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A Seattle couple built their own backyard house with a city-sponsored design—and then rented out their old home on the property to friends.

Architects Ernesto Cragnolino and Krista Whitson designed and built an efficient four-bedroom home for their family in Austin.

The entry hall is another snapshot of design experimentation with wood built-ins, open cubbies, and simple brass hooks.

Local craftsmen made-to- measure bench and banquette in oak, with matching shelves and built-in drawers to maximize storage.

The focus of the renovation was the kitchen, where the textures of tiles and brickwork play backdrop to considered, bespoke carpentry.

The kitchen is both stylish and practical.

A dining table fits into a nook on the side of the kitchen referencing the mess area on the yachts on which the owner works. Above the table is a sleeping platform accessed by a long ladder also adding a ship-like feel. <span style=

The chic contemporary interiors feature concrete floors and plywood paneling, with black accents that echo the cabin’s exterior.

Chin abstracted a simple gable form—a profile which is more common in the area—to create a more contemporary asymmetrical profile.

Custom white oak storage with slatted fronts lines the wall of the family room, blending in with the other finishes. The lower ceiling—nine feet high—fosters a cozy room to curl up and watch TV.

Storage was built in all down the hallway, making efficient use of a linear space.

All of the furnishings are either hand-me-downs or found on Craigslist. "A big part of the project was sourcing furniture as economically as possible," says Pang.