The historic building in Austin, Texas that was once a firehouse and the Capitol Saddlery building is repurposed and turned into a private residence. This stunning and charming home is now on the market priced at $4.95 million.
The gorgeous home maintains its Old West vibe in the original floorboards, paneled-and-transomed doors, exposed brick and some worn paint surfaces. These are then augmented by an upscale coffered ceiling in the living room, Italian chandeliers, wallpaper and gold-leaf ballroom.
The historic home is measured at 6,780 square feet with three bedrooms, three full bathrooms and four half baths. It also boasts large multi-use rooms, a large kitchen is large, ensuite bedrooms, media and game room and it all opens out to a rear courtyard that still retains artifacts from the boot business.
This gorgeous piece of history is listed by Kumara Wilcoxon of Kuper Sotheby’s International Realty in Austin, Texas.
The historic building has an Old Western look with its shape and design that are updated by the modern windows and doors. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This view of the front of the home shows that its textured and earthy exterior walls are complemented by the uniform windows and large entrances. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
The textured stone exterior walls of the historic building has a slightly darker brown shade than the sidewalk. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This is the rustic and charming main entry of the house made of bricks balanced by the elegant doors illuminated by the lamps. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This is a closer look at the plate mounted by the main entrance depicting the name of the estate, Palazzo Lavaca. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This charming foyer has a simple and homey quality to its wooden elements augmented by the elegant wallpaper and the chandelier hanging from the ceiling. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This is the hall of the main level with a decorative concole table made of elephant tusks placed by the artistic panel of the beige wall. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
The living room of the house has elegant green wallpaper that contrasts the dark wooden elements of the ceiling, wainscoting and doors as well as the mantle of the large fireplace on the far wall. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This living room is topped with a brilliant crystal chandelier that hangs from the elegant coffered ceiling with exposed dark wooden beams. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This is a closer look at the window of the living room that has dark wooden frames contrasted by the red curtains. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This other side of the dining table shows the lovely patterned narrow area rug that works well with the hardwood flooring. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
The dining area at the far end of the great room has a long wooden rectangular dining table surrounded by upholstered chairs that match the tone of the green wallpaper and the coffered ceiling with recessed lights. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This spacious bedroom has a light tone to its walls and ceiling augmented by the natural lights coming in from the tall windows complemented by a sitting area. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This bedroom has warm gray walls that makes the red leather couch at the side of the bed stand out along with the large wall-mounted artwork above it. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This angle of the bedroom shows that it has a second bed accessible through a ladder. This also shows the pair of tall windows with rich red curtains illuminated by the chandelier. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
The bedroom has sets of sheer green curtains paired to the tall windows making them stand out against the black patterned wallpaper.Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This is a closer look at the shower area of this bathroom with lovely green curtains and white tiles on its walls arranged in a brick wall look. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This bathroom has a white vanity area with a tall wall-mounted mirror next to the tall windows that bring in natural lighting to the light tone of the walls. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This is the bathroom beneath the second bed that can be accessed by a ladder. This bathroom has the same warm gray tone to its walls as the bedroom contrasting the white vanity. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This spacious bathroom has a freestanding bathtub in the middle of the floor across from the vanity that has mirrored cabinetry to match its wall-mounted mirrors. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This is the second floor hall from the stairs leading to the media room on the far side. This has a chic cushioned bench paired with a round table topped with a brilliant crystal chandelier. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This beautiful staircase has charming stripes on its walls paired with brass banisters attached to the walls that give a nice contrast to the pure black steps. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
The media room is dominated by a large brown velvet cushioned sectional L-shaped sofa paired with patterned pillows for a nice contrast. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
The media room has bright recessed lights that balance the black ceiling, floor and walls that have built in black shelves on two corners flanking a striped wall behind the sofa. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
On the far wall of the media room is the large screen adorned with a low table and decors below near the wooden desk at the corner. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This low aerial view of the back of the house shows the small balcony at the second level over the roof of the outdoor areas of the backyard. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
The back of the house is adorned with landscaping that has various shrubbery and rope lights that give the backyard a festive look. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This is a look at the back gate of the property with a tall iron gate flanked by creeping plants. This is wide enough for a vehicle to go through making parking in the backyard possible. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
There is a quaint corner in the back of the house fitted with a wooden built-in bench for a booth-style informal dining area. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This is a view of the backyard through the open gates showing that the parking area has a tall wooden ceiling with exposed beams. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
The backyard has a small open area with dirt flooring perfect for any outdoor activity under the rope lights. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This backyard has a cozy and homey vibe to its warm rope lights and surrounding wooden elements that add to the rustic feel of the area. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
At the corner of the back is a covered area fitted with wooden structures that can be used as an outdoor cooking area or even a bar for occasions. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This covered area just outside of the house has rustic brick walkways paired with a tall shed wooden ceiling that has exposed beams. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
The wooden pillar near the cooking station is adorned with a charming little stone statuette of a woman sitting down. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This aerial view of the historic building shows you how unique the building is and how it stands out against the buildings beside it. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This is an aerial view of the house from the back showing the other structures and buildings in its vicinity. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This is the aerial top view of the house. This really shows you the massive structure and you can also see here that there is a small street behind the house to access the back gate. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
One of America’s fastest growing towns and tech hot spots, Austin, Texas has retained much of its Old West vibe and vibrant history including an 1890 building that was first a firehouse and then the world-famous Capitol Saddlery where custom-made-cowboy boots were sold for thousands of dollars.
Later, it was reborn as a stunning residence and event space while retaining much of its historical charm. Now for sale, the former Capitol Saddlery is priced at $4.95 million including the neon-lit boot above the home’s entrance.
The unassuming building facade could easily be taken for almost any other Austin building near the University of Texas were it not for the gigantic boot above the entrance – a clue that it was formerly home to Capitol Saddlery. The owner was T.C. “Buck” Steiner, a gruff rodeo rider with up to 100 employees, but the star was Charlie Dunn, a boot maker that Jerry Jeff Walker wrote a song about in 1972.
Charlie’s boots were so well known that many celebrities wouldn’t dream of wearing boots made by anyone else. Known as the “Michelangelo of cowboy boots,” Charlie charged as much as $3,000 a pair and had a three-year waiting list. The wait didn’t phase clients like Gene Autry, Slim Pickens, Arnold Palmer, Carol King and even Al Capone.
Charlie died in 1993 and the Steiner family moved Capitol Saddlery to a new location in 2007. In 2008, the building was totally transformed by its new owners into Palazzo Lavaca, a stunning residence and event space. While maintaining its Old West character in the original floorboards, paneled-and-transomed doors, exposed brick and some worn paint surfaces, it has introduced an upscale cowboy-and-cowgirl look with coffered-living-room ceiling, Italian chandeliers, Fortuny wallpaper and gold-leaf ballroom.
Measuring at 6,780 square feet of living space, it has three bedrooms, three full baths and four half baths. In addition to huge multi-use rooms, the kitchen is large enough for catering but also for producing family meals, ensuite bedrooms are elegant, the media and game room is large and comfy and it all opens out to a rear courtyard that still retains artifacts from the boot business.
Austin isn’t just about producing music celebrities such as Janis Joplin and Stevie Ray Vaughan, it’s about ideas and creativity that runs the gamut and is grandly displayed in Palazzo Lavaca. From the number of celebrities who have walked through its front door to choose the style of their next pair of pricey cowboy boots to the tinkle of cocktail glasses from the party in the gilded ballroom, Austin has it going on. Now for sale, Palazzo Lavaca is priced at $4.95 million, listed by Kumara Wilcoxon of Kuper Sotheby’s International Realty in Austin.
