440 Quentin Ranchito

HOME TOUR OF ARCHITECTURAL STYLES:

Shelley E. Roff, Ph.D.

This house is clearly a direct descendant of the late 19^th-century Spanish-American ranch house, not to be confused with the southwestern ranch-style house made popular in the 1950’s and 60’s. The Spanish precedent is established by a U or L-shape plan formed by single rooms arranged around a courtyard. These single rooms did not connect to each other, but rather, were traditionally accessed only from an exterior portale or covered porch, which wrapped around the interior and/or exterior of the house.

The courtyard at 440 Quentin has now been enclosed and was not designed at a scale that could include a portale, however, the architect does refer to the portale in the residence he designed in this neighborhood at 505 Club Street (see Tour of Straus Nayfach homes). I think Joe’s term “ranchito” is charmingly appropriate for this house, since it is a small-scale picturesque version of the rambling Spanish Rancho, yet constructed in native Texas materials.

The bi-fold chimney stack gracing the house’s front façade the architect’s own creative interpretation and a feature unique to 440 Quentin.

Architectural details such as the mission-style curved stonework embellishing the house’s front façade and the original mission tile floors enhance the Spanish character already established by the historically significant plan of the residence.

This residence does embody a few modern American ranch-style features such as fairly open plan between the living, dining and kitchen areas, yet retains some of the more enclosed formality of the traditional Spanish rancho.

The windows of the house are not the broad expanses of glass that one would expect in a contemporary ranch-style house. Rather, they are proportioned as one would see in an early 20^th century bungalow. This kind of window reduces glare and creates a beautiful, subtle aura of light in the afternoon, not to mention interesting patterns on the floors.

A list of improvements and upgrades "as long as my arm" - honest!

