Retired Houston Couple Replaces Starter Home With Forever Home
See how the Elders built their dream home while preserving the memory of the home they lived in for nearly 4 decades
Mitchell Parker
February 27, 2019
Houzz Editorial Staff. Home design journalist writing about cool spaces, innovative trends, breaking news, industry analysis and humor.
Houzz Editorial Staff. Home design journalist writing about cool spaces, innovative... More
Susan and Charles Elder’s roots run deep in their neighborhood outside of downtown Houston. They moved into a starter house there in 1981, just six houses around the corner from the house Susan grew up in and one street over from where her paternal grandparents lived. The Elders have lived at the same address ever since.
But while the address numbers never changed, the house sure did. Over the years the Elders renovated four times, always in an effort to open up the 1955 ranch house and bring in more light. It never felt like enough.
After raising their two daughters and then retiring a few years ago, the Elders embarked on one last renovation, this time taking everything down to the dirt lot and building a house with everything they had ever wanted, all while preserving the memory of the address at which they’ve spent their lives together.
But while the address numbers never changed, the house sure did. Over the years the Elders renovated four times, always in an effort to open up the 1955 ranch house and bring in more light. It never felt like enough.
After raising their two daughters and then retiring a few years ago, the Elders embarked on one last renovation, this time taking everything down to the dirt lot and building a house with everything they had ever wanted, all while preserving the memory of the address at which they’ve spent their lives together.
Before Photo
“After” photos by Juliana Franco
House at a Glance
Who lives here: Susan and Charles Elder, both retired. Susan was an elementary school teacher and a homemaker; Charles was in commercial real estate and development.
Location: Houston
Size: 3,300 square feet (307 square meters), including the garage; four bedrooms, two bathrooms
Designers: Kathleen Reardon and Susannah Devine of RD Architecture
Builder: Phillip Tryon of Tryon Homes
Before: This photo shows the Elders’ house around the time they bought it, in 1981, as it existed when it was built in 1955. “It was a series of rooms connected with narrow doors,” Charles says. “The windows were small and didn’t let in much light.”
Watch now: See the amazing contemporary forever home that Susan and Charles Elder built
House at a Glance
Who lives here: Susan and Charles Elder, both retired. Susan was an elementary school teacher and a homemaker; Charles was in commercial real estate and development.
Location: Houston
Size: 3,300 square feet (307 square meters), including the garage; four bedrooms, two bathrooms
Designers: Kathleen Reardon and Susannah Devine of RD Architecture
Builder: Phillip Tryon of Tryon Homes
Before: This photo shows the Elders’ house around the time they bought it, in 1981, as it existed when it was built in 1955. “It was a series of rooms connected with narrow doors,” Charles says. “The windows were small and didn’t let in much light.”
Watch now: See the amazing contemporary forever home that Susan and Charles Elder built
Before Photo
Before: Here’s the house as it looked in 1996 after the Elders’ third renovation project, which updated the exterior. They removed a brick planter box in front, enlarged the windows and added cedar shake shingles.
In 1987 they had modernized the kitchen and made other interior modifications in an attempt to open the living spaces up. “We tried to make the space feel like it flowed together, but due to the structural limitations of an older home, we couldn’t get what we wanted,” Charles says. “What we wanted was lots of light.”
In 2003 they did a major infrastructure update to replace the nearly 50-year-old plumbing, wiring and ductwork. Budget restraints always held them back from turning the home into exactly what they wanted.
Find architects, designers, builders and more
In 1987 they had modernized the kitchen and made other interior modifications in an attempt to open the living spaces up. “We tried to make the space feel like it flowed together, but due to the structural limitations of an older home, we couldn’t get what we wanted,” Charles says. “What we wanted was lots of light.”
In 2003 they did a major infrastructure update to replace the nearly 50-year-old plumbing, wiring and ductwork. Budget restraints always held them back from turning the home into exactly what they wanted.
Find architects, designers, builders and more
After: The new house delivers the light, airy and clean contemporary style and function they were looking for. “It’s very graceful,” Charles says. “It’s a physical representation of where we are in our lives today.”
For help they searched the Houzz professional directory for architects in the Houston area, and found Kathleen Reardon and Susannah Devine of RD Architecture. “They read our profile and thought we would be a good fit for their project because we had worked on a series of ranch home remodels,” architect Kathleen Reardon says. “We knew they would be great to work with when we showed up and there was a big plate of homemade cookies on the table.”
