Inspiration & Sustainability in Our New Build Project

It’s been almost two years since we found the perfect little piece of the Hill Country and immediately started working with a builder to draw up plans. We elected to go the semi-custom route and heavily modified a plan already existing in their portfolio, knowing that our architectural changes and design choices would make the home feel uniquely “us.” I’ve loved the process of making countless edits and creating the backdrop for all of our family memories, especially as we look towards growing our family in the (hopefully) near future. 

I knew right away that I wanted to take the slow route in making our house feel like home, and I didn’t want to hire a designer for the project. I wanted to collect treasures over time, on trips to our beloved Round Top antique fairs, and from our travels. Nature informs my decorating style, and I am happiest in rooms that feature the outside setting as much as the furniture and artwork within. 

I want this house to feel elegant yet relaxed, traditional and charming with a few more modern touches – a little bit fluid, conversational, and collected in a way where everything and everyone can feel at home. My goal for our home is for it to feel very Americana, like a summer country home – a place where you can relax and stay awhile.

One thing that Taylor and I loved about our floor plan is that while it is a home with a lot of space, it feels a bit more traditional in the sense of layout and purposeful rooms; we have a dedicated spaces for both the formal and informal events in our lives. I can’t wait to see each space fulfill its purpose and be filled with family and friends we love throughout the years.

The photos below are sourced from this Pinterest board.

EXTERIOR

It’s always been my dream to have a big front porch where I can enjoy a cup of coffee on a slow Saturday morning. When we started discussing our elevation with our builder, we found that the existing porch options were limited. Because we had elected to go the semi-custom route we had the opportunity to design the porch of our dreams! We worked with our realtor and friend (who is a former architect) and sketched a few ideas inspired by some of our favorite homes in Charleston, South Carolina – a city we love and where we were married! We landed on a brick-paved porch with steps and three sets of french doors.

The color scheme of our house will be tonal, warm whites and neutrals. Our brick will be painted Alabaster by Sherwin Williams with our shutters in Accessible Beige by Sherwin Williams. Similar to the right-most photo above, our doors will be stained a medium-tone and our brick will be a brown shade with hints of age and warmth.

OUTDOOR SPACES

One of our favorite parts of the Texas Hill Country is the land. The open fields feel like freedom, and oak trees honor the years that have passed. Each spring, wildflowers sprinkle the ground with hope. With nature at its core, our lifestyle is simple; we love the land and wanted that to show throughout our new build process and in our new home. 

We have saved as many trees as possible throughout our build process, from our Texas oaks to a persimmon tree we discovered with our landscapers earlier this week! I was delighted to learn that we have a wild fruit-bearing tree near where I am planning my future garden and greenhouse. 

Through this process, we’ve been reminded that it’s called the “Hill Country” for a good reason. We have a bit of an incline in our backyard which has led to landscape designers proposing retaining walls, which in my opinion would distract from the view of the land we love. Instead, I am dreaming about an open, grassy space immediately off the house with an area for entertaining. To address the incline, I am playing with the idea of a few grass stairs leading to a pool area with plenty of additional “park” like space around it. 

ENTRY

KITCHEN NOOK

KITCHEN

BACK KITCHEN

When I was designing the back kitchen, I thought a lot about going dark. I had seen black back kitchens and butler’s pantries that were filled with natural light and looked absolutely gorgeous, but it seemed to harsh for the style of our home.

I ended up choosing to color drench the space in Secret Garden by Sherwin Williams. I think the dark, moody green will make it a stand-out space, but feel a little bit softer and like and extension of the outdoors.

If you’ve followed along on Substack or Instagram, you know that I’ve been on the hunt in antique stores for delft and blue and white plates. I was so inspired by the photo of this grey-green kitchen space with delft plates and I think this idea will look equally as special with my dark green back kitchen.

FAMILY ROOM

DINING ROOM

When I first saw this IKSEL mural, I immediately fell in love and knew I wanted to feature it in our dining room. Then, I had the opportunity to visit the Kip’s Bay Decorator Showhouse in Dallas in October of 2024, and I got to see this beautiful room by CeCe Barfield Thompson. The creamy, buttery tones were even more stunning in person and I loved how they contrasted against the dark wood tones within the design. I also noticed the line drawings and sketches framed in the space, and over many trips to Round Top I’ve amassed a collection of similar art. I was inspired by the tension between softer, floral wallpaper and the black and white sketches.

