Austin Home Fall 2020

SIMPLY PURR-FECT

Explore the 9 Dynamic Dwellings on the AIA Austin Homes Tour LESS IS MORE

Austin & The Hill Country

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Plan a Staycation at a Vibrant DesertInspired Airstream in Spicewood

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Conte 18

Editor’s Letter

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Indoors

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Austinticity

Elements Set the table in style with Maya Blu’s handmade vases and dinnerware; meet the home renovation duo behind Austin Flipsters

By Anna Mazurek and Madeline Hollern

Two divergent personal styles blend beautifully in this nature-inspired Bee Cave home

By Laurel Miller

This stylish Tarrytown house is versatile enough for a growing family

By Lauren Jones

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My Space A utilitarian Airstream is transformed into a dreamy Airbnb with Oaxacan and desert bohemian vibes

By Laurel Miller

SHELBY BELLA

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Putting Down Roots An architecture firm works around heritage live oaks to create a contemporary house that blends in with the trees

By Erin Quinn-Kong

ANDREA CALO

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Going Dutch

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Virtual Reality

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Curtains

Blast from the Past A Travis Heights home combines modern sensibilities with vintage flair

By Lauren Jones

(Fall)

This Hill Country home takes a design cue from the Netherlands

By Chris Warren

The nine stops on the 2020 AIA Austin Homes Tour

On the cover Barton Hills home by Thoughtbarn. Photograph

by Tobin Davies

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Austin & The Hill Country E DITOR IAL Editor-in-Chief Madeline Hollern Contributing Writers Lauren Jones, Anna Mazurek, Laurel Miller, Erin Quinn-Kong, Chris Warren ART Creative Director Sara Marie D’Eugenio Contributing Photographers Shelby Bella, Andrea Calo, Molly Culver, Tobin Davies, Megan Leihgeber DIGITAL Digital Manager Abigail Stewart Digital Media Coordinator Rosie Ninesling ADVE RTISING Publisher Stewart Ramser Associate Publisher Julie A. Kunkle Digital Sales Manager Misty Pennock Senior Account Executive Tina Mullins Account Executives Mike McKee, Christina Olivarez, Maxine Pittman, Stephanie Schillaci Ad Sales and Sponsorship Coordinator Jillian Clifton Graphic Designer/Production Manager David Hassmann

OPEN SK Y MEDIA CEO Todd P. Paul President Stewart Ramser Vice President of Sales Julie A. Kunkle Editorial Director Rebecca Fontenot Cord Director of Operations Hollis Boice Audience Development Director Kerri Nolan EVE NTS Events Director Macaulay Hammond ACCOUNTING Accounting Manager Sabina Jukovic BUSINESS Mailing address 1712 Rio Grande St., Ste. 100 Austin, TX 78701 Phone (512) 263-9133 Fax (512) 263-1370 Subscription inquiries (818) 286-3160 or subscriptions@austinhomemag.com Advertising inquiries advertising@austinmonthly.com Job inquiries jobs@austinmonthly.com Letters to the editor editor@austinhomemag.com Story ideas ideas@austinmonthly.com Postmaster Send address changes to Austin Home; P.O. Box 15815; North Hollywood, CA 91615-5815

© Copyright: Austin Home is published by Open Sky Media, Inc. The entire document of AUSTIN HOME is © 2020 by Open Sky Media, Inc. No portion may be reproduced in whole or in part by any means, including electronic retrieval systems, without the express written permission of the publisher. Editorial content does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher of this magazine. Editorial or advertising does not constitute advice but is considered informative. AUSTIN HOME is locally operated.

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Editor’s Letter

From college football games and music festivals

to theatrical performances and Oktoberfest, Austin

Madeline Hollern, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

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JESSICA PAGES

is usually chock-full of exciting diversions in the fall. Of course, in 2020, many autumn activities have now been canceled or postponed indefinitely. Making peace with the new normal has been a struggle for all of us this year, and with every event disrupted by the pandemic, I feel a little more disappointment and uncertainty.

Luckily, some beloved events will go on as scheduled— even if they look a little different this year. I’m thrilled that the 34th Annual AIA Austin Homes Tour is still happening this fall and will now be presented in a virtual format. From Oct. 16-19, the online tour of nine homes will feature self-guided 360-degree virtual walkthroughs of each house along with live sessions with each architect and other collaborators. In this issue, we highlight three of the tour’s most incredible dwellings: a midcentury modern home in Travis Heights by Mark Odom Studio, a ranch-style house in Barton Hills by Thoughtbarn, and a European-inspired Hill Country domicile by Tim Cuppett Architects. Learn more about the homes starting on page 51.

