Westlake is the wooded hill country just west of downtown Austin, across Lake Austin and Loop 360, where mid-century homes and brand new modern builds share steep, oak covered lots. Our interior design studio is in Spicewood, about 40 minutes west, and River Jane & Co. works across West Lake Hills and the wider Westlake area. Start with a free 15 minute call.
- From our studio
- About 40 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
Westlake, Austin, not the one near Dallas
Quick clarification, because it comes up: this page is about Westlake in Travis County, the area around the City of West Lake Hills and Rollingwood west of downtown Austin. There's also a Westlake near Dallas and Fort Worth. We don't work there.
Our Westlake covers West Lake Hills itself, Rollingwood, Rob Roy, Davenport Ranch, Lost Creek and the unincorporated streets off Bee Caves Road. Each has its own feel, from 1960s ranch houses to gated estates above Lake Austin.
Hillside homes from the 1960s and 1970s
A lot of West Lake Hills was built in the 1960s and 1970s on wooded, steep lots. The houses tend to follow the land, with split levels, big windows to the trees, stone and wood inside, and a lot of character that's easy to lose.
An update here usually keeps the stone, the beams and the way the house sits on the hill, then opens the kitchen, rebuilds the baths and lightens the palette. The trees filter a lot of light, so warm whites and layered lamps matter more than in a new house on an open lot.
- Keep the stone fireplace and any original beams if they're sound.
- Use one floor material through the main levels to connect a split plan.
- Choose warm white paint. Cool whites go gray under heavy tree cover.
Luxury that works for a family
Westlake houses are often high end and full of kids at the same time. The rooms need to look expensive and survive sports gear, dogs and spilled juice. That's very doable with the right materials.
Performance fabrics that look like linen or velvet. Quartzite or honed marble that's been properly sealed. Wool rugs, which clean better than most people think. Leather that gets better with scuffs. And a real mudroom by the garage so the gear never reaches the living room. You'll see those materials side by side, with samples, in a Design Strategy, from $999 per room.
Wood ceilings and paneling
Many 1960s and 1970s Westlake houses have tongue and groove wood ceilings, cedar paneling or dark beams. They add warmth, and they can make a room feel heavy.
Look at the wood before deciding what to do. If it's in good shape and the room gets plenty of light, keep it and lighten the walls and furniture around it. If the room is dark, a whitewash or a light stain can keep the texture while brightening the space. Painting it solid is a last resort, since it's hard to undo.
Rob Roy and the estates above Lake Austin
Gated Rob Roy and the estates along the Lake Austin bluffs are a different scale: large lots, privacy and big views over the water or the hills. Those homes need furniture and lighting sized to big rooms, and window treatments that handle tall glass.
The Shade Haus, our shade line, handles tall glass with motorized shades. Big houses benefit from whole-home interior design, where every room is planned together. Nearby, see Rollingwood, Lost Creek and Lake Austin.
