For the remodel of this 1950’s ledge-stone, modern ranch house, we identified one aspect that seemed crucial, central to the experience of the original house, yet greatly underdeveloped in its original carnation.

Our task was to accentuate the central experience of the house: living between the floor and the relatively low (8’-2”)  ceiling, to connect to the yard in front and the view much further across a deep creek bed to the back, and create the as-yet unrealized views from the house to the west across the Colorado River (Austin’s Town Lake) and its river valley.

Taking the house down to its wood framing and stone siding, we removed most interior walls; opened the living, kitchen, and dining areas; and used cabinets as space defining, architectural elements. Of particular importance for the owners – a husband, wife and their two children – was to have a booth. At the request by the owners, we integrated into the expanded kitchen cabinets: a booth for eating, drawing and visiting in the kitchen , a wine rack, book shelves, a large rubber bulletin pin-board, desks for the grownups.

To maximize the glass to the outside and to allow the ceiling material to run apparently seamlessly between inside and out, we reframedmuch of the existing porch, ceiling and attic.

The 2” visible milled, shiplap fir ceiling, sealed in its natural color, has a scale and furniture precision that together with a few other elements – the cabinets, the floor and the glass – define the space simply. We painted the new steel windows and the new and existing wood windows a light green color, thereby suggesting a metal patina color while contrasting it against the more sober and classic tones of the wood, natural stone hearth and cut stone floor.  At a wall intersecting the glass wall comprising the front door, we installed a floor to ceiling mirror to suggest the wall and ceiling and floor experience were twice as long as it is, but also to add complexity and create a discrete wall space for art by the front door.

Because we were pushing the connection of inside and outside, we carried the landscape concept to the experience of the inside of the house by designing a concrete-paver walk that carries across the whole site from front to back. The continuity and strong geometry of this generous walk from the street on front side and to an outdoor living pavilion on the back is visible as one looks left and right while moving through the living space.

From considering small details to the largest landscape move, we referred to our original feeling about the strength and opportunity in this house. It should be comprised of simple elements reinforcing this experience of living between  floor and ceiling and the way that space relates and captures for those inside special views to the yard and to views across the creek and river.

Material Used:

1. Custom-MilledShiplap, Fir 75“ x 2.5“ - Ceiling

2. 24“ x 24“ Bianco Talia Limstone - Flooring

3. Custom Milled Maple, Birch - Cabinetry

4. Corian - Countertops

5. A & S Windows – Window Supplier