“From the beginning the clients liked the idea of this space feeling like a renovated attic even though it was a new house,” says project architect Michelle Rossomando.
The program called for a “little dream loft” for their youngest child—a child-sized cubby where she could stash her personal stuff, but roomy enough for a sleepover. Tucking a trundle bed and closet into 6 feet of space beneath the loft made both levels ideally scaled. Awning and casement windows are situated to capture treetop panoramas while lounging on the bed or leaning up against one of the built-in bookcases that flank the loft. Popping out the ceiling in between rafters created enough head room for the grown-ups to join in for story time. A white fence guard rail plus a rolling ladder with extra-high arms provide safe passage up and down. The chrome ladder railing as well as the painted wood fence above it are screwed and bolted into a heavy-duty beam that is oversized to hold more than should ever be needed. As a final fun bonus, a secret doorway connects this closet to the master closet. “All of the upstairs rooms are interconnected like this,” chuckles Rossomando. “The whole second floor is like this amazing tree house.” Builder: Woodeye Construction, Austin, Texas; Architect: McKinney Architects, Austin; Photographer: Greg Hursley.