While 2020 has brought on plenty of discomfort, the unrest has also spurred necessary changes and discussions in the realm of racial justice. This summer, I read an article that mentioned that some realty groups have stopped using the term “master” bedrooms and bathrooms, as it harkens back to the days of slavery. For that reason, Austin Home will no longer use that adjective, instead referring to the rooms as primary or principal bedrooms and bathrooms. This year has pushed me to re-examine my words and actions and look for ways that I can further racial equality, and I hope you all will do the same. Now is the time for meaningful change.

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CALL FOR ENTRIES

Austin Home presents the inaugural Home & Design Awards, a local competition for commercial and residential architects, interior designers, artisans, builders, and landscape designers.

THE JUDGES

Nicole Curtis HGTV and DIY Network’s Rehab Addict Detroit Home renovator, designer, and tireless champion of saving and restoring old houses

A distinguished panel of nationally renowned professionals will judge entries in more

Bobby Berk Design guru of Netflix’s Queer Eye Los Angeles Bespoke interior designer for residential, commercial, and hospitality clientele

Kinley C. Puzey, AIA Onyx Design Studio Utah Architect whose experience ranges from humanitarian efforts on the Navajo reservation to multimillion-dollar custom homes

Kayla Cooper Kayla Cooper Design Pennsylvania Interior designer with a love of clean lines and strong architecture

PRESENTED BY

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& more to be announced

ROOM: BREADMAKER/SHUTTERSTOCK; CURTIS: COURTESY AJ MUELLER; BERK: COURTESY LUKE FONTANA

than 50 categories, covering designs of bedrooms, kitchens, and other interior and exterior residential spaces, plus detail work, commercial design, and coveted general excellence awards for one interior design team and one architectural firm. A “rising star” award will also recognize an up-and-comer with less than five years of experience, and Austin Home editors will be honoring one accomplished professional with a legacy achievement award. Austin Home readers will also be invited to participate in the judging process by voting for the best overall home in late fall.

The winners will be announced at a cocktail party and awards reception in February (if it’s safe to gather in person) and featured in the Spring 2021 issue of Austin Home.

Submissions will be open Sept. 1 – Oct. 15 at austinhomemag.com/designawards. Projects must have been completed in the past 12 months (September 2019 – August 2020) to be eligible and must be located in Travis or Williamson counties (with the exception of the Hill Country Home category).

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ACCENTS AUS TIN DES IGN NOW

SARA MARIE D’EUGENIO

Get bowled over

by Maya Blu’s chic ceramics. Page 38

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Accents Elements

LET’S DISH

Set the table in style with Maya Blu’s handmade dinnerware and vases

By Anna Mazurek

ered her love for ceramics while taking an elective course in high school. After graduating from college in 2016, she picked up the hobby again and continued throwing in her kitchen after moving to Austin that year.

“It was tight and messy,” she says.

Two years ago, the ceramicist landed her first large wholesale client and went full time with her business. Named after her blue-eyed Weimaraner, Maya Blu features kitchenware including pitchers and plates as well as decorative vases and bowls. Most pieces take about two weeks to complete and are available in a variety of neutral glazes,

stoneware finishes, and raw terracotta clay.

Leihgeber aims to release a fresh batch of designs quarterly.

“I love the idea of sitting at a table with the people you love and sharing a meal and having a piece that can help promote that,” she says. “I wanted to create something to inspire people to come together.”

Earlier this year, Leihgeber dedicated almost three months to building her own backyard studio with the help of a few friends and YouTube. Studio visits are available by appointment, and her work is for sale at Esby, Loot Rentals, and online at mayablu.com.

Dynamic Duo When it comes to home renovation, two heads are definitely better than one. Local real estate investor Lincoln Edwards and self-described “real estate junkie” Lauren Ahrens combined their design talents and investment know-how to start flipping houses together in 2018. The duo, who have been friends since their days at Texas A&M, give viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the humor, drama, and logistics of house flipping on their popular YouTube channel and SHG Living show, Austin Flipsters. See them renovate everything from an East Side bungalow and a modern farmhouse in Manchaca to a South Austin home with 10,000 bees living inside of it. Episodes are available at youtube.com/austinflipsters and shgliving.com/austin-flipsters.

—Madeline Hollern

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CERAMICS: COURTESY MEGAN LEIHGEBER; FLIPPERS: COURTESY SMART. HEALTHY. GREEN. LIVING

Tyler native Megan Leihgeber discov-

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Accents Indoors F A M I LY M A T T E R S

Two divergent personal styles converge beautifully in this nature-inspired Bee Cave home

By Laurel Miller

Instead of typical bar stools, the interior designer opted for banquettes next to the kitchen island.

