Lost Creek is a wooded West Austin neighborhood running from Loop 360 down toward Barton Creek, and many of its houses were built in the 1970s and 1980s under oaks that are now enormous. As an interior designer based in Spicewood, about 35 minutes away, River Jane & Co. updates Lost Creek homes one phase at a time or all at once. Start with a free 15 minute call.
- From our studio
- About 35 minutes, 24 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
Under the canopy
Fifty years of tree growth has changed the light inside a lot of Lost Creek houses. Rooms that were bright when the house was new are now shaded most of the day, and the light that gets through is green and soft. It's lovely in summer and it can feel gloomy in winter.
Work with it. Warm whites and soft clay tones look rich in filtered light, while cool grays turn flat. Mirrors across from windows bounce light deeper into the room. Lamps at seated height matter more than extra recessed lights. And a few surfaces with a little sheen, like a glazed tile or honed marble, catch what light there is.
Updating a 1970s or 1980s house
Houses from that era often have great bones: good ceiling heights, big windows to the trees, stone fireplaces and solid construction. They also have closed kitchens, small baths, dark paneling and a lot of brown.
The update usually runs in this order. Open the kitchen to the living area if the structure allows. Rework the primary bath, often turning a big tub into a bigger shower. Paint the paneling and dark trim. Replace the flooring with one material through the main rooms. Keep the stone fireplace, since it's usually the best thing in the house.
- Check whether the kitchen wall is load bearing before falling in love with an open plan.
- Paint paneling rather than tearing it out if the walls behind are rough.
- Refinish the fireplace stone with a clean and seal instead of covering it.
Plan it all, build it in phases
Plenty of Lost Creek owners don't want to move out for a full remodel. That's fine. The smart move is to plan the whole house first, then build it in phases, so each piece fits the next and you never redo work.
Lock the palette and layout for the whole house before phase one with a Design Strategy, from $999 per room. More on phasing lives on our whole-home interior design page.
Hillside streets and houses set into the slope
Lower Lost Creek, toward Barton Creek, has houses tucked into the slope with lower levels that get almost no direct light. Upper Lost Creek, near Loop 360, has more views and more sun. Same neighborhood, very different houses.
For the lower, darker homes, warmer finishes and a lot of layered lighting. For the higher, brighter homes, sun control and fade resistant fabrics. The Shade Haus has cordless shades from $299 a window for both. Nearby, see Barton Creek and Davenport Ranch.
Porches and patios in the woods
Many Lost Creek back yards face into the trees, and the best spot at the house is a porch or deck under the canopy. Shade keeps it cool, and it also brings leaves, pollen and damp.
Pick outdoor furniture that dries fast and cleans easily: powder coated aluminum, teak or synthetic wicker with quick dry cushions. Choose cushion colors in the middle range, since pale ones show pollen and dark ones show every leaf stain. Put lighting on the porch that works for dinner, and a ceiling fan to keep bugs moving along.
