ELK EDGE RETREAT
Project Details
Location: Somervell County, Texas
Project Type: Ranch Retreat
Expertise: Ranch & Retreat • Residential
Status: Completed
Architect: Jeff Garnett Architect
Builder: J Kellam Builder
Interiors: Christine Zeiler Interiors
Photography: Costa Christ
Awards
AIA Fort Worth Design Award — 2025
Press
Western Art & Architecture Magazine — Project Feature
Fort Worth Magazine — AAI Award Feature
Fort Worth Report — AIA Award Feature
Overview
Elk Edge Retreat is a contemporary custom ranch retreat nestled within the rolling hills of rural Texas, where expansive views of native elk, distant lakes, and dramatic sunsets define the experience of the landscape. Conceived as a quiet retreat, the home was designed to celebrate its surroundings through a restrained architectural language that places nature at the forefront of every space.
Expansive glazing, deep covered porches, and carefully framed sightlines dissolve the boundary between interior and exterior, creating a seamless relationship between architecture and the surrounding ranch. A refined palette of native limestone, charred wood, exposed timber, and steel allows the home to recede into its setting while reinforcing a timeless connection to the Texas landscape.
Through careful composition, restrained materials, and an unwavering focus on the surrounding environment, Elk Edge Retreat demonstrates how contemporary Texas ranch architecture can quietly elevate everyday living while remaining rooted in the beauty of its natural setting.
Site & Setting
The custom residence occupies a secluded ranch site defined by rolling hills, expansive skies, neighboring elk, and long views toward a distant lake. Rather than imposing upon the landscape, the architecture was carefully positioned to preserve these natural vistas while creating a sequence of spaces that continually reconnect occupants with their surroundings.
Arrival begins with carefully framed views through the home itself. From the driveway and motor court, uninterrupted sightlines extend directly through the residence toward the landscape beyond, immediately establishing transparency as one of the project's defining principles.
Design Response
Material restraint became central to the architectural concept. A limited palette of native limestone, charred wood cladding, exposed timber, warm wood ceilings and flooring, and blackened structural steel allows the architecture to recede while strengthening its connection to the surrounding landscape.
Large expanses of glass and deep covered porches frame carefully selected views while providing protection from the Texas climate. Limestone walls extend seamlessly from interior to exterior, blurring traditional boundaries between conditioned and outdoor spaces. Custom leather-wrapped steel door pulls, board-formed concrete fireplaces, and carefully aligned sightlines reinforce an architectural language rooted in craftsmanship, simplicity, and restraint.
Architecture & Experience
The great room serves as the heart of the home, anchored by a board-formed concrete fireplace that defines the primary gathering space. Opposite the fireplace, the kitchen balances the composition, while a custom dining table occupies the center of the room, positioned to capture uninterrupted views through both the front and rear glazing. Beyond, a second board-formed concrete fireplace anchors the covered porch, extending the home's central axis into the landscape while preserving unobstructed views across the ranch.
A secondary entry connected to the garage and mud hall slips discreetly behind the fireplace mass, providing direct access to both the primary suite and outdoor living spaces. Throughout the home, carefully composed circulation paths maintain continuous visual connections to the surrounding landscape.
The primary suite emphasizes quiet retreat through expansive corner glazing, carefully framed views of the adjacent lake and grazing elk, and thoughtfully crafted architectural details. Guest accommodations—including two guest bedrooms and a dedicated bunk room—occupy the opposite wing, balancing privacy with convenient access to the home's shared living spaces.
Interior Environment
Natural materials continue throughout the interior, creating warmth and visual continuity between architecture and landscape. Stone, charred wood, exposed timber, and steel establish a restrained backdrop that allows natural light, changing seasons, carefully curated furnishings, and original artwork to become integral elements of the experience.
Throughout the home, interior spaces were designed to feel calm, tactile, and enduring—celebrating craftsmanship while maintaining an uninterrupted connection to the surrounding Texas ranch landscape.
Materiality
Every material was selected for its ability to age gracefully within the Texas landscape. Native limestone, charred wood, exposed timber, blackened steel, and expansive glazing establish a timeless architectural vocabulary rooted in regional traditions while expressing a contemporary sensibility.
Outdoors, a simple rectangular pool extends the home's linear composition into the landscape, completing a sequence of outdoor living spaces intended for gathering, reflection, and quiet appreciation of the surrounding ranch.
A Lasting Retreat
Elk Edge Retreat reflects a belief that architecture is most successful when it belongs to its landscape. Through disciplined materiality, carefully framed views, and a deep respect for the surrounding environment, the residence creates a home that will continue to evolve alongside the land it inhabits.
More than a contemporary custom ranch retreat, Elk Edge Retreat is a home shaped by light, landscape, and restraint—a place where architecture quietly supports the rhythms of nature while celebrating the enduring character of the Texas countryside.
Living the Landscape
As the seasons change and the landscape continues to evolve, Elk Edge Retreat offers a setting that invites repeated discovery. Morning light across the hills, evenings gathered around the fireplaces, and quiet views toward neighboring elk become part of the home's daily rhythm, creating an experience that is both restorative and deeply connected to place.
Designed to age gracefully alongside its surroundings, the retreat remains a place where architecture quietly frames the landscape rather than competing with it. More than a destination, Elk Edge Retreat is a home that celebrates the enduring beauty, simplicity, and rhythms of ranch life in Texas.
