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Collection by Kelly Dawson

A Retired Couple Gives Their Home of Three Decades a Modern Renovation

This Austin house with views of Hill Country combines a diverse selection of wood with curving white walls and plenty of natural light.

After their three kids had grown up and moved out, a retired couple decided that they were finally going to get the property they had always wanted. They had bought their family house in the 1980s for the surrounding neighborhood, a tree-filled enclave in Austin, Texas, with elevated views of the Hill Country, and accepted its uninspired architectural details. But, decades later, the home’s dark rooms and outdated features—as well as more pressing structural issues in the foundation and staircase—called for a long-awaited change. The couple’s son had worked with Arbib Hughey Design as an engineer, and he introduced his parents to principals Ben Arbib and Ed Hughey. “To be honest, the house was in rough shape,” Arbib said. “If the budget allowed, we probably would have torn it down.” Perhaps it was because of those monetary restrictions that the home received what it had always lacked: creativity. Cloistered rooms gave way to curved walls and an open floor plan, tired carpets were replaced with shiny oak, and narrow windows were widened for more natural light. And to make the modern transformation undeniably clear, the couple painted their front door a neon hue.

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A galvanized standing seam metal roof reflects about 90 percent of sunlight and heat, keeping the home cool. Lueders Limestone steps lead to a front door painted Benjamin Moore’s Yew Green.
A galvanized standing seam metal roof reflects about 90 percent of sunlight and heat, keeping the home cool. Lueders Limestone steps lead to a front door painted Benjamin Moore’s Yew Green.
An Eames rocking chair sits across from an Avanti sectional couch from Copenhagen Imports. Local craftsman Carlo Nieri completed the custom-made, painted steel guardrails, and they sit under a Gregg suspended light from Foscarini.
An Eames rocking chair sits across from an Avanti sectional couch from Copenhagen Imports. Local craftsman Carlo Nieri completed the custom-made, painted steel guardrails, and they sit under a Gregg suspended light from Foscarini.
The pine, clear-coated wall—which is accented by shelves in Benjamin Moore’s off-white Cotton Balls shade—hides a television and a sliding door to the master suite.
The pine, clear-coated wall—which is accented by shelves in Benjamin Moore’s off-white Cotton Balls shade—hides a television and a sliding door to the master suite.
“We wanted to keep the color palette light and neutral by using a bright white for the walls and a subtle off-white for the cabinets,” Arbib says. “We also chose to accent the space with natural materials, from the white-washed oak floors and clear-coated pine accent wall to the steel fireplace and stair rails.”
“We wanted to keep the color palette light and neutral by using a bright white for the walls and a subtle off-white for the cabinets,” Arbib says. “We also chose to accent the space with natural materials, from the white-washed oak floors and clear-coated pine accent wall to the steel fireplace and stair rails.”
“We knocked out walls dividing the kitchen, dining, and living rooms, creating a nice open space. [We] used cabinetry to define and contextualize the various areas within that space,” Arbib said. The kitchen’s appliances are all from KitchenAid’s Architect II Series while the sink is a Kohler Vault sink and the faucet is a chrome-finished Talis S2 faucet from Hansgrohe.
“We knocked out walls dividing the kitchen, dining, and living rooms, creating a nice open space. [We] used cabinetry to define and contextualize the various areas within that space,” Arbib said. The kitchen’s appliances are all from KitchenAid’s Architect II Series while the sink is a Kohler Vault sink and the faucet is a chrome-finished Talis S2 faucet from Hansgrohe.
A Design Within Reach table and Eames chairs create an open dining room off the kitchen. A Cord Pendant light by Brendan Ravenhill hangs from the ceiling.
A Design Within Reach table and Eames chairs create an open dining room off the kitchen. A Cord Pendant light by Brendan Ravenhill hangs from the ceiling.
“When you look out of the windows from the upper level you see trees for miles. You wouldn’t think you are in Texas, at least out-of-towners wouldn’t, or near a major city,” Arbib said. The upstairs living room features a Paulistano Armchair by Paulo Mendes da Rocha nearest the entryway, and a Barcelona chair by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe next to the window.
“When you look out of the windows from the upper level you see trees for miles. You wouldn’t think you are in Texas, at least out-of-towners wouldn’t, or near a major city,” Arbib said. The upstairs living room features a Paulistano Armchair by Paulo Mendes da Rocha nearest the entryway, and a Barcelona chair by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe next to the window.
A custom mirror (and medicine cabinet) in the master bathroom was installed above Kohler Vox sinks and GROHE Eurosmart Cosmopolitan faucets.
A custom mirror (and medicine cabinet) in the master bathroom was installed above Kohler Vox sinks and GROHE Eurosmart Cosmopolitan faucets.
“Previously, most of the windows were tall and narrow. It was difficult to take in the distant views or nice backyard,” Arbib says. Now “most rooms now have expansive views to the Hill Country or of the backyard... the house is flooded with natural light.” Milgard supplied the windows and sliding door.
“Previously, most of the windows were tall and narrow. It was difficult to take in the distant views or nice backyard,” Arbib says. Now “most rooms now have expansive views to the Hill Country or of the backyard... the house is flooded with natural light.” Milgard supplied the windows and sliding door.
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