Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: A New Home Honors a Historic Neighborhood
Stained glass, red oak floors and other traditional details give a newly built home in Texas an antique feel that fits right in
“Everyone who visits this house thinks it's been here for 100 years," says builder Chris Risher of RisherMartin Fine Homes. While he loves old houses, he and his wife started from the ground up with this one, building a new home full of modern amenities but with an antique feel.
Risher found a vacant lot in Travis Heights, an established neighborhood in Austin, Texas, and built a house that blended right in with the neighboring houses, which were built between 1910 and 1950. "I also looked to the old houses of New Orleans for inspiration, with their central hallways and double-decker porches," he says. Here's a look at how traditional details can make a house look like it's been around a century.
Houzz at a Glance
Location: Austin, Texas
Size: Approximately 2,400 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 2 1/2 bathrooms
Year built: 2009
Architect: Rick O'Donnell
Risher found a vacant lot in Travis Heights, an established neighborhood in Austin, Texas, and built a house that blended right in with the neighboring houses, which were built between 1910 and 1950. "I also looked to the old houses of New Orleans for inspiration, with their central hallways and double-decker porches," he says. Here's a look at how traditional details can make a house look like it's been around a century.
Houzz at a Glance
Location: Austin, Texas
Size: Approximately 2,400 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 2 1/2 bathrooms
Year built: 2009
Architect: Rick O'Donnell
Reclaimed Chicago brick helps give the house real patina — these bricks are more than 100 years old. Three sets of glass double doors open onto the front porch.
The main entry is the middle set of doors. Risher calls this house a shotgun house because this central hallway lines up with the back door. (The original meaning of "shotgun house" meant one could shoot a bullet through the front door and out the back door.)
The entry feels very open because of several features — the glass exterior doors and their large transoms, the French doors that lead to the study, the white grooved shiplap siding and the 8-foot doors and 10-foot ceilings. "I chose the double French doors for the study so that I could shut out the noise when necessary but still keep that visual connection," he says.
French doors: Supa Doors
The entry feels very open because of several features — the glass exterior doors and their large transoms, the French doors that lead to the study, the white grooved shiplap siding and the 8-foot doors and 10-foot ceilings. "I chose the double French doors for the study so that I could shut out the noise when necessary but still keep that visual connection," he says.
French doors: Supa Doors
The kitchen has a wonderful vintage feel, yet it's still up to date. Beadboard walls, a subway tile backsplash, crown molding, thin brick flooring, a cherry breakfast bar counter, vintage-style stools, schoolhouse pendant lights and traditional millwork lend a nostalgic feel. The high ceilings, white paint, stainless steel appliances and vent hood, pot filler, Caesarstone counters and glass-front cabinets make it feel fresh.
"The top cabinets flip up and are great for display," says Risher.
Beadboard: Nantucket Beadboard; range and stainless backsplash: Thermador; counters: Caesarstone
"The top cabinets flip up and are great for display," says Risher.
Beadboard: Nantucket Beadboard; range and stainless backsplash: Thermador; counters: Caesarstone
"The U-shaped stairwell is small and tight, so we opened it up with a 6-foot by 10-foot window," Risher says. "It makes it a really nice space to be in." His father, John Risher, created the stained glass portion, another element of older homes in the area.
"I chose red oak flooring to use throughout the house, because it's exactly what you would find in an older home," Risher says. The railing is cherrywood.
"I chose red oak flooring to use throughout the house, because it's exactly what you would find in an older home," Risher says. The railing is cherrywood.
"When you're trying to give a new home an older feel, it's all in the details," Risher says. In the master bath, these details include a two-paneled door (used throughout the house), beadboard wainscoting, glass doorknobs, an octagonal-tile floor and a claw-foot tub.
Black Corian counters, streamlined cabinets, glass doors and simple drapes lend a more modern look to the bathroom, while the tile details and arch in front of the window lend vintage style.
Three sets of double doors echo the doors below and lead to the upper porch, giving the second floor lots of outdoor access. "The upstairs porch has fantastic views of a greenbelt that runs through the neighborhood," Risher says.
Three sets of double doors echo the doors below and lead to the upper porch, giving the second floor lots of outdoor access. "The upstairs porch has fantastic views of a greenbelt that runs through the neighborhood," Risher says.
Out back Risher was careful to keep a giant live oak tree that provides lots of shade to the house and patio. A detached two-car garage has extra space for his woodworking tools.
Risher and his wife have since moved due to their growing family and have passed their dream home onto another family.
Risher and his wife have since moved due to their growing family and have passed their dream home onto another family.