Lake Austin is really a river held between two dams, and because its level barely moves, a waterfront house here can be designed around a view that stays put. River Jane & Co. is a Spicewood based interior designer, and most of the shoreline is about 40 minutes from our studio. We work on Lake Austin homes from Rob Roy to the Tarrytown side. Start with 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
A lake you can count on
Lake Austin runs between Mansfield Dam and Tom Miller Dam and is held at a near constant level. Compared to Lake Travis just upstream, that changes everything about how a waterfront house gets designed. The view, the dock and the lower level are always there, so they can be planned as real parts of the house.
That's why boathouses on Lake Austin often look more like pavilions than utility sheds. A shaded deck with good seating, lighting for evenings and a small kitchen or bar is common, and the path from the main house down to it is used every day in summer.
Boathouse, lower level and lake stairs
On a steep shoreline lot, the house might be four levels from the street to the water. The lower level becomes the transition zone between house and lake, and it gets treated harder than any other part of the home.
Plan it like a mudroom that happens to be a living room. Tile or stone floors, performance fabric, a bath with a shower, a place for towels, and storage for tubes, paddleboards and life jackets. Upstairs can stay more refined because the lower level is taking the wear.
- Put a full bath with a shower on the lake level.
- Choose outdoor rated fabric for boathouse seating, even under a roof.
- Light the lake stairs with low, warm fixtures so the view at night isn't lost to glare.
Old lake houses and new glass boxes
Along Westlake Drive and the City Park Road side, older lake houses sit right next to brand new contemporary builds. If yours is one of the older ones, the question is how much to change. Many have great bones: stone, good ceilings and rooms already oriented to the water.
If you're building new, the challenge is keeping a house with walls of glass from feeling like an office lobby. Warm wood, plaster, texture in the rugs and fabrics, and lighting that isn't only recessed cans. Our new-build interior design and whole-home interior design pages cover both paths. Whichever path you take, a Design Strategy begins at $999 per room.
Light on the river
Because Lake Austin is narrow and winding, the direction of your view depends entirely on which bend you're on. Some houses face west into the afternoon sun, others look east over the water toward morning light. Figure out which one you have before choosing fabrics.
For west facing glass, The Shade Haus motorized shades start at $399 a window, and cordless Roman or roller shades start at $299 a window. For more on sun control, read are motorized shades worth it. Nearby, see West Lake Hills, River Place and Tarrytown.
