Houzz Tour: New Life for a Texas Bungalow
An architectural collaboration between longtime friends highlights the historic character in this 1930s-era home
Exterior
Before. When Rick Whitworth considered a renovation, he wanted to respect the original house’s historic character while complementing it with modern elements.
The two-bedroom Craftsman had stood the test of time in many ways. “It had good bones, and it hadn’t been hacked by previous renovations,” he says. However, the Whitworths were looking for more space and hoped to make it a more sustainable, energy-efficient home.
Before. When Rick Whitworth considered a renovation, he wanted to respect the original house’s historic character while complementing it with modern elements.
The two-bedroom Craftsman had stood the test of time in many ways. “It had good bones, and it hadn’t been hacked by previous renovations,” he says. However, the Whitworths were looking for more space and hoped to make it a more sustainable, energy-efficient home.
After. With those considerations, Rick enlisted the help of his long-time friend, architect Jamie Crawley. The two knew each other from their days studying architecture at Texas A&M University. Having both an experienced architect and a homeowner with immense design and construction knowledge led to a fruitful and fun collaboration.
Photo rendering by HA Architecture
Backyard
Early on, Crawley and Rick had to determine how to work around a primary constraint: three historic heritage trees. The challenge, however, led to several creative solutions, beginning with the idea for a new “treehouse” that would function as a detached garage-apartment in the backyard.
Backyard
Early on, Crawley and Rick had to determine how to work around a primary constraint: three historic heritage trees. The challenge, however, led to several creative solutions, beginning with the idea for a new “treehouse” that would function as a detached garage-apartment in the backyard.
Photo provided by HA Architecture
Before. A dilapidated 1930s shed stood in the location of the future addition. Rick said it was an eyesore but provided the perfect location for the new garage apartment.
Before. A dilapidated 1930s shed stood in the location of the future addition. Rick said it was an eyesore but provided the perfect location for the new garage apartment.
After. The new apartment provides guests with an elevated treehouse view. Extended overhanging roofs and strategic placement of windows contribute to the apartment’s modern aesthetic while allowing for an influx of natural light. During the renovation of the main home, the space provided a temporary living space for the Whitworths.
Back on the main home, Crawley notes that the position of the trees helped drive a number of design decisions.
On one side of the home, visible on the right side of the photo shown above, one heritage tree stands out. It “has an interesting bend and crick in it, and it becomes really, really sculptural,” Crawley says. Recognizing this quality, Crawley and Rick included a notch in the home plan to account for the tree.
On one side of the home, visible on the right side of the photo shown above, one heritage tree stands out. It “has an interesting bend and crick in it, and it becomes really, really sculptural,” Crawley says. Recognizing this quality, Crawley and Rick included a notch in the home plan to account for the tree.
Stairway
Then, on the inside of the home, they positioned a new, cantilevered steel stairway and large windows to provide a grand, multilevel view of the tree.
Then, on the inside of the home, they positioned a new, cantilevered steel stairway and large windows to provide a grand, multilevel view of the tree.
Photo by HA Architecture
The result is an intriguing conversation between two sculptural elements: The organic, natural forms of the tree interplay with the modern, more industrial features of the cantilevered stair. With natural light and shadows changing throughout the day, the conversation shifts every hour.
The result is an intriguing conversation between two sculptural elements: The organic, natural forms of the tree interplay with the modern, more industrial features of the cantilevered stair. With natural light and shadows changing throughout the day, the conversation shifts every hour.
Beneath that same stair sits another conversation starter, Rick’s 1967 Honda CB305, a model called the Super Hawk. Motorcycle aficionados and literary types may recall it’s the same kind of motorcycle the late author Robert M. Pirsig described riding in his iconic novel, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.
While living in Seattle, Rick purchased the bike from a sage electrician who had worked on the Space Needle. With all of its history, Rick enjoys having the bike as a centerpiece in the home.
While living in Seattle, Rick purchased the bike from a sage electrician who had worked on the Space Needle. With all of its history, Rick enjoys having the bike as a centerpiece in the home.
The location of the motorcycle and the stairwell, in effect, serves as a connecting point for the older and newer parts of the home. In blending the two sections, Crawley says, they decided not to try and trick the viewer’s eye, but instead to honestly acknowledge where the renovations occurred.
With the wood floors, for instance, an obvious difference exists between the old and new sections, but both work in conjunction.
With the wood floors, for instance, an obvious difference exists between the old and new sections, but both work in conjunction.
