A Thoughtful vision - The Old Town Cottage Project

modern style in historic georgetown, tx

Enter Georgetown’s Old Town Historic Overlay District, a place of historic significance and home design excellence. It is here we met with a retiring couple who sought a warm, welcoming residence designed with both craftsmanship and long-term livability in mind. Their concept, The Old Town Cottage, was explored through our architectural-led design-build feasibility study, which approached neighborhood sensitivity with sophisticated planning. Set on a rare half-block property anchored by a protected historic home, the site called for skillful navigation of Old Town Historic and Architectural Review Commission (HARC) expertise, zoning strategy, and contextual design.

Although the project did not move into construction, it stands as a compelling example of how high-end residential architecture and thoughtful site planning work together within Georgetown’s most regulated district.

The home’s architectural language was inspired by the clients’ design preferences and takes modern farmhouse clarity with craftsman-style custom home design. The result is a balanced, character-rich residence that feels timeless within its historic context. This type of design-build precision aligns with the approach we take with all of our past work in the Central Texas region. 

PROGRAM AND LAYOUT

The home had a layout that fulfilled the clients’ vision while keeping in line with the county’s regulations and staying true to the craftsman style. The layout was planned as: 

• Two-story home 
• 4 bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms
• Single-car attached garage
• Two-car detached garage with apartment above 
• Covered outdoor living spaces and second-floor balconies 

Exterior Expression

The exterior needed to bring that rugged yet refined aesthetic that is the signature of a farmhouse. Every detail was considered to reflect the craftsmanship and authenticity expected from a luxury custom home builder in Georgetown, TX.

So, we designed these features:

• Board-and-batten and horizontal fiber-cement siding
  
  
• Cedar shake accents
  
  
• Warm wood trim, shutters, and brackets
  
  
• Painted divided-lite wood windows
  
  
• Snap-lock black metal roofing
  
  

Materials With Meaning

The property’s former life as a pecan orchard informed one of the most distinctive features of the design. Several pecan trees needed to be removed for construction, and the client, a lifelong woodworker, planned to mill the lumber on-site for use in the exterior accents. This created an unusually direct link between the architecture and the land itself, demonstrating a rare form of integrating sustainable construction materials.

The materials we planned to use included:

• Local site-milled pecan wood details
  
  
• Fiber-cement siding for durability and longevity
  
  
• Cedar shake shingle accents
  
  
• Metal roofing
  
  
• Wood exterior doors and garage doors
  
  
• Painted wood windows
  
  
• Stone masonry features
  
  

This approach showcases how high-end residential work can be enriched by materials with history and soul.

A Backyard Designed for Living

From the first conversation, the clients made it clear that outdoor living mattered as much as the interior. Their dream home would serve as a retreat, a place to enjoy fresh air, quiet mornings, and evenings by the fire. The result is a concept that embodies the custom outdoor living space design, making the backyard an extension of daily life.

The design reflected this emphasis with features such as:

• A covered outdoor living area with a masonry fireplace
  
  
• Balconies overlooking the yard
  
  
• A detached garage that shields views and enhances privacy
  
  
• A cohesive indoor-outdoor connection throughout

the remodel's challenges and solutions

The historic home remained onsite, so the lot required subdivision to create a legally buildable parcel. Given the property’s unusually large size, the clients explored the possibility of adding two additional lots for resale or future development.

This phase required:

• Lot reconfiguration studies
  
  
• Utility and infrastructure evaluations
  
  
• Consultation with the City of Georgetown
  
  
• A complete financial model comparing construction and development costs
  
  

Our team provided the strategic guidance and documentation necessary to evaluate every option, an example of the value offered by a skilled architectural-led design-build team operating within a historically regulated environment.

Ultimately, the feasibility study revealed that subdivision and infrastructure improvements would exceed the clients’ targeted budget. This early clarity prevented unnecessary expense and positioned them for informed decision-making.

A Lesson in Feasibility 

This project represents the best of what a feasibility study can offer, like conceptual design, cost analysis, zoning evaluation, and the confidence to choose the right path before committing to full design development. The Old Town Cottage remains a thoughtful, viable design that is worthy of spotlighting even without proceeding into construction.

The historic sensitivity, custom home design, and innovative site solutions speaks directly to our expertise in high-end residential work. While we wish we could have brought this beautiful vision to life,  the project nonetheless reflects the craftsmanship and care that define high-end residential architecture in Georgetown, just one of our specialties here at J Bryant Boyd.

let Georgetown tx custom home builders j bryant boyd build a home for your vision .

Designing the Old Town Cottage was a custom home remodeler's dream, and we prided ourselves on partnering with our clients to give this dream the expertise and care it deserved. Though this project never materialized, we are fond of the level of care and precision we took with every detail. We know our clients are trusting us with the most scared of their spaces, their homes, and we treasure each project.

 Is there a concept or idea you want to make happen for your home? If so, please consider J. Bryant Boyd. 

We offer complete home remodeling and custom home building in Georgetown, Texas, and have been giving life to home ideas for over 30 years. Contact us and let's start talking about building the home you've always wanted.