay Decorator Show House Dallas Written by Rebecca Sherman | Original Article Lounge Overview Ready for a break from the outside world? Step inside the Hi-Fi Lounge, a room that defies time, created by Cravotta Interiors. Once inside, you’re enveloped in comfort and luxury and awash in exquisite sound. Every surface is covered in sumptuous materials including the dark linen ceiling, cerused wood walls, and deep umber sisal carpet. Virtually everything is made by hand: Art, lighting, furnishings, rug, and boutique audio gear. This is the room where you ..read more