By Mauri Elbel :: Blue Bruin Photography
Looking out on the rolling Hill Country views surrounding Dr. Robert and Lisa Bowling’s palatial Cordillera Ranch home, no one would question why the couple dreamed of moving to this part of Texas.
“When we found out we had the opportunity to move to the Hill Country, we were elated,” Lisa says.
Empty nesters with three grown daughters, the Bowlings had initially downsized to a home that would fit the two of them after their girls graduated from school. But Lisa says they quickly realized that was a mistake.
“Not only do the girls come back to visit, but they bring husbands and children with them,” she says of their growing family that has expanded to include two sons-in-law and three grandchildren, all residing in Texas.
The Bowlings knew they wanted a larger home to accommodate their entire family comfortably. But they also wanted to settle down in a spot everyone would want to visit –– situated on a picturesque piece of land where they all could relax together with views that weren’t hindered by neighboring rooftops or power lines.
“We found the perfect lot in Cordillera Ranch,” says Lisa. “Moving to Cordillera Ranch was the best decision ever. It is like living on a resort all of the time. Our family loves to visit because there is so much to do.”
At first they looked into purchasing an existing home, but Lisa says it quickly became evident that they were pickier than they wanted to admit. Plus, time was on their side and they had the opportunity to build the home they were envisioning. When Garner Homes was recommended, they met with Trey Garner and it was a perfect fit from the start.
“We did not even look at other builders,” says Lisa. “Trey Garner started working with us while we were trying to select our lot. Being flat landers from Southeast Texas, we needed help seeing how our dream home would fit into the elevation here. Trey worked with us as Jim Terrain drew our house plans. It was a pleasant experience from our first meeting until closing.”
Working alongside Garner’s professional team, the Bowlings were able to achieve their goal of building a house that felt cozy with just the two of them but also comfortable and spacious when accommodating visiting family and friends. With 4,444 square feet of living space, four bedrooms, four-and-one-half bathrooms, a voluminous living room, an expansive outdoor living area with an infinity edge pool and outdoor fireplace, an upstairs den and a spacious master suite, the Bowling’s home has more than enough room for everyone. In fact, Lisa says since moving in last November, they have welcomed company almost every weekend.
“It is definitely a home where all of our family loves to visit,” says Lisa. “We have not only our daughters and their families visit often, but also our parents. Everyone enjoys it.”
This is likely due to the fact that they played a pivotal role in the design, making thoughtful decisions alongside Garner Homes that would suit their family both now and well into the future.
“They poured over the details and thought forward to how their grown children, grandchildren and friends could use this space as their own,” says Garner.
Thoughtful design decisions can be detected throughout the house, such as the Bowling’s dream master suite area complete with a sitting room containing a TV, coffee bar and refrigerator and a door that leads to the outside living area; an exercise room looking out on their spectacular view; and an opulent master bath that drips with both luxury and functionality, evidenced by shimmering chandeliers and a secondary washer and dryer.
“Since most of the time it is only the two of us, we wanted a more intimate space for our everyday living,” she says, adding that it feels as if they have their own little apartment to retreat to with their Labradoodle, Miley, when guests aren’t visiting.
Blending traditional elements with touches of elegance, this Mediterranean home features countless selections with light finishes and contemporary styling. Throughout the interior, the couple gravitated to finishes and furnishings which exude a comfortable, transitional feel. Native Texas stone and stucco clad the home’s exterior featuring a tile roof while the interior boasts eye-catching elements such as barn doors made from reclaimed wood that the Bowlings found themselves, wooden beams, expansive windows, hand-scraped wood floors and exquisite stone flooring throughout.
“The Bowlings did a great job of keeping the color palette and finish selections neutral and timeless,” says Garner. “The large windows help bring the outside into the home, and that helps to keep from getting lost under the high ceilings. None of the rooms are unnecessarily large; each space was designed with purpose and none of it was done wastefully. All of these elements help maintain the comfortable feeling of this large home.”
The back yard features versatile areas geared to all ages and interests –– a quiet area for reflecting, a playscape for the kids, a covered living area beneath the patio perfect for conversing and a pool for recreating –– all positioned to soak in the stellar views.
“When building our house, we wanted to bring the outside in –– we wanted lots of windows and wanted to see the views from all rooms,” says Lisa. “We wanted a nice outdoor living space. We very much enjoy our outdoor living, outdoor kitchen and infinity pool. You can find us there most evenings and weekends.”
Both sides attribute the project’s success to a solid client/builder relationship and constant collaboration.
“I think the team really stepped forward on this project to place the house in a perfect location on the site, and Robert and Lisa did a knock out job of bringing their own great taste to the design table,” says Garner. “They contributed to both the awesome floor plan and the elegance you see in the finish selections.”
Today, the Bowlings say there are so many things they love about their new home that it’s difficult to narrow the list down to a few favorites.
“I cannot tell you how happy we are with our house –– I wake up every day with a smile,” says Lisa. “I am a very detailed person –– I’m sure Trey Garner and our building supervisor Jason Goss would agree.”
Through it all, Lisa says she is most pleased with the way Garner remained extremely attentive to all the small details and didn’t seem to mind when they came up with out-of-the-box ideas; instead, working with the couple until everyone was happy.
“They truly helped us build our dream home,” Lisa says. “Now, as much as we love our home and it is perfect for us, we are already looking to the future. We laugh as we tell the Garner team that they will see us again. We loved the entire building process from picking out the lot to drawing the design to making it all really come to life. We would definitely do it all again. And we would go directly to Garner Homes to make it all happen.”
Garner Homes is an award-winning custom home builder in and around the Texas Hill Country. Founded by Trey Garner in 1998, the company uses a Design-Build approach which focuses on combining design, permit and construction phases all in-house to create timeless, well-built and energy efficient homes. Committed to providing not only impeccable craftsmanship but exceptional customer service as well, the Garner team welcomes homeowner collaboration to create unique and well-designed spaces to suit the needs of their clients. Call them at 210.493.1686 or visit their website at www.garnerhomes.com.