Budget Breakdown: A Houston Family Nearly Doubles the Floor Plan of Their Beloved Bungalow for $391K

So what if they went $100K over? A standing-seam metal roof, expert millwork, a playroom with a climbing wall, and a powder-blue motif make it all theirs.

Feb 24, 2024 - 20:00
Budget Breakdown: A Houston Family Nearly Doubles the Floor Plan of Their Beloved Bungalow for $391K

So what if they went $100K over? A standing-seam metal roof, expert millwork, a playroom with a climbing wall, and a powder-blue motif make it all theirs.

Keeping ample green space on the property was a top-tier goal. One of the house's original screened-in porches remains, but, according to Emily,

Every design project has at least one pivotal decision-making moment that impacts the remainder of the plan—and the outcome of the build. For architect Eric Hughes, a cofounder of architecture firm HR Design Dept., one such moment came during the renovation of the 1938 bungalow he lived in with his wife, Emily, and five-year-old son, Clark.

According to Eric, a lot of thought went into the connection between the two sides of the house. Part of that included keeping the original siding. To match it on the addition, he worked with GAF Weatherside, which made identical cement board shingles. "They have a crenelated surface that, when the light hits it, gives a very interesting textured effect," he says.

Architect Eric Hughes and his wife, Emily, renovated and expanded a 1930s bungalow in Houston, Texas, for their young family, nearly doubling the footprint. To match the addition with the original home, Eric worked with GAF Weatherside, which made matching cement board shingles. "They have a crenelated surface that, when the light hits it, gives a very interesting textured effect," he says.

Photo by Leonid Furmansky

"I wanted a standing seam roof," Eric says. "That was a big splurge for me. It was one of those decisions that’s hard to make in the moment. Do you choose the asphalt roof for nine thousand dollars or the standing seam roof for thirty six thousand? You’re trying to keep to a budget, but then there’s a point where you realize that for X amount more, you can make it something you’re really proud of." Adds Emily, a pre-K teacher, "Good thing Clark and I like rice and beans!"

Although they could have extended their house forward on its lot, the Hugheses wanted to keep it in line with the houses on either side. They liked the neighborhood's scale and didn't want to stand out of proportion. A skylight above the living room was the first thing the couple added when they moved in 10 years ago.

Although the Hugheses could have extended their house forward on its lot, they wanted to keep it in line with the houses on either side to preserve the look of the neighborhood. A skylight above the living room was the first thing the couple added when they moved in 10 years ago.

Photo by Leonid Furmansky

Keeping ample green space on the property was a top-tier goal. One of the house's original screened-in porches remains, but, according to Emily,

Keeping ample green space on the property was a top-tier goal. One of the house’s original screened-in porches remains, but, according to Emily, "we dropped the screens so when you’re sitting in the dining room, you can look out and see the bamboo." The divide between the new and old sections is marked by a gap in the roof that lets the sun into a small planted area.

Photo by Leonid Furmansky

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