Tarrytown's streets run under big old oaks, between MoPac and Lake Austin, and the houses underneath are mostly 1940s and 1950s homes with a lot of character. River Jane & Co. is an interior design firm in Spicewood, about 45 minutes west, and we work on Tarrytown updates, additions and new builds. Start with a free 15 minute call.
- From our studio
- About 45 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
Dark rooms under big oaks
Those oaks are the reason Tarrytown feels the way it does, and they block a lot of light. Rooms facing the street under a big canopy can be dim at noon. Paint colors that looked fine on a chip turn gray and flat.
Test everything in the room. Warm whites, creams and soft earth tones work better than cool grays. Lamps at seated height and picture lights on art add warmth that recessed cans can't. Glazed tile and honed marble catch the light that does come in. And mirrors across from windows bounce it further.
An addition that looks like it was always there
Tarrytown houses are often smaller than modern families need, so additions are common. The hard part is making the new space feel like part of the house instead of a box stuck on the back.
Match the trim profile, the door style and the ceiling height where you can. Use the same flooring, or a material that transitions naturally. Carry the paint colors through. And make sure the new rooms have the same kind of windows as the old ones. A good addition is one people can't find.
- Copy the original casing and baseboard profile for new rooms.
- Refinish old floors and new floors together so they match.
- Keep window proportions consistent between old and new.
Kitchens and baths in a 1940s footprint
Original Tarrytown kitchens were small and closed off, and many houses had one bath for the whole family. Fitting a modern kitchen and a second bath into that footprint takes creativity: borrowing from a back porch, a hallway or a closet.
Choose finishes that suit the house. Painted inset or shaker cabinets, marble or soapstone counters, unlacquered brass or nickel hardware and handmade tile look right in an older home. Our Austin kitchen design and Austin bathroom design pages have more. Kitchens and baths are a natural place to begin a Design Strategy, which runs $999 per room and up.
Lake Austin edge
The west side of Tarrytown meets Lake Austin, where waterfront lots bring docks, views and afternoon sun that the rest of the neighborhood doesn't get. Those homes need shade planning the inner streets don't.
The Shade Haus has cordless Roman shades from $299 a window, which suit older windows well, and motorized shades from $399 a window for bigger glass. Nearby, see Lake Austin, Northwest Hills and Austin.
New builds on old lots
When an older Tarrytown house comes down, what replaces it is usually bigger and more modern. The houses that fit the street best are the ones that respect its scale and materials, even when they're new.
Inside, that means windows sized and placed to frame the oaks, since the canopy is the view. Natural materials like wood, limestone and plaster look right beside older neighbors. And furniture should suit the house's rooms rather than a showroom, so a new build doesn't feel like it landed from somewhere else.
