TAKING FLIGHT

We relish the opportunity to work on a property with historical significance, such as this house designed and built by AD Stenger in 1964. There is always something to learn by observing and drawing details from over fifty years ago, and then building upon those ideas with our updated design. Beyond the potential of the site, we are thrilled to hear from new clients who care deeply about their home life and have an intuitive sense about their surroundings, such as the owners of this iconic residence in Rollingwood. 

  • The house appeared to have great potential but needed a lot of work. The owners loved the scalloped roof, likely influenced by the old Austin airport, and wanted to capture that spirit of creativity in the renovation. However, they didn’t necessarily want a ‘retro’ style applied throughout, so we all agreed it was best to start by making the spaces as good as they could be. 

    Our approach with the renovation was to remain true to the spirit of the house with an emphasis on lightness and period proportions, and amend the features that made the house less livable. Despite the openness of the main volume, the kitchen had been walled off and isolated the cook. In the remaining L-shaped space, a large freestanding fireplace consumed much of the seating area. Both of these features were removed, and we created a much more open living / dining / kitchen concept that better suited the original intentions of the house.

    We designed a walnut-panelled wall that conceals a built in media center and TV, with a pivot door leading into the master bedroom. The builder and cabinetmaker collaborated to figure out the clever walnut slide-latch to open that door, as none of us wanted to ruin the simplicity of the wall with metal hardware!

    Other design features were dated and in poor condition: the carpeted bedrooms, cramped bathrooms, and aluminum slider patio doors and windows. We aimed for a renovation that would preserve the original feeling of the house with a much higher quality of construction and sustainability. 

    PROJECT TEAM:

    ARCHITECTURE & INTERIORS BY Rick & Cindy Black Architects; GENERAL CONTRACTOR Miars Construction; PHOTOGRAPHY BY Whit Preston & Brent Humphreys (last image)

Modern kitchen with large windows, white cabinetry, a central island, and wooden chairs, overlooking a green outdoor scene.
Bright, modern dining room with large floor-to-ceiling windows showing green trees outside, a black dining table with multicolored chairs, and a black sideboard with framed pictures on top.
A modern house entrance featuring a coral-colored door with three vertical rectangular glass inserts, a silver door handle, and a lock. To the right of the door is a large potted plant with green leaves, and to the left are large glass windows revealing a lush green garden outside. The house's exterior includes dark gray trim and reflective upper windows, with a curved white ceiling above.
Open-concept living room and kitchen with large windows, white cabinetry, a kitchen island, a dining table with mixed chairs, a gray sectional sofa with colorful pillows, and art on the walls.
Living room with large windows, a red door, a chair with a cushion, a colorful rug, a gray sofa with a pillow, and a wooden wall-mounted console with a decorative bowl.
Close-up of a wooden cabinet with a rectangular cutout handle.
Interior of a living room with a gray wall, a framed picture, a checkered sofa with teal pillows, a black side table with flowers, a wall-mounted lamp, and a doorway leading to a bathroom. Light hardwood flooring and a window with a white shade are also visible.
A bathroom with a double vanity sink, a toilet, a bathtub, and a separate shower area with frosted windows.
A cozy interior space with a built-in white wardrobe, a plush beige chair with a blue clothing item draped over it, and an open closet door revealing hanging clothes. There's a pair of patterned shoes on the floor in front of the chair.
Modern bathroom with geometric wallpaper, light blue cabinets, a window with a view of greenery, and a wooden floor.
Modern kitchen with white countertops, wooden cutting board, stainless steel faucet, and white cabinets.
Interior view of a modern kitchen with large windows, white cabinetry, potted plant, and colorful framed artwork. Outdoors visible through the windows show greenery and a patio with seating.
Modern house with large glass windows and a bright orange front door, surrounded by trees and landscaped garden, with concrete steps leading up to the entrance.
An airport terminal with a tall, modern control tower and a sign pointing to planes, with cars and people in the foreground.
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