Exposed wood beams and farm animal art and accessories lend a rustic Hill Country style to this living room.
If you live in a Dallas high-rise but would love to have a second home in the country, you would almost certainly appreciate the rustic beauty of Hill Country style. In interior design, this style is associated with natural materials, simplicity, and old-world charm. Today, it's also popular to blend the more traditional elements in Hill Country with contemporary architecture. Whatever your preference, you'll find this guide to Hill Country basics to be a good starting point.
Seen here is a farmhouse located in Prosper, Texas that we designed for our clients.
Hill Country design can trace its roots to four different types of architecture. The homes of early German settlers, Spanish colonial missions, O'Neil Ford's simple architectural style, and modernism all have an influence on this style today. The low-pitched roofs, strong horizontal lines, and large overhangs in Frank Lloyd Wright's architecture are also sometimes seen in these homes. Some homeowners prefer the traditional German farmhouse or ranch look for the exterior of their home. A few other architectural elements associated with Hill Country style include breezeways, large outdoor areas, and separate guest quarters.
You can save money—and be environmentally sustainable—by using reclaimed wood from homes and barns in the area. Antique lumber can make great flooring, cabinetry, barn tables, and fireplace mantles. If you're currently in the process of building your second home, you can look for local craftsmen and furniture companies that will reuse these materials for you. By incorporating antique wood into your home, you’ll easily capture the rustic charm that is synonymous with this style.
This project uses a lot of reclaimed wood: the walls of this room came from a corral, and the floors are old pine.
Choosing the right fixtures will also go a long way to recreating this nostalgic look. Soapstone sinks, antler chandeliers, wall sconces, and bronze faucets are all associated with Texas Hill Country. Texture is also key: see if you can incorporate cowhide, deer hide, and leather into your furnishings. If a cowhide rug would be too much, consider using a cowhide pillow or throw blanket as an accent. Many Hill Country homes feature exposed wood beams made of cedar or fir, stone floors and chimneys, and iron detailing. For a more modern look, you can choose stained concrete over wood for your flooring.
Country homes should have durable, casual materials so that you can have children or friends over without any worries.
Kitchens in Hill Country homes often follow the Arts and Crafts style, which emphasizes functionality and clean lines. When you walk into an Arts and Crafts kitchen, you'll immediately notice the prominence of wood, with different finishes for contrast. Recessed panel doors, mullioned glass doors, and stained glass in windows and lighting fixtures are also common features.
Regardless of where you live, you'll want to bring lots of natural light into the home. Most people looking to live in the Texas Hill Country want to see as much of their view as possible, as if the room was an extension of the outdoors. If you do add window treatments, choose simple and unfussy drapes that won't distract from the rest of your design. Curtains should be light and hang just above the floor. Although you probably picture warm neutral colors for Hill Country, another common accent color is soft blue, which mirrors the open Texas sky. Don't be afraid to add other colors too if you need to break up all the brown wood in the room.
Keep things interesting in your country home by adding pops of color, like the green and white curtains seen here.
Just how contemporary, or how traditional, you want your Hill Country home to be is up to you. When in doubt, an interior design firm like ours can also help you find the best use for any traditional and reclaimed materials you incorporate into the home. To schedule a free consultation with us, send an email to info@chambersinteriors.com or call our Dallas office at 214-651-7665. We would love to help you design the Hill Country home of your dreams!