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The swimming pool did not originate with the house, but came about later in a 1980 design by Hans Kahn Associates, Inc. The metalwork supporting the patio cover borrows rhythm and form from nearby transom windows. In the Hornbein-era backyard, grass and a swing set prevail, both in the shadow of the second-story solarium.

Solarium

A breakfast nook off the kitchen is designed as a solarium and looks out onto the lush backyard. The glass ceiling and wall of windows allow sunshine to warm the space, which also features an exposed brick wall and built-in china cabinets on both sides.

While it's not your traditional backsplash material, when properly prepared and treated, wood can make for an effective, functional, and beautiful backsplash. Here, the wood backsplash matches the wood of the nearby kitchen island in an otherwise white kitchen with white cabinetry.

BSC designed suspended powder-coated and walnut open shelves to demarcate the kitchen from the rest of the living space. The detailing on the cast-iron columns inspired the perforated pattern of the semi-transparent screens.

Lighting floods into the space during the day through many, many windows on the main floor. A Herman Miller Nelson Saucer Bubble pendant light above the dining table helps illuminate the room come nightfall.

The T&G fine line exterior siding was stained a custom color.

Mudroom

The glass partition doors assist in opening the space up, while also enhancing the natural light.

Sliding fritted glass doors provide privacy and sectioned-off spaces when needed.

The interior is a composition of pragmatic materials, including concrete, mosaic tiles, and timber. Likewise, many of the fixtures and fittings are affordable off-the-shelf items that have been elevated through clever design. Take, for example, the round light fittings found throughout. “We used curved plastic salad bowls as formwork for the fittings and the end result is a smooth, reflective integrated concrete dome housing a very basic light fitting,” says architect Guillaume Pienaar.

The counters are ‘Dekton Aeris’ Cosentino and the white oak cabinets from Reform.

Engelsman planned for plenty of moments of display for the couple’s cookbooks and collectibles.

Engelsman gave the kitchen an L-shaped layout with a large island workspace at the center, and pushed the tall storage into the garage, to create a wide circulation space to access the dining room and backyard.

The owners were looking to add a functional mudroom which would include lots of storage.

Scott Specht of Specht Novak Architects designed a 1,200-square-foot home in Austin for him and his wife, Shiraz Bakshai. The house features 2 bedrooms, 2 bathroom, and, notably, no exterior-facing windows.

The couple spent $27, 250 on the interior windows, including the floor-to-ceiling glass panels that frame the courtyard.

"The clients really didn't want the TV to be the main feature of the living room, so we designed the piece with sliding panels to give the flexibility to hide the TV and reveal a bookshelf in the closed position," explains Peake.