River Place is built into canyons above Lake Austin, so many homes have long stair runs, shaded lower floors and views that change from room to room. River Jane & Co. is a Spicewood interior designer, and River Place is about 40 minutes from our studio by RM 620 and RM 2222. A free 15 minute call is the way in.
- From our studio
- About 40 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
Canyon lots and the light they give you
River Place is threaded with canyons and trails, and many houses sit on the edge of one. That gives you privacy and trees outside every window. It also means the light inside can be soft, green tinted and dim, especially on lower floors and in rooms that face into the canyon.
Warmer paint helps more than you'd think. Cool grays and bright whites turn murky in filtered light, while creamy whites, warm greige and soft clay tones glow. Add lamps at eye level, not only recessed lights. And pick one or two surfaces with a little sheen, like a glazed tile or a polished stone, to catch what light there is.
The 1990s and 2000s kitchen
A lot of River Place kitchens date to the first wave of building: cherry or maple cabinets, speckled granite, a tile backsplash with a decorative band and a big microwave hood. The layout is usually fine. The finishes are what date it.
You can go a long way without moving plumbing. New counters, a simpler backsplash, painted or refaced cabinets, new hardware and updated lighting over the island. If the kitchen has a soffit, take it out and run the cabinets higher. Seeing the kitchen in 3D before you decide how far to go is part of a Design Strategy, from $999 per room. Our kitchen design page shows more.
- Quartz or quartzite in a soft white or warm stone tone reads current and hides wear.
- Remove the decorative tile band. A single backsplash material looks cleaner.
- Swap a big microwave hood for a real range hood if the budget allows.
Long stairs and many levels
Houses on steep River Place lots often have three levels and a staircase that connects all of them. The stair is the most used hallway in the house and usually the least thought about.
Light it well with sconces or a pendant that reads from every level. Use a runner if the stairs are wood, both for sound and safety. Hang art up the stair wall so it's something to look at instead of a blank shaft. And carry the same wall color through every level so the floors feel connected.
Next door to Steiner Ranch
River Place and Steiner Ranch sit right next to each other off RM 620, and Northwest Hills is just down RM 2222. The houses share a lot: hillside lots, family households and 1990s to 2010s finishes ready for an update.
For views over Lake Austin and the hills, The Shade Haus has cordless shades from $299 a window and motorized shades from $399 a window. Updating in phases? Read about whole-home interior design.
Mediterranean outside, lighter inside
Plenty of River Place homes have stucco walls, tile roofs and arched windows, the Mediterranean look that was everywhere when they were built. Inside, that often meant gold walls, faux finishes, dark iron and heavy drapery.
You can keep the architecture and still make it feel light. Paint the walls a warm white, keep the arches and the good iron, and swap heavy drapery for simple Roman or roller shades that sit inside the frame. Bring in lighter wood, linen and a few modern pieces. The house keeps its style and loses about twenty years.
