Clad in all white Artisan® Hardie® Board, elegantly landscaped with gravel, concrete and steel punctuations, and spilling with cheerful natural light, this modern home efficiently and attractively accommodates a host of needs for its busy inhabitants, a family of five. Architect Dianne Kett organized the house around a peaceful central courtyard featuring large concrete pavers in a herringbone pattern and an outdoor fireplace. The arrangement successfully assigns a private and independent space to everyone while promoting a warm sense of familial community. The home surrounds the courtyard, with one side acting as home to grandma, and the other side serving as the residence for the parents and their two young children. A long corridor made mostly of glass connects the two spaces, and instantly connects the family to their outdoor space — a must in beautiful Austin. An additional structure serves as an office for the father, who works from home.
Kett, who is comfortable designing a wide range of styles, appreciated the opportunity to create a contemporary space that honored the family’s many different needs and desires. “My primary point of contact was the mom, but she ran everything through the rest of the family for feedback,” shares Kett. The family has a rather minimalistic aesthetic, allowing the architect to focus on proportion and light (a consistent focus of her work) throughout the 4,500-square-foot home.
The kitchen was designed for serious cooking, and is both efficient and pretty. A very large pantry hides appliances and tools and has ample space for the chef’s ingredients — but the actual kitchen is relatively small. Butcher block countertops and a Calcutta marble island are practical and beautiful, and the open design encourages the family to gather round while dad, the family’s chief chef, prepares meals.
The laundry room is another space that blends practicality and aesthetics. “The grandma loved the laundry room because of its generous size,” Kett shared. “With a family of five, we wanted a more accommodating space, and used the same butcher block countertops that we used in the kitchen.”
Wide plank oak flooring is consistently used throughout the house, as is Artisan® Hardie® Board. “While this home is more modern, I do all sorts of design,” shares Kett. “What I really like about this house is all of the natural light throughout.” Eagle® windows by Andersen® allow light to pour into the house without sacrificing energy efficiency. “I also like how it’s very private to the street but open to the courtyard and outdoor living spaces. Separate but connected.”
Indeed, separate but connected may very well be the secret to a happy family when it comes to architectural design. Success.
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