Orange native on top of the world with design and architecture award

David Ball

For The Record

A local boy has reached the top of his field. Not just nationally, but internationally.

Marcus Mohon, former Orange resident, is the Interior Design Scheme - Global 2018 Winner for the International Design & Architecture Award ceremony for interior designing in London in September.

Marcus Mohon Interiors designed the interior for a beautiful country house, nestled in the hills in west Austin, Texas, drawing architectural details from southern Europe whilst maintaining a modern attitude.

DESIGN ET AL wrote the following about Mohon's home:

"The home is an adventurous combination of the romantic and the rough-hewn, where hand-chiselled stone is brushed with silk velvet. The contrasts throughout the Villa Romanza create an imperfect dynamic quality that reveals itself over time without being too obtrusive.

The aesthetic and spaces were developed around the family’s art collection which ranges from 18th century Spanish masters to 20th century artists like Picasso and Dali. The home capitalises on the interaction between the classical and the modern in each space while growing more contemporary as you journey out from the core of the house."

A little Spanish influence here and a dash of Italian there provide a relaxed and interesting mix to love, live and escape when needed. The project balances style and comfort. Each space in the home draws you in and invites you to stay without giving up an ounce of elegance. The climate in Texas is similar to Tuscany or regions of southern Spain. The idea of a country estate of natural materials stands up to the intensity of the climate while embracing the romantic sensibilities of the client.

The floor plan of the house meanders along a ridge high above Austin’s Barton Creek, embracing both the land and the view. Marcus Mohon also used classic native materials such as stone, quarried from about a one-hour’s drive away. Each piece of stone was individually crafted with chisels and wire brushes; the process was as artistic as it was artisanal. The same was true with the iron pieces – all hand forged rather than welded. A touch of local sand was used to give the white plaster just a touch of warmth."

After high school, Mohon graduated from Baylor University. He is the son of Manon and Dan Mohon. Marcus lives in Austin with his wife, Autumn, and their four children.

The International Design & Architecture Awards, are hosted by DESIGN ET AL, a leading UK interior design magazine. The awards ceremony was held last month at The Hurlingham Club in London. With around 200 design companies from around the world competing annually, The International Design & Architecture Awards aim to showcase a number of different categories covering residential architecture, interior design and product design. We were honored to be included in the few finalists and thrilled beyond words to win the Global Interior Design category.