Conjuring up romantic rolling Hill County landscapes, decorated with bluebonnets and acorn trees is what we have come to think about when we discuss the Hill Country. However, the native Texan style has roots in the German immigrant’s traditional building methods combined with the harsh environment they encountered and the materials they found to work with when they arrived.
Limestone was the most abundant resource available, so the settlers’ homes often had stone, sometimes whitewashed with mesquite, and timber was used further up the home. Large, low- pitched roof coverings and overhangs are also common. Essentially a form of farmhouse, the necessity for airflow and heat management created large porch areas with breezeways and “Dog Trot” features.
This has led to some of the most elegant Texan architectural homes paying homage to these architectural features. It can lend itself nicely to modern, elegant, or traditional tastes. Understanding the roots of our native Texan architecture will help us cast a wonderful vision for your uniquely Hill Country-inspired home.