Ameera, 10, and Leena, 6, moved to Austin from San Francisco in April 2019, they intentionally brought only their clothing and sentimental items. Their newbuild 4,500-square-foot home in Bee Cave’s Lakes Edge neighborhood was likewise a blank slate, but within six months, BANDD Design owner Sara Malek Barney had transformed it into an art-filled sanctuary with nature-inspired textures and colors.

“We loved that Sara came to the house to meet us, kept our budget in mind, and really listened,” Alok says. “And our personalities just meshed.” Adds Toral, “We wanted this to feel like home for the girls, but Alok and I have very different ideas on aesthetics; I’m also an industrial engineer, so ergonomics is important to me.”

For Barney, conjoining those different styles was daunting at first, but the Jains gave her full creative license, with few directives. Alok, a self-described minimalist, wanted “a place that wows,” while Toral requested a family-orientated space that felt “cozy, serene, and playful.”

Barney was inspired by the family’s former home.

“I wanted the house to have the beachy nature vibe of Northern California,” she says, “But I also like to layer textures a lot and use natural materials like rattan, leather, and wood.” She incorporated those elements in the form of midcentury-style chairs, a standing desk

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PHOTOCULVER MOLLY CREDIT

When Alok and Toral Jain and their daughters,

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Accents Indoors

for Alok made with monkeypod wood, a dramatic, 10foot monkeypod dining table, and banquettes for the kitchen island, which she designed and had custom made in the Philippines. Barney felt that bar stools would look too cluttered around the island, and the Jains were thrilled with the banquettes. The girls also love to lie on them and read.

The Jain family allowed their daughters to have significant input on their bedrooms, with the caveat that they understood the spaces would need to grow with them. Ameera didn’t want her room to be overtly “girly” and requested a navy color scheme; Barney brightened the space by adding a coral bedspread.

Leena, by contrast, loves rainbows. To give the room a more mature touch, Barney added an ethnic-inspired rug with primary colors and cheerful tassels above the bed; the girls also have reading nooks built into their rooms.

The daughters enjoy family time and doing puzzles or coloring at the aforementioned dining table, which boasts a steel base designed by Toral: The legs are composites of the family’s initials, fabricated by Inez Escamilla of Loose Cannon Industries. Another eye-catching dining room feature is the amorphous, silver mural by Austin artist Hillary Cumberworth that drifts up the wall and onto the ceiling. It delivered Alok’s wow factor, and the couple loves that it’s a one-of-a-kind piece. “BANDD hit the nail on the head,” he says. “Our home is unique, and it makes me happy every time we walk into it.”

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PHOTOCULVER MOLLY CREDIT

Clockwise from top left: The kitchen features a dramatic, 10-foot monkeypod dining table; Ameera’s bedroom has a coral and navy color scheme; the living room includes midcenturyinspired chairs.

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Accents Austinticity

FULL HOUSE

This midcentury modern home in Tarrytown is versatile enough for a growing family

By Lauren Jones

NA

tom, architect Jay Corder has to take the property location into consideration before he commits to a design. But the founder of Jay Corder Architect is not one to back down from a challenging lot. In fact, he says, “We prefer more difficult sites because they offer more interesting solutions.”

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Designed by Corder in 2017, this midcentury modern Tarrytown domicile is the perfect fit for its complicated location, which is on a heavily wooded lot in an erosion-control zone next to a creek. “We had to be very careful with how the house was sited and had more restrictive parameters that limited outdoor space,” he says.

Midcentury lines are amplified with a modern exterior palette.

PHOTO CREDIT ANDREA CALO

With every home build, whether spec or cus-

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Clockwise from top left: The secluded backyard; the living room; the living and dining areas are open and connected to the pool and creek on one side and a private courtyard on the other.

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For each project, the architect also considers the adaptability of a layout and how a house will evolve to fit the homeowners’ varying needs over time. For example, how a space will accommodate a family when their children become teenagers. This black brick, stucco, and Western Red Cedar home with breezy interiors was ideal for one buyer with three young kids. A fan of Corder’s work, and a personal

friend of his for many years, she was finally able to purchase the dwelling when it came onto the market for the third time last year. “The house had the full program that we needed for our large family,” she says.

The homeowner worked with another friend of hers, interior designer Kasey McCarty, to create an ambience that blended with the existing structure.

“I gravitate toward clean, modern lines and unfussy architecture, and the simple materials lent themselves to a clear color palette,” she says.

