Having raised their children in this 1980s Austin, Texas, house, the homeowners had consistently chafed against a poorly designed galley kitchen. It was dark and caused people to collide with each other in its dead-end layout, frustrating food prep and socialization. The process of resolving the kitchen’s issues made it clear to McKinney York Architects that other spaces in the house also lacked flow and cohesiveness, such as a confusing array of ceiling shapes and heights.
The resulting comprehensive full-house redesign focused on releasing the energy of the house to flow fluidly. A library entry with a sweeping curved staircase is the hub of the house, linking all the spaces together. Washes of light from added windows illuminate the dramatically reorganized ceiling planes, which define the gathering and circulating spaces.
The redesign naturally created opportunities for new fresh-air spaces, like a screened porch, living room balcony and mostly private streetside courtyard. This last space is sheltered by a finely calibrated garden wall, which allows passersby to see the tops of the homeowners’ heads and know when they are open to a neighborly chat—a twist on the classic front veranda.
And, of course, the kitchen is transformed. Now it connects physically and visually with the living room, dining, library entry and garage. Light suffused it. Chefs have their zone, and guests their hangouts.
PHOTOS: Andrea Calo
