When a home sits on land as beautiful as the Texas Hill Country, one of the biggest design opportunities is outside the walls. At Mitchell Custom Homes, we believe great architecture doesn’t just sit on the land; it works with it.
This is how we design custom homes around the view, so every window, porch, and gathering space connects you to where you are, not just what’s inside.
1. It Starts with the Land
Before we ever pull out floor plans or sketches, we walk the property with our clients. Whether it’s a lakefront lot in Mystic Shores or a hilltop outside Fredericksburg, every piece of land tells us something about how the home should live.
We look at things like:
- Sun patterns and light direction
- Slopes, tree coverage, and elevation changes
- Natural focal points (views, water, trees)
- Privacy, wind flow, and access
A good view is a bonus. Designing for that view — that’s where the magic happens.
2. Framing the View with Architecture
We design our homes so that the best views aren’t just from the backyard, they’re visible from the spaces you actually use every day: the kitchen sink, the living room sofa, even the hallway.
How we do it:
- Large fixed or sliding windows with minimal framing to keep the view open
- Intentional room orientation, so spaces face sunrise or sunset based on how you live
- Indoor-outdoor connections, like patios off the living room or primary suite
- Ceiling heights and rooflines that make the view part of the experience
It’s not about adding bigger windows. It’s about placing them exactly where they matter.
3. Materials That Blend With the Setting
We choose finishes that feel like they belong to the land.
- Stone and brick that echo the textures of the Hill Country
- Wood beams and accents that warm up open spaces
- Earthy paint tones and metal finishes that don’t distract from the landscape
In one recent build, we used natural brick in the primary bedroom to anchor the space and mirror the muted tones of the tree-covered hills just outside the window.
4. Views Are Nothing Without Function
Designing around the view is about more than pretty windows. A home still has to work.
We design homes that are:
- Energy efficient (because more glass = more sun)
- Comfortable year-round, with proper overhangs, HVAC, and insulation
- Organized for real life, with storage tucked away so views stay clean
- Built for movement, with open layouts that encourage flow
The best views are enjoyed from a home that functions well. You shouldn’t have to choose between beauty and usability.
5. Real Clients, Real Stories
One family told us:
“We sit at the table every morning and look out at the trees. It’s peaceful in a way we didn’t know we needed.”
Another said:
“Every time someone visits, they comment on the view. But the best part is that it’s not just for show — we live in it every single day.”
Those moments — early coffee, quiet evenings, grandkids running barefoot out onto the patio — that’s what we build for.
6. Tips for Building Around a View
Thinking about building your own Hill Country home? Here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Walk the land multiple times, in different light
- Think about how you want to live, not just what you want to see
- Don’t rush the floor plan — a few tweaks can change everything
- Work with a builder who asks questions about how you’ll use the space
- Remember that the outside is just as important as the inside
Designing around a view is more than placing a few windows. It’s about respect — for the land, the light, and the life you want to build.
At Mitchell Custom Homes, we take pride in building homes that look like they belong, because they do. And when you walk through the front door and look out at the land that drew you in in the first place, we want that view to feel like home.
