Some people’s house hunts are driven strictly by location; others motivated by amenities. But if you’re architects like Annie-Laurie Grabiel and Arthur Furman, the couple and founders behind Austin-based firm Side Angle Side, it’s all about footprint. At least, that’s what initially drew them to their Texas bungalow back in 2012. They’d long admired the double-courtyard house that was situated just down the street from Furman’s parent’s home. While a giant oak tree shrouds the property’s front yard in shade, they could tell that the home’s H-shape layout allowed natural light to seep into all sides of the house. “I think most architects are attracted to courtyard homes. It’s just universally awesome,” says Grabiel. When they spotted a “Coming Soon” sign posted in the front yard, they jumped at the chance to buy it.
While the 1939 home had its downsides (there were only two bedrooms for their family of four), it was ultimately their need for a proper dishwasher that threw them into a seven-year-long renovation. The portable one that came with the house required a sink hook-up and made a ton of noise. “We called it our party trick,” Grabiel recalls wheeling it out at the end of the night in front of friends. When the appliance eventually conked out, the pair sought a double-drawer replacement. But if they were going to have to re-do the cabinets, they might as well just update the countertops and the lighting while they were at it. And if they had to touch the electrical, it would be a good idea to vault the ceilings and upgrade the roofing, they convinced themselves.
Figuring out what needed to change wasn’t the problem, it was simply starting. “We had all of these ideas, but there was also a feeling of being paralyzed,” shares Furman. So, one day, he just started dismantling the cabinets. “It was creating some chaos. Then it was like, Okay now we have to dig our way out of this,” he adds. The architects brought in Waller Building Co. and Fort Structures to help turn their vision into a reality.
Temporarily moving out of the house allowed them to make one serious adjustment: a 200 square foot addition. It doesn’t sound like a ton of space, but with a little rearranging, they were able to add another kids’ bedroom and guest bathroom to the floorplan. Better yet, during construction, they were able to reuse many of the original steel casement windows. (One is now situated within the front courtyard, adjacent to the new pivot door and sidelight, which offer a straight view into the backyard).
When the couple bumped the house forward a smidge, they decided to absorb what was once the old facade into the foyer—a decision that “just felt honest” to the home. Plus, “In architecture, it’s so nice to have a sequence of arrivals, and I think this house has that,” Grabiel adds. The once faded-blue exterior got a modern update with Sherwin-Williams Peppercorn, a black-gray shade with blue undertones.
As you walk into the formal living room, you’re greeted by the family’s vinyl collection. Their kids have become experts at flipping the records, especially when it’s time to listen to Sabrina Carpenter’s album. “We listen to records probably every single day,” says Grabiel. “It’s become a ritual.”
To avoid decision fatigue during the design process, Furman and Grabiel tried to stick to as few materials as possible. The same Saltillo tile can be found in the entryway, kitchen, bathrooms, and exterior courtyards, while reclaimed longleaf pine boards add a layer of warmth to the living areas and bedrooms. The kitchen cabinets and countertops are a crisp white, keeping all the focus on their vibrant greenery, both inside and out. “I like to have a kitchen backdrop that’s pretty clean, and for the daily things (objects, art, plants) to be the noise,” she says.
The swimming pool, an extensive project that didn’t kick off until the family moved back into the house, is made out of chukum, a type of resin that’s particularly popular in Mexico. The perk is that you can use it on every surface of a pool—no fussing over coping or waterline tile. “And that’s a slam dunk,” says Furman.
Because the rear half of the property slopes up more than 10 feet, they had to excavate and incorporate terraces and cement retaining walls in order to add the pool. That undertaking amounted to hauling away 30 dump trucks-worth of dirt. Grabiel was terrified nothing would ever grow in the yard again—now it’s a mini oasis. “I don’t know if it’s a Texas thing, but even if it’s cold or hot, everybody always wants to be outside,” she says. “We wanted to make sure the garden was inviting, and that the courtyard was a place where we could sit, read books, cook, and talk for hours.”
Luckily, they can hear each other loud and clear: There’s no hum of a portable dishwasher putting a damper on late-night conversations.
