A former 1930s

Hyde Park duplex

underwent a major renovation to
accommodate the
major life events of
its homeowners

CHANGED
FOR LIFE
B Y GE NE ME NE Z

P H O T O G R A P H B Y B RI A N MIHE A L S IC K
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The kitchen-dining
space (below) is
anchored by a table
that was designed by
Cravotta and built by
Yates. As is the case
with the rest of the
house, the furniture
and artwork in the

RYANN FORD (2) STYLED BY ADAM FORTNER

living room are all new.

Had Nelda Yaw been able to find someone, anyone, who had the
knowledge and desire to clean her silly white love seat last year,
you wouldnt be reading this story. You wouldnt be flipping through
these eight pages, looking at the photos of her completely renovated
home, with its entirely new furnishings, or the ubercool art studio/
pool house/guest quarters/potential HomeAway gold mine in the back.
But Yaw didnt find someone to clean her love seat so you are reading
this story, and that story begins with that love seat.
But Yaw didnt find someone to clean her love seat so you are reading
this story, and that story begins with that love seat.
I was a single woman, and four years ago I fell in love, foolishly, with
this 100 percent cotton velvet white love seat, recalls the 53-year-old
Yaw. It was gorgeous.
But 100 percent cotton velvet white love seats get dirty easily, especially when two rambunctious granddaughters are running around.
Yaw searched all over Austin trying to find someone who could clean
it, but, because it was 100 percent cotton, no one would guarantee
their work. Yaw tried to clean it herself but failed. Finally, last year
she asked interior designer Mark Cravotta, who was working on an
unrelated project for her, to come over to her Hyde Park home and
help her have the love seat reupholstered.
As I walked him through the house, Mark started drawing things
by hand, Yaw recalls. I looked at them, and they were new plans for
the house. I said, Lets get rid of this hallway. Lets take that window
and move it down. Lets take this window out.
I went from Lets recover this love seat to [spending] a lot of
money, she says, laughing.

As I walked him through

the house, Mark started
drawing things by hand,
Yaw recalls. I looked
at them, and they were
new plans for the house.
I said, Lets get rid of
this hallway. Lets take
that window and move it
down. Lets take this window out.

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The space that was a

collection of various
things has been turned
into a sophisticated
listening area known
as Karls Corner. The
swiveling Minotti chair
is a popular spot for
the two girls.

90 Austin Home Summer 2016

Cravotta designed the

loft bed/desk system
(top) in the second
bedroom, which has
become known as the
Girls Wonderland, as
well as the bed, which
Yates built, in the
master bedroom.

RYANN FORD (3) STYLED BY ADAM FORTNER

It was like a reality show

without cameras, Cravotta recalls. They were
so excited. The girls were
delighted. Nelda was delighted. I think Karl may
have been in shock.

What began as a simple upholstery job has evolved

into a changed home for the changed lives of those who
live there: Yaw, a former elementary school art teacher
for eight years, who has owned the house since 2012;
her husband of two years, Tennessee businessman
Karl Buckman; Yaws two granddaughters, Sofi and Ella
(now ages 8 and 7, respectively), who were adopted by
Yaw last year; and their two supersize dogs, Phinnegan
and Phoenix, who were both rescued from shelters.
The updates to the homes landscapingwhich
was the first of the major projects to be initiated,
in 2013hints at the work on the inside. Formerly
a space filled with palm trees and a tropical feel,
the new backyard features plants that are native
to Texas, giving the space a natural look.
Nelda wanted us to create a space that made
her feel comfortable and creative, says Rodney
Stoutenger, president and lead designer at Native
Edge Landscape, which handled the project. And
the previous tropical-like setting was not that for her.
A heated, rectangular pool sees a lot of action, whether its the girls
doing flips into the water or Buckman swimming laps, even in the winter.
The biggest change to the backyard, however, is the art studio. What
once was a termite-damaged, rodent-infested garage that was original
to the property has become a multipurpose space with two full beds
and one queen-size Murphy bed, a half bath, a sink and gobs of storage, all in 297 square feet. Sliding doors that pocket and disappear
into the wall allow Yaw to practice her encaustic painting in nature.
We were inspired by Neldas desire to have this indoor-outdoor
experience and do her artwork in the backyard, says project architect
Brian Carlson, of McKinney York Architects, which designed the studio,
but still have the convenience of a bathroom, sink and art supplies.
A tour of the overhauled interior provides no hints that the home
once was a wreck (Cravottas words) that had no flow and needed
to be renovated badly (Buckmans). The house had two inefficient
bathrooms and one closet in the master bedroom that was woefully
inadequate after Buckman moved in. The second bedroom was not
ready to be shared by two elementary-school-age girls.

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92 Austin Home Summer 2016

Cravotta designed many of the pieces and had them made locally,
including the hutch, the shelving system in the music room and
the multifunctional loft bed in the girls bedroom.
To Cravotta, the area that has undergone the biggest makeover is the
room between the kitchen and the backyard. Prior to the renovation
it was a catch-all room and wasnt well defined. Today, the space is
known as Karls Corner and has a Minotti chair and ottoman, highend turntable, boutique Japanese-made amp and speakers so that
Buckman can listen to his collection of vinyl records.
The house feels like its more of a home now, he says.
The project, which was completed in the summer 2015, left no detail
unattended. Every piece of furniture in the house is new, which means
Yaws old pieces were jettisoned one way or another.
That includes the 100 percent cotton velvet white love seat, which
now sits in the house of Yaws son, Kenny Haney, slipcovered and all.

FROM LEFT: RYANN FORD; STYLED BY ADAM FORTNER ; BRIAN MIHEALSICK

The remodel left virtually nothing untouched. Cravotta and

Risinger Homes put in a wall in the master bedroom that doubled
as a second closet. They gutted the central core of the house and
replaced the two bathrooms. They either touched up or replaced
the wood floors, kitchen cabinets, kitchen countertops, windows,
doors and lighting.
The family, who moved out during the project, first saw the new space
after a 10-week vacation, and the big reveal was worthy of an HGTV show.
It was like a reality show without cameras, Cravotta recalls. They
were so excited. The girls were delighted. Nelda was delighted. I think
Karl may have been in shock.
The living room, which sits just inside the front door, features
a circular brass Ochre light fixture. The adjacent dining room is
anchored by a table that was designed by Cravotta and made by
local furniture maker Michael Yates. For the sake of expediency,

The music room (left),

which has another
Cravotta creation in
the steel-and-wood
shelving system, is
designed as a play
area for Sofi and Ella
while the art studio
can double as a guest
bedroom.

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