DATE: October 19 – November 4, 2018
LOCATION: Mirabella at Travisso
SINGLE DAY TICKET: $13
ALL ACCESS PASS: $25
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Designing a Home for the Austin Parade of Homes
How a Parade Home is different.
As a design & build firm in Austin, we spend the vast majority of our time tuning in to our client’s lifestyle, how they entertain, their family’s interests, and their home design requirements. Our architecture team gets to know the day-to-day pattern and what is important to our clients. The result is a home design that fits their personality and style. So when we are invited to participate in the Austin Parade of Homes, our team always asks the question, “Who will be our client for this home?” There has to be a client for the team to design the home, and our team has to essentially “guess” at who the client will be. If we had a Psychologist on staff, it would be great. Since we don’t, our team profiles the client before we design the home.
For this latest Parade Home, for instance, our ideal client had the following characteristics:
Parents with adult or almost-adult children (children who are in high school or college)- Mom & Dad love to entertain large groups (maybe they even host charity gatherings in their home)
- They have had a two-story home and are tired of it – they want a single-story now
- These clients are fans of the Magnolia Home (Fixer Upper) style home, a juxtaposition of the rustic with the elegant style
- They love to swim or have a dog who loves the water
- The whole family spends a lot of time outdoors and enjoys the peace and serenity of nature
- They enjoy playing games together as a family when the kids are home
- They are friendly with their neighbors but enjoy their privacy as well
The Site
In response to this ideal client, our architecture team started with the site. The site was expansive, and it had a very nice flat area down at the bottom of the hill. The only issue was that it put the home almost at the back of the property line. Our team decided to use the large stone retaining wall, built and maintained by the subdivision, as a part of the home’s design. It was decided that the home’s stone would have to match the white limestone on the wall. That way the wall would appear to belong with the home. Positioning the home was next. In order to use the home itself as a screen for privacy, the home was stretched out and centered in the flat area. Access needed to be from the side instead of the front. So our team petitioned the city to get access from the side, which they granted.
The Details
Next, the team began focusing on the design details of the home itself. Here are the details we included in response to the ideal client and their “needs”:
- Each of the secondary bedrooms has its own private bathroom. One of the bedrooms is in a separate casita, in case one of the kids is married and needs ‘a space of their own’. The separate casita also provides a great respite for friends and family who come to visit.
- The home was positioned right in the middle of the flat area of the lot, and we graded out an additional flat area. This provides an all-open concept for the front and back of the home to open up for indoor-outdoor entertaining. We calculated that the home can accommodate over 200 guests at once on a nice Summer evening. With all 4 of the expansive 5-panel doors opened up, it could even be more.
- We created large limestone block ledges in the front to create seating all along the edge. This creates an “amphitheater” style outdoor in the front, ideal for hosting a live concert or outdoor movie. We calculated room on the ledges for over 70 guests, and plenty of additional space for up to 100 rented chairs in the courtyard itself. This may come in handy at a graduation party, charity event, or just a community gathering.
- The home is an all one-story except for a loft area which could be an area just for the kids.
- The “Vineyard Farmhouse”, as our team named it, features shiplap and many of the beautiful finishes and details you might see in an episode of Fixer Upper.
The pool is elongated itself, and the team added a spa and a fountain to extend it out farther. It creates a beautiful backdrop for the backyard.- There is an outdoor pavilion, in addition to all the other covered outdoor living, to hang out by the pool and grill, watch TV, and enjoy the peace and privacy of their home. It is tucked away in the most private spot on the lot but has access to both front and back to give guests an “annex” to both areas when they’re entertaining.
- There is a Bocce Ball court in the front yard. It is one of the first things you see as you enter the courtyard. It is the ideal place for the family to gather and enjoy a game or two in the evenings under the stars.
- The lit cupolas are controlled by a smart phone and can be any color. Our team decided, with this being the first home in the neighborhood, that this home could be almost like a welcome beacon to the neighbors. So, as neighbors enter the subdivision in the evenings, they would see the glow in the windows of the cupolas of whatever color – red, white, and blue for July 4th, red and green for Christmas, etc. The 3 cupolas are controlled independently of each other and have available a complete color wheel.
For our design team, form has to follow function. We are all about creating “luxury for the way you actually live”. This isn’t just a mantra for us. It is the way we approach each project. So, when we don’t have a client to create the home for, then we simply create the client first. Then and only then, can we create them the perfect home for them!
2014
The Parade of Homes™ in Austin is an annual event presented by the Home Builders Association (HBA) of Greater Austin showcasing the newest trends in construction, building design, interior decor and landscaping in one of the country’s most vibrant real estate communities. Jenkins Custom Homes, two-time winner of the Texas Custom Builder of the Year award, is one of four showcased Austin area custom home builders in the 2014 Parade of Homes™.
Beginning with a Preview Party on April 24th and ending on May 11th, this year’s Parade of Homes is slated to be one of the best yet! Held in Willie Nelson’s esteemed, Tierra Vista neighborhood, this Spicewood community features Hill Country views that rival any other in Central Texas.
About Tierra Vista
- Seven hilltops, each surrounded by valleys dedicated as preserved areas.
- 41 estate-sized lots on a 63-acre hilltop with stunning views of the Pedernales River and the Texas Hill Country. Lots range in size from 1 acre to 2.6 acres and are served by underground utilities (including water).
- Recreation on area lakes, access to neighboring country clubs, a private marina, local wineries and area shopping in nearby Austin, Lakeway and Marble Falls.
