Cedar Park is full of 1980s to 2000s houses on their second or third owner, and next door Leander is still busy building new ones. River Jane & Co. designs interiors from our studio in Spicewood, 55 minutes to an hour away, and we work in both cities, from Buttercup Creek and Twin Creeks to Crystal Falls and Travisso. Book a free 15 minute call to begin.
- From our studio
- About 55 minutes, 20 miles
- First step
- A free 15 minute call
- Consultation
- About an hour, in your home or virtual, depending on the project
- Design Strategy
- From $999, plan in 7 to 14 days
- Call or text
- 512-883-3767
Cedar Park: the second owner update
If you bought an established Cedar Park house, you probably love the location and tolerate the finishes. Oak cabinets with a honey stain, almond appliances or builder grade stainless, beige tile laid on the diagonal, and brass or brushed nickel everything. The layout is usually solid. The house just looks like the year it was built.
Take it one area at a time. The kitchen and main living area first, since that's where the family actually is. Then the primary bath. Then the secondary baths and bedrooms. Plan the whole house up front so every phase uses the same palette, and you never end up with a new kitchen that clashes with an old living room.
- Paint oak cabinets instead of replacing them if the boxes are solid.
- Replace diagonal tile with a wide plank floor that runs through the main rooms.
- Change every light fixture in one go. It's the cheapest big difference.
Leander: making the design center count
New neighborhoods in Leander like Travisso, Bryson and Mason Hills mean a lot of design center appointments. The builder gives you a big book of options and a short deadline. Most people end up with upgrades they didn't need and skip the ones they'll wish they had.
Decide the look first, then shop the options against it. Upgrade what's hard to change later: cabinet height, counter material, shower tile, extra outlets and ceiling boxes. Skip the upgraded light fixtures, paint colors and hardware, since those are easy to swap after closing. Our new-build interior design page walks through timing.
Game rooms, lofts and the family command center
Cedar Park and Leander floor plans love an upstairs loft or game room, and families here use every inch. The trick is making those spaces work hard without looking like a daycare.
Built-in storage along one wall hides the toys, games and gear. A big washable sectional handles movie night and sleepovers. A long desk or table gives kids a homework spot away from the kitchen. And a family command center by the garage door, with hooks, cubbies and a charging drawer, keeps the kitchen counters clear. Because a Design Strategy is priced per room, from $999, you can plan the rooms you need most first.
Twin Creeks and the golf course homes
On the Travis County side of Cedar Park, Twin Creeks brings bigger custom and golf course homes, mostly from the 2000s. Those houses are more like the West Austin hills than the rest of Cedar Park: two story great rooms, lots of stone and some heavy finishes ready to lighten.
The playbook there is paint, lighting, counters and furniture scale. For nearby lake homes, see Volente, and for the hills to the south, Steiner Ranch.
