When Texan Amanda Pounds and her husband, Adam Amparan, bought their home in the Oak Cliff neighborhood of Dallas, the standalone garage at the back of the property was a major selling point. “I originally planned for my one-and-a-half-ton printing press to live in the space,” says Amanda, a graphic designer. The couple both have various artistic pursuits and are deeply embedded in their local creative community, so they envisioned a studio space in the 400-square-foot garage.

Amanda and Adam turned to longtime friend, architect Ian Butcher, who founded Best Practice Architecture in Seattle, to complete the job. “I’ve known Amanda for over 15 years, and when I started my firm, I asked her to design our logo,” says Butcher. “In trade, I told her I would design a studio for her garage.” After several years of testing out different uses for the structure—including everything from a bicycle repair shop to a band rehearsal space and a staging area for furniture refinishing projects—Amanda and Adam finally tapped Butcher to transform it into a cozy casita for visiting friends and family.

Although the couple shifted away from their original idea to make the garage into an art studio, they still wanted the casita to radiate creative energy. “I wanted the space to be an environment that celebrates what I love about our region, while also showcasing local creatives,” explains Amanda. “So many of our friends are artists and makers, and my ultimate goal is for everything—from the art to the dishes—to be focused on Texas, and created by Texans.”

Before: Entrance

The garage had a tiny footprint, but Amanda and Adam were convinced they could make it work. “Ian’s design allowed us to stay within the existing footprint of the garage, without sacrificing functionality in a smaller space,” says Amanda. It also meant that Amanda and her father, who enjoy bonding over home renovation projects, could do much of the construction work themselves. “Neither of us are pros by any stretch, and in many respects, it was simply an excuse for my dad and I to hang out,” she says with a laugh.

Butcher’s solution was to break up the interior with a defined sleeping nook and bathroom, and add new window openings throughout. The side entrance stayed as-is, with a new Dutch door that allows the couple to moderate light and air in the space. “In working on older homes and remodels, I try to be reverent to the original character, but do it in an interesting way,” explains Butcher.

After: Entrance

On the exterior, a fresh coat of paint stays true to the original green of the garage, but with a brighter, more contemporary tone. A newly installed stoop eases the transition down from the house to the garden below. Amanda is a Texas Master Naturalist, so the new casita needed to fit snugly in her lush yard. “A huge part of Amanda’s life is her native plantings, so using the casita as a backdrop for her garden was important,” says Butcher.

Now, the casita is nestled within mature plants that wind around and in front of the structure. Also adorning the exterior is a vintage Dairy Queen sign, which Amanda and Adam picked up when their local shop was being torn down. “As a designer, Amanda is really into classic Americana signage,” says Butcher. Inside and outside the casita, nods to Texas landmarks and culture abound.

Before: Carriage Doors

Although the interior was radically transformed, Adam and Amanda were adamant about keeping the exterior as close to original as possible. Butcher added a new roof, but kept the existing carriage doors. “It was important to me that the casita still convey its history and original purpose from the outside,” says Amanda. “I didn’t want it to read as a tiny house—I like the element of surprise when guests see what’s hiding inside.”

Behind the carriage doors, a new set of glass sliders elevates the structure’s functionality and energy efficiency. “Now we have privacy when we want it, but I love being able to open up the doors when we’re entertaining, or when the yard is really putting on a show,” says Amanda, who enjoys watching the grounds come alive with plant and animal life.

After: Carriage Doors

Inside, Butcher had his work cut out for him, as the structure was unfinished and needed insulation, wall and ceiling finishes, and new support beams for the roof. The team left the exposed concrete floor untouched, aside from giving it a deep clean. The garage had only one tiny window next to the carriage doors, so Butcher added six new panes—one each on the north and east sides, and a set of four at the south end.

Before: Interior

The new glazing helps make the space feel larger and more inviting in the abundant Texas sunlight, and allows the couple to capitalize on natural ventilation. “Having the high ceiling makes the casita feel really open,” says Butcher. “It seems like a simple space—and it’s not precious, because of the materials and the way they come together.”

Introducing wood finishes to the interior helped warm and soften the space. Butcher used pine for the ceiling and walls, which are whitewashed to help make the casita feel larger. The aluminum windows and doors are also framed with wood. “It’s definitely a cozy space, particularly because of the level of craft inside,” says Butcher.

After: Interior

When it came to furnishing the interiors, Amanda and Adam stayed close to home. “I wanted the space to be an environment that celebrates what I love about the region by showcasing local creatives,” says Amanda. Throughout, artworks and collectibles from local makers give the interior a distinctly Texan flare.

The couple also scoured local vintage shops for the furnishings, which make the space feel approachable and lived-in. “Except for the sofa and mattress, all the furnishings are things we’ve inherited from others or acquired at estate sales or resale shops,” says Amanda. “We wanted a refined space, but nothing people were afraid to use or interact with.”

The star of the new space is the built-in sleeping nook, which is defined by casework and painted a deep green color. “For the nook, it’s a very traditional frame and panel design with shaker doors and profiled shelf brackets, but it also feels a bit more modern,” says Butcher. “We like introducing saturated color in our projects, because it draws your attention in an interesting way—especially when you make entire spaces out of color.”

Not to forget some of the most important members of the family, Butcher included an under-bed drawer that doubles as a perch for the couple’s dogs. “One of our favorite details of the space is that drawer,” says Amanda.

Now, even when they don’t have guests, Amanda and Adam find themselves using the casita daily. “Honestly, it feels like an extension of our primary living space. We sometimes use it as a studio, exploring drawing, painting, and quilting,” says Amanda. Not only is the casita a landing pad for the couple’s artistic interests, but it also reminds them of their roots. “Besides practical needs, I want the casita to serve as a love letter to Texas.”

More projects from Best Practice Architecture:

 A Detached Garage Becomes a Winning “Granny Pad”

A 1901 Craftsman in Seattle Gets a Svelte Cantilevered Addition 

An Industrial-Style Home Rises Next to a Derelict Apple-Processing Warehouse

Project Credits:

Architect of Record: Best Practice Architecture / @best_practice

Structural Engineer: Harriott Valentine Engineers

Photography: Lisa Petrole / @lisapetrole

Photo Styling: Malina Pearson