The document outlines design goals for a modest ranch home to be built in Kimble County, Texas. Key goals include using natural local materials like timber, plaster and stone, incorporating sustainable features like solar power and rainwater catchment, and creating an earthy modern style with low maintenance. The home should be one story and under 2,200 square feet. Interior considerations include a kitchen/dining/living area, two master suites, laundry room, and outdoor kitchen. Inspiration is drawn from other rustic modern homes that blend indoors and outdoors.

1. Kimble County, Texas

2. Site:

3. Design Goals
NOTE: This document is our wish list. We are cognizant of the
fact that budget limitations may require a reality check. We are
open to suggestions for sourcing and acquiring resources; or
performing tasks ourselves to help attain our vision.
• Help us design a modest gem
• Earthy modern Texas ranch
• Natural materials
– Timber, plaster and stone elements
– Board-formed concrete
– We have TONS of stones on site if it
makes $$ sense to use
• One story, < 2,200 sq. ft.
• Low maintenance
• Net or near-zero energy
– Take full advantage of all federal, state
or cooperative (Pedernales) energy
incentives
– Insulated Structural Panels?
• Ability to age in place
• 3-car carport w/ charging station
for golf cart and storage room.

4. Design Goals
Feasibility/orientation study to
determine siting relevant to:
– Minimize sun / maximize breeze (wide
overhangs)
– Topography and soil condition
– Contour and feature survey
– Engineer site inspection
Best practices systems:
1.Whole-house rain catchment
Tie-in to well as a back up; Innovative Water
Solutions
2.Radiant-barrier metal roof
Unpainted Galvalume installed on 1 x 4 furring
strips angled so heated air exits the ridge
3.Lightning suppression
4.High-efficiency HVAC
5.Solar array
Remains operational when electricity grid is
down. Ground mounted?
6.Dual septic system
Separate black and grey water recycling systems
7. Uponor PEX tubing?

5. Design Vision: Construction Considerations
• Covered outdoor kitchen & sitting area • Insulated exterior doors
• Year-round napping porch • On-demand tankless water heater system
• Double-pane, insulated, low-E windows • Appropriate weather barrier and thickeness on
• Noise suppression on key interior walls exterior walls
Don’t want to live in an echo chamber

6. Design Vision: Interior Considerations
• Rounded archways?
• Combo kitchen/ dining room/ great
room
– Area to display taxidermy collection
Tom & Beth Wild Friends
– Dining table for eight
– Area to display hand-painted Mexican
terracotta plate collection
– Enough floor space for yoga/exercise
• Two master suites
– Both large enough for King-sized bed,
dresser and two nightstands
– Possible sleeping loft for overflow?
• Laundry room with sink, pull-down
ironing board, and room for a
freezer. Shower too?

7. Design Vision: Interior Considerations
• Indoor/outdoor sound system; Wi-Fi • Kitchen sink on a window
• Stained, sealed/polished concrete • Talavara tile accents (subtle)
floors
• Ceiling fans in most rooms
• High-efficiency wood stove(s) – Big Ass “Haiku”
– Non-catalytic?
• Low-flow, high-efficiency plumbing fixtures
• Large pantry to accommodate bulk – Toto Eco Drake (Not dual-flush)
purchases and wine storage
• Universal design
– Double as a tornado shelter?
– 36” wide doors and openings when practical.
• Hidden gun safe – 48” wide hallways
• Solatubes for dark areas? – 5’ turning radiuses
– UNLESS they compromise roof integrity – < ½” floor transition in shower
– Light switches located between 36” – 48” heights.
• Energy Star appliances
– Grab bars with solid wood blocking in the bathrooms.
– Only ONE ADA toilet in guest bath. Master should be
normal height.

8. Design Vision: Exteriors that inspire us

9. Design Vision: Exteriors that inspire us
Not this much
glass.

10. Design Vision: Exteriors that inspire us

11. Design Vision: Interiors that inspire us

12. Design Vision: Interiors that inspire us
Nice board-
formed
cement

13. Design Vision: Interiors that inspire us

14. Design Vision: Interiors that inspire us
Like the rustic/modern
combo. (Useless wood
storage.)

15. Design Vision: Interiors that inspire us

16. Outdoor Considerations
• Xeriscape landscaping
– No turf. Native, drought-
tolerant plants
• Chicken garden; keyhole
gardens
• Area for clothes line
Just outside laundry room
• Outdoor kitchen
– Smoker, grill, 2-burner
propane cooktop, fire pit for
Dutch Oven key-hole fire pit,
small refrigerator
• Jacuzzi and outdoor
/open- air shower
• Natural Swimming Pool or
other water feature?

17. Outdoors that inspire us:

18. Design Vision: Plans that inspire us
Great outdoor kitchen and
path to hot tub.
Love the open format.
Nice little computer room
with built in cabinets.

19. Design Vision: Plans that inspire us
Love the open format.
Wood stoves and sleeping
porch. Nice computer
room.
Efficient bedroom and
plumbing configuration .

20. Design Vision: Plans that inspire us
Efficient use of a
rectangle. Nice utility
room.

21. Design Vision: Plans that inspire us

22. Design Vision: Plans that inspire us
Great utility room. Entry
porch is a nice touch. A
bathroom would let you
clean up from working
without entering the main
space.
Love the open format.
Nice desk area. Sleeping
porch.

23. Design Vision: Plans that inspire us

24. Resources that inspired us:
Architects: Other:
• Barley & Pfeiffer • Green Built Texas
• Burleson Design Group • Treehouse Inc.
• Overland Partners Architects • Stone Supplier/Mason - Bobby D. Enterprises
• Samsel Architects • Rustico Tile and Stone
• Stephen B. Chambers • Innovative Water Solutions
• Lake/Flato • Land Design (natural pools)
Builders: • Ecohome Magazine
• Beckham Homes, Inc. • Fine Homebuilding: Jonathan Orpin House
• Greencraft Builders • USGBC Central Texas
• Timber & Stone Builders • Rais Wood Stoves
• Coachman Homes • The Natural Home – Grey Water Systems
• Sierra Homes
• Matt Risinger and the Green Building Blog
• Hill Country Eco Builders
• Sustainable Homes