The main living areas are filled with natural light, and the side courtyard further adds to the home’s retreat-in-the-city feel. Stunning art like a 4-by-4 piece in the dining room by San Francisco–based artist Lola pops next to the neutral furnishings. “The piece has such vibrant colors,” she says. “It’s made from poured tinted resins that are layered on top of one another.”

While outdoor space is limited, the backyard is arguably the star of the home. Greenery, luxe patio furniture, and a pool are cocooned in the curvature of the building, which makes it feel secluded and cozy. And even though the family has only lived in the house a short time, they’re already making the most of it. “My kids have been in the pool every single day,” the homeowner says. “It has been a life saver.”

PHOTO CREDIT ANDREA CALO

Accents Austinticity

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Accents My Space

SMALL WONDER

A utilitarian Airstream is transformed into a dreamy Airbnb with Oaxacan and desert bohemian vibes In Austin, recreational vehicles are popular for Airbnbs and tiny homes, but increasingly, they’re being purchased for use as home offices or retreat rooms. “Right now, more than ever, we need a place where we can mentally take a break, because our lives have changed drastically,” says Kim Lewis of Kim Lewis Designs.

Lewis has a passion for designing small spaces, although the bulk of her work is in restaurant, residential, and commercial design. Unsurprisingly, she jumped at the opportunity to renovate a 220-square-foot 1972 Airstream Sovereign overlooking the Pedernales River in Spicewood.

The Airstream’s owner, Nick Vukmaravich, lives in Bouldin Creek, but he wanted to use the RV named the Casita Coyote on his Spicewood property as an Airbnb; the 31-foot vehicle had previously been used for Hurricane Harvey relief. While in decent shape—with a new interior wall paneling and floors installed by Vukmaravich—the vehicle required a makeover, so he contacted Lewis in early 2020.

“I met Kim through a friend and fell in love with her tiny homes, but I had a hard time articulating my vision,” he says. “She knew I loved Austin

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and the Hill Country, and that I wanted to incorporate my recent trip to Oaxaca and a desert bohemian vibe. I still don’t know how she was able to bring all those ideas to life.”

A native Texan and avid world traveler, Lewis made a name for herself on eight seasons of ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Her whimsical style and bold use of color was showcased in single-family homes across America, leading to a gig on FYI’s Tiny House Nation. At the time, Lewis had never designed a tiny home, but she loved the challenge and “less is more” ethos.

“I’ve done a lot of mission work in developing nations like Ghana, Thailand, Cambodia, and Honduras,” she says. “I’ve seen how happy people can be with less, and that’s become very personal to me as a designer.”

Lewis has established a niche for budget-conscious tiny homes with environmentally friendly materials. “My job is to tell a story within a given space,” she says. “That’s one reason I love using reclaimed and natural materials and incorporating found objects. It’s good for the environment, but it also makes a space more special.”

SHELBY BELLA

By Laurel Miller

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Opposite page: The Airstream features a zellige tile backsplash, pale peach cabinetry, and a hand-painted mural. This page, clockwise from left: Custom millwork includes a built-in sofa; Lewis selected a seafoam-colored grout from Grout360 for a pop of color in the shower; the 1972 Airstream sits atop a cliff overlooking the Pedernales River.

Lewis has established a niche for tiny homes with environmentally friendly materials.

The designer channeled Oaxaca and West Texas for the Casita’s palette, which calls to mind high-desert sunsets and sub-tropical seas. To meet Vukmaravich’s modest $16,000 budget, she got creative with materials, while he did most of the work. His greatest achievement is the backsplash made from handcrafted clay zellige tiles by Zia Tile, which he stacked and set with construction glue.

“Airstreams are tricky because they have curved walls, which is why zellige is perfect,” she says. “They would be too heavy and crack in a non-stationary vehicle.”

The bowed walls also make hanging art a challenge, so Lewis prefers tapestry or murals, like the coyote by Greek artist Linda Pappa.

Rust-colored fabric and artisan-made pillows add richness and texture,

as does the woven Moroccan lampshade overhead. “I’m a big lighting person,” Lewis says. “I use it to create dimension in a room, but with Airstreams, it’s all about low-profile track lighting and wall sconces. I wanted something soft over the bed if guests bumped their heads, and its shadow lines are also amazing.”

That attention to detail is what makes Lewis a brilliant designer. The ceramic penny tiles in the bathroom are anchored by seafoam grout from Grout360. Lewis calls the Spanish words on cabinets and doors “Easter eggs,” noting that signage is key for her restaurant work. “Since this is an Airbnb, I wanted something playful inspired by Nick’s time in Mexico.”

