Rollingwood is a small city tucked between MoPac and Bee Caves Road, and on almost every street you'll find an original 1950s ranch house next to a new two story modern rebuild. From our interior design studio in Spicewood, about 40 minutes west, River Jane & Co. designs both kinds of Rollingwood home. It starts with a free 15 minute call.
- From our studio
- About 40 minutes, 26 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
The new modern build
Rebuilds in Rollingwood tend to be modern: flat or low sloped roofs, big steel or black framed windows, white walls, concrete or pale wood floors. They photograph beautifully and they can feel cold to live in, with hard surfaces everywhere and sound bouncing around.
Warm them up. Wood on the kitchen cabinets or a feature wall. Plaster or limewash instead of flat white paint in the main rooms. Big rugs in wool or jute. Linen, boucle and leather on the furniture. Lighting that isn't all recessed: sconces, lamps and a sculptural fixture over the table. The architecture stays crisp and the house becomes somewhere you want to sit.
- Add at least one wood element to every main room.
- Put a large rug in any room with hard floors to cut the echo.
- Plan wall sconces before the drywall goes up.
Every square foot on a modest lot
Rollingwood lots are on the smaller side for the Westlake area, so new houses tend to go up rather than out. That puts pressure on the plan. Stairs take space. Closets get squeezed. A mudroom competes with the pantry.
Look at the floor plan with furniture drawn in before construction starts. Can the living room fit a real sofa and two chairs facing the fireplace? Is there a wall for the TV that isn't glass? Does the entry have room for a bench and hooks? Catching those problems on paper is cheap. Our new-build interior design page explains how we plan selections for a new house.
Keeping a 1950s ranch
Not every Rollingwood ranch house needs to come down. The originals often have solid wood floors, good proportions and big yards. If you love yours, an update can make it feel brand new while keeping its easy one story charm.
Open the kitchen to the living area. Add a bigger window or glass doors to the backyard. Rework the baths. Refinish the floors. Paint the whole house one warm white so the rooms flow. A Design Strategy, $999 per room to start, lets you see the update in 3D before deciding.
Privacy on close lots
Big glass on a close lot means your neighbor can see into your living room. Plan privacy early. The Shade Haus dual shades pair a sheer for daytime with a room darkening layer for night. Cordless Roman and roller shades start at $299 a window and motorized shades at $399 a window.
Nearby, see West Lake Hills, Barton Creek and Tarrytown.
Where does the TV go?
In a lot of modern rebuilds, the living room is glass on two sides and a fireplace on the third. That leaves nowhere for a television, and it ends up over the fireplace, too high to watch comfortably.
Decide on the TV wall on paper, before the windows are ordered. Options include a solid wall opposite the sofa, a media room or den with the TV, or a frame style TV hung at eye level on a low fireplace. Plan the outlet, the cable path and any cabinet at the same time, so there are no cords hanging down the wall.
