Efficient Elegance
Good Things Come on Small Lots
Words Christopher Ferguson, AIA | Photos Andrea Calo
In a quiet pocket of East Austin marked by modest houses and heritage trees, a new neighbor has quietly settled into a tight, corner lot. “Holly,” a sophisticated home designed by local architects, Thoughtbarn, brings a quiet confidence to the street: reserved, intentional, and with every detail considered.
From the street, the home appears refreshingly familiar: a steep gabled roof and a simple, mottled stucco exterior in tune with the existing neighborhood aesthetic. But this understated poise is no accident. Thoughtbarn co-directors, Lucy Begg and Robert Gay, had the tall task of aligning their client’s ambitious wish-list with the tricky, slender lot, one that sloped a total of seven feet from one side to the other, accommodated alley access, and preserved a large oak.
Before breaking ground in early 2020, the owners had long envisioned building a modern home that honored the neighborhood’s scale and history. “The homeowners wanted a gabled roofline and stucco walls to fit in,” explains Lucy, “but we blended some Japanese and New England influences that make the result quite contemporary.”
At the heart of it all is the kitchen, a warm and inviting hub that seamlessly connects with the dining area and living room. Large spans of walnut millwork and handmade Zellige tiles adorning the fireplace serve to anchor the communal gathering place. High windows above flood the main space with daylight while maintaining privacy, ensuring that the room remains flexible enough to accommodate everything from casual breakfasts to large gatherings. An expansive sliding glass door connects to a covered deck, where the gabled roof continues seamlessly to shelter an outdoor kitchen and dining area for entertaining and lounging under the tree canopy.
“Because the clients asked for many different kinds of spaces,” Lucy notes, “we had to make every square foot feel purposeful.”
Rather than trying to force space where there wasn’t much to begin with, the design seeks to “carve” out the special and important moments in the home, prioritizing communal areas. Think of the design like a long, rectangular box that was placed on the lot, and then carefully punctured and sliced to allow moments for light, views, movement, and simply being together.
Explaining the deduction approach, Robert continues, “The openings in the house act as a piece of karst Texas limestone; all of the interesting moments are those that are subtracted from the mass.” This tactic was crucial to fitting an impressive number of rooms into the home: four bedrooms, two multipurpose rooms, a substantial, vaulted indoor/outdoor kitchen, covered deck, an accessory dwelling unit with a downstairs workshop, a fire pit, hot tub, and even a narrow lap pool.
Incredibly, the layout doesn’t feel cramped or overdone. Instead, it’s fluid and layered, reflecting what Lucy calls an “urban attitude,” meaning that it maximizes spaces for communal gathering while gently scaling back the size of more private spaces, such as the bedrooms.
Interior designer, Lysa Janssen, brought warmth and clarity to the interiors, layering textiles, rich materials, and personal details throughout. The palette is warm but bright, with walnut and other wood surfaces that tie the living, kitchen, and dining spaces together. Each room feels coherent and yet not over-designed, making the home as a whole feel inviting, comfortable, and content. More simply put, the finished product yields a home that’s exceptional without seeming like it’s trying too hard.
“Holly” embodies the idea that, with the right design team, constraints don’t need to come with compromises. By placing the kitchen at the center of the home and organizing the rest of the spaces to facilitate moments of gathering, Thoughtbarn has created a one-of-a-kind residence that feels spacious, sustainable, and truly lived-in. It honors the character of its neighborhood while offering something entirely new, and entirely personal.
Meet the Team
Fort Structures, Capitol Construction, and Positive Energy round out Thoughtbarn’s project team.
Making the Grade
The home was awarded a 5 Star Austin Energy Green Building Rating, scored as one of the highest-rated residences in program history.
Contact
2901 E 2nd St.
thoughtbarn.com
@thoughtbarn
