6700 Notre Dame Dr. 2400 sq.ft. 1960 University Hills subdivision showcase house with SF3 zoning that my family bought in 1968, I call it a “Gingerbread Blando Ranch”. The original “Swiss Miss” snow load detail over the bump out window, I duplicated over the new garage door enclosure. I have yet to do the year round Christmas light installation, typical of Austin. University Hills subdivision was an interesting development with unique houses. Each floor plan floor plan was semi duplicated once, another words there is always a twin house which is fun to find. There must have been a very good architect/developer because the space use in all these houses is very functional. The three Bed rooms, two Baths, Living room, den, laundry room and two car garage is spacious with eight and a half foot or vaulted ceilings. This makes for an excellent southern experience of ceiling fans and cross ventilation. The trees have grown over to create a heat protective canopy.

The 2004 renovation of the house was mostly centered in the kitchen. I add space by using part of a garage storage closet and created a recess for the refrigerator and a broom closet. I kept the original mahogany cabinets and painted the interiors a super white. The biggest change was redesigning the kitchen with concrete counters with a Central Texas geological theme with inset geoids, fossils and polished stones. They have an etched surface exposing the silica sand.

The traditional Den with wood or gas fireplace makes an excellent Great Room for contemporary living style with doors going out to the patio and eating and conversation areas.

Generally the house was in it’s original quality, which made it unthinkable to tear stuff out and start over. Repainting everything in simple pure white walls and adding lighting/ceiling fans in the rest of the house became a simple but effective renovation.

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I will replace the sliding glass doors with fifteen pain French door that open out to the patio. The kitchen, great room and entry hall will have a tile or hardwood floor installed for traffic and dirt. The media room, bedrooms and hall should stay carpeted.

The entry hall and traditional living room with a contemporary rethink becomes an excellent media and game table room.

Front bed room

Main bath room Third bed room

Master bed room and bath with walk-in closet

Two car garage was sheet rocked and brought up to code.