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Inspirational Remodel Success Story

Ryan Brown — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 17:13:34 +0000

It’s been awhile since I’ve posted an update on My Remodel. Rest assured things are going well, I am awaiting a few details before posting on our design and builder choices. In lieu of such a post I thought another remodel success story was in order.

Whenever I am discouraged or nervous about some aspect of our project this post on Design Sponge always lifts my spirits: Design Sponge – Lisa and Todds PDX Bungalow.

Click on through to read the full details, but here are a few after/before thumbnails:

What an amazing transformation!

Manadatory Visitability for New Homes in Austin?

Ryan Brown — Wed, 21 May 2008 02:50:40 +0000

Having recently experienced the City of Austin permit process it’s interesting to hear about an additional set of requirements. This story popped up today in one of my real estate news feeds:

AUSTIN (Austin Business Journal) – A proposed city ordinance could require local home builders to equip all new single-family homes with features designed especially for disabled individuals and the elderly…

The article mentions the following proposed requirements:

at least one building entrance on the first floor served by a ramp or no-step entrance
doors that are at least 32 inches wide
hallways that are at least 36 inches across and level with door thresholds
first-floor bathrooms with reinforced walls capable of supporting grab bars

Perhaps this proposal was made with the best intentions, but is it necessary? Many of the above requirements can be installed on an existing home. Is there a shortage of homes with these features?

When government must intervene, I prefer the carrot to the stick. Instead of a hard requirement, could the city provide an incentive for builders to include the above features? This would preserve the choice for builders/homeowners and address the issue (with sufficient incentive).

What do you think? Share in the comments!

Austin MCM Home Tour This Weekend

Ryan Brown — Thu, 15 May 2008 02:29:00 +0000

Be sure to check out a tour of Mid-Century Modern homes in the Austin Area this weekend. Here is the website with full details:
Austin Mid-Century Modern Homes Tour

16th Annual Heritage Homes Tour – May 17, 2008

Atomic Austin: Mid-Century Modern
10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Moonlight & Martinis: Twilight Tour
Tour: 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Party: 8:00 – 11:00 p.m.

President-elect Dwight Eisenhower had just returned from Korea. A first-class stamp was 3 cents. America had just seen its first magazine-style TV show, something called “The Today Show” starring Dave Garroway. And “Singin’ in the Rain” was playing at the Paramount Theatre across the street from Scarborough’s Department Store.

The Heritage Society of Austin pays homage to the city’s modernist roots and honors some of Austin’s premier mid-century architects during the Mid-Century Modern-themed Heritage Homes Tour on May 17th. This 16th annual tour has been revised to include both a daytime self-driving tour from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 pm then a Twilight Tour, also a self-driving tour, beginning at 6:30 which will conclude at a Mid-Century Modern bash starting at 8:00 at the final featured home. (Text by Sydney Rubin)

I’m definitely going to check out as many of the homes as possible. Unfortunately I won’t be able to make the Moonlight & Martinis: Twilight Tour. Hopefully next year it won’t be on the same day as a Radiohead concert!

via ModernAustin.com

Austin Garden Tour and Movies in the Park This Saturday

Ryan Brown — Fri, 09 May 2008 04:30:50 +0000

A few quick notes about fun events in Austin this weekend. It looks like the weather is going to be great so get outside and enjoy!

Gardens On Tour

Every year the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center puts on a tour of gardens in the Austin area. It’s a self guided tour (like the AIA Homes Tour) which allows you access to amazing examples of landscape design and construction. Here’s a description from their website:

Join us Mother’s Day Weekend for an exclusive look into some of Austin’s most unique gardens. Gardens On Tour on Saturday, May 10, is an annual self-guided tour of carefully selected private landscapes and the celebrated gardens of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

The tour is Saturday, May 10, from 9AM to 5PM. Tickets cost $25. See full details here: Gardens On Tour

Movies in the Park – Best in Show

After a nice day touring beautiful gardens, why not catch a movie? Saturday night you can see one of my favorite movies in Republic Square park. The Austin Parks Foundation will be showing Best in Show as part of their Movies in the Park program. Festivities start at 7pm and include events for your pets. Check out full details here: Movies In the Park

For those who aren’t familiar with the movie see full details here:
Best in Show Website.

In case you haven’t seen it, here’s a clip introducing one of the families competing in the dog show:

My Modern Remodel

Ryan Brown — Sun, 04 May 2008 15:48:26 +0000

This is the first post about my modern remodel in Austin, Texas.
Click here for all ‘My Remodel’ posts.

In the past I have suggested that building your own modern home is a great way to get the home you want in the location you want. Well, now it’s time that I put my money where my mouth is.

In the tradition of great Modern House blogs that have gone before me, I will record my own modern remodel here at InspiredAustin.com. My wife and I are nervous and excited to tackle this project, and to share our journey with all of you.

Here is a sneak peak of a before photo and an after rendering:

Why blog this?

Of course, I really enjoy following these types of projects, and I think other people do too. Home makeover blogs, magazines, and television shows are very popular. Everyone loves to see the scary ‘Before’ and the amazing ‘After’ (all in 30 minutes!).

However, the primary reason to blog our remodel is to share knowledge. I have learned a great deal from following other renovation project blogs relating to design, permitting, contrators, loans, etc. In fact, before we started planning our project I spoke to other house-bloggers to learn more about the process and the team they hired. It was a great education, and didn’t cost me anything! (besides a meal or two).

I hope that by following my project you will be able to learn about the process through my successes and setbacks.

Note – I do not intend to fully dedicate this space to my renovation. I will still cover local architectural, green building, and real estate issues. All posts related to My Remodel will be listed under the My Remodel tag (at right).

Stay tuned for my first post – Our Central Austin Home Search