“They were excellent listeners,” Charles says. “Their first words were, ‘We want to hear from you, what your vision is for your new home.’”
The Elders used Houzz ideabooks to help communicate their style and vision to the architects. “Part of being a good residential architect is learning how to be a mind reader, and fortunately with Houzz we have such a leg up on that,” Reardon says.
Reardon brought in builder Phillip Tryon to help handle the complicated building details and mechanics that earned the house an LEED Silver rating.
For help they searched the Houzz professional directory for architects in the Houston area, and found Kathleen Reardon and Susannah Devine of RD Architecture. “They read our profile and thought we would be a good fit for their project because we had worked on a series of ranch home remodels,” architect Kathleen Reardon says. “We knew they would be great to work with when we showed up and there was a big plate of homemade cookies on the table.”
“They were excellent listeners,” Charles says. “Their first words were, ‘We want to hear from you, what your vision is for your new home.’”
The Elders used Houzz ideabooks to help communicate their style and vision to the architects. “Part of being a good residential architect is learning how to be a mind reader, and fortunately with Houzz we have such a leg up on that,” Reardon says.
Reardon brought in builder Phillip Tryon to help handle the complicated building details and mechanics that earned the house an LEED Silver rating.
The Elders had originally planned to just renovate their old house, but after they drew up plans with their design team to get everything they wanted, they were left with just three walls and a 60-year-old concrete slab. At that point they decided to scrape the lot and build a new home, but they kept the original design plan. That meant that even though they were building a completely new home, the new kitchen would be exactly where the old kitchen was, the new master bedroom where the original was and so on.
“In my mind we weren’t really tearing down the original home, because the new home had been designed around the original house,” Reardon says. “The spaces were still there; we were just building new walls. So all the memories would still be intact. It would still feel like their house, the house that they raised their kids in.”
The exterior includes a standing-seam metal roof, HardiePlank fiber cement siding that looks similar to cedar shake, and Azek panels, made of a composite building material.
Watch now: Hear more of the story behind this new home
“In my mind we weren’t really tearing down the original home, because the new home had been designed around the original house,” Reardon says. “The spaces were still there; we were just building new walls. So all the memories would still be intact. It would still feel like their house, the house that they raised their kids in.”
The exterior includes a standing-seam metal roof, HardiePlank fiber cement siding that looks similar to cedar shake, and Azek panels, made of a composite building material.
Watch now: Hear more of the story behind this new home
An office area sits to the left of the front door on a raised platform covered in porcelain tile with a cement look. “We did that so we could get a stronger sense of separation of space,” Susan says.
The same tile covers the exterior chimney and both bathroom floors in the house.
The same tile covers the exterior chimney and both bathroom floors in the house.
The main area in the home features a great room with a high ceiling; it includes the living, dining and kitchen areas. “It’s cozy even though it’s a large volume of space,” Susan says.
Shop for contemporary sofas
Shop for contemporary sofas
Porcelain tile with a suede look covers the fireplace. The dining table is a custom piece made of bigleaf Canadian maple.
A clerestory window floods the great room with natural light.
Watch now: Go inside this bright contemporary kitchen in the latest episode of Houzz TV
Watch now: Go inside this bright contemporary kitchen in the latest episode of Houzz TV
The impressive Italian granite slab backsplash was the first thing the Elders purchased for their new home. “It’s an art piece,” Susan says.
Charles loves the orange oven and range, which he picked out.
Charles loves the orange oven and range, which he picked out.
The countertop is Neolith, a porcelain material from Spain, in a basalt color. “It’s very thin, very strong and really beautiful,” Susan says. “It comes in large pieces. Our island is 10 feet by 52 inches, and there’s not a single seam in it.”
Cabinetmaker Jim Farris installed a half-inch metal plate beneath the island slab to cantilever the material out. “We didn’t want a leg,” Charles says. “Our cabinetmaker said you can get up and dance on this, and our youngest daughter actually did.”
“It’s not moving anywhere,” Susan adds.
Cabinetmaker Jim Farris installed a half-inch metal plate beneath the island slab to cantilever the material out. “We didn’t want a leg,” Charles says. “Our cabinetmaker said you can get up and dance on this, and our youngest daughter actually did.”
“It’s not moving anywhere,” Susan adds.
Cabinets to the left of the fridge open to reveal a coffee and beverage station and a microwave.
