Hillside River Cottages is a multi-structure family retreat on the Frio River designed around a simple idea: to create a place where people would want to gather, settle in, and return for generations.

The interiors balance the rugged character of the Texas Hill Country with a softer, more collected sensibility. Reclaimed timbers and local stone are layered with antique and vintage furnishings, rich textiles, handmade details, and moments of unexpected color. At the center of the main house, the structure of a centuries-old barn gives the kitchen and living spaces a character that feels discovered rather than newly constructed. The project is very much an example of what can happen through a close collaboration between builder and designer: a home that feels both brand new . . . and very old. All at once.

Throughout the property, rooms open naturally to porches, gardens, and the surrounding landscape, while separate guest cottages give family and friends places of their own. The result is intentionally relaxed and deeply personal—a home shaped as much by hospitality and belonging as by the materials and objects within it.

• Location:  Leakey, Texas

• Interior Design Scope:  Full-Service Interior Design

• Build Type:  Custom Home Compound, New Construction

• Completion: 2024