Hill Country Designs Bring Warmth to the Custom Home
Reading Time: 3 minutes
There’s nothing like Texas hill country style to make you feel at home in your new custom built house. Some elements of this European inspired architecture are reminiscent of a Mediterranean villa. Draw from the Texas landscape by using native building materials while blending the timeless old world feel of a historical dwelling with the charm of a true southern home.
This post on Hill Country design pairs with our deep-dive on luxury modern home architecture in Austin (Hill Country Modern dominates new Hill Country luxury construction). For the architectural styles framework, see our catalog of luxury home design styles in Austin.
There’s nothing like Texas hill country style to make you feel at home in your new custom built house. Some elements of this European inspired architecture are reminiscent of a Mediterranean villa. Draw from the Texas landscape by using native building materials while blending the timeless old world feel of a historical dwelling with the charm of a true southern home.
Courtyards and terraces are an important element of hill country design, and should be planned for early on in the design process. Provide views of a nearby lake or private in-ground swimming pool from many vantage points within the home.
Consider placing an oculus window on a wall over an exterior door. Positioning the front door behind an arched wall creates additional privacy and protection from harsh sun during the hottest months.
Limestone floors are a beautiful addition to a foyer and produce a beautiful patina over time. Add beams of reclaimed wood over the entryway to give a sense of depth and spaciousness to the first room your guests enter.
A cozy reading retreat under an open stairway provides a sense of intimacy in a space that may otherwise go unused. Choose a comfortable bench with a print that offers a bold contrast to the muted tones of the room.
Add a pop of Texas style to the staircase by choosing an iron railing. Choose stair treads that look weather worn to give your home an instant sense of history.
A flood of natural light is a necessary component of a hill country home’s foyer. Take time to carefully choose their placement to make the best use of the brightness that nature offers.
Hill Country Modern Fireplace Adds Warmth & Ambiance
This Hill Country Modern fireplace is the perfect definition of Hill Country Modern because of its traditional materials (such as stone and concrete) but contains interest in its juxtaposition of materials like its sleek Mahogany panels and clean simple lines. The fireplace is composed of a concrete mantle and hearth, copper, mahogany panels and stone carried over from the wall. Add the large windows to the space and steel beams overhead, and this space is simply inspiring! We also love the LED-lit side panels with the glass shelves and the beautiful glass artwork that gives the space a punch of color and sophistication. What a great statement-maker this room is to guests, in addition to being warm and inviting! See more photos of this home in our portfolio.
Hill Country outdoor living
This 9,000+ square foot exclusive waterfront custom home sits almost entirely in the flood plain. To retain the original integrity of the lot, we build a retaining wall for half of the house and the other half goes down to natural grade. This courtyard style home with bridge connecting both sides capitalizes on the beautiful Texas hill country and lake views. There is a calm reflecting pond and soothing waterfall beneath the bridge of this home. Not far away, Koi fish swim peacefully throughout their own pond underneath the master terrace. The expansive outdoor living spaces and pool and spa provide ample space to relax and take full advantage of the Texas climate. An automated fire pit located in the middle of creatively arranged pavers is the perfect spot to gather on a cool Winter night. View the portfolio of photos of this estate custom home in the floodplain.
For more innovative ideas on how to use hill country designs to create your dream home, please contact us.