On the opposite wall, cabinets open to reveal all kinds of pullouts and storage compartments.
In the cabinet on the right you can see a pass-through that connects to the utility room, where there’s a washer and dryer, storage cabinets and an extra refrigerator. The Elders added the pass-through to make it easier for them to transfer heavy groceries or pots of soup between the two rooms.
In the cabinet on the right you can see a pass-through that connects to the utility room, where there’s a washer and dryer, storage cabinets and an extra refrigerator. The Elders added the pass-through to make it easier for them to transfer heavy groceries or pots of soup between the two rooms.
In the hallway a maple barn door closes off the guest suite, which features two bedrooms and a full bathroom.
Half-inch LED strips on the opposite wall give an effect similar to that of a skinny window.
All the lights in the home are LEDs on dimmers and are automated.
A Lighting Pro’s 5 Tips for Buying LED Bulbs
Half-inch LED strips on the opposite wall give an effect similar to that of a skinny window.
All the lights in the home are LEDs on dimmers and are automated.
A Lighting Pro’s 5 Tips for Buying LED Bulbs
More clerestory windows flood the master bedroom with daylight. “The shadows and the light play that comes in in the afternoon are just beautiful,” Reardon says.
Farris, the cabinetmaker, worked with architect Susannah Devine to design and build the American walnut custom bed, which has an operable mattress that tilts up and down at the head and foot.
Motion-controlled lights on each side light up softly at night if Susan or Charles gets up to use the bathroom, which has another motion-controlled light beneath the floating vanity.
Watch now: See more of how this new home was designed and built
Farris, the cabinetmaker, worked with architect Susannah Devine to design and build the American walnut custom bed, which has an operable mattress that tilts up and down at the head and foot.
Motion-controlled lights on each side light up softly at night if Susan or Charles gets up to use the bathroom, which has another motion-controlled light beneath the floating vanity.
Watch now: See more of how this new home was designed and built
More suede-looking porcelain tile covers a fireplace in a reading nook near the bed.
The master bathroom has a clean contemporary design, clerestory windows and heated floors.
Shop for floating vanities with two sinks
Shop for floating vanities with two sinks
Convenient storage fills the floating vanity and side cabinet.
The Elders turned what’s technically a fourth bedroom into their home gym.
The couple had such a good experience during the design-and-build process that they had all the workers sign the yellow beam in this room.
How to Create a Home Gym You’ll Actually Use
The couple had such a good experience during the design-and-build process that they had all the workers sign the yellow beam in this room.
How to Create a Home Gym You’ll Actually Use
The home is fully automated, with things like window shades that retract into hidden wall coves at the touch of a button on an iPad.
One of the guest bedrooms has a built-in bookcase for the Elders’ grandkids.
The guest bathroom has a large soaking tub. All the towel bars in the bathrooms also double as anchored grab bars.
The Elders worked with landscape architect Jeffrey Halper of Exterior Worlds Landscaping & Design for the front yard and backyard. A board-formed-concrete wall encloses a barbecue on a patio in the backyard.
Layers of Azek panels cover some of the exterior walls.
When the Elders first moved in at this address, they called the home their “once-upon-a-time house.” Now, 34 years later, they lovingly refer to their new house as their “happily-ever-after home.”
“The walls and roof are different, but this is the space where we raised our children,” Charles says. “It was like the house grew up, from a child to an adult. So now the house is finally in the form we think it was always meant to be. We still feel the spirit of our old house.”
Watch now: See more of Charles and Susan’s new forever home
More on Houzz
Watch more renovation episodes of Houzz TV
Get home design ideas
Find architects, designers, builders and more
Shop for home products
When the Elders first moved in at this address, they called the home their “once-upon-a-time house.” Now, 34 years later, they lovingly refer to their new house as their “happily-ever-after home.”
“The walls and roof are different, but this is the space where we raised our children,” Charles says. “It was like the house grew up, from a child to an adult. So now the house is finally in the form we think it was always meant to be. We still feel the spirit of our old house.”
Watch now: See more of Charles and Susan’s new forever home
More on Houzz
Watch more renovation episodes of Houzz TV
Get home design ideas
Find architects, designers, builders and more
Shop for home products
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This is a perfect home me and my wife love it...
beautiful house they worked nicely My wishes to them and happy life
Well done. It is a great ‘blueprint’ of ideas that can be traditional/transitional as well as contemporary in a more neutral sense. I will keep this ‘adventure’ in my files! Special home.