Years ago, my parents purchased an antique altar table that they now have in storage after their move to the Hill Country. We plan to feature the special piece in our dining room!

FORMAL LIVING ROOM – “The Pink Room”

The formal living room space is inspired by a few favorite pieces of art that we plan to add to our collection one day as heritage pieces from loved ones. Taylor’s parents have an exquisite, old oil painting of a family member who was a captain in the Navy, and I’ve claimed a painting that my grandmother did herself that is more modern and abstract. I wanted to create a space that will really allow these pieces to be the center of the conversation when we one day inherit them.

If you’ve seen Emily in Paris on Netflix, you are likely familiar with Sylvie’s office. The paint color of this stunning space led to hours upon hours of google searching to figure out a match. Not quite pink, purple, or grey – but somewhere in between – I think Peignoir by Farrow & Ball will be a great choice. I can’t wait to see how it works in the actual space!

TAYLOR & ALEXANDRA’S BEDROOM

TAYLOR & ALEXANDRA’S BATHROOM

FUTURE CHILDREN’S SPACES

RETREAT

I hope you find these photos as dreamy as I do. I’m looking at those photos knowing that it will likely take me years to finish our Hill Country Home, but I’m excited to begin the process and share it with you – with these ideas in mind as we tailor our spaces to our own unique style.

Our Big Sustainability Project: Rainwater Harvesting

In addition to our drought-prone climate, the Hill Country relies heavily on groundwater from local aquifers and springs as a primary water source. Many of these natural resources simply can’t support the rate of development in the area. 

Rainwater harvesting has become a common practice in the Hill Country, and with sustainability in mind, we elected to install a 40,000 gallon rainwater tank to support our whole home. We felt that harvesting rainwater is an environmentally responsible choice that will also help us reduce strain on the community well in our neighborhood. 

We’re about to start the installation of our rainwater harvesting system, and the design of the system has been very similar to the design process for our home. Below, I’ve included a few questions that I’ve had throughout the process and their answers: 

Will you ever fill up a 40,000 gallon tank in drought conditions? 

Yes! Because of the size of our roof and gutter system, our installer has told us that a single rain event in Texas will collect enough water to fill the tank. 

How long does a full tank last? 

It varies based on use, but 40,000- 80,000 gallons should last a family of four one year. Naturally, we will use less water upon immediate move-in, but as we grow our family and continue to improve our home with a pool and guest house in the future, our usage will increase.  

What will you do if all of the rainwater is used up? 

While the rainwater tank is our primary water source, we do have a backup connection to our community well. We can cut over to the well water at any time. 

How much space do you need for a rainwater tank? 

One of the great things about the Hill Country is the wide, open space. A good amount of land is required for a rainwater tank. I would estimate ~30 feet in diameter for the rainwater tank and pad that it will sit on, plus space closer to the house for a couple smaller tanks that will act as a “lift station” to our large tank. 

Is it ugly? 

We are used to rainwater tanks here in the Hill Country, and I personally feel like they are a symbol of the lifestyle. Admittedly, I wouldn’t want to look at a massive silver tank in my backyard. Thankfully, there are so many options on how to make them more attractive. We’ve selected a green paint color that helps the tank blend in with the trees, and we also plan to add some landscaping in the area immediately around the tank. 

As part of choosing where the tank would be located on the property, we were able to put it in an area away from our home that had a great tree canopy that will help conceal the tank. 

Did you have to make any other changes to your home design to accommodate the rainwater tank? 

We did! For water safety and cleanliness, we made the decision to install a metal roof. This will eliminate chemicals from an asphalt roof seeping into our water supply. 

Is rainwater safe to drink and use in the home? 

Absolutely! The water is clean and will be run through a filtration system before it makes its way into our home for use. 

While rainwater harvesting might not be an option for every lifestyle or location, we are excited for this sustainability feature. If you have more limited space but are interested in rainwater harvesting, consider a small tank to support gardening or landscaping. There are many ways, both big and small, for sustainable values to shine in any home.

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