Owner and architect Logan Mahaffey refreshed the compact, three-story home’s kitchen, bathrooms, and wall finishes while preserving its charming staircase and brickwork.

Based in Houston’s Third Ward neighborhood, the organization makes art that can seem luxurious meet real, lived necessities.

A rendering shows the proposed design for a row house development in the former parking lot of the Borders bookstore building east of Seventh and New Hampshire streets. Lawrence’s Historic ...