Each week join your host, award winning designer Adrian Ramsay for a step into the expansive world of design, architecture and more. Adrian sits down with some of the big names and those who are lesser known from across the international design world to find out what makes them tick, what they strive for and what unites us, in the universal quest to create something simple, functional and beautiful.
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Dianne Kett: This Cliffside Remodel CHANGED EVERYTHING (1970s House Makeover) | #AIAAustinHomesTour
How do you transform a dark 1970s house into a light-filled cliffside sanctuary? Licensed architect Dianne Kett of DK Studio joins host Adrian Ramsay on TALKdesign to unpack the practical architectural principles behind the Horseshoe Bend Cove remodel in Austin, Texas.
Together, we explore how keeping just 20 percent of the original structure allowed Dianne and her team to completely rethink spatial flow, natural light, and how a home connects emotionally with the surrounding landscape. From applying Christopher Alexander’s pattern language to capture eastern sunrise light to opening up soaring 11-foot cliffside greenbelt views, this conversation breaks down how intentional floorplan choices transform everyday living.
Dianne walks us through the architectural story behind every room—including a walnut-lined library with a secret pass-through door to the scullery, handmade Mexican clay brick that evolves in tone over a full year as it dries, custom 12-foot screened porches, and a game room dormer added during framing to capture an unmissable view. We also dive into the delicate balance between managing strict budget constraints and knowing when to invest in unexpected design magic that elevates an entire home.
Packed with actionable insights for home builders, designers, and renovators, this episode proves that great residential design extends far beyond drawing lines on paper. It is about understanding human movement, responding to the climate and land, layering rich natural textures, and creating simple, functional, and beautiful spaces built to make your heart sing.
⏯️ CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS:
01:03 - Welcome Dianne Kett & Horseshoe Bend Cove House
01:38 - Site Orientation: Cul-de-Sac & Greenbelt Entry
03:07 - Fossilised Limestone Pathways & Natural Flow
04:30 - Old Texas Handmade Brick & The 1-Year Drying Patina
06:37 - The Entryway & Concrete Tile Details
07:48 - Designing the Library: Books, Timbers & Emotional Floorplans
10:40 - The Secret Pass-Through Scullery Door
12:34 - Primary Suite Architecture: Ceiling Heights & Sunrise Light
15:46 - Primary Bathroom: Spanish Tiles & Custom Pedestal Sinks
18:33 - Barcelona-Inspired Powder Room
19:01 - Glass-Box Living & Dining: Connecting to the Greenbelt
20:50 - Wabi-Sabi Cloud Lighting & Flexible Entertaining Spaces
22:15 - Linear Solus Fireplace & Interior Brick Details
23:27 - Kitchen Architecture: Dunis Blue Tiles & Scullery Flow
27:00 - 12-Foot Screened Porch & Biophilic Living
28:20 - The Game Room Dormer: Smart Budget Choices in Remodels
30:33 - Cliffside Landscape Architecture with The Landscape Witch
31:22 - Randomised Siding & Shadow Line Details
35:03 - Daily Movement & Indoor-Outdoor Transitions
36:44 - Wrapping Up the Tour
#Architecture #HomeRemodel #InteriorDesign #TALKdesign #AIAAustin
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3 Oct 2026
1920s HISTORIC HOME REMODEL: 3 Apartments Into 1 with Carina Coel, AIA | #AIAAustinHomesTour2026
Can strict historic preservation rules actually unlock better design?
On this special AIA Austin Homes Tour edition of TALKdesign, I sit down with architect Carina Coel of Restructure Architecture to explore the extraordinary transformation of Rutherford Place. Located in the historic Travis Heights neighborhood of Austin, Texas, this 100-year-old Spanish Revival triplex was reimagined from three cramped apartments into an airy, light-filled single-family home.
When you are working within a historic district, preservation guidelines are strict. You cannot simply tear down the street-facing facade or alter its original character. But as Carina and I discuss, those exact parameters often force the most innovative architectural breakthroughs. We dive into how her team opened up dark, compartmentalized spaces—complete with a sketchy weekend-dug basement—and created seamless spatial flow for a growing family of four.