Entry Room
In the original part of the home, Crawley helped the Whitworths preserve several traditional elements, including the exposed shiplap. During the course of construction, the wood paneling was removed, cleaned and restored.
In the original part of the home, Crawley helped the Whitworths preserve several traditional elements, including the exposed shiplap. During the course of construction, the wood paneling was removed, cleaned and restored.
Dining Area
Just to the south of the entry room, a new dining area offers a bright, contemporary space.
Table: Uptown Modern; lighting: West Elm
Just to the south of the entry room, a new dining area offers a bright, contemporary space.
Table: Uptown Modern; lighting: West Elm
Photo by HA Architecture
Kitchen
On the north side of the entry room, white shelves and columns separate the entry from the kitchen. Those pieces were added in the 1980s, Rick explains, noting that they have their own Hollywood backstory. “The previous homeowner, his brother was a set carpenter, and those columns and shelves came from this movie with Kevin Costner and Clint Eastwood called A Perfect World,” he says.
Kitchen
On the north side of the entry room, white shelves and columns separate the entry from the kitchen. Those pieces were added in the 1980s, Rick explains, noting that they have their own Hollywood backstory. “The previous homeowner, his brother was a set carpenter, and those columns and shelves came from this movie with Kevin Costner and Clint Eastwood called A Perfect World,” he says.
Besides the shelves, columns, floors and shiplap, the rest of the kitchen is new. During the renovation, a wall was blown out to add space.
Countertops: soapstone by Latera Architectural Surfaces; cabinets: Creative Custom Cabinets
Countertops: soapstone by Latera Architectural Surfaces; cabinets: Creative Custom Cabinets
During the kitchen renovation, the team added modern appliances, including a Bertazzoni Range. The high-powered burners and oven provide the Whitworths with an easy and efficient way to prepare food while entertaining family and friends.
Living Room
In the new living area, the Whitworths brought together their collection of midcentury modern furniture.
In the new living area, the Whitworths brought together their collection of midcentury modern furniture.
Master Bedroom
Just beyond the living room, the master bedroom showcases an original wood ceiling. Previously, the room had a drywall ceiling, but Crawley and Rick made the decision to expose it during construction.
Just beyond the living room, the master bedroom showcases an original wood ceiling. Previously, the room had a drywall ceiling, but Crawley and Rick made the decision to expose it during construction.
Master Bathroom
Previously, the master bedroom had a small adjoining bathroom. As part of the renovation, the bathroom was completely reconfigured and a new master closet was added. A combination soaking tub and shower, custom-built shelves and Moroccan-patterned floor tile add to the room’s dramatic, elongated look.
Previously, the master bedroom had a small adjoining bathroom. As part of the renovation, the bathroom was completely reconfigured and a new master closet was added. A combination soaking tub and shower, custom-built shelves and Moroccan-patterned floor tile add to the room’s dramatic, elongated look.
Second-Floor Sitting Room
One of the Whitworths’ favorite rooms in the home is on the upper floor, facing outward toward the street. With large windows, it offers a perfect view of the neighborhood, and “it’s a great napping room,” Rick says.
One of the Whitworths’ favorite rooms in the home is on the upper floor, facing outward toward the street. With large windows, it offers a perfect view of the neighborhood, and “it’s a great napping room,” Rick says.
Second-Floor Bedroom
The upper part of the home fully embraces a modern aesthetic, providing guests with a comfortable, inviting place to stay.
The upper part of the home fully embraces a modern aesthetic, providing guests with a comfortable, inviting place to stay.
Throughout the home, the modern additions preserve the best of the bungalow’s original character while creating something entirely new. Overall, it’s a fitting culmination to the collaborative relationship between Whitworth and Crawley that spans more than 25 years.
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More home tours: Apartments | Small Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | All
House at a Glance
Who lives here: Lisa and Rick Whitworth
Location: Hyde Park neighborhood of Austin, Texas
Size: Main house is 2,500 square feet (232 square meters); garage apartment is 550 square feet (46 square meters)
Designers: Jamie Crawley, architect at HA Architecture, in collaboration with homeowner Rick Whitworth
Throughout the Red River Sliver, an enclave of the Hyde Park neighborhood in Austin, Texas, early 20th-century homes and towering heritage trees dot the landscape. The neighborhood is the kind of place where everyone knows their neighbors yet enjoys a host of urban amenities, such as coffeehouses, cafes and access to light rail. It’s an environment Lisa and Rick Whitworth have loved being a part of for the past several years, and now they envision it as their long-term home after reimagining their 1930s bungalow.