Barely touched since it was built in 1963, the home’s original architecture served as a time capsule of sorts, rife with 60’s-era remnants and representative of the architecture of the day with its closed-off spaces and dark interiors. But beneath the dated layers, the 2,800-square-foot mid-century modern ranch house possessed good structure, enabling Hefty and her team to breathe new life into an old home designed to suit its new owners — a couple with three children — now and in the future.
“The good thing about many of these 60’s houses is that they already have good bones and nice proportions, which gives you a lot to work with,” says Hefty, one of San Antonio’s 40 under 40 to watch, who is part of an innovative group of architects leading the city’s urban revitalization, transforming historical homes and warehouses into contemporary contemplative spaces. This recent remodel, a turn-key design and construction collaboration among the project architect and Dado’s Clay Hefty, Luis Vargas and Juan Martinez, drew praise during San Antonio’s AIA Homes Tour last year, and it’s easy to see why.
The stunning home, once defined by dark and boxy interiors, is now open and light-filled, boasting eye-catching features including sculptural 3D tile and cypress plywood ceilings, sleek modern finishes and boldly colored furniture.
“We were trying to open it up, to bring in more natural light and brighten up the spaces — we wanted to make it more airy and to make it flow better,” says Hefty of the overarching goals that defined the project. “We wanted to modernize some of the materials, but in a way that wouldn’t take away from that mid-century look.”
To do this, the team removed barrier walls and an entry hall closet, which opened up the living and kitchen areas, allowing them to flow together. To flood interior spaces with natural light, 4-foot by 8-foot windows were installed along the west wall of the living and dining areas. Anchored by a custom blackened steel, pivot entry door with an elongated circular steel pull, a unifying 14-foot ceiling of 2-inch by 2-inch custom cypress slats extends from the front porch into the entry, dining and kitchen to connect spaces and create volume. Recessed LED lighting interspersed between the slats in a random pattern adds visual interest to the design while illuminating the series of open-concept living spaces.
“Throughout the house, different areas are delineated by the ceilings,” explains Hefty. “Part of what we were doing with the ceilings is defining the spaces in a way that made the home more open. The ceilings are really interesting and the spaces are so tall that we could do that — the ceilings add a little more texture.”
The addition of a 20-foot by 24-foot glass-surrounded family room replaces what was once an enclosed, un-air-conditioned garage, now serving as one of the defining characteristics of the remodel and providing an extra light-filled, multipurpose gathering space for the family. Steel girders and custom steel framework with walls of glass encase this jewel-box family room that looks onto the exterior landscape and features a contemporary sectional, a custom Baltic birch plywood laminate floating desk that runs the entire length of the wall and a shiny grand piano.
The kitchen pays homage to the 60’s with its bright colors and retro vibe, but the space is reimagined for modern style and functional living. Wood paneling was stripped away and replaced with high-gloss white cabinetry. A central white quartz island features waterfall edges and a black steel plate along the back side which holds deep drawers for added storage. Black steel-framed windows and black appliances contrast with tangerine barstools and a lime green door. The original red brick living room fireplace surround was resurfaced with hand-troweled soft gray plaster, which was repeated on the kitchen’s waterproofed backsplash.
“I love the raw coated steel details that contrast with the bright white in this house and the gray-green plaster over the brick,” says Hefty. “It’s a fun play on the mid-century aesthetic with all of the bright colors.”
Some of the home’s original features were kept in place, requiring only a minor makeover. Original terrazzo floors were resurfaced and polished, creating a gleaming look throughout the house. And a three-pendant light fixture, original to the home, now hangs from the vaulted sculptural ceiling. The bedrooms have been kept minimal and clean, creating white-walled, light-filled retreats.
“We reconfigured the bedrooms and bathrooms for the kids, and we tried to work with the original footprint as best we could to help with costs,” says Hefty.
Frosted glass sliding doors front reconfigured closets; clerestory windows were installed to maximize natural lighting while insuring privacy; and floors are self-leveling concrete that have been dyed light gray and waxed for a subtle luster. Two of the bedrooms have sliding glass doors that open to a rear patio. In the master bath, a walk-in shower is plastered in the same hand-troweled surfacing used in the home’s public spaces, adding continuity to the repurposed home.
Overall, the retro remodel represents a marriage between mid-century vibe and modern family living.
“I love the materials in here — the white and the steel and the molded plaster and how it all complements the existing terrazzo floor,” says Hefty. “I like the brightness of it — it feels happy and cheery, and at the same time, still comfortable.”
DESIGN/BUILD Dado Group
210-828-4599 | www.dado-group.com