Davenport Ranch sits on the hills off Loop 360 near the Pennybacker Bridge, and it grew in stages, so a mid 1980s house can sit beside one from the 2000s. River Jane & Co. is an interior design studio based in Spicewood, about 40 minutes away, and we design updates, kitchens and whole homes in Davenport Ranch. First step: a free 15 minute call.
- From our studio
- About 40 minutes, 23 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
Which decade is your house?
Because Davenport Ranch was built over a long stretch, the right update depends on when your house went up. The earlier homes tend to have more contemporary 1980s bones: angled walls, skylights, clerestory windows and wood ceilings. The later ones lean Tuscan and Texas traditional, with stone, arches and a lot of warm color.
The earlier houses often have great light and odd angles. Lean into the architecture, paint the wood ceiling if it's dark, and pick furniture that fits the angles instead of fighting them. The later houses usually have a solid layout and dated finishes, so the update is paint, counters, lighting and a lighter touch overall.
Ridge views and the 360 sun
Many lots here sit high, looking toward Lake Austin, the hills or the skyline. That's the reason to live here, and it comes with sun. West facing glass heats up fast in the afternoon, and bright views can make interior walls look dark by contrast.
Plan light by room. On the view side, sun rated fabrics and The Shade Haus motorized shades, which start at $399 a window. On the back side of the house, warmer paint and more lamps to balance the bright windows across the room. Plan it room by room with a Design Strategy, which runs from $999 per room.
- Choose a screen fabric with enough openness to see the view.
- Keep dark wood furniture out of direct afternoon light.
- Paint the wall opposite big windows a shade lighter than the rest.
Townhomes and lock and leave
Davenport Ranch also has condominiums and townhomes, popular with downsizers and people who travel a lot. Those homes need a different plan than the big hillside houses: smaller rooms, less storage and furniture that has to earn its place.
Right size everything. An apartment scale sofa, a round table, beds with storage underneath and built-ins that make the most of every wall. Choose finishes that don't need care when the house sits empty. For planning every room at once, see whole-home interior design.
Kitchens that open to the view
In a lot of Davenport Ranch houses, the kitchen is tucked away from the best view. Opening a wall or moving an island can connect the kitchen to the living room and the windows beyond. It's usually the single biggest change you can make.
If the layout works, a refresh can do a lot: new counters, painted cabinets, a simpler backsplash and pendant lights that don't block the sightline. Our Austin kitchen design page has more. Nearby, see Lost Creek and West Lake Hills.
Downsizing into a smaller home here
People moving from a bigger house into one of the Davenport Ranch townhomes or condos have a hard job: deciding what comes along. The instinct is to bring everything and figure it out later. That's how a small living room ends up with a sectional that eats it.
Measure first. Draw the new rooms with your furniture in them and see what fits. Keep the pieces you love and that suit the scale, and let the rest go. Art and rugs travel better than big case pieces. A new sofa sized to the room usually costs less than the frustration of living with the wrong one.
