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Pulling up to this Texas property feels cinematic. Nestled deep in Hill Country on the banks of the Frio River, pathways lined with native grasses thread between buildings, a reclaimed slate roof reaches toward the horizon, and the steady soundtrack of a spring-fed river rushes just beyond view. The backdrop didn’t just inspire the home’s vernacular—it is its entire origin story. Designed by Blair Burton as a gathering place for a couple and their four daughters, the sprawling compound reads less like a new build (though it is) and more like a heritage homestead that has evolved over generations.
“We wanted the home to have a true sense of patina about it, like it was an old Belgian farmhouse dropped into Hill Country,” says Burton, who embraced a softer, more nuanced interpretation of that aesthetic, marrying it with subtle nods to the Lone Star State. Reclaimed beams, local stone, and oak windows lend authenticity, while board-and-batten siding—stained a sheer black and allowed to age—keeps the property firmly rooted within the context of its rustic surroundings. “We never wanted it to feel like you were walking into a saloon,” Burton adds.
At the heart of the home is its most remarkable feature: a kitchen built inside the framework of a centuries-old barn. Original timbers were reconstructed “like a puzzle,” Burton says, creating a richly layered envelope that informed nearly every design decision that followed, from cabinetry placement to lighting. Instead of a cook space that lives up to the motto “Everything’s bigger in Texas,” you’ll find an intimate yet functional corner that prizes connection and the type of subtlety that can only come from finishes wearing the mark of time. Antique lighting highlights the low ceilings, putty-hued cabinetry plays off the wood beams, and a wall of windows above the sink makes rinsing dishes feel like a pastoral daydream.
Still, for all its architectural gravitas, the house is ultimately designed for living. Throughout, doors spill open onto porches, and winding pathways daisy-chain out-buildings together, uniting the generations and the many forms of nature that call the property home.
FAST FACTS
Designer: Blair Burton
Location: Leakey, Texas
The Space: A seven-bedroom, seven-and-a-half-bathroom home across 5,829 square feet and four structures
GREAT ROOM
Custom stained glass windows allow light to dance throughout the space.
Barn beams bring structure to the main living room, which forgoes a television to promote connection. Locally sourced stone reaches up over the sprawling fireplace, while in the game nook, a custom stained glass window by Cavallini Co. hints at the home’s color palette.
FAMILY ROOM
Local stone covers the fireplace, adding patina and place.
Colorful and inviting, the oversized lounge boasts Lee Industries sofas and Verelien armchairs primed for relaxation. Custom shelves highlight the owner’s ever-growing book collection, while the stone wall echoes the elements of the formal great room.
KITCHEN & DINING
An old barn acts as the shell of the space.
Framed by the skeleton of an old barn, the kitchen works within an intimate footprint. Cabinets are painted in Farrow & Ball Purbeck Stone, while wrought iron pendants from Currey & Company hang overhead.
To tie the casual eat-in area to the nearby kitchen, Burton crafted an extended dining hutch with plate rack storage and closed cabinetry, meant to keep tableware close.
SCREENED PORCH
Black details tie into the home’s exterior aesthetic.
Located off the living room, this space is a breezy escape from the Texas heat, with double French doors that promote indoor-outdoor flow. Beyond, mighty live oaks dot the landscape, framing the property’s ancillary cottages.
LODGE KITCHEN
An all-black palette adds drama and interest for guests.
Guest cottages are designed for independent living. Here, an inky kitchen—complete with an Ann Sacks tile backsplash and cabinets in Farrow & Ball Studio Green paint—gives guests a spot to grab breakfast or a snack.
LODGE GUEST ROOM
Twin beds offer guests flexible sleeping arrangements.
Burton finished the guest room off with various vintage treasures from her own collection, including the lamp, art, and pillows. The ceiling is swathed in a cashmere-like brown-gray, adding to the comfortable feel.
COTTAGE BEDROOM
A wet bar creates a home away from home.
In an effort to make each outbuilding its own independent space, Burton worked a number of creature comforts into the cottage bedroom, including a lengthy wet bar that spans from wall to wall. The green tile backsplash, sourced from Ann Sacks, keeps things functional and fun.
About the Designer
With a father in the building industry and a mother who taught her the elements of style, Blair Burton was destined for a career in design. She believes that a well-designed home should be a reflection of the people who live within its walls—a space where an individual or a family can grow and converge each day around the happy moments, and sometimes even the hard ones, that make our lives rich, meaningful, soulful.
