Step Inside Jared and Genevieve Padalecki’s Bustling Modern Farmhouse in Austin

Rachel Wallace
·8 min read

In 2010, when Jared and Genevieve Padalecki first bought a place in Austin, it seemed like they were the only actors in town—“other than McConaughey and Dennis Quaid,” as the former Gilmore Girls heartthrob puts it. The couple, who met on the set of the cult-favorite CW show Supernatural, and who now star on the network’s reboot of Walker, Texas Ranger, gravitated toward Texas because of its “slower pace.” Soon, they decided to give up their Los Angeles residence altogether and live full time in the state where their current show shoots.

The Padaleckis purchased their current Austin home in 2012, and have spent the years since slowly creating their ideal modern farmhouse. That’s where their three children (Thomas, 9, Shepherd, 7, and Odette, 4), as well as numerous dogs, chickens, mini horses, and even bees, live together in harmony. The house—which began as a model “Texas Tuscan,” according to their designer, Virginia Davidson—underwent a full gut renovation in order to become a compound inspired by the historic German homesteads of nearby Fredericksburg. “For the walls and woodwork, we pulled from these traditional German milk paints,” says Davidson. “They are in these very sort of neutral but tonal palettes: Wonderful chalky whites, beautiful grays and blues, and browns.” Those hues provide an excellent foundation for layering the textures required to create an intimate yet cozy home. The result is a bit masculine, a bit rustic, and refreshingly unlike what you usually see on Instagram.

Their more formal living space features four Ralph Lauren armchairs decorated with antique Swedish pillows from Howe London, two ceramic cocktail tables from Bzippy in Los Angeles, and a coffee table with custom brass inlay from Sawkille Co. in upstate New York. The blue-and-yellow striped ottoman (glimpsed far left) was made by Davidson out of a dhurrie from the Padaleckis’ former home in Los Angeles. The piano belonged to Genevieve’s mother.

Davidson commissioned numerous custom pieces for the couple, including rugs, runners, and pillows. “She just has a great way of making it feel very lived-in and comfortable,” says Genevieve, who first contacted the designer 12 years ago to work on their place in Los Angeles. The two women have become very close friends, which allowed the project to stretch on for years. (“A normal client wouldn't have tolerated it,” jokes Davidson.)

Although everything may be bigger in Texas, Jared (a San Antonio native) loves the “little nooks and crannies” that are present throughout the abode. “We didn’t want it to feel cavernous. A lot of homes in Texas focus on making it as big as possible, with two-and-a-half-story grand entrances. That’s fine if that’s your thing, but it is not our[s]. We would rather it feel like a little crab shell.” (Fittingly, Jared’s astrological sign is Cancer.)

