This Texas Farmhouse Can Sleep 27 People and We Want to Move in Immediately
Because everything really is bigger in Texas.
Even though Houston, Texas, is known for its sprawl, when you’re a seventh- generation Houstonian like Courtney Robertson, you need more land—for parties, holidays, family reunions, skeet shoots—than big-city limits will allow. So, six years ago, the residential real estate agent, wife, and mom to eighth-generation Texans Ellie and Robbie began her hunt for a large plot of land in the teensy town of Bellville, located a “weekend doable” 90 minutes away. “I knew if I bought land any farther, no one would bother leaving home to use it,” says Courtney. After looking at plenty of no-gos—think properties littered with oil rigs and power lines—she and husband James finally laid eyes on 120 lush acres with built-in trails, a perch-stocked lake, and ample room to build a farmhouse (okay, family compound) that could comfortably sleep 27 (!), yet feel casual and welcoming enough to foster familial bonding. “We didn’t want the scale to make things stuffy. It’s about having fun,” says Courtney.
Exterior
Nothing says “Guests are here!” like the telltale crunch of tires—here, a 1950 Chevy pickup—on a river gravel drive. Courtney and golden retriever Cash await the cavalcade of family and friends in front of her farmhouse—a mix of Austin stone, aluminum, and fiber cement siding.
Kitchen
Courtney and designer Ashley Goforth artfully outfitted the frequent gathering spot with materials that are pretty but not precious. For example, soft gray concrete countertops pair well with limed oak barstools upholstered in an indoor-outdoor fabric. (For similar, try “Ticking Indigo” by Bella Dura). Reclaimed beams and a ceramic tile backsplash add to the room’s sit-and-stay-awhile appeal.
Get the look:
Upholstered fabric: Ticking Indigo by Bella Dura for a similar look
Backsplash: Sofia Mosaic by Walker Zanger
Bar Area
Courtney mixes cocktails at a bar surrounded by leather-and-metal barstools and an iron chandelier.
Get the look:
Barstools: Saddle Leather Barstools by CB2
Chandelier: Eufaula Chandelier from Three Doors for a similar look
Open-Door Decor
After guests are greeted with the requisite “howdy,” they enter the airy, light-drenched entry featuring a vaulted tongue-and-groove ceiling. The iron chandelier and vintage hide reinforce the Lone Star State look, while an antique bench gives visitors a spot to literally kick off their boots. Hand-picked greenery adds a casual organic touch to a poplar table.
Get the look:
Chandelier: Chandelier by Old World Antieks for a similar look
Poplar table:Center tables by Bliss Studio for a similar look
Master Bedroom
In a nod to the many fish and deer that populate the property, Courtney added fun pillows and a faux deer trophy to the guest room, along with sophisticated stripes and a graphic Swiss cross area rug.
Get the look:
Pillows: School O' Fish by Victoria Larson
Striped fabric: Ruben Henna by Romo Fabrics
Rug: Prosper JT Sumk Dhurrie Rug by CB2 for a similar look
Bunk Room
Adults and children alike fight for a spot in the upstairs guest room, which sleeps eight. Built-in beds sport custom ladders and are blanketed with blue-and-white stripe duvets. The clever steps double as storage for towels, linens, and “whatever the kids stuff in there.”
Get the look:
Duvets: Duvet covers at Ikea for a similar look
Guest Bath
A guest bath features a concrete countertop and mirror, softened by a skirt in indoor-outdoor fabric.
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A Party Pavilion Is the New She-Shed
Set among the pin oak trees, a 500-square-foot covered structure hosts everything from country concerts, alfresco feasts (Thanksgiving dinners, benefits for Turnverein, a local restoration project), and University of Texas football game viewings (that Texas flag hides a television). At night, vintage lanterns provide backup to a sky full of stars. A pair of 8-foot wooden doors hides additional storage and a powder bath.
Get the look:
Lanterns: Light fixtures by Brown for a similar look
Firepit
Despite frequent triple-digit Texas temps, the stone firepit by the hickory tree is house-guest central. “Once the sun goes down and it’s dark, that’s where you will find people 80 percent of the time,” says Courtney. Wooden Adirondack chairs are the perfect perches to assemble event-themed s’mores. “We’ve done fishing nights with roasting sticks that look like poles, and at Easter we use Peeps instead of marshmallows.”
RELATED: For more information on Adirondack chairs, check out 11 Stylish Adirondack Chairs Perfect for Your Porch.
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