$ Amount Date Category Company Name Purpose
$2,300 05/31/02 Bathroom Alamo Marble cultured marble for bathrooms
$7,175 05/28/02 Bathroom Henry Acosta complete bathroom remodel
$75 05/21/02 Bathroom Home Depot bathroom hardware
$350 06/15/02 Bathroom Homearama bathroom cabinets
$207 02/11/03 Bathroom Lasting Impressions antique mirror
$365 05/19/02 Bathroom Lowes bathroom toilets & hardware
$336 07/14/02 Bathroom Lowes lighting
$1,650 12/26/03 Concrete Nevarez porches
NC 03/01/05 Curb, etc. City of SA new curb, gutter, sidewalk on Wilson and Quentin
NC 09/15/06 Electrical CPS install security light in alley (8.00 per month to homeowner)
$286 01/08/04 Electrical Davila Electric phone lines and internet to front bedroom
$160 12/13/04 Electrical Davila Electric rewire outlets
$750 01/11/06 Electrical Davila Electric rewire LR outlets, speaker wires, TV
$300 08/30/03 Electrical eBay vintage lighting dining room and office
$147 08/30/03 Electrical eBay vintage lighting hallway
$600 06/01/01 Electrical Lowes ceiling fans
$284 05/21/03 Fence Home Depot fencing hardware
$593 06/11/03 Fence ICI Paints fence stain and labor
$458 06/06/03 Fence Jamieson Fence Supply cedar slats
$288 05/23/03 Fence Lowes cedar posts +
$150 06/05/03 Fence Lowes fence
$27 06/09/03 Fence Lowes fence
$35 06/30/03 Fence Lowes fence
$253 04/16/04 Fence Lowes fence hardware
$984 02/14/02 Flooring Hammond Floors floors refinish and repair
$170 12/19/03 Flooring Hammond Floors oak thresholds
$73 07/02/03 Flooring Home Depot wood flooring under fridge
$27,500 03/22/05 Garage Vasama new garage and old garage demolition
03/22/05 Garage Vasama roof truss design for overhead storage
03/23/05 Garage Vasama 200 amp meter loop
03/26/05 Garage Vasama dedicated outlets for fridge, freezer, water softener
$1,275 03/27/05 Garage Vasama deck ceiling for storage
$550 03/24/05 Garage/House Vasama rework exterior electric panels
03/22/05 Garage/House Vasama buried overhead electric and phone lines
09/15/03 Gas City of SA new gas main to house and meter
$964 08/22/03 Gas Lentz Plumbing gas line from service to house
$1,056 09/03/03 Gas Lentz Plumbing new gas line throughout house
09/03/03 Gas Lentz Plumbing gas line prep for gas range
$1,100 10/30/03 House Accurate Gutter Systems galvanized gutters
$150 10/01/02 House Home Depot kitchen blinds
$500 02/15/02 House Lowes 2" blinds
$350 03/30/03 House Lowes storm door front
$100 03/30/03 House Lowes front door hardware
$300 05/20/03 House Lowes bedroom blinds and rods
$400 10/30/05 House Lowes closet doors and hardware
$350 04/03/06 House Lowes storm door back
$100 09/01/06 House Lowes rear door and garage hardware
$150 11/22/04 House Pottery Barn master bedroom drapery
$1,375 02/22/02 House San Antonio Tree Service remove 3 trees, grind stumps, trim and fertilize 5 trees
$675 04/15/05 House Vasama facia, soffit repair and flashing
$520 04/15/05 House Vasama rebuild outside electrical panel on house
$1,200 04/15/05 House Vasama new roof over courtyard, remove old metal roof
$725 06/25/04 HVAC Adams Air replaced coil
$355 04/18/06 HVAC Adams Air repair and recharge, new thermostat
$4,500 02/21/03 HVAC Rick Jimenez replace all ductwork
$450 06/06/03 HVAC Rick Jimenez AC repair
$125 06/15/06 Kitchen eBay pot rack
$450 03/24/03 Kitchen Jacob cabinet refinish
$288 05/24/03 Kitchen Lowes sink & faucet
$200 03/17/03 Kitchen Rick Jimenez kitchen wallcabinet installation
$500 05/27/03 Kitchen Rick Jimenez kitchen wall and ceiling
$4,000 05/05/03 Landscape Earthwise retaining wall grading and rock
$1,700 06/02/03 Landscape Will's Lawn Service retaining wall and dry creek bed
$1,650 06/10/03 Landscape Will's Lawn Service retaining wall
$25 05/12/02 Paint Home Depot paint kitchen
$73 05/13/03 Paint Lowes paint master bedroom
$1,000 12/12/05 Paint Lowes/Self exterior trim and foundation paint
$120 04/21/02 Paint Sherwin Williams paint kitchen
$72 05/18/02 Paint Sherwin Williams paint office
$35 08/27/02 Paint Sherwin Williams paint hall bathroom
$80 10/06/02 Paint Sherwin Williams paint front bedroom
$113 04/28/03 Paint Sherwin Williams paint master bedroom
$1,406 06/15/04 Plumbing AAA Auger sewer connect from fence to new main
N/C 07/01/04 Plumbing City of SA new sewer main
$412 04/09/03 Plumbing Lentz Plumbing water line preparation
$304 04/18/03 Plumbing Lentz Plumbing water line disconnect
$365 05/09/03 Plumbing Lentz Plumbing replace all plumbing under kitchen sink
05/09/03 Plumbing Lentz Plumbing install new dishwasher and disposal
$341 05/15/03 Plumbing Lentz Plumbing temporary water line to bypass garage
$997 04/02/04 Plumbing Lentz Plumbing run new water line
04/02/04 Plumbing Lentz Plumbing water softener loop
04/02/04 Plumbing Lentz Plumbing outdoor spigots to bypass softener
$688 04/09/03 Plumbing Lowes dishwasher
$258 05/02/03 Plumbing Lowes kitchen sink & faucet
$65 03/11/04 Plumbing Rick Jimenez drain pan
02/17/03 Plumbing Sears
$137 04/10/03 Plumbing Sears disposal
$345 03/18/04 Plumbing Sears water heater
$500 12/06/02 Remodel Home Depot crown molding
$266 06/02/03 Remodel Home Depot kitchen lights, flooring
$120 04/07/03 Remodel LampCrafters rewire vintage fixtures
$160 06/03/02 Remodel Lowes closet remodel
$225 10/15/02 Remodel Lowes master bathroom lighting
$200 04/01/03 Remodel Old Door Store kitchen door stripping labor
$107 04/12/04 Remodel Old Door Store door
$50 04/16/04 Remodel Old Door Store door hardware
$92 04/14/04 Remodel Old Door Store door glass
$200 05/07/03 Remodel Rick Jimenez kitchen texture
$500 09/05/06 Remodel Home Depot laundry flooring, plumbing, cabinets and paint
$225 05/15/03 Remodel Wallpapers To Go kitchen wallpaper
$3,000 11/15/01 Repair All Star Roofing new roof house
$250 05/31/02 Repair Henry Acosta exterior rock repair
$74,198 Total -

When Haven moved from Austin in November of 2001,
he began looking for a home similar to the wonderful
stone houses in the historic neighborhoods of
Austin. Additionally, it was necessary for him to be
close to work at the UT Health Science Center and
to Christus
Santa Rosa downtown.

