Caroline Pinney Doesn’t Regret Spending $23,000 to Furnish Her Soulful Austin Living Room

After moving with her boyfriend to Cherrywood, a mellow neighborhood in Austin, in April, Caroline Pinney knew she was looking for a home with character rather than the renovated residences taking over the city. “I stand by the fact that a super old home is just built better,” the artists says about her one-story house on the East Side. “Austin has a mix of old yet beautiful and historic homes, but modern homes feel very sterile.”

Featured in her 1950s abode are crown moldings, French doors, and rich wood paneling, a huge draw for the 31-year-old painter. It has a solid structure and no echo (a bonus as her partner works in music). It’s spacious enough to fit all of her canvases and art supplies—and its large bay windows garner lots of light with just the right amount of tree coverage. “I needed a studio space that was substantial in size, so we looked for a three-bedroom home and immediately fell in love with this one,” Pinney tells AD. Best of all, she only pays $3,500 in rent.

Comfort and coziness were a top priority as a full-time artist who “works from home 99% of the time.” She relies heavily on her visual intuition to hunt for decor—mainly second-hand finds and abstract paintings—which stems from the intention to connect to something more deeply within her relationships and her life. “When I’m collecting pieces for my home, I always think about how it brings me closer to myself or the people I love,” she says.

Aspects of the home, especially her dining room, were curated to emphasize memories with her loved ones that would manifest in the space. “Our connection as a family was built around a table, often around food. I wanted this room to feel very comfortable but in consideration of myself and the people I love.”

For Pinney, a home should be an authentic reflection of herself—and it means collecting based on what you love rather than trying to follow trends. “It makes for a more interesting and inspiring space and one that you’ll ultimately feel the most at home in,” she says. “I believe our environment deeply influences our mood and creative output, so why not foster a space that encourages that?”