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People move to Driftwood, Texas, for the great Hill Country outdoors, not to be stuck inside. So when I’m sketching up a home out here, it’s the outdoor living that takes the show. Take the covered patio. It’s not just a spot for a couple of chairs. I design it to be your second living room. Big enough that you could fit a full-blown outdoor kitchen, gathering space, and a dining spot where you can have Sunday dinner with the whole family and not feel like you’re playing musical chairs. The way we orient the patio matters too. It grabs that nice southeasterly breeze the Hill Country gifts us, and the roofline is perfectly angled so you get shade when the sun decides to turn up the heat.

When you’re moving inside and out, it shouldn’t feel like you’re going through customs. We use large sliding or accordion doors that pretty much disappear when they’re open. What you get is a smooth transition that makes your inside kitchen and living room natural extensions of your outdoor space. And you bet we pay attention to the details. Ceiling fans keep the breezes going all summer, even when they decide to take a break. We often screen off a section for those evenings when the bugs think it’s their time to shine. And an outdoor fireplace? Yeah, you’ll thank yourself when the temperature dips a little and you can still enjoy the patio without a sweater.

We’ve built enough of these to know the difference between a patio that’s just for pictures and one that gets lived on all year round. If you are planning a home in Driftwood, call Turner directly at (210) 913-8000, any day of the week.