Nestled six miles outside downtown Austin, this home stands as a testament to the enchanting allure of Texas living. Guided by the discerning eye of Studio Gild, under the creative helm of Kristen Ekeland, this hillside residence has become a sanctuary. The family of four, accompanied by their furry companion, now call this transformed space their home, but as it was brimming with dark wood and heavy beams, the residence needed a breath of fresh air to align with the clients' vision of a lighter, California-inspired aesthetic.

To achieve the desired look, Studio Gild turned to NWP for the foundational element of the design—the flooring. The chosen product, Tundra, is from the Wixom collection of European oak, a pre-finished, engineered wood with a 7-1/8” (180mm) wide plank in character grade and a hardwax oil finish (UV cured). Ekeland elaborates on the selection process, stating, "We were looking for a wide plank, natural oak floor that was just the right amount of texture, knots, and warmth, with a touch of modernity. Tundra from the Wixom collection offered all of that."

This flooring choice perfectly encapsulated the design vision, providing the ideal canvas for the project's subsequent elements—plaster walls and oak millwork moments. The character of Tundra, with its natural grain and occasional knots, brought the desired authenticity to the Texas landscape-inspired home.

The overall vision for the project aimed to create a home using natural materials that echoed the serene simplicity often seen in California homes. To achieve this, the coarse, synthetic stucco walls were replaced with drywall and Portola’s Roman Clay organic gypsum plaster, creating a canvas of calm and unity. The refined palette of natural oak flooring and millwork, combined with soft white paint colours, such as Farrow & Ball ‘Shaded White’, set the stage for the warmth and tradition brought by burnished brass and oil-rubbed bronze accents. Natural textures of linen, mohair, wool, and cotton were chosen over synthetic fibers, while green accents reflected the surrounding hillside. The choice of the Tundra European Oak flooring became integral to this palette, providing a timeless quality with its light grey tones and refined finish.

Throughout the design process, Studio Gild addressed challenges with ingenuity. Underutilized spaces found purpose—the entry hall now boasts a curved bar, while the ground floor's empty space became the library, adorned with vintage Warren Platner lounge chairs. “Our challenge was to bring purpose to this space,” Ekeland states, and after examining the space with a critical eye, renovations revealed her vision: a cozy space to house the clients’ pottery and book collections.

The primary bathroom's free-standing tub, featuring a unique green Calacatta, adds another touch of luxury to the home, reflecting the surrounding hillside's brush––a colour story that continues from room to room. The kitchen island, crafted from white oak, harmonizes seamlessly with the European oak floors, and a walnut dining table invites warmth into the heart of the home. Each space was orchestrated to achieve the balance of impressive, yet comfortably casual, with carefully selected materials and colours guiding the narrative.

In the main living area, a Dmitriy & Co Kessel Sofa takes center stage, flanked by New Works Covent chairs and a Danny Kaplan Lamp, creating a harmonious blend of textures and tones. Kristen Ekeland's commitment to purposeful design is evident throughout, from the high ceilings enhancing the sense of openness to the curved ceiling and arched doorways, creating an inviting atmosphere.

With strategic design decisions and the foundation of NWP's Tundra European Oak flooring, the once-rustic house now exudes a captivating simplicity. The great room, featuring floor-to-ceiling windows framed by the expansive terrace, seamlessly integrates with the landscape beyond. The house not only offers breathtaking views but also a true sense of place—a home the family can call their own. Studio Gild's project at Cortona Cove, in Austin, TX, showcases the transformative power of design, where the NWP Tundra European Oak flooring played a pivotal role in bringing the vision to life—a timeless and authentic foundation for a California-inspired haven in the heart of Texas.