A Design-Build Firm for the Texas Hill Country
Architect, interior designer, and builder solve the home together before construction begins.
Design-Build Puts One Team Together
Riverbend Hill Country Homes builds design-build custom homes, typically $1M-$3M projects, within about an hour of Dripping Springs, Texas. Architect, interior designer, and builder work together under one contract from day one, coordinating site realities, design decisions, and budget before construction so the client has one accountable team.
Three Chairs at One Table
Each discipline brings a different answer, but every answer must work for the same site, budget, and home.
The Architect
The architect shapes the home around your priorities, site, and budget while working directly with the people who will price and build it.
Explore custom home building →The Interior Designer
The interior designer coordinates finishes and interior decisions early, when their budget and construction effects can still guide the plan.
See our process →The Builder
The builder tests design ideas against site conditions, construction requirements, budget, and schedule before work reaches the field.
Book a feasibility call →
How Design-Build Works in the Hill Country
The traditional path hires an architect first, then asks builders to bid finished plans. That can suit a simple project on an easy lot. For complex Hill Country terrain and $1M-$3M homes, Riverbend favors earlier coordination and single accountability, with the full cost comparison covered in our building model guide.
- Design and pricing develop together before construction.
- One contract connects architecture, interiors, and building.
- Site constraints reach the design team early.
- One accountable team owns coordination from day one.
"As an architect I have had the pleasure of collaborating with Vanessa and Dan on several projects and can attest to their knowledge, skill and professionalism."
Design-Build Questions, Answered
Is design-build more expensive than hiring separately?
Not necessarily. Industry-typical design-build design fees often run about 5-8% of construction cost, while traditional hard-bid general contractor margins often run about 12-20%. Those figures measure different services, so they are not a direct comparison. Riverbend focuses on aligning design and budget before construction, where costly conflicts can be addressed on paper.
What if I already have architectural plans?
Bring the plans to the Feasibility Call. Riverbend will review them against the land, budget range, timeline, interior design needs, and one-contract process. Existing plans may still require coordination before construction. The key question is whether the design, site realities, pricing, and accountable team can be brought together clearly.
How does pricing stay honest without competitive bids?
Riverbend keeps the builder involved while architecture and interiors develop, so site needs and design decisions can be priced before construction. Honest pricing also requires a clear scope, stated assumptions, and documented selections. The goal is not a late bid on finished plans. It is a budget-aligned design with one team accountable for building it.
Who owns the architectural drawings?
Drawing ownership and permitted use should be stated in the design-build agreement before design work begins. Riverbend brings the architect, interior designer, and builder under one contract, but clients should still confirm who owns the drawings, what use is licensed, and what happens if the project does not proceed to construction.
When is the construction price locked?
Riverbend aligns the budget with the design before construction begins. Pricing develops as the architect, interior designer, and builder define the home, selections, and site needs together. The exact lock point, included scope, allowances, and assumptions should be documented in the project agreement once enough of the project is defined for a responsible construction price.
Put the Whole Team at One Table
Start with a Feasibility Call to test your land, budget range, timeline, and design goals before committing to design.