She also inscribed “Hey Neighbor” on the Willie Nelson watercolor by the sink, as Spicewood’s most famous resident lives just across the river.

The timing of the two-month renovation’s completion was fortuitous: When Lewis called Vukmaravich to let him know the Casita was ready, the COVID-19 pandemic had emerged, and the Airstream provided an additional source of income. He immediately received bookings, thanks to its secluded locale and captivating interior.

“My goal was to have something different that I could share through Airbnb,” he says. “Airstreams are such a unique part of the American dream. I feel like I have a little piece of history.”

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Putting Down Roots page 52

Blast From the Past page 58

Going Dutch page 64

AIA Austin Homes Tour page 70

TOBIN DAVIES

A rectilinear skylight washes light across the handformed subway tile on the walls of this bathroom in South Austin.

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By

E R I N Q U I N N - KO N G

AN ARCHITECTURE FIRM WORKS AROUND HERITAGE LIVE OAKS TO CREATE A CONTEMPOR ARY HOUSE

P u t t i n g D ow n Roots

THAT BLENDS IN WITH THE TREES

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P h o t o g rap h y b y

TO B I N DAV I E S

AU S T I N

H O M E S TO U R

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A A longtime Barton Hills resident had admired one particular lot dotted with heritage live oak trees in his neighborhood for 12 years. One day, he and his wife were driving around the neighborhood, as they were known to do, when they spotted a “coming soon” sign on the property. “It seemed meant to be,” the wife says.

After purchasing the lot, the couple hired Lucy Begg and Robert Gay of Thoughtbarn to renovate the home on the property, which was built in the 1950s.

But they quickly discovered there were too many problems to overcome, including a major structural crack in the foundation. Because of this, they decided to demolish the existing house and add a new build.

Working within the footprint of the original house allowed them to build in certain areas of the trees’ protected critical root zones, which had been previously impacted. “The clients loved the heritage trees, and the City of Austin regulations say they can’t be cut down, so the project became centered on how to work within the constraints,” Gay says.

The architects also had to consider the size of the trees. “Once trees are a certain diameter, you can’t cut out more than 25 percent of the canopy,” Begg says.

Adds the husband, “There were lots of constraints with the trees, so the architects got really creative.

It was a fun challenge.”

The firm presented the couple with multiple design options for the home, and they ultimately chose the H-shaped floor plan with a striking board-and-batten black exterior, interior courtyard, and a butterfly roof to accommodate the trees. The result is a ranch-style house that has the contemporary look the clients love while also working with the midcentury character of the neighborhood.

Because of the black Hardie board siding on the exterior, the owners have also found that the house practically disappears into the three-quarter-acre lot, especially on overcast days. “We love Japanese burnt black exteriors, and this is a lower-maintenance version of that,” the wife says. Stained pine on the front porch makes the dark exterior pop even more.

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Opposite page: At night, the pine-clad front porch provides a warm glowing counterpoint to the dark, angular silhouette of the house. This page: The kitchen is defined by crisply detailed walnut cabinetry and a recessed nook clad in a decorative green tile.

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The black vertical siding was applied in a non-uniform way to add texture to the house, and the vented rainscreen installation helps control temperatures inside the home. “There aren’t a lot of overhangs on the house, so it helps cool itself,” Gay says. Adds Begg, “We are always working with cross ventilation in the house and figuring out how to not get a lot of hot, direct sun. The trees provide such good shade.”

The design of the 2,560-square-foot house’s interior is equally thoughtful. Comprised of three bedrooms and three baths, the owners wanted an open kitchen-living-dining area. And they got what they requested. The “window-heavy” living room features plenty of glass and sliding doors to bring in the light. “It really creates an indoor-outdoor feel and frames the trees as art,” says the husband. “People always say it brings the outdoors inside. You can feel the nature.”

The interiors, designed by the architects and homeowners, feature an eclectic mix of midcentury modern furniture, bohemian fixtures, and contemporary materials and details. “The house has strong lines, so I wanted to soften up the interiors to contrast the house,” the wife says. “I wanted it to look relaxed, easy, and comfortable. It was a labor of love, for sure.”

Custom walnut cabinetry is seen throughout the house and is mixed with pops of greens and blues and bold prints. A green Fireclay tile backsplash in the kitchen in one of the home’s many show-stopping

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elements. “Everyone loves that,” says the wife. “It’s one of the first things you see when you enter the house, so it sets the tone for the color palette.”

Another favorite of visitors is the main bathroom, which is tucked away in the center of the house, down a moody dark blue corridor. Featuring a bold blueand-white tile floor and a skylight, the bathroom also has a bathtub in the large walk-in shower. “It’s almost like a sanctuary space,” Begg says.