Step Inside Jared and Genevieve Padalecki’s Bustling Modern Farmhouse in Austin

Jared and Genevieve pictured in one of the outdoor areas of the home. The minty green painted table and chairs are placed atop a Perennials outdoor rug.
Their more formal living space features four Ralph Lauren armchairs decorated with antique Swedish pillows from Howe London, two ceramic cocktail tables from Bzippy in Los Angeles, and a coffee table with custom brass inlay from Sawkille Co. in upstate New York. The blue-and-yellow striped ottoman (glimpsed far left) was made by Davidson out of a dhurrie from the Padaleckis’ former home in Los Angeles. The piano belonged to Genevieve’s mother.
Hector Finch wall lights illuminate the kitchen, while runners from Howe London help infuse the same sort of textural elements seen throughout the home. Two of the stools (sourced from Mulligan’s in Los Angeles) feature Carolina Irving fabric. Tabarka tiles can be seen on the back wall.
Designer Virginia Davidson hired Los Angeles–based father-and-son carpentry team Lidio and Wilson Gutierrez and furniture finisher Ruben Moreno to craft the custom dining room table and benches. “I have never felt anything so comfortable,” she says. The designs sit atop an embroidered rug by Penny Morrison. The ceramic pendant lights are by Natalie Page; the mirror is from Brenda Antin.
Jared, who is six feet four, had just one requirement for the family room sofas: “If [they are] big enough to fit me, I’m happy,” he says. Davidson and Genevieve took this into account while covering their sturdy finds with a mix of fabrics from Pierre Frey, Clarence House, and Ralph Lauren. (They worked with Custom Craft Upholstery in Los Angeles on the effort.) One of multiple custom rugs from Retorra in Houston can be seen on the floor. Last but certainly not least, the same team that created the dining room table and benches brought the large hutch-style cabinet to life.
“I really love our library, which is just this little cozy area. It has these fabulous pink velvety cushions that I lie on [while] pick[ing] out a book,” says Genevieve. Those cushions by Manuel Canovas sit atop a daybed from Lost & Found L.A. Other seating options in the room include a Merit desk chair, a Brenda Antin chair, and an ottoman upholstered in vintage fabric.
The primary bedroom rug is by Carol Piper. The bed was custom made by Mulligan’s in Los Angeles using Ralph Lauren fabric on the headboard; it is dressed in bedding by Once Milano. A vintage green linen Brenda Antin chaise helps make for a sitting area, which is accented by hand-stitched crewel curtains sourced from Chelsea Editions. The Atelier MVM Moss Berry Shroom Lamp seen nearby is from Nickey Kehoe.
More custom woodwork is found in the primary bathroom, this time in the form of towel hooks and wall shelves. There are also Dusen Dusen towels from Coming Soon NY, a star-shaped light fixture from Vaughan, and another Carol Piper rug.
A cozy upstairs reading nook features a daybed with custom pillows, a Ralph Lauren French mattress, and Kathryn Ireland curtains. The wood chairs are Brenda Antin; the armchair and ottoman were given to Genevieve by her mother and reupholstered using Bolivian blankets and a Kathryn Ireland woven check fabric.
Shepherd sleeps in an RH Kids Cabin Bed set against blue cowboy-print wallpaper from Walnut. His curtains were custom made of dyed canvas by Older Brother.
Odette’s bed is from Mulligan’s; the bedding is from Les Indiennes, Muriel Brandolini, and Lost & Found L.A. The curtains are also by Muriel Brandolini.
Odette’s bed is from Mulligan’s; the bedding is from Les Indiennes, Muriel Brandolini, and Lost & Found L.A. The curtains are also by Muriel Brandolini.
Five recycled-plastic pendants by Warren & Laetitia hang in the kids’ playroom above an RH Kids sofa with crochet pillows from Coming Soon NY. The wallpaper is by Walnut. The four indigo benches are from Lost & Found L.A.
“When I get home, I just want to be able to take a deep exhale,” says Jared, who is seen here with Thomas, Odette, Shepherd, and Genevieve.
“When I get home, I just want to be able to take a deep exhale,” says Jared, who is seen here with Thomas, Odette, Shepherd, and Genevieve.
“It is really quiet and peaceful on our property,” says Jared. “There is tons of shade. Tons of birds and squirrels. Hawks. We have the dogs running around and the kids jumping on the trampoline or in the pool, and it just makes for a really enjoyable evening. That is kind of what we did every day during the pandemic and I loved it.”
The serene pool area. Janus et Cie chaise longues with outdoor throw pillows from Perennials and umbrellas from Santa Barbara Designs line the deck. The cushions and pillows in the cabana sectional are from Sunbrella Fabrics.
“We have dogs in and out of the house, and the kids will get out of the pool or off the trampoline and come running in with chicken poop on their shoes,” says Jared, pictured here with Genevieve and their children. “We didn’t want to be too precious. Not that we like chicken poop in the house, but it was the idea that it was more important to have a home than it was to have a house.”
A final look at the Padaleckis. “We really wanted [our home] to look as though it had been here for 100 years,” says Genevieve.
A final look at the Padaleckis. “We really wanted [our home] to look as though it had been here for 100 years,” says Genevieve.
See the video.

Jared and Genevieve Padalecki represent only a small sliver of the Hollywood slice that has relocated to Austin in recent years. A New York Times article highlighted the phenomenon, sharing the story of actors Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Haylie Duff, and Becca Tobin, who last year made a pact to move their families from Los Angeles to Austin. (The three stars followed through on their plans.)

Despite the changes the city has experienced, Jared is of the mindset that anyone simply hopping on the Austin bandwagon won’t end up becoming a permanent resident. “I think if you get to Austin and you don’t decide to go the Austin speed limit, then you probably won’t last here,” he says. “There is something very specific about the town.”

Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest