Location: West Lake Hills, TX

Architect: Matt Fajkus Architecture

Photography: Leonid Furmansky

Looking for beautiful wood ceiling ideas? This Texan stunner is everything! Surrounded by the city of Austin, West Lake Hills has generous lots. Many of which were developed in the 1950s and 1960s with mid-century modern homes. The original house on this property was no exception.

With that in mind, the clients and architects of Matt Fajkus Architecture wanted to honor this style with a progressive interpretation. So, they kept the horizontality of the original design. The low-pitched roof and unique fireplace form were also respected in the adaption.

Connecting Outdoor Living Spaces with Wood Ceiling

As for their environmental goals, they wanted to work with the site, rather than against it. This meant preserving all the existing trees by carefully locating the footprints around the critical root zones. In addition, connection to the outdoors was prioritized in the design through views to the surrounding trees and physical connections to outdoor living spaces on every level.

Another way they provided a connection to the surrounding landscape was through their choice in naturally beautiful Western Red Cedar on the exterior walls of the outdoor living spaces, the exterior soffits, and the ceiling in the kitchen, living, and dining areas.

“Western Red Cedar is incorporated systematically through the design of house, as part of a volumetric and experiential strategy, rather than in ad hoc locations,” explains Fajkus. “This includes on the front façade, inside the house, and in the back, helping to blur the lines between inside and outside. The most pronounced application is on the underside of the soffits in the front, continuing as a flush surface to the interior ceiling, and then reappearing in the back again.”

The timeless beauty of cedar also played a key part in paying homage to the area’s mid-century modern design roots.

“The simple material selections, including cedar, are based on the original palette,” says Fajkus, “while also providing an updated enhancement.”

WRC Specifications

Grade: ‘A’ Clear, vertical grain

Pattern: T&G, flush joint

Size: 1 X 6

Fasteners: Stainless steel, blind nailed

Finish: Transparent, solvent born, oil based