RaveOn: Nick Deaver Architect Renovates a 1956 Austin Home

Home renovations vary widely depending on the original structure, its condition, the owners’ priorities and the budget. Some projects require a complete rebuild; others benefit from a more delicate approach that preserves character while improving flow, performance and comfort. RaveOn, the renovation by Nick Deaver Architect in Austin, falls into the latter category. Built in 1956, the house retains its mid-century spirit while receiving considered updates that enhance everyday life and highlight its natural setting.

Limestone base and pitched roof of the revamped modern Texas home

Preserving the Character, Improving the Bones

The design retains the home’s defining elements — a gently pitched roof that appears to float over floor-to-ceiling glass, a limestone base, and a mature stand of oak trees that frames the site. Instead of erasing the original identity, the architects replaced aging systems and poorly planned additions, reworked the floor plan for clearer circulation, and introduced new insulated glass walls to improve comfort and energy performance. The result is a house that reads as timeless and contemporary at once.

Interior: Light, Texture and Thoughtful Details

Inside, a restrained neutral palette keeps the focus on natural materials and daylight. White walls and oak floors provide a calm, cohesive backdrop throughout the home. Large glass walls blur the boundary between indoors and out, inviting views of the landscape and allowing natural light to wash the interiors. Carefully chosen accents provide visual interest: a generous green sofa anchors the living area, while a striking blue-tiled backsplash gives the kitchen a memorable focal point.

Oak cabinet and coffee station — Beautiful oak cabinet also offers additional storage space and provides coffee station

A defining interior element is a custom L-shaped white oak cabinet, seven feet high, that serves multiple roles. It provides generous storage, displays a curated collection of vases and objects, and houses a coffee station and other functional elements. Crucially, this wood volume acts as a subtle room divider, gently separating public living spaces from more private areas without closing them off.

Seven-foot L-shaped white oak cabinet — Fabulous new seven-foot high L-shaped white oak cabinet delineates the public spaces from the private ones

Blue tiled kitchen backsplash — Gorgeous blue tiled backsplash steals the spotlight in this modern kitchen draped in wood

Bedrooms and Built-ins

Bedrooms continue the same language of oak floors and white walls, with expansive glass openings that bring in light and greenery. Custom wooden shelving and half-walls introduce texture and storage while maintaining an open, airy feeling. Thoughtful built-ins throughout the interior maximize functionality without interrupting the visual simplicity of the rooms.

Custom wooden bookshelf half-wall — Custom wooden bookshelf also acts as a half-wall inside the home

Outdoor Living: A Renewed Backyard

The landscape and outdoor amenities were rethought to create a flexible social zone. A curated backyard, new deck and a timber pergola combine wood, concrete and steel to form a durable, contemporary composition. A small pool and adjacent deck provide a calm, relaxing outdoor room, while lighting and careful detailing enhance the space for evening use. The combination of materials complements the limestone base and oak canopy that define the property.

Backyard lighting and pool — Lighting and design adds to the visual appeal of the spacious backyard and pool

Concrete, wood and steel structure at deck end — Concrete, wood and steel structure at the end of the new deck and terrace completes the outdoor space

Contemporary pool and pergola — Contemporary pool and deck with a small pergola at the end was created to offer a more relaxing outdoor space

Limestone base and walls are a common feature in homes across Austin

Plan and Credits

The renovation reorganizes the ground floor to clarify public and private zones, improving flow and daylighting while preserving the property’s original strengths. The thoughtful combination of new and existing elements — from the floating roofline and expansive glazing to the custom oak casework and reimagined landscape — demonstrates how careful interventions can refresh a mid-century home without erasing its history.

Ground floor plan of RaveOn renovation — Ground floor plan of RaveOn renovated by Nick Deaver Architect in Austin

Photography: Casey Dunn