Step inside the Drew Lane model home in South Austin and the mood feels immediately familiar. Sunlight spills across warm woods and patterned textiles. Shelves hold collected objects that suggest stories rather than staging. It’s polished, but not precious—thoughtful, layered, and quietly welcoming.
That feeling of lived-in warmth was intentional.
The home was designed by Kim Lewis Designs, the East Austin–based interior design studio led by founder and creative director Kim Lewis. Known for interiors that blend storytelling, texture, and personality, the studio approaches every project with the belief that design should shape how people live, gather, and feel inside a space.
For the Drew Lane model home, the team wanted to show that new construction doesn’t have to feel predictable—and that even a smaller footprint can hold depth, charm, and character. The result is a home that balances Craftsman-inspired architecture with layered textiles, thoughtful lighting, and moments of color that feel both fresh and enduring.
We caught up with Lewis to talk about the design story behind Drew Lane, the philosophy that guides her studio, and why thoughtful design can transform the way we experience home.
Tell us a little about yourself and Kim Lewis Designs.
I’m the Founder and Creative Director of Kim Lewis Designs, a full-service interior design and creative studio based in East Austin. I was born and raised in East Texas. My upbringing, which was definitely rooted in resilience and grit, continues to shape how I work, how I design and how I lead.
After 7 years as the lead designer with ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, I founded Kim Lewis Designs in 2012. For a few years I was hustling out of my car and coffee shops, before growing into the studio we are today. I now lead a team of seven talented women, and together we manage an expansive portfolio spanning hospitality, commercial, luxury residential, multi-family, and branding projects. We tell our clients’ stories and bring their visions to life.
Our company motto is simple: Design can change lives. Design shapes how people live, work, gather, and connect. When a space evokes confidence, calm, or creativity, that impact ripples outward into daily life.
You’ve had such a dynamic career—from East Texas roots to television, global travel, and now leading a multidisciplinary design studio. When you look back, what through-line connects all of those chapters?
The through-line is grit. And storytelling.
I lost my mother to cancer when I was ten years old, and that experience shaped me profoundly. I learned independence and resilience early. While working on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, I developed what I call a “boots-on-the-ground” mentality. I learned everything on job sites, under pressure, solving problems in real time. I earned the nickname “Kimpossible”. I made the seemingly impossible possible. I refuse to take “no” for an answer, something my Daddy taught me.
No matter at what point I’ve been in my career, the mission has always been the same: create spaces that tell meaningful stories and improve people’s lives. That belief has never changed.
Drew Lane is the model home for a boutique residential neighborhood in South Austin. When you first approached the project, what kind of story did you want the home to tell potential buyers?
Drew Lane sits in South Austin, an area known for its creative, laid-back spirit. From the beginning, we wanted the home to feel like it belonged to that spirit: approachable, character-rich, and layered with personality.
The architecture is Craftsman-inspired, so we honored that foundation while infusing the interiors with warmth and whimsy. The story we wanted to tell was one of refined new-construction living that doesn’t feel sterile or predictable. We wanted buyers to walk in and feel like the home had evolved over time.
Drew Lane is a boutique residential neighborhood featuring thoughtfully planned two-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath homes across two- and three-story floor plans. So the square footage isn’t huge by Texas standards. Because of that, our goal was to show how intimate square footage can still feel expansive, elevated, and soulful. We wanted to help buyers envision that new-construction living can feel lived in and full of character.
Designing a model home is very different from designing a personal residence. How did the goal of helping buyers picture themselves living there shape your design decisions?
When designing a personal residence, you’re telling one family’s story. With a model home, you’re creating space for many possible stories.
We were intentional about striking a balance between distinct personality and broad relatability. The design had to feel memorable, but not polarizing. We layered in playful patterns (mostly florals, plaids, and stripes) and rich textures to create warmth and character. We kept the architectural foundation timeless and neutral enough for buyers to imagine their own lives unfolding there.
We also paid close attention to scale and function. These homes are thoughtfully planned, so we showed how each room can work beautifully for entertaining, working from home, or relaxing. Every furnishing choice was meant to demonstrate livability, not just style. The goal was for buyers to think, “I can see myself here.”
Texture, layering, and elevated finishes play a big role throughout the home. How do those elements help bring warmth and livability to new construction?
New construction can sometimes feel pristine to the point of being impersonal. Texture is what softens that.
We incorporated warm woods, tactile materials, woven textiles, and character-driven furnishings to add depth. Layering is what gives a home its character. A mix of old and new (something vintage beside something contemporary) instantly creates dimension.
Those subtle pops of floral, plaid, and stripe add personality without overwhelming the architecture. The result feels nostalgic and modern at once. Texture creates emotional warmth. It invites you to touch, sit, and stay awhile. It’s what transforms a new build from something visually beautiful into something that feels lived-in and loved.
You’re known for a fearless yet timeless use of color. How did you approach color in this project to keep it fresh, while still feeling enduring?
Color is emotional. It sets the tone the moment you walk in.
For Drew Lane, we leaned into warm, grounding hues that complement the materials and Craftsman architecture. Instead of overly trendy palettes, we chose colors that feel grounded: earthy greens, soft neutrals, and subtle pattern play. Then we layered in moments of surprise through textiles and accessories.
That’s how you keep something feeling fresh yet enduring. The foundation remains classic, while the accents can evolve.
When someone walks through the Drew Lane model home for the first time, what do you hope they feel—or imagine—about their future there?
I hope they feel a sense of ease.
I want them to imagine slow mornings with coffee in the kitchen, dinner parties with friends gathered around the table, quiet evenings upstairs with a book. I hope they see not just beautiful rooms, but a backdrop for their lives.
If someone walks through and thinks, “This feels like home,” then we’ve done our job.
As Kim Lewis Designs continues to grow, what kinds of projects, collaborations, or stories are you most excited to explore next?
We’re in a season of growth. We recently refreshed our brand and launched a new website, made the cover of House Beautiful’s Whole Home issue, accepted an international design award in Paris, and were named among Austin Home’s Best Interior Designers for the fourth consecutive year.
What excites me most is continuing to blur the lines between interiors, branding, and storytelling. We have some exciting hospitality, commercial and luxury residential projects on the horizon. And we have smaller projects too, which I love. These are smaller budgets, smaller scopes of work, but usually these projects mean a dream is being realized for the client.
We recently launched the KLD Shop, a curated collection of vintage, antiques, and artisan finds. This is a passion project that allows us to extend our aesthetic beyond client work.
And somewhere in between all of that, I’m finishing my memoir.
Is there anything else you’d like readers to know about Drew Lane, your team, or what’s ahead for Kim Lewis Designs?
Drew Lane is special because it represents thoughtful scale. It proves that smaller-footprint homes can still feel layered, elevated, and full of personality.
I’m proud of my team. We are seven women who lead projects with innovation, intelligence, empathy, and grit.
What’s ahead for Kim Lewis Designs is continued evolution. We’ll keep telling stories through space. We’ll keep pushing creatively. And we’ll keep believing that design, when done with intention, truly can change lives.
One last thing…
One word to describe the Drew Lane vibe?
Welcome home (ok that’s two).
A color you’ll never get tired of?
Yellow.
Texture or pattern?
Both.
Vintage piece or custom design?
You’ll find both in most of our projects! If I’m forced to choose: Custom for commercial and vintage for accents and my closet.
A design detail that instantly elevates a space?
A well-designed lighting plan.
Where do you go when you need creative inspiration?
I travel. Lately, it’s Paris, Italy, or Mexico.
Austin in three words?
Creative, collaborative, coffee
Favorite Austin neighborhood?
East Austin
Credits
Design: Kim Lewis Designs
Lead Designer: Rylee Jowers
Photography:
Likeness Studio: Drew Lane photos.
Joey Puterbaugh: team photo.
Contact
www.kimlewisdesigns.com
@kimlewisdesigns
hello@kimlewisdesigns.com