Northwest Hills home with modern design pedigree asks $920K

We came across this listing on the website of Creede Fitch, local real estate agent and modernism aficionado. It’s no surprise that Fitch has the scoop on the home’s history, which was designed and built in 1979 by Chartier Newton, an Austin-based architect who also taught at Texas A&M University, Rice University, and the University of Texas at Austin.

According to Fitch, Newton that practiced briefly with Arthur Fehr in the 1970s after the untimely death of Fehr’s partner Charles Granger. Newton shared some influences with Granger, as both studied at Cranbrook Academy of Art and worked for Eero Saarinen.

The updated home, located in the Austin-modern-loving enclave of Northwest Hills but retains what is probably its best feature; it wraps around large, private patio and outdoor courtyard, invitingly shaded by large trees.

The one-story, 3,027 square-foot home features a formal dining room as well as a large living area with fireplace.

Despite some questionable design and staging choices (the plate cluster in the kitchen wall should be first on the chopping block), kitchen updates include some high-end appliance, and some nifty niche windows to bring in natural light.

The home has three bedrooms and two bathrooms. The master bedroom features a huge closet/wardrobe room and doors that open on to the courtyard.

The house’s pièce de résistance is the courtyard, which connects with the house through numerous large windows and glass doors and offers opportunities for entertainment as well as privacy.

• 7705 Merrybrook Circle [Re/Max]