Beautiful Virgin Islands

Monday, Aug 04, 2025

A Cozy Cottage Surrounded by Trees Near Downtown Austin

A Cozy Cottage Surrounded by Trees Near Downtown Austin

Built in 1971, this four-bedroom house sits on a beautifully landscaped property along the Colorado River.

Nestled at the edge of a verdant suburb in Austin, Texas, this 3,950-square-foot house wraps around an octagonal communal space and complements the lush landscape. The secluded 0.65-acre property is just a 12-minute drive from downtown, and yet it feels like it belongs in an East Texas woodland.

Designed by local architect William Tamminga and built in 1971, the home offers peace, quiet, and cozy living with its high ceilings, exposed wooden beams, limestone walls, and oversized windows that offer picturesque views of the property. "This place truly feels like a treehouse," says listing agent Jennifer Ladner of the Thomajan & Ladner Group of Compass. "You’re tucked into the city in a way that I’ve never seen in Austin."



Although the house is 50 years old, it’s immediately clear from the stunning landscaped entryway that 2707 Valley Springs Road is anything but dated. A recent renovation has kept the home’s exterior and interior fresh and inviting.



The foyer features a 12-foot-high vaulted ceiling, limestone walls, and a polished concrete floor.

Landscape architect Alyssa James of Studio 8SC purchased the home with her husband in 2015, and she’s worked judiciously to maintain the stunning landscape while adding native plantings, such as a Texas redbud tree and a cacti garden.

"I’ve kept a lot of the area wild, and inserted plants that are more acclimated to the Texas climate." she says. "I’ve also looked for places where I could design a vignette-moments where, from inside the home, you get a small but beautiful view."



Dubbed "the octagon" by the current owners, the sunken living room is the centerpiece of the house. It features a stunning fireplace and large windows that overlook the creek out back. All rooms branch out from this central area.



Landscape architect Alyssa James has owned the property since 2015, and she loves the pops of green that can found throughout the house. To her, the color blends in nicely with the verdant exterior.

Alyssa’s old firm, Austin-based Word + Carr Design Group, worked with the previous owners in 2010 to reimagine the exterior environment as well. They added steel terraces, concrete and steel planters, a posterior balcony, a stone deck, and a new entrance, among other elements.

Local architecture firm Mark Odom Studio renovated the building itself by replacing cedar siding with stucco and mahogany, and swapping the composite roof with metal. The design team also added turf to the flat roofs, and upgraded the front door with a custom steel-and-mahogany piece.



A central courtyard shaded by a Japanese maple tree offers a refuge from the sun.



Each bright and airy room boasts windows large enough to let loads of light into the house.

Mark Odom Studio also refinished the concrete and wood flooring, introduced a complete kitchen remodel, and revamped the bathrooms while retaining the home’s period charm. New built-in cabinets in the hallway and primary bedroom provide extra storage.

The focal point of the house is by far the sunken living area-or "the octagon," as the family calls it. All rooms branch out from this space, and it’s impossible to not be sucked into its inviting aura, according to Ladner. "As soon as prospective buyers walk in the door, their jaws drop." she says. "The different textures and the warmth of the space hit you right away."



The primary bedroom has access to its own steel terrace.



Studio 8SC designed the guest suite downstairs, which has access to the greenhouse. Mend Services was responsible for the build-out.

When asked about her favorite design feature, Alyssa points to the pops of green that can be found throughout the home. From the kitchen backsplash to the wet bar counter, bedroom cabinets, and interior courtyard, the verdant hue interplays with the leafy landscape outside.

"I feel like many people see this color as quite garish and in your face," she says. "But when in this particular house, it melts right out the window and into the landscape."



"Keeping up the landscape around the house is a double-edged sword with all these heritage trees surrounding us," Alyssa says. "We have to keep them off the structure, but we also want to allow them to flourish."



