Builders Risk Insurance for Homeowners: 6 Questions
Builders risk insurance for homeowners, explained by an Austin custom builder: what it covers, who carries it, and the questions to settle before you sign.
Custom Home Design & Build Ideas
Stories, ideas, and expertise from our team of architects, designers, and builders crafting one-of-a-kind homes across the greater Austin area.
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October 2026
Pool House Design for an Austin Estate: The Second Building That Has to Match the First
Pool house design on an Austin estate: roofline, equipment room, outdoor shower, plumbing runs, and where a pool house becomes a dwelling unit.
Building a Custom Home on Lake LBJ: What the Lake, the Counties and the Cities Mean for Your Plans
Building a custom home on Lake LBJ means two counties, several cities and LCRA. Here is how the lake, docks, flood maps and permits shape your plans.
A Backyard Pickleball Court on a Hill Country Estate: Six Decisions Before the Slab Is Poured
A backyard pickleball court on Hill Country acreage lives or dies on orientation, slab, sound and light. Six decisions before the slab is poured.
Building in Dripping Springs: Who Permits Your Acreage Home, and What the Land Decides Before Design
Building in Dripping Springs starts with one question: city, ETJ or Hays County? See who permits what, plus the well, septic and Dark Sky rules that shape it.
September 2026
Building in West Lake Hills: How the City’s Own Rules Shape Your Lot, Your Design and Your Timeline
Building in West Lake Hills means the city's own code, not Austin's: 25% impervious cover, a 14-inch tree rule, and a permit ladder to plan around.
Golf Simulator Room Design: The Room Your Architect Has to Plan First
A golf simulator room needs ceiling height, hitting depth and quiet before it needs a screen. Seven decisions for an Austin estate, launch monitor to lounge.
Designing a Lock-and-Leave Home for Part-Time Living on Lake Travis
A lock-and-leave home on Lake Travis needs more than a lock. Seven design and care decisions for an estate that sits empty for weeks.
Austin Heritage Tree Ordinance: Designing a Custom Home Around Protected Trees
The Austin heritage tree ordinance can decide where your custom home sits. Thresholds, root zone rules, and the steps to take before design.
Custom Home vs Spec Home: How Austin Luxury Buyers Decide
Weighing a custom home vs spec home in Austin? How design control, price certainty, and timeline differ, and how to decide.
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