Now that they’ve lived in the house for a few years, the homeowners say they particularly love spending time in the media room and the screened-in porch on the back of the house. The former has two corner windows, so they can lounge while watching the world go by. And what beats a screened-in porch that protects you from the ever-changing Texas weather—and bugs? Another important design detail: The porch doesn’t have the horizontal screen panels typical of these spaces. “The vertical panels match the siding and play with the verticality of the trees,” Begg says.

In the end, the architects say this house is a study in creating unique spaces with ordinary materials and within a budget. And they had a lot of fun working with the homeowners on it. “They were a great collaborative partner, who brought great ideas to the table,” Gay says. “We met in the middle with what we were excited about.” The owners agree: “We were a good team because we like to take risks,” the wife says, “and they are geniuses.”

This page: The walnut-clad media hearth conceals the circulation space to the bedrooms beyond.

An eccentric collection of restored midcentury furniture pieces rounds out the contemporary bohemian aesthetic. Opposite page: The courtyard space brings daylight into the center of the house and creates a framed alleyway view from the living room into the tree canopies.

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By

L AU R E N J O N E S

B l a s t Fr o m the Past

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TO B I N DAV I E S

THIS TRAVIS HEIGHTS HOME COMBINES MODERN SENSIBILITIES WITH VINTAGE FLAIR

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This page: Terrazzo floors meet thickened stack-bond brick spine leading inhabitants to a light-filled corridor toward the primary wing.

Opposite page: The builder took time to weather the finish of the flatwork to mimic the original 1950s driveway with an open-air carport.

For civil engineer Neslie Cook, stepping into her home brings up plenty of nostalgia. As a child, she lived in Refugio, Texas, a small town with midcentury gems like a peaceful courtyard at Lambert Plaza, a doctor’s office with indoor planters, and a public library with slender vertical windows. Since she was 8 years old, Cook has been fascinated with architecture, visualizing homes as she read floorplan magazines her parents left lying around. “I even started out by building floorplans with Legos,” she recalls. And while she didn’t pursue a career in architecture, those memories helped inform the look of her future dream house.

In January, Cook moved into the new home, which was designed by architect Mark Odom of Mark Odom

Studio in a midcentury modern style that honors the beloved South Texas buildings of her youth. “All of the buildings sped into my mind,” she says. “I picked up certain aspects I liked of each and incorporated these things into my home.”

Indoor planters, terrazzo flooring, warm wood, and plenty of brick were all a must for the design.

“The materiality really caught her eye,” Odom says.

For the architect, the project was an exercise in going back to the roots of exactly what midcentury design is—and he made sure to take his time. While the home took a staggering four-and-a-half years from design to completion, he wanted the build to feel timeless and true to the nature of the era. “The decisions were mulled over and discussed many times, and whenever

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that happens, the proper decisions surface,” he says.

“It’s quite the beautiful thing.”

From the beginning, Cook wanted to bring the outside in, and thus, the home is built around a central oak tree. Foliage shrouds the front lawn, while more trees and bamboo keep her backyard feeling extremely private without blocking out the sunlight.

In fact, there’s so much natural light that she doesn’t have to turn on lights during the day.

Located on a sloping drive with an approximate 8-foot difference between the front and back, the Travis Heights home built by ESS Design + Build has a strategic design. “It’s a very comfortable floor plan,” Odom says. And while the home is fairly small, at only 2,400 square feet, one of the architect’s goals was to focus on the overall experience and how the homeowner, her boyfriend, and their two cats, Bandito and Bertie, would occupy the space. Bertie can often be found playing in the front yard, while Bandito enjoys a daily afternoon nap on the primary bed.

Built more than 70 years after the heyday of midcentury design, the home feels a little bit like a time capsule. However, it differs from the style in one

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obvious way: It’s a two-story. But swopping eaves, a spacious loft, and plenty of windows keep it feeling nice and open.

The first floor features an open-concept kitchen with wooden cabinetry, a dining area, and a living room with period furniture and a brick fireplace.

“I looked through inspiration images and found an old photograph of a home with a cantilevered brick ledge fireplace,” Cook says.

Slender vertical windows brighten the hallway leading to the primary bedroom, which also overlooks the courtyard, while stained wooden door jams and repurposed bookshelves that originally came from her father’s classroom in Refugio are everywhere.

The subdued bedroom features a gray tufted bed, and the spacious all-white bathroom includes a large bathtub and open shower with views of the backyard.

