Skip to content

Listening to the language of the existing historic home, this addition of a new Garage Quarters, Outdoor Living, Pool, and Gardens blends seamlessly with the property’s original character while enhancing its functionality. Natural light, refined detailing, and careful material choices create a timeless connection between old and new, honoring the neighborhood’s architectural heritage while meeting the needs of contemporary living.

Location

Houston, Texas

Design Team

Kevin Barden, Joe Rivers, and Esmer Leija

Typology

Residential

Date

2021 - 2023

Landscape Architect

Falon Land Studio

General Contractor

Heavenly Homes

Photography

Leonid Furmansky

Process

Explore

Timbergrove Renovation

In Houston’s Timbergrove neighborhood, this renovation transforms a traditional layout into an open, light-filled home designed for entertaining. Walls between kitchen, living, and dining areas were removed to create seamless flow, with custom millwork adding warmth, storage, and subtle definition to each space.

Natalie Lin Douglas

Music and Performance

In this episode, our resident architects Joe Rivers and Kevin Barden visit with Natalie Lin, a violinist from Houston, Texas. Natalie is a violinist and founder of KINETIC, a conductor-less ensemble from Houston, Texas. Joe and Kevin sat down with Natalie to discuss her upbringing in music and how her ensemble is forging a new path for classical musicians.

Staff Travel: Mexico City

Writing

Over the past few years, Esmer has made multiple trips to Mexico City. She had the opportunity to visit The Pyramids of Teotihuacan, La Casa Azul de Frida Kahlo and the first Latin-American Architecture Exhibition of Zaha Hadid’s work. The following is a reflective essay of her travels.