Home on the range never looked as good as it does with our Texas Idea House, located just outside of San Antonio.
By Robert Martin / Photographs by: Van Chaplin / Styling by: Lisa Powell
Casual living--with plenty of room for entertaining--defines Salado View. Primarily one level of spacious, open interiors, the house is flexible enough to accommodate a family's many life stages. There's even a separate suite for guests. Complementing the home's amenities is the setting--the Hill Country of Helotes, Texas. Located in The Estates of Iron Horse Canyon development, Salado View commands a striking panoramic vista of downtown San Antonio.
Place To Recharge
With these impressive natural credentials, the Idea House's design team wanted to build a dwelling that would respond to the area's beauty and meet the needs of those who would live in it. "Our predominant goal was to create a home that worked in the Texas Hill Country, blending rustic design with modern elements," says residential designer Greg Setzer. He placed main rooms in direct proximity to the wonderful views.
Smart Room-Arranging Tips For larger spaces such as this family room, combine two of the same pieces of furniture or accessories for greater impact. This arrangement also reinforces the symmetry of the room. For example, two identical coffee tables were pushed together to create one large surface.
If you can't find a rug that will fit a large room, don't sweat it. To solve this dilemma, bind two matching rugs together to make a generous-size one that fits the space.
Tall Texas Welcome marked by an exterior central tower and a stone-covered portico, the entrance to Salado View heightens the anticipation of what awaits. As you pass through double 8-foot-tall mahogany doors with decorative ironwork, the brick flooring continues inside. Interior designers David Collum, Mary Collum, and Stephanie Latham mixed bricks in hues of tan, gray, and red to achieve a pleasing pattern on the floor.
Sleek and Unique Kitchen
Separated from the family room by an angled bar, the kitchen exudes a polished look while maintaining a sense of warmth. Pine floors add richness. The cabinetry displays a smooth walnut finish. Granite countertops inject more luster. To make meal prep easier, the center island features a vegetable sink.
Office/Butler's Pantry
Household Headquarters
With children come homework, computer research, and art projects that often fill the typical school year. So instead of relying on the breakfast table as a workspace, why not devote a separate area to these activities? Our Texas Idea House features just such a space, located between the kitchen and mudroom. Referred to as the office, this room not only serves as the central craft and study area, but it also houses a much-needed butler's pantry. Cabinets, some with glass fronts, match those found in the kitchen. The butler's pantry comes in handy as a staging area for formal meals.
Perfect for Family Meals
Tucked off the kitchen and family room, the sun-filled breakfast room looks out onto the outdoor fireplace. An arched opening lined with manufactured stone signals the entrance to this cozy spot. The built-in hutch, which displays colorful dishes, mirrors the finish on the kitchen cabinets. Two iron plate racks frame the hutch's niche.
New Application for Stone Referencing the exterior, manufactured stone lines the opening above the range and beneath the bar. Tumbled marble tiles form the range's backsplash. This wall is also highlighted by smaller accent tiles and two metal tiles with a rooster motif.
Linear Mode
