Tour Jamie-Lynn Sigler’s Newly Renovated Austin Residence
Jamie-Lynn Sigler and Cutter Dykstra were ready for a change of scenery. “During the pandemic, we started to think about our life and what made us happy,” says the actor. “We were in the mood for an adventure and wanted to try someplace neither of us had ever lived before.” Their home in Los Angeles made practical sense: Sigler is an actor known for her work on The Sopranos and the ABC drama Big Sky, and Dykstra’s business, Therabody, is based in L.A. But when one of Sigler’s best friends moved to Austin, the wheels started turning. An October 2020 visit to do a little real estate exploration ended in a signed contract on a Spanish-style house with great bones and an amazing view, yet still in need of significant aesthetic upgrades.
Sigler used the winter months between the purchase and her relocation to connect again with L.A. designer Erin Fetherston. “The new house was very Texas country and I wanted to bring a cool California vibe to that style,” Sigler says. “I’ve been a fan of Erin’s work, and so we started imagining how we could transform this house while honoring its beautiful architecture.”
The team started by removing some of the more overly ornate elements, painting the walls white, and buffing the glossy dark floors to a more matte finish. Fetherston defined the living and dining areas with twin large sisal rugs and ring chandeliers, then layered in furnishings that added texture and color. The living room’s cognac velvet sofas by Lulu and Georgia were an easy decision for both designer and client. “From years of doing fashion, I know that certain people look good in a certain color,” Fetherston says. “Jamie just looks so good in that room. The color palette is perfect for her.”
For the kitchen and powder room renovation, Fetherston and Sigler turned to The Eye, a design agency that represents Fetherston, to find Texas-based design and build firm High Street Homes. “It was important to have a counterpart on the ground, especially for the kitchen renovation,” Fetherston notes. “It was a unique arrangement, but it went really well.”
The kitchen pops with green cabinets—the color matches the house’s exterior window and door trim—while the ebony-stained island cabinets provide contrast. “Jamie told us from the beginning that she wanted the kitchen to feel sexy,” says Kara Phillips of High Street Homes. “We brought in polished marble with deep green and black veining and we played with the finishes in brass and black to give a sleek edge to the kitchen.”
While the rest of the house is relatively family-friendly, Sigler requested that the primary suite be an adult sanctuary. “We wanted to make a retreat for Jamie and Cutter as a couple,” Fetherston says. “We created that serenity; it’s really dreamy in there.” Fetherston also accentuated the soaring ceiling by using lower furnishings to emphasize the vertical volume.
Sigler and her family moved into the house in March 2021 and lived through most of the renovation. The team started with the outdoor space, which was furnished and livable by May, but once the indoor renovation started, the family was kitchen-less for three months. “It was my first renovation, so it was a rookie mistake, but everyone warned me,” Sigler admits. “Now I’m one of those people who says: Don’t do it! Shell out for the rental.”
By October 2021, everything was in place and settled, and not a moment too soon. “All I can think about are my kids and the memories and the parties and the family gatherings,” Sigler says. “We have so much space to entertain and host. That’s all I wanted.”