In walking through the home, it’s apparent that design techniques that were popular decades ago have held their own against contemporary architecture. “It’s the natural light, the careful attention to proportion, and the experience,” Odom says. “It’s all of the things that we still believe in.”

This page: Courtyard views with access from the primary bedroom.

Opposite page, from top: Clerestory windows with courtyards on both sides keep the connection to nature; white oak was used throughout the house, as seen in the millwork. The white screen detailing up the stairway helps define the kitchen.

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By

C H R I S WA R R E N

P h o t o g ra p h y b y

TO B I N DAV I E S

Going

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THIS HILL COUNTRY HOME TAKES A DESIGN CUE FROM THE NETHERLANDS

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F Few people would instinctively connect the wide-open and undulating landscapes of the Texas Hill Country with the dense European urbanity of Amsterdam. Yet when J.R. and Anne Carter purchased a lot alongside the Frio River to build a second home, they used the quintessentially Dutch concept of “gezelligheid” as their inspiration.

“The word means cozy,” Anne says. “We wanted the house to have a cozy, intimate feeling and be a place that combined small discrete spaces with common spaces that bring family and friends together.”

J.R., who was the founder and CEO of Intersys Consulting until the company sold in 2019, once lived in Amsterdam, and he and his wife got a glimpse of a similarly warm and convivial aesthetic on an American Institute of Architects (AIA) tour that brought them to the home of architect Tim Cuppett. “I live

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in a historic house in Austin, and they said it had that feel of when you walk down a European street at night and look in at a cozy fire,” says Cuppett, the founder of Tim Cuppett Architects.

Designing a dwelling that would deliver that homey aesthetic actually started with positioning the four buildings that make up the compound: a main house with common areas and a second-floor bunkroom, two guest cottages with sleeping lofts, and a barn containing a meditation room and art studio.

“Most projects along the river are developed parallel to the road and riverfront, like a typical neighborhood,” Cuppett says. Instead, he and partner David Kilpatrick positioned the buildings to take advantage of all the best views in every direction.

The vistas provide ample motivation for the Carters and their guests to get outside. The relatively small

This page: Open shelving connects the kitchen and living room spaces. The deep wall color provides cooling shade in summer and sheltering warmth in winter.

Opposite page: The guest cottages are linked to the main house by an elevated walkway just above field grass level.

Simple forms recall agrarian buildings from the past.

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From left: One of the homeowners, Anne, requested feeling like she’s outside when soaking in the tub. A shower curtain ring overhead provides privacy when desired; a central breezeway serves as a communal dining hall.

size and dark colors of select interior rooms are also meant to foster calm and connection. “There are no great room spaces; there’s no island in the middle of the living room with an Xbox and TV,” Kilpatrick says.

The buildings themselves are also interconnected with elevated walkways, making it easy for guests to move between spaces without putting on shoes.

The main house is divided into four sections: a primary bedroom suite, a living room and kitchen, a second-floor bunkroom for the kids and their friends, and a main hall, or breezeway, that can be used for larger gatherings. “The breezeway in the middle can be closed, and there’s a sliding glass wall on each side,” Cuppett says of the space. “There’s a big dining table in the breezeway, and that can be opened up if people want to be outside.”

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The remoteness of the Frio River lot posed many challenges during construction. “A day lost is a big deal out there,” says Crawford DeWare, a project manager for the Dalgleish Construction Company, the firm that built the Carters’ house.

“Being a remote job, the one important thing that often gets overlooked is how communicative the process is,” says Darin Alford, a senior project manager for Dalgleish. “We found Tim and his team were extremely communicative and efficient about getting decisions to us, and if we needed a drawing, they would do it in a day.”

Cuppett and Kilpatrick tried to keep the design and material selection as simple as possible. “The question became how simple can we make the project and how do we exploit the beauty of the simplicity of

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The kitchen features windows that look up and down the river. An old-fashioned kitchen table serves the immediate family.

the details,” Kilpatrick says. “We knew the details had to be bulletproof, and if there was no way to communicate with the builders, there had to be no question of how the materials go together.”

Local availability and a desire to reflect the natural surroundings also informed the choice of materials in the buildings. For example, the exterior of the structures and the decking are made of western red cedar. The foundation is limestone, and the roof is Galvalume metal. Inside the living room of the main house, the ceiling is exposed Douglas fir, while the interior painted wood is poplar. The conviction that less is more is one Cuppett infuses into all of his work.

“Magic happens in reduction and simplifying,” he says.

After the completion of the compound in 2018, the Carters have used it as they intended: as a rustic getaway for family and friends to unplug. “The dynamic for the kids is great and is more like when I grew up.