A secluded property bathed in greenery and located near the city is a rarity in Austin.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
OpenAI’s Bold Bet: Teaching AI to Think, Not Just Chat
Tesla Seeks Shareholder Approval for $29 Billion Compensation Package for Elon Musk
Nvidia is cutting prices on its RTX 50-series graphics cards after sales slowed and inventories piled up
Ghislaine Maxwell Transferred to Minimum-Security Prison Amid Ongoing DOJ Discussions
U.S. Tariffs Surge to Highest Levels in Nearly a Century Under Second Trump Term
Matt Taibbi Slams Media for Role in Russiagate Narrative
Pilots Call for Mental Health Support Without Stigma
All Five Trapped Miners Found Dead After El Teniente Mine Collapse
Ong Beng Seng Pleads Guilty in Corruption Case Linked to Former Singapore Transport Minister
BP’s Largest Oil and Gas Find in 25 Years Uncovered Offshore Brazil
Italy Fines Shein One Million Euros for Misleading Sustainability Claims
JPMorgan and Coinbase Unveil Partnership to Let Chase Cardholders Buy Crypto Directly
Declassified Annex Links Soros‑Affiliated Officials and Clinton Campaign to ‘Russiagate’ Narrative
UK's Online Safety Law: A Front for Censorship
Nationwide Protests Erupt in Brazil Demanding Presidential Resignation
Parents Abandon Child at Barcelona Airport Over Passport Issue
Mystery Surrounds Death of Brazilian Woman with iPhones Glued to Her Body
Bus Driver Discovers Toddler Hidden in Suitcase in New Zealand
Switzerland Celebrates 734 Years of Independence Amid Global Changes
U.S. Opens Official Investigation into Former Trump Prosecutor Jack Smith
Leaked audio of Canada's new PM Mark Carney admitting the truth about the Net Zero agenda: "We're gonna make a lot of money off of this."
China Enforces Comprehensive Ban on Cryptocurrency Activities
Absolutely 100% Realistic EVO Series Doll by EXDOLL (Chinese Company) used mainly for carnal purposes
World Economic Forum founder Klaus Schwab: "In this new world, we must accept... total transparency. You have to get used to it. You have to behave accordingly. But if you have nothing to hide, you shouldn't be afraid."
Meet Mufti Hamid Patel, head of Office for Standards in Education in Pakistan
George Soros tells the World Economic Forum: "President Trump is a con man and the ultimate narcissist, who wants the world to revolve around him."
Hamas are STARVING the hostages.
Decline in Tourism in Majorca Amidst Ongoing Anti-Tourism Protests
British Tourist Dies Following Hair Transplant in Turkey, Police Investigate
Poland Begins Excavation at Dziemiany After New Clue to World War II‑Era Nazi Treasure
WhatsApp Users Targeted in New Scam Involving Account Takeovers
Trump Threatens Canada with Tariffs Over Palestinian State Recognition
Trump Deploys Nuclear Submarines After Threats from Former Russian President Medvedev
Trump Sues Murdoch in “Heavyweight Bout”: Lawsuit Over Alleged Epstein Letter Sets Stage for Courtroom Showdown
Germany Enters Fiscal Crisis as Cabinet Approves €174 Billion in New Debt
Trump Administration Finalizes Broad Tariff Increases on Global Trade Partners
J.K. Rowling Limits Public Engagements Citing Safety Fears
JD.com Launches €2.2 Billion Bid for German Electronics Retailer Ceconomy
Azerbaijan Proceeds with Plan to Legalise Casinos on Artificial Islands
Former Judge Charged After Drunk Driving Crash Kills Comedian in Brazil
Jeff Bezos hasn’t paid a dollar in taxes for decades. He makes billions and pays $0 in taxes, LEGALLY
China Increases Use of Exit Bans Amid Rising U.S. Tensions
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Procter & Gamble to Raise U.S. Prices to Offset One‑Billion‑Dollar Tariff Cost
House Republicans Move to Defund OECD Over Global Tax Dispute
Botswana Seeks Controlling Stake in De Beers as Anglo American Prepares Exit
Trump Administration Proposes Repeal of Obama‑Era Endangerment Finding, Dismantling Regulatory Basis for CO₂ Emissions Limits
France Opens Criminal Investigation into X Over Algorithm Manipulation Allegations
A family has been arrested in the UK for displaying the British flag
Mel Gibson refuses to work with Robert De Niro, saying, "Keep that woke clown away from me."
×