Brittany and Nick Hunt met at work in the summer of 2013, at the studio of renowned architects Tod Williams and Billie Tsien, near Central Park in New York City. “We sat five feet away from each other,” says Brittany. “It was a dream job for both of us.”

But it was also demanding, with long hours compounded by a commute. By late 2016, Nick left to work full-time for Hunt Architecture, a firm he’d founded with his brother, Andrew, and with Brittany expecting their first child, the decision was made: They wanted a new lifestyle.

In fall 2017 they moved to Austin, Texas, where Brittany had gone to school, and she joined the firm the following year. At first, they ran the practice out of a sunroom in their bungalow. “It was the perfect spot initially,” says Nick, but when their second child arrived, “we needed to get out of the house.”

The solution was right outside: They had enough space in the backyard to build a compact office and guest room. Not only does it provide a place for family to stay (Brittany’s mom has visited to help with the kids), but it was also a kind of test kitchen for materials and techniques. “It’s really nice meeting clients in a space that you’ve designed,” says Nick, “because people can see what they’re getting.”

$2,800 Demolition	$8,185 General Conditions	$9,725 Concrete Foundation & Floor Finish
$8,465 Framing	$15,620 Windows & Doors	$11,545 Exterior Stucco & Cedar
$6,445 HVAC	$12,260 Plumbing & Fixtures	$11,450 Electrical & Light Fixtures
$6,550 Standing Seam Metal Roof	$2,340 Insulation	$9,120 Drywall, Trim, Painting
$6,845 Millwork	$5,025 Stone Countertop & Concrete Sink	$570 Hardware
$335 Appliances	$23,456 Contractor Fee	$3,200 Permits
Grand Total: $143,936

“The things we splurged on still look raw, which is what we wanted.”
—Nick Hunt, architect and resident

With a limited budget, the Hunts made strategic decisions about where to spend and where to save. They kept the footprint small—under 400 square feet—and the shape simple, adding richness with a palette of burnished LaHabra stucco, wood, and steel. At the entry, an overhang and existing tree create a sense of arrival.

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Inside, a tiny bathroom/kitchenette core separates the office from the bedroom, and a mini-split HVAC system above the bathroom cools the entire space. Interior finishes range from raw concrete floors to polished tadelakt in the bathroom; the waterproof plaster allows the whole bathroom to get wet, eliminating the need for a shower door and creating a spa-like feel.

Low-cost furniture and fixtures (from Ikea and Cedar and Moss, respectively) left room in the budget for a few big impact custom moments: a door handle, giant skylights, a concrete sink fabricated by local artisan Dusty Whipple, and large, operable custom steel windows from Petrified Design.

The wood ceilings were a splurge, though the Hunts did save some money by switching to an engineered siding product, which also clads the exterior, instead of clear-finished cedar. The custom shelving that stretches across the back wall was another hefty investment but necessary for showcasing the firm’s material collection.

“To be able to pick things up and touch them, it’s a big source of inspiration for us,” says Brittany. A fabric piece by Brittany, sketches by the kids, and artifacts collected on the family’s travels lend a homey touch throughout. Overall, it was nearly $144,000 well spent, including the contractor’s fees and permits.

The couple keep strict work hours, but their kids sometimes run across the yard to say “hi” (the hinged windows are a big hit with the little ones). “Leaving work at four, being able to structure your life that way, it’s a luxury,” says Nick. “And if we need to plug in for an hour or two after the kids go to bed, we just walk back here.” Brittany sums it up: “We built the work-life balance we’d always dreamed about.”

Project Credits:

Architect of Record: Hunt Architecture / @huntarchitecture

Construction: Fieldwork Construction

Engineering: R.D. Hammond Consulting & Engineering

Cabinetry & Steel Windows: Petrified Design

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Budget Breakdown: An Architect Couple Find Work/Life Balance With a Backyard Office Built for $144K