What better setting for a home furnished lavishly in natural stone than one that sits in the hillside among numerous trees and other lush landscape? According to Heather McKinney, FAIA, LEED AP BD+C, RID, principal of McKinney York Architects in Austin, TX, her clients sought to take advantage of the property’s natural habitat, and locally quarried limestone was a desirable choice of material for the residence’s exterior, as well as various interior applications.

“In Austin, we love to use native limestone, especially in hilly conditions where it blends well into the landscape,” said McKinney, who worked alongside of Project Architect Brian Carlson, AIA, and Project Manager Andrew Green, AIA. “Our clients also associate the limestone with Austin and were very particular in the selection of the blend, the cut and the sizes of the stone.”