In Texas Hill Country, the landscape itself dictates the architecture. So when a couple envisioned a family compound nestled amid its rolling hills, they worked with a design/build firm to create one main home and four surrounding cabins that embrace the views and seamlessly integrate with the terrain. Then they enlisted Austin-based interior designer Jennifer Fisher to transform their rural retreat into a welcoming antidote to urban stress.
“The main house consists of the primary suite, kitchen and dining room, laundry, powder room, living room and the large deck,” explains Fisher. “Then each of the individual cabins are built right next to each other with their own little breezeways and decks, are exactly the same size and feature a bedroom with two queen beds.” The structures – built of durable, energy-efficient SIPs for the panels’ insulation and performance attributes – all feature an attractive natural cedar siding that sets the tone for the interiors. “We wanted to foster a sense of intimacy with the land and bring the environment’s natural hues and shades indoors,” describes Fisher.
A minimalist, black-framed door leads directly into the main home’s farmhouse-chic mudroom, where a graphic, linear rug designed for high-traffic areas adds visual interest. Identical built-in wood benches provide storage and a comfortable spot to kick off muddy boots. A sliding barn door leads to the dwelling’s laundry room, maintaining the home’s aesthetic cohesion.
In the living room, Fisher created a relaxing refuge inspired by a burled teak, 70s coffee table from 1stDibs. The designer then layered the space in warm earth tones, textural fabrics and low-to-the-ground furniture, including two vintage chairs reupholstered in a contemporary tweed that don’t disrupt the views. A fireplace outfitted in Texas quarry limestone adds warmth, while a nearby bookshelf opens to reveal hidden storage.
Opposite the floor-to-ceiling windows and sliding doors leading to the main deck – set with modern Adirondack chairs from DWR and an alfresco dining area – the designer fashioned an unexpected yet striking focal point: Four 1880s barn doors, sourced from Round Top, were ingeniously repurposed into distinctive wall art and painted in a cool black hue with tinges of green that reference nature. Behind one side of the large, plush sectional that the homeowners requested sits a treasure: a vintage Indian wallpaper pasting table, its legs trimmed to fit. A large area rug adds an extra mantle of coziness underfoot.
To accommodate the husband’s love of cooking, Fisher included ample, accessible storage in the expansive kitchen. At his request, part of the large island was turned into a permanent cutting board made out of Texas pecan, beautifully juxtaposed with a dark soapstone with green undertones. “I wanted to incorporate local resources,” explains Fisher. “Hence the Texas pecan, which is both beautiful and abundant in the area.”
A vintage 1900s dining table was revamped with a refinished top and sleek black painted legs. Overhead, a custom chandelier composed of black antlers by Chad Collins adds an alluring exclamation point. The ceiling panels were painted in the same enticing Black Forest Green hue from Benjamin Moore echoed in the living room’s custom wall art, helping to bring the outdoors in. Unstained concrete floors run throughout the home. “The local concrete is really nice on its own,” adds Fisher. “It has some interesting rocks and warm tones in it, along with the gray, so we polished it and left it as is.”
Every bedroom on the property radiates a light and airy ambiance, offering breathtaking views of the countryside. In the first cabin, Fisher designed an elongated, woven leather headboard for maximum impact. Gorgeous Peruvian textiles from the clients’ travels add a touch of spice draped over the ends of the beds. It’s the perfect escape – serene yet commingled with nature.
Photography by Molly Culver.
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