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Houzz Tour: Warm and Modern in Austin
Step Inside a Beautiful Example of Austin's Strong, Regional Architecture
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia. I've been writing about design online for quite a few years over at Hatch: The Design Public Blog.
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta... More »
Recently I had the pleasure of chatting with architect Hugh Jefferson Randolph, who introduced me to this beautiful modern house in Austin, Texas. Architecture is in Hugh Jefferson Randolph's blood, as he is the sixth-great-grandson of Thomas Jefferson. He also has Texas in his blood, and he introduced me to an inspiring regional school of architecture, "the result of a cross-pollination of different architects and what people are doing around Austin." I'll show you what he means.
| "Austin has its own style and a regional school of architecture that inspires people," Randolph says. The mid-century work of Texas architect O'Neil Ford inspired Randolph's design, particularly the use of the Texas brick.
The site influenced the design as well; because it was 50'x130', it informed the long rectangular shape of the home. The slope and position of an existing alley allowed for the garage to be tucked into the lowest point on the site with the master bedroom above it (on the right side of this image). Perhaps most important, existing oak trees were saved and windows were planned around them so as to enjoy the view of them from inside. |
| The style of the home was also inspired by the variety of materials used in the work of Alvar Aalto, a style Randolph dubs "warm modernism." The brick used here is a Mexican Sand brick, and the wood underneath the overhangs is ipe. |
These windows are facing south and southwest because Randolph wanted to maximize views of the oak trees. "The overhang above the windows provides shade and keeps the house cooler," he says. Because of energy-efficient moves like this, the house received a Five-Star Energy Rating from the Austin Energy Building Group. Other energy-efficient moves included using spray-on insulation, solar panels on the roof, low-flow dual-control toilets, formaldehyde-free cabinets, local brick and a green building process (i.e. keeping a clean site as they went along and making sure that leftovers were recycled).
The front entry is mid-grade between the level of the garage and the level of the master bedroom.
The brick details, the ipe under the overhangs, and even the sconce add ornament and texture.
The brick details, the ipe under the overhangs, and even the sconce add ornament and texture.
These steps negotiate the slope from the street to the entry.
"I love to install cabinets all the way to the ceiling" Randolph says. "It not only provides extra storage, it draws the eye up and makes things appear taller." I couldn't agree more; I was shocked that these ceilings were "only" 10 feet high. Note the subtle vertical lines that run from floor to ceiling between the cabinet doors. The cabinets are formaldehyde-free and the fronts are birch veneer.
Another smart move: Half the kitchen island is portable. It sits on lockable casters and can be moved around to wherever you need it. When pulled out, it becomes a high-top table for four; when pulled in it doubles the length of the island.
Another smart move: Half the kitchen island is portable. It sits on lockable casters and can be moved around to wherever you need it. When pulled out, it becomes a high-top table for four; when pulled in it doubles the length of the island.
Designing with the slope resulted in a multi-level home with a continuous ceiling. Like the entry, this study sits at mid-grade between the garage and the master bedroom, and thus enjoys a very high ceiling.
Glass railings keep the views open, and floor-to-ceiling bookshelves add to the warmth of the space. Randolph used Fine Line flooring throughout, a product created by putting together long thin strips of scrap wood.
Glass railings keep the views open, and floor-to-ceiling bookshelves add to the warmth of the space. Randolph used Fine Line flooring throughout, a product created by putting together long thin strips of scrap wood.
Randolph chose to place these windows high to take advantage of the light without having to look straight into the windows of the adjacent home. "I love to be involved during the construction process," he says. "The day before the sheetrock was to go in, I was on site and could see that these raised dormers would be an improvement to my original plans; because the workers were there, I found out the cost of creating them was minimal." The change was made on the fly, and these added angles bounce the light and add dimension to the ceiling.
The painting is by local Austin artist Will Klemm.
The painting is by local Austin artist Will Klemm.
The master bathroom uses the same birch veneer cabinets as the kitchen, simply stained darker. The cast glass vessel sink adds another texture and an intriguing shape to the room.
Randolph used a translucent glass door to "let in the light and create less of a barrier." The frosting provides some privacy; total privacy was not really needed because the buyers were empty nesters.
Thanks so much to Hugh for sharing this beautiful home with us today!
See more Austin homes:
A Taste of Bali in Austin
Historic Home in Austin
Thanks so much to Hugh for sharing this beautiful home with us today!
See more Austin homes:
A Taste of Bali in Austin
Historic Home in Austin
Ideabook published on May 13, 2011.
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http://www.modernhometouraustin.com/homes.html
took a few pics :) http://www.inspiredmrsstevens.com/2011/02/austin-modern-home-tour-recap.html
Kimber, it was tough to pick just one home to feature from Hugh, there are so many to choose from. Hopefully he'll share another one with us down the road :)