Houston
Westerman Residence
On a long, narrow lot between two-story neighbors, we shaped the house in a C around a private pool courtyard that every room can see.
Franco Albarran, Founder
A Courtyard at the Center
This lot runs 60 feet wide and 250 deep, with a two-story house pressing in on either side. The client wanted a private retreat of their own, not a narrow strip of yard between the neighbors.
So we shaped the house in a C around a pool and patio at the center, giving every room on both floors a direct line to it. Behind the primary suite we tucked the generator, the AC, and the pool equipment, which doubles as a buffer and a wash of soft noise between the house and the property behind.
The client nearly passed on this lot, and now neighbors ask to buy the house. What on your property looks like a limit the design could turn into its center?
A Seam Made on Purpose
The client wanted a two-story room somewhere in the house, and with no floor above it, the living room was the place for that height.
The mahogany trusses had to span twenty feet, but the longest stable lengths we could source were twelve, so each one needed a splice. We worked the joint out on site with the client and chose to feature it, a reveal that echoes the brackets on the front elevation, stained to match the patio doors.
A problem solved in the open can become the part you point out to guests. Where might a constraint in your home be worth turning into a feature?
Two Spaces, One Material
The client, an interior designer, wanted a freestanding tub and a walk-in shower kept as separate spaces, with no sense that one ran into the other.
So we carried the shower tile out across the wall behind the tub and around the side, so one material ties the two together while a glass enclosure keeps them clearly distinct. With no floor above this wing, we lifted the ceiling and set clerestory windows over the vanity mirror, so the shades behind the tub can stay drawn while daylight still fills the room.
One material can connect two areas you still want to read as separate. Where could a single finish pull a room together for you?
Still Right, Fifteen Years On
The client, an interior designer, wanted a study with the feel of leather, cigars, and scotch, a room that seemed like it had always been there.
The client sourced the furniture and hung a piece of art carried from their old office, and we built the room to feel settled, as if it predated the house. Fifteen years on, the client says it still puts its arms around you.
The rooms people love most often feel like they were always there. What would make one of yours feel that way?
A Closet You Want to Be In
The client put the brief simply: I know it is just a closet, but I want to go in there and want to be in there.
So we treated it like a small shop, dark mahogany below with a white ceiling and upper walls to lift the height, built-in mirrors, and a central island for packing. The client travels often, so the island holds an open suitcase while they pack, with the whole layout worked out together piece by piece.
A utility room can be a chore or a place you actually want to stand. Which of yours would you want to enjoy being in?
Spanish Style, Brought Modern
The client wanted a Spanish-style home without the clay-tile roof, an updated version that read a little more modern.
So we held the whole house to one material, stucco, with casement windows gridded by horizontal bars that feel modern and traditional at once. Where the lot angled sharply and a mature tree stood out front, we pushed the garage forward and the house back to keep the tree, recessing the garage doors into a niche under a metal roof so the mass never feels like it is coming at you.
The right house can update a style you love without copying it. What look would you want carried forward and brought current?
Building a home is a big undertaking. You won’t take it on alone.
Build the team early
Architect, builder, and designer aligned from day one
Design around real life
We study how your family actually lives before drawing plans
Eliminate surprises
Budget and design evolve together throughout the process