Nick Deaver Jes Deaver Architecture transformed a derelict 1930s cottage in the heart of Austin into a modern residence for a retired couple. The quirky storybook structure features a steel and wood carport and rear arbor, a screened porch, a 28ft cantilevered concrete bench, and cypress wood details throughout, such as sinker cypress sills and ledges made from logs reclaimed in rivers and swamps. The design feels at one with the landscape, with room-sized terraces overlooking the grounds and gardens. Inside, rough wood transitions to soft white gallery walls with clean, curated lighting.