They’ll go outside, and we won’t see them for most of the day,” J.R. says.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic emerged in the spring, the family has also quarantined there full-time alongside the Frio River. While that has allowed the Carters to enjoy a full cycle of emerging wildflowers, it does pose one challenge: “Our 6-year-old doesn’t want to go back,” J.R. says.

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AU S T I N

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V ir t u a l Re a lit y

JOBE CORRAL ARCHITECTS This solarium is a modern addition to a historic Craftsman house. The light-filled structure transforms the existing bungalow while complementing its origin. Built of steel, glass, and board-formed concrete, the family room opens up entirely, with landscape serving as a backdrop to the glass walls. The design showcases the handmade craft details, including a custom pulley for the fireplace screen.

This year, explore the nine incredible selections for the 2020 AIA Austin Homes Tour from the comfort of home. Enjoy 360degree virtual walkthroughs along with live sessions with the architects and other collaborators online from Oct. 16-19.

BALDRIDGE ARCHITECTS While the dwelling takes its inspiration from masonry high-modernist works, the project was designed to highlight eclectic furnishings and its owners’ music-oriented, casual lifestyle. The home is clad in patterned white brick accentuated by Ipe siding to reinforce the California modern feel of the house. Desert-modern landscaping is set within stepped terraces made of board-formed concrete and weathered steel.

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TOBIN DAVIES

Compiled by Madeline Hollern

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≥ HUGH JEFFERSON RANDOLPH ARCHITECTS A renovation and addition to a 1939 home displays the changes as a series of collages rather than a historical period piece or an overtly modern contrast. The semi-detached bedroom wing, large porch, kitchen, and primary suite are the project’s focus. A prominent feature of the boys’ wing is a cupola, which allows for a loft above a shared bathroom.

Throughout the home, color and architectural decorations are utilized for a sense of whimsy.

STUDIO 512 The unique design of this structure called The Hive draws inspiration from Dutch and Japanese precedents that find creative solutions when faced with spatial constraints. Walls tilt from the slab, hugging building setback planes along with an angled utility easement to add volume where needed. The bedroom has only 22 square feet of floor space yet feels expansive with large windows and a built-in queensize bed. (Page 72)

CHARLES DI PIAZZA ARCHITECTURE

THOUGHTBARN

MARK ODOM STUDIO

A remodeled residence from 1926, this concept articulates four cabins sitting between a deck and a roof. To reinforce the independence of these cabins, traditional clapboard siding and overlaid trim are contrasted with contemporary full glazing at the end of each trot, creating the illusion of a void between each unit and allowing the passage of light and breeze.

This house is nestled in a grove of heritage oaks on a large urban lot. An angular roof form and black vertical siding simultaneously camouflage and contrast the house with its leafy surroundings. The siding is a common fiber-cement board and batten. Painted black, with battens multiplied in a dense, vertical pattern, the house takes on forest-like qualities. (Page 52)

This home was designed with a circulation sequence centered around various courtyards. In response to the homeowner’s appreciation for midcentury architecture, quintessential design and construction elements were included, such as vertical windows set deep into masonry walls, indoor planters, slatted screen walls, and custom terrazzo floors. (Page 58)

≥ A LT E R S T U D I O ARCHITECTURE AND M E L L L AW R E N C E ARCHITECTS

TIM CUPPETT ARCHITECTS This multi-family compound rises from a remote, grassy valley on the bank of the Frio River deep in the Texas Hill Country. Structures consist of a main house, a meditation room over an art studio/garage, and two guest studio cottages. The main house and cottages are linked by a slightly elevated walkway, which enables barefoot kids to run back and forth over the tall grass. (Page 64)

Starting with an 80-foot-wide lot, the architect/owners and their neighbors obtained a variance to subdivide this property into two thin lots.

The resulting north lot had the dual benefit and limitation of being surrounded by mature live oaks, which, in combination with parking requirements and setbacks, constrained the building’s footprint. The net-zero home is expressed as a vertically clad wood box over a more agile first floor of mill-finished steel panels.

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Curtains

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Talk about buzzworthy! Created by Studio 512 architect Nicole Blair, The Hive was inspired by Dutch and Japanese design elements and features reclaimed cedar shakes, charred wood flooring, and ultra-cool angled walls. To read more about the two-story guest dwelling, which is featured on this year’s AIA Austin Homes Tour, turn to page 70.

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The Bee’s Knees

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AUSTIN HOME Inspiration For Your Space 2020 AIA AUSTIN HOMES TOUR PREVIEW

FALL 2020 / Vol. 15 / No. 3

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