Graham Bybee House

Originally constructed in 1922, the Graham Bybee House is a landmark of Old West Austin. The current owner sought to retain the home’s historic value while creating a space both sophisticated enough for hosting and comfortable enough for family life. Our team stepped in to adapt this storied structure for modern day living with a design that still preserves its vernacular Prairie School roots.

Our strategy began with redesigning the home’s floor plan. On the first floor, we started with the inhabitants’ primary entrance, the mudroom. This small but mighty space had been closed off from the rest of the home and lacked any functional storage. By opening up the mudroom to the main areas, we improved overall circulation and created an unbroken line of sight that makes for an impressive entrance from either direction. We added custom storage made of bleached walnut, finished the walls and ceiling with Roman Clay, and added an elegant basket weave floor tile to greet inhabitants with a calm and grounded energy.

The original galley kitchen and closed living room were then transformed into a spacious open-concept living area with an adjacent sunroom, while the existing French doors were thoughtfully repurposed as stowable pocket doors. The addition of a wall-to-wall glass window in the kitchen provides sight-lines to an oak-shaded backyard and newly installed lap pool. In the living area, we chose to honor the historic charm and authentic roots of the home by uncovering an original brick chimney that had previously been hidden behind drywall for decades.

On the second floor, the traditional Prairie School layout made for a choppy, inefficient space unsuited for modern day living. In the process of reimagining the floor plan, we chose to remove a bedroom in favor of adding much needed space to the primary bedroom, which could now be transformed into a contemporary primary suite for the homeowner, complete with a walk-in closet and en-suite bathroom. We added a playroom & guest room, and a secondary bedroom for the homeowner’s young daughter.

Our choices in materiality throughout the space held special importance. We not only wanted to design a modern and comfortable home, but we also wanted to ensure our design choices would seamlessly merge with the home’s historical nature. Our intent in using luxurious yet functional materials was also to create a sense of casual sophistication and timeless design. Elegant finishes like Calacatta gold marble and Roman Clay contrast with rustic details like brass-plated hardware and a found-stone basin.

On the second floor, we found that simple approaches can yield impactful results by applying a 2x8” deep blue tile to the entirety of the primary bath, creating a serene sense of depth and drama. On the contrary, we chose a mix of terracotta and blush-toned tiles for the daughter’s bathroom, adding brass animal hooks for a playful yet sophisticated look that will mature alongside her over time.

For the final layers, we chose a mix of modern furniture and curated vintage pieces to add depth and personality to each room. In the sunroom you’ll find a custom banquette and specially-designed guinea pig habitat, in the living area you’ll see the massive framed work of photographer Slim Aarons and an antique burlwood dresser. In the primary bedroom you’ll find a bed fit for a king, designed by Croft House LA.

Each and every design choice, whether it be floor planning, material selections, furnishings or decor, helped us to achieve the outcome of our shared desires while still honoring the story of the home.