The large boulders on the property were unearthed during the site-planning process, then used as part of the landscaping. “We designed all the landscaping and hired Rusty Stevens’ West Texas Landscape for the rock and the edging,” Kyle says. This included 24 truckloads of river rock and nearly 400 plants.
Nestled in the landscape west of Wildcat Bluff, a contemporary new home stands out against the mesquites and rugged mesas. The segmented geometry of the home allows it to hug the hills behind it. The low-slope roofing and white stucco exteriors offer a crisp contrast to the surrounding landscape. The floor-to-ceiling windows and glass corridors prioritize dramatic views of the eastern sky, surrounded by a low-water xeriscape of rocks, boulders and native plants.
Late last year, Kyle and Tonya Francis completed their custom home on Wildcat Trail, moving in right before the holidays. The finished home itself stands out in the rural neighborhood, but so did the construction process: They managed most of the subcontractors themselves as owner-builders, giving them direct oversight of the project…