The Jewell Box, a collaborative design by Mell Lawrence Architects and Citizen Artist, is a multifunctional guest house and retreat nestled among Austin, Texas's live oak trees. Designed for a client who wanted a "cabin in the woods," the 1,100-square-foot structure serves as an escape, a place of play, and a space for guests. Its compact, solid street-facing exterior, clad in timber, provides privacy, while the interior and rear facades open up completely to embrace the lush natural landscape and creek below. Maximizing the connection to its surroundings, the design is flanked by two large live oak trees that provide natural shade. The architects incorporated large, double-height steel and glass doors that fill the home with natural light and expand the main living space into the outdoors. The interior features a double-height living and dining area, with the kitchen and bathroom integrated discreetly into a back wall, keeping the central space open and airy. A lofted bedroom, offering a "treehouse feel," overlooks the living area and opens onto a screened porch nestled among the tree branches. The interior palette combines a contemporary architectural shell with warm, curated details inspired by European craft. Materials like sandy blonde timber, blue and ochre tiles, and linen curtains soften the transition between the sleek exterior and the inviting interior. Found objects and collected treasures brought back from Europe add a personal, handmade touch to the smaller, more intimate spaces. The balance of permanence—achieved through the home's deep foundations—and a cabin-like flexibility allows the structure to adapt to different uses, from a stage for entertaining to a private sanctuary. Project credits Architecture: Mell Lawrence Architects Interior Design: Citizen Artist Build: Wilmington Gordon Photography: Nathan Kirkman & Leonid Furmansky Landscape Design: James David Landscape Construction: Jackson Broussard Project Team: Mell Lawrence, Hector Martell, Morgan Parker