- Protective covenants ensure lasting value and include: a minimum of 3,000 sq.ft.; exteriors with at least 75% masonry; and tile and/or metal roofing.
- Located within the excellent Lake Travis Independent School District, specifically in the attendance zones of Bee Cave Elementary, Lake Travis Middle School and Lake Travis High School.
The Home Builders Association (HBA) of Greater Austin has selected Willie Nelson’s Tierra Vista as the site for its 59th Annual Parade of Homes™. The event will take place from Saturday, February 15 through Sunday, March 2, 2014, 11:00am until dusk.
Tierra Vista is a living paradise where natural beauty is abundant and accessible. Surrounded by dramatic lake views, wooded hills, stunning vistas and fascinating wildlife, Tierra Vista exemplifies the unique charm of Texas’ Hill Country. The casual elegance of this small, gated community invites you to relax, recharge and reconnect with the things that matter most. Homeowners can enjoy the great outdoors or sit back and admire its wonders. Located just 11 miles west of Lakeway and the new Hill Country Galleria off Pace Bend Road, Tierra Vista is easily accessible yet pleasantly secluded.
Jenkins Custom Homes is currently building a home (see rendering below) in Tierra Vista, which will be featured in this year’s Parade.
Tickets are available at the gate (cash only) and are $15 for adults 18 and over; $25 for couples; $12 for seniors 62 and better as well as children 3 to 17 years. Children under 3 are admitted free. With a military ID, tickets are just $10.
2014 Jenkins Parade Home
The Parade will take place at Willie Nelson’s Tierra Vista in Spicewood, Texas from Saturday, April 26th through Sunday, May 11th, 2014. The address of our Parade Home is 2216 Moonlight Trace, Spicewood, Texas 78669. We are Parade Home 3.
Experience luxury in this stunning transitional dream home by Jenkins Custom Homes. This home was designed for a young family; they wanted a comfortable and engaging household that would suit their everyday lifestyle but still be sophisticated enough to entertain. As a result, a perfect blend of a classic hill country design and a softer, warmer contemporary style were achieved.
Designed with lifestyle in mind, this 3,931 square foot, four-bedroom, four-bath home boasts many special features like an underground wine bar, artisan-carved limestone fireplace, gourmet Viking kitchen with beautiful custom built cabinetry and a gentleman’s workshop.
The entry offers magnificent, unobstructed views of the expansive Texas Hill Country via a multi-slide door which opens to connect the indoor and outdoor living space. A private den, featuring vaulted ceilings with reclaimed wood beams, is tucked away at the top of the ledge-stone accented stairs. The hidden wine cellar is an unexpected and unique touch of the old world in this fresh atmosphere. The finishing touches throughout the house breathe elements of harmony into this home.
Floor plans
First floor
Second floor
2014 Jenkins Parade Home Favorite Features
The 2014 Parade of Homes has been a huge success. We have had many visitors and received excellent feedback. There are certainly some favorite features that have proved to stand out and set us apart. Here are a few crowd favorite features:
Hidden wine room
By far, this is the biggest hit. Come visit us and we will show you which bookshelf releases back to reveal this specialty room. Limestone steps lead down to a wine cave. Enjoy beautiful views through a large window when you slide a large barn-style door to the left. Here you will find racks and a cooler for wine, shelves for liquor, and a nice island bar to enjoy them all!
Glamorous bathroom
These fun and frivolous colors represent the personality of the young lady who will be waking up each day in this bedroom and bath. Adults and teens alike have been asking about the tile and colors in this bath. The Sherwin Williams paint color is Hazel. Bling bling!
Tile
Everyone is raving about this tile laid in a Versailles pattern from Stone Solutions. Color is Cafe Tuaca. Style is brushed and chiseled. Fancy!
Hand carved vent hood
Canteras Real Exclusive Stone Work Designs crafted this one-of-a-kind vent hood in the kitchen. You will find a matching fireplace in the living room.
Wall of sliding doors
These Western Doors slide all the way open to perfectly seam the indoor and outdoor living spaces, capitalizing on the beautiful Texas Hill Country views and the vista breeze.
Jenkins arch
The signature Jenkins arch has become part of almost all of our homes. It’s aesthetically beautiful and perfectly delineates the space between the living room and kitchen.
Masonry Smoker and Steele Grill
This all masonry smoker is unique and situated right beside the stainless steel grill. Combined with the large covered patio, this space makes for perfect outdoor living complete with breathtaking Texas Hill Country views.
The home will be open from Wednesday to Sunday from 10am – 6pm at Willie Nelson’s Tierra Vista in Spicewood.
2010
The Home Builders Association of Greater Austin has chosen Rough Hollow in Lakeway to be the site of the 2010 Parade of Homes™. The event, held in October, will mark the second time in three years that Rough Hollow has been chosen to host the Central Texas region’s most prestigious home event.
We will again be participating in this years’ event, with a home that is just finishing the pre-sheetrock stage. This Tuscan style home (pictured in the artists’ rendering above) will feature many exciting and innovative new design elements as well as some that are tried and true, like the “Jenkins arch” which has won the homebuilder many previous awards. This arch will form the divide between the kitchen and living room, like the one shown below.
With a wall of windows overlooking the back of the property and an expandable door system that allows the home theater room to become part of the outdoor living space, this home will take full advantage of its unrivaled view of the beautiful Central Texas hillside and Lake Travis beyond.
Stay tuned for more pictures and details as this home takes shape! And make plans to attend the 2010 Parade of Homes™ if you are in the Austin area!
2008
