Transitional Scandinavian Exterior Design: An Award-Winning Home in The Landings at Lake Travis
The exterior of this custom home in The Landings at Lake Travis, a private gated lakefront community, was designed to evoke calm, clarity, and quiet luxury. Every material was selected to balance modern Scandinavian restraint with warm Hill Country character, resulting in an exterior that feels both sculptural and inviting from the moment you arrive.
Architectural Style
The home’s architecture leans into a Transitional Scandinavian aesthetic. Clean gabled rooflines, minimal detailing, and strong geometry work together to create a modern silhouette, while warm natural materials soften the structure and keep it grounded in its surroundings. The result is a balanced exterior—refined, fresh, and timeless.
Exterior Materials & Key Design Elements
Heavy Mortar Slurry Stone
The exterior is wrapped in a heavy mortar slurry stone finish, giving the façade a soft, chalky texture with subtle dimension. This finish introduces an elevated, European-inspired feel without overwhelming the modern architecture.
Black Stucco Accents
Purposeful areas of black stucco provide sophisticated contrast. These darker sections introduce depth, anchor the elevation visually, and lend a distinctly Scandinavian-modern edge.
Vertical Cedar Siding (White-Oak Inspired)
Vertical cedar, custom-stained to mirror the tone of natural white oak, brings warmth and rhythm to the exterior. Its upright orientation enhances the home’s clean lines and plays beautifully against the stone and black stucco. This natural wood tone also creates cohesion with the interior finishes.
Steel-Framed Windows
Oversized steel-framed windows act as architectural anchors. Their crisp lines and dark framing punctuate the soft materials surrounding them, creating a striking contrast and allowing natural light to flood the interior. They are one of the most defining features of the home’s exterior identity.
Architectural Metal Roofing
A sleek metal roof adds modern structure and long-term durability. Its profile complements the Scandinavian-inspired architecture and ties in seamlessly with the steel windows and black stucco.
Steel-Framed Glass Garage Doors
The garage is elevated through steel-framed glass doors, continuing the window language and giving the front elevation a cohesive, high-end look.
Driveway & Curb Appeal
The home features a full paver driveway with a roundabout, creating a polished and welcoming entry sequence. The texture and tone of the pavers add a warm, European-inspired touch while providing practical flow for daily life and guest parking. This design detail enhances the architecture rather than competing with it.
Outdoor Living
Outdoor living was designed with the same level of consideration as the architecture.
The backyard includes:
• A clean-lined modern pool
• A fully integrated outdoor built-in grill
• A shaded outdoor dining area
• A private outdoor shower
These amenities create a resort-level experience while maintaining the home’s calm, minimal aesthetic.
Lighting
Instead of landscape lighting, the exterior uses vertical linear sconces that accentuate the home’s height and architectural lines. They provide a warm, modern glow at night and contribute to the clean, intentional appearance of the front elevation.
Why This Exterior Works
The strength of this exterior lies in its balance, warm materials, bold contrast, and modern lines working together without overpowering one another. The slurry stone, black stucco, vertical cedar, steel windows, metal roofing, and glass garage doors form a cohesive palette that is quietly luxurious and deeply intentional.
This thoughtful combination is a major reason the home earned multiple design awards in the HBA Parade of Homes.
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Credits
Builder: Shiloh Homes
Design: Mandy Shipp Designs
Community: The Landings at Lake Travis (gated lakefront community with private boat launch)
Begin Your Own Design Journey
If you’re drawn to modern, serene, and beautifully crafted homes, I’d love to help bring your vision to life.
You can book a design consultation directly through my website.
