Design
Design Traditions
How cultures around the world, and right here in Texas, shape the way we build and live.
Every home reflects choices about where the door faces, how light enters, what the walls are made of and how rooms connect. Many of those choices come from traditions that are centuries old. Some are spiritual, some grew out of climate and local materials, and some come from modern research on comfort and well-being.
This guide gathers those traditions in one place so you can recognize them, talk about them, and find the features that matter to you.
Explore the Traditions
Asian Traditions
Energy, harmony and simplicity from India, China, Japan and Korea.
- Vastu Shastra
- Feng Shui
- Wabi-Sabi
- Pungsu-jiri-seol
European & Mediterranean
Courtyards, classical proportion and the comfort of northern homes.
- Mediterranean & Spanish Revival
- Moorish Courtyard
- French Country
- Scandinavian Hygge
- Classical Proportion
- Geomancy
American Traditions
Homes shaped by the land, the climate and everyday life.
- Prairie & Organic
- Craftsman
- Shaker
- Mid-Century Modern
- Dogtrot
- Pueblo & Adobe
Texas Regional Styles
From Hill Country limestone to Gulf Coast porches: what to look for, region by region.
- Hill Country
- Austin
- Dallas–Fort Worth
- Houston & Gulf Coast
- San Antonio
Modern & Wellness
Research-based design for light, comfort, efficiency and every stage of life.
- Biophilic Design
- Passive Solar
- Universal Design
Common Threads
Different cultures, similar ideas
Facing the sun
Vastu Shastra, Feng Shui and Pungsu-jiri-seol all favor east-facing entrances, and the traditional Navajo hogan has its doorway facing east toward the rising sun. Modern passive solar design reaches a similar conclusion through physics: place windows to capture winter sun and shade them from summer heat.
Natural materials
Wabi-Sabi celebrates weathered wood and handmade clay. Frank Lloyd Wright left brick and wood honest. Texas Hill Country builders used the limestone beneath their feet, and Pueblo builders the earth itself.
Simplicity and purpose
The Shakers held that beauty rests on utility. Wabi-Sabi asks that each item serve a purpose. The Swedish idea of lagom means “just the right amount.” Each one favors fewer, better things.
Working with the land and climate
Korean geomancy places mountains behind and water in front. Southern dogtrot houses were built to catch the breeze, and adobe walls to even out desert heat. Good design starts with the site.
Building for Texas
Texas homes face their own challenges: summer heat, clay soils, hail, floods and drought. Its regions have developed their own answers, from German limestone houses in Fredericksburg to raised cottages on the Gulf Coast. See what defines each region and what to check before you buy.
Explore Texas Styles →
Looking for a home with specific design features?
Tell us what matters to you, whether it's orientation, natural light, lot shape or materials, and we'll help you find properties that fit.
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