A Whole-Home Luxury Transformation

The Transformation Story

The project reimagined a 3,100 sq ft San Marcos residence from the foundation upward over 16 months. Its $1.3 million scope reached far beyond surface updates, bringing structural, mechanical, architectural, and finish decisions into one whole-home luxury renovation. Completed in June 2026, the result pairs a contemporary profile with warm Hill Country materials and more connected spaces for family life, entertaining, and outdoor living.

Riverbend Hill Country Homes served as both builder and general contractor, coordinating the complete construction effort. Verandah Residential Architect Alexander Ridgway provided architecture, Amy Kennedy Design provided interior design, and BEC Engineering handled engineering. Steve Harris Photography completed the photography and drone work. Together, the team carried the owners' vision through the existing structure while every major part of the residence was reconsidered.

A Calmer, Contemporary Exterior

The original red-brick exterior and arched windows became a quieter, more textural composition. Custom lime wash softened the brick and was selected to age gracefully in Hill Country light. Existing window openings were squared, then fitted with sleek black Andersen windows while preserving the home's original proportions. Every elevation was reconsidered, creating a consistent contemporary architectural profile around the house.

At the front, a 10-foot 7-inch custom black iron pivot door creates the entry statement. Its transom and sidelight assembly bring scale and light to the entry. At the rear, fixed windows gave way to expansive black Andersen sliding glass doors that frame the surrounding property. Reengineering those openings required structural planning so the larger spans could be integrated into the home's existing load paths.

A new refined patio and extended roof created year-round outdoor living. The ceiling uses stained tongue-and-groove wood with integrated flush-mounted lighting, discreet patio heaters, and contemporary black ceiling fans. Decorative concrete with custom scoring continues toward the pool, where the deck was refinished with Cool Deck technology for greater comfort during Texas summers. The combined work connects the rear rooms, covered patio, and pool area.

Interior Reconfiguration

The kitchen was rebuilt around custom white oak cabinetry, integrated panel-ready appliances, and a custom-designed vent hood surrounding a Wolf cooking suite. An oversized island in Perla Mirage quartz, finished with carefully crafted mitered edges, serves as the functional and visual center. The adjacent butler's pantry adds secondary refrigeration, an ice maker, wine cooler, pull-out pantry storage, and a decorative prep sink in coordinating white oak and quartz.

The main living area was opened and reorganized around a redesigned fireplace. Stained decorative beams add warmth overhead, while custom built-in cabinetry frames floating display shelving. The room now supports family life and formal entertaining without losing the material character of the Hill Country. Its relationship to the new rear openings also brings the indoor and outdoor areas into a more direct daily connection.

The primary suite became a private retreat with a new fireplace feature in the bedroom. Its bath was rebuilt around a freestanding soaking tub and an expansive dual-entry shower. A custom white oak vanity topped with Broadway Black Leathered quartz balances natural warmth with a dark, tactile surface. The suite carries the same design language found throughout the home while giving rest, storage, and bathing their own calm setting.

Work behind the finishes was equally extensive. The foundation was professionally leveled before all new flooring was installed. Primary living areas use 24-inch by 48-inch matte porcelain tile in Fray Sand, while Victorian Manor engineered hardwood in Surry Hill warms the bedrooms and expanded media room. Two new high-efficiency Amana 15.5 SEER gas HVAC systems added complete ductwork replacement and advanced zoning controls for long-term comfort and efficiency.

Every plumbing fixture, lighting fixture, and piece of hardware was selected to support a cohesive design vision. That consistency ties the new mechanical systems and structural work to the rooms people see and use every day. The completed interior is not a collection of separate upgrades. Kitchen, pantry, living room, primary suite, media room, flooring, lighting, plumbing, and climate control were coordinated as parts of one house.

What the Project Proves

The San Marcos project shows Riverbend's ability to manage high-finish work while keeping structure, systems, design, and construction connected. Hospitality-grade standards appear in the exacting material transitions, coordinated fixtures, detailed exterior composition, and careful punch-list mindset. The work also required budget and timeline discipline across a $1.3 million investment and a 16-month build, with one general contractor responsible for the whole transformation.

Although this was a major renovation, its demands closely resemble a complex custom home. The team coordinated architecture, engineering, interior design, structural openings, foundation correction, mechanical replacement, specialty installations, and detailed finishes. Riverbend now focuses primarily on custom homes, while considering major renovations, guest houses, casitas, and large additions selectively within Austin and the Texas Hill Country.