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| photography by Jeremy Sharp |
In the Park Cities, limited lot size and inflated real estate prices can cramp a growing family’s style—unless they become upwardly creative. Patricia and Dan Murphy recently showed the neighborhood how to beat the rap by adding 50 percent more space (1,200 square feet), in a structure built over the footprint of their old carport. The add-on doubles as a garage and second living area.
“For people who don’t tear down houses, this is a real trend,” says English Heritage Homes of Texas architect Todd Hamilton. “We carefully echoed the pitched roof and brick of the original cottage. The intent was to be as compatible as possible with the existing home and neighborhood while maximizing square footage.”
The Murphys love their Park Cities cottage, but they were faced with a typical dilemma—where could their teenage kids (and their friends) hang out now that they’d outgrown the den? And furthermore, where to house their college-age daughter’s visiting friends? Tearing down their home and building a McMansion wasn’t an option, and with no lot room for a traditional back house, the couple decided to give their old carport new life. The result: an addition with two family rooms, a refreshment center, and a full bath. Hardwood floors, built-ins, granite, and custom tile make this back house alternative an upscale retreat for teenagers—and a reprieve for parents.