Carina shares the technical mechanics of removing central load-bearing walls, inserting massive structural beams, and wrapping them in smooth plaster arches that pay homage to the original 1920s design. We discuss how intentional spatial flow and color choices create powerful emotional transitions throughout the floor plan—like using a dark, moody hallway for compression before releasing you into a bright, focused home office.
We also challenge the modern trend of overblowing square footage just for resale. From a custom wet room in the primary suite to a flat-roof skylight that doubles as a hidden roof access hatch, Carina demonstrates how every square meter can be designed for high functionality, daily connection, and emotional resonance. Most importantly, this project proves that when you respect the embodied energy of an existing structure, you create a home that feels grounded and authentic.
⏯️ CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS:
01:24 - Preserving the 1920s Spanish Revival Facade
05:43 - Secret Family Emblem Burnished in the Floor
07:07 - Opening Up the Historical Entryway
08:55 - The Dedicated Vinyl Listening Room
10:02 - 100-Year-Old Cedar Post Foundations
13:43 - Gallery Kitchen: Contrast & Spatial Flow
16:00 - Hiding Structural Beams Behind Plaster Arches
17:04 - Why Functional Kitchens Beat Overblown Spaces
18:36 - Compression & Release: The Dark Hallway
20:51 - Reconnecting the Basement Mudroom Staircase
23:53 - Exposing Natural Light Up the Stairwell
25:34 - Primary Suite: Reimagining the Upstairs Floorplan
28:36 - Wet Room Design & Monochromatic Stone
33:32 - Designing for Family Growth & Historic Timelines
36:00 - Saving the Grandfathered Garage for a Design Studio
38:53 - Approaching the Facade at Dusk
40:22 - Banking Emotional Feels in Historic Architecture
If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to join me each week on TALKdesign as we unpack what makes great design tick with inspiring architects, designers, and creative minds from around the world.
Which detail of this historic transformation resonated most with you? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!
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1 Oct 2026
Inside Austin's MOST RADICAL Rammed Earth House with Davey McEathron, AIA | #AIAAustinHomesTour2026
Join me on TALKdesign as architect Davey McEathron shares key design insights and creative problem-solving techniques from Terraluz, an exceptional highlight of the AIA Austin Homes Tour. In this episode, we unpack the performance and beauty of two-foot-thick rammed earth construction, examining how natural thermal mass creates quiet, comfortable, and humidity-regulated living environments suited for warm climates.
Davey breaks down how subtle architectural detailing elevates everyday experience, from stepping down floor trusses to create floating window nooks to setting a glass floor plate where a curved wall intersects a stair landing. We also examine practical planning strategies, illustrating how understanding local city codes and attic exemptions allows designers to unlock extra livable square footage within tight footprint constraints.
From natural lime-based finishes to community-centric features like elevated lounge nets overlooking the street, this conversation offers actionable ideas for anyone passionate about residential design. It illustrates how aligning function, environmental awareness, and emotional design thinking leads to homes that perform beautifully and stand the test of time.
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⏯️ CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS:
01:27 - Terraluz & Desoluna Project Overview
03:27 - Arizona Desert Inspiration & Colour Palette
05:00 - Benefits of 2-Foot Curved Rammed Earth Walls
07:25 - Green Roof Flora & Builder Collaboration
09:38 - Stepped Trusses & Floating Window Nooks
11:06 - Polished Concrete & Rammed Earth Details
14:00 - The Arizona Rammed Earth Workshop Story
16:40 - The Glass Floor Landing & Stairwell Detail
18:39 - Why Embrace Organic Curves Over Hard Lines
21:14 - Integrated Banquette Seating & Lounging Nooks
22:42 - Creating Memories & Nooks in Architecture
24:00 - Kitchen Details, Steel Shelves & Local Ceramics
26:46 - Primary Bedroom & The Iconic Round Window
28:20 - Primary Ensuite: Curved Shower & Plaster Finishes
30:18 - Hand-Troweled Lime Paint Touchpoints
31:50 - Unlocking Space: The Attic Exemption Code Strategy
35:54 - Community Engagement & The Elevated Lounge Net
37:20 - Rock Paper Build & Custom Clay Imports Tiles
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Who has been a guest on Talk Design
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Zeke Freeman
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