Jon Nystrom has been a licensed architect since 1983, and like many other architects, many of the houses that he designed over the years have been out of his budget. But then the time came for him to retire. He and his wife Nancy had been living and working in the New England area for the last 21 years. Once retiring, they knew that they wanted to move back to Nancy’s hometown in the state of Texas in order to live the quiet, retired life.

When it came to it, the couple decided to settle down in the town of Boerne – just north of San Antonio – and build themselves a house. They figured the town was perfect for them – they’d still be near friends, plus all amenities like shops, restaurants, community services, and health-care providers would be easily accessible, even on foot – but they’d still have their peace and quiet!

The town of Boerne is small, with a population of about 10,000 people, although, it’s becoming a popular choice amongst the retirees. Despite its small-town status, it has a lot of personalities. Amongst its charms is its European-style architecture, as well as specialty shops set amongst a quaint, historic, and picturesque background.

The community near San Antonio is actually quite affluent, so crime rates are low. There are also art galleries for visiting and wine nights.While it sounds like Boerne is pretty hopping, the people there live pretty low-key lives. Jon and Nancy moved to an exclusive little community in Boerne, where their neighbors lived in homes behind stucco walls which were lined with manicured lawns and graveled driveways.

The couple wanted to fit in with the community, but also break away from the cookie-cutter homes and be different. The kept some of the outside elements but added in some other modifications. Since they were living beside a city-owned easement, they managed to position their garage at 45° angle. This allowed them to place solar panels on top of their garage’s roof. Plus, at that angle, the garage was able to serve as a buffer between the street and their house.

In addition, the angle also provided them the opportunity to build a private, shaded garden and courtyard area between the garage and house. Not bad at all. As for the interior, once they enter the home, they’re greeted by a timber-frame living and dining area, complete by 22-feet tall ceilings. The timber frames make the house feel big and spacious, while still maintaining that homey feeling.

And while the whole house is 1970 square feet, none of that goes to waste as every nook and cranny has a purpose and is space-efficient, since the couple is planning to live there for the rest of their lives. There’s no space in the home that isn’t utilized daily. Plus, space has been planned for accessibility as they get older too.

The living room is inviting to guests and features a very comfortable space, complete with an overhead ceiling fan for those warm summer days, as well as a fireplace for the occasionally cold winter evening. Their dining room features an eight-seat dining table right beside the living room. And besides the dining room is a modern kitchen that is full equipped.

There is plenty of space to circulate around in the kitchen since it has been designed specifically to accommodate wheelchairs. On the other side of the kitchen, a sliding glass door leads out to the backyard space, which opens up to a covered seating area. There is also a grill station, and further beyond that area, a 35-foot lap pool.

Jon and Nancy wanted their home to be environmentally friendly, so they installed a vertical, 8400-gallon storage tank to catch rainwater, which they will use to water their landscaping. There is only one bedroom in the house. Overnight guests, however, do not have to worry about sleeping on the couch because there is a guesthouse just above the garage.

The guesthouse was the first part of the property to be built, so Jon and Nancy lived there for the four months it took to finish their house. But now, when family or friends visit, they can simply put them up in the guest room, or if they want to make some extra money, they can rent it out to travelers. Jon and Nancy did have the foresight to build it as a space for a live-in caregiver if they ever need a lot of extra care.

Everything was designed with the intention of being low-maintenance because they intend to grow old in their home. Neither of them wants to be old and inactive, worrying about home repairs. Chemical sealant has been applied to the concrete floors. All of the walls were finished with Enjarre finish American clay plaster blended with Nantucket sand pigment.

The timber frames were made from pickled Douglas fir trees. Even their bathrooms and kitchen countertops are made of quartz, so no special precautions are required. “Designing the house with Jon…was probably the most fun thing we’ve ever done together,” Nancy said. Needless to say, this was most likely Jon’s best dream home design. “Whether you need the help of a professional or not, that’s immaterial,” Jon said of his architectural philosophy. The point is that you should put your personality into what you’re building.”