This Garage Apartment Was Converted Into a Backyard Cabana – Austin Monthly

When Eric and Michele Starkloff asked architect Chris Sanders of Sanders Architecture to transform the dingy apartment space on the edge of their North University property into a fully functioning poolside entertainment area, he was able to deliver the ultimate hangout spot in less than 400 square feet.

The backyard already featured a large pool that the homeowners had built just a few years before, as well as a garage with two deteriorating accessory dwelling units above it, which faced the couples driveway instead of the pool. We had a tough time even envisioning if [what we wanted] was possible, Eric says. The Starkloffs desired a cabana that walked the line of modernism but still respected the Colonial Revival style of the main house, which was built in the mid-1920s.

From the start, the architect and his team were met with design difficulties. Although the ADUs were built in the 1990s, they were made to match the homes 20s-style architecture, so it took peeling back layers of construction to realize the units were as new as they were, Sanders says. And while he had built cabanas before, this one was unique because its located on a historic piece of property and utilized an existing building. With that in mind, Sanders began drafting a plan to revitalize the structure that would optimize verticality and provide plenty of functionality within a small footprint.

To maximize space, he created a tall ceiling for the loft (a prime spot for Eric and Micheles teenage daughters to host sleepovers) and installed plenty of windows for natural light.The Starkloff family did all of the interiors themselves, resulting in a minimalist look with a navy-painted kitchenette, a dining nook, a powder bath, brown-and-white tile, bohemian pillows, and plenty of greenery.

For builders Christian Bingham and David Wilkes of David Wilkes Builders, challenges came in the way of running new electrical wiring and also waterproofing, as the original pine-clad building had started to decay. They used HardiePlank, a low-maintenance siding, to give the cabana a shiplap look. Fitting everything into such a small space and making it work takes really great design, which Sanders brought to the table, and an extremely high level of detail, Wilkes says.

Since its completion, the cabana has become a place that the Starkloff family can escape to for any occasion. We just had a 50th birthday for a friend out there, Eric says. The large-screen TV in the cabana is angled, so you can watch it from inside or from the pool. Sanders adds: Its a tiny spaceonly about 350 square feetso we designed everything to be able to co-exist. It can go from being a kids space to somewhere for parties and family get-togethers,so everything had to be buttoned up and serve a variety of functions.

Follow this link:
This Garage Apartment Was Converted Into a Backyard Cabana - Austin Monthly