The Straus Nayfach house at 440 Quentin with foot-thick
Austin stone, sturdy pier and beam construction,
beautiful Mission tile floor and large corner lot was
impossible to pass up.



Two weeks later he met Gwen and six months after
that they were married. The wedding took place in
the living room of 440 Quentin with close family and
friends in attendance. With plenty of room in the
back yard, a large tent and tables were set up on
the rear patio, Pappasito’s catered and margaritas were served.



Over the past five years, Haven and Gwen have
worked diligently updating and improving the
property. They have enjoyed visiting the antique
shops on Hildebrand, the Old Door Store on Blanco as
well as the Lowe’s on Callaghan (you always forget
something!).

Gwen has filled the yard with low-maintenance,
xeriscape plants, so there is always something
flowering and butterflies are plentiful. The bird
feeders are visited by cardinals, finches, blue jays,
chickadees, woodpeckers, white winged doves and,
of course, squirrels.

The wildlife get their share of
pecans from the two large pecan trees, with plenty
(hundreds of pounds!) left over for friends, family and
passers-by.

The 968 sq. ft. garage they
built with workshop and attic storage provides a
home for Haven’s outdoor gear, power tools,
refrigerator and freezer, not to mention the cars....




Haven and Gwen enjoy evening strolls around
Woodlawn Lake and look forward to the
July 4th fireworks over the lake. They can be in their seats at
the Majestic Theatre 20 minutes after leaving the
house (15 minutes is their record!).

The Riverwalk is minutes away. Casbeers and
Chris Madrid’s on Blanco
are favorite hangouts for burgers and beer. They are
always amazed at how quickly they can get just-
about-anywhere from Monticello Park.



Haven works at the UT Health Science Center and
frequently has to spend time downtown. The home’s
location places him almost halfway between both
locations. After spending many years commuting in
and out of downtown Austin, he finds it most
pleasant to be close and not having to “fight the
freeway masses”. It is so nice to sit on the patio,
enjoy fresh coffee, and read the paper before
departing for work. Uptown or downtown, he’s there
in 15 minutes or less.



Our home’s landscape has been a lot of work, but,
watching the fruits of our labor come to life has been
a great joy. Gwen’s knowledge, expertise, and
passion for all things living provide a wonderful little
oasis for us and the orphan cats that have adopted
us as their own.



From the quirky shops on Hildebrand, Blanco, and
Broadway to the rich stream of reasonably-priced
cultural events Laurie Auditorium on the Trinity
University, there is always some place to explore or
discover. We have enjoyed many years of “Blue
Star Arts Complex, and great food and
margaritas at El Mirador Restaurant.


- Gwen & Haven Young

This home is an early example of the Ranch style that was first introduced in California in the mid-1930’s. Built in 1939, it was designed by N. Straus Nayfach and is a radical departure from his earlier Traditional and Spanish designs, many of which are two-story homes. The home contains 2063 square feet and has Austin cut stone on all four sides. It was built in a Spanish Villa U-shape, with an open courtyard in the rear that is now a family room. The three wings of the house each had an exit to the courtyard through French doors. The family room floor was restored to the beautiful Mission Tile floor, hidden for 25 years. The covered front porch has a different style Mission Tile with an inlay of Chess pieces.

The other rooms consist of a living room, formal dining room, kitchen with separate breakfast room, 2 bedrooms and 2 full baths. The main rooms all have 9 foot ceilings.

The home was totally renovated between 1988 and 1992. This included removing a wall between the breakfast room and kitchen; moving the kitchen wall 10 inches into the dining room; refinishing the hardwood floors, which were also found under the tile in the kitchen and breakfast room. The plumbing and electrical were upgraded, and many electrical outlets and cable TV outlets were installed. Haven and Gwen have continued to update and improve the home since purchasing it in 2001 including major landscaping and grading, completely rebuilding the garage and workspace, roof and gutter replacement, extensive plumbing and HVAC work.

Upon entering the front door, the visitor is struck by the proportions of the living room, 17 feet by 24 feet, and its central point for access to the remaining rooms. It has a 6 foot fireplace faced with the same stone as the exterior. The fireplace is wood burning, with a damper, but also has a very realistic set of gas logs currently installed. An open doorway to the right leads to the dining room, kitchen and breakfast room; a doorway to the left leads into a connecting hall for the bedrooms and baths; ahead through French doors is the converted courtyard/family room with French windows overlooking the patio, contributing to an open, spacious feel.