Black + Vernooy Architects

After we decided to transform our Lake LBJ vacation lake house property into our permanent residence, we faced the daunting task of searching for an architect and designer. We knew that we would need to tear down the 1960s era cottage and start from scratch, but other than that we weren’t sure where to turn. Fortunately, we attended a local parade of homes and toured a home designed by Black and Vernooy. We instantly recognized the skill and artistic touch of their design so we contacted them for an interview on our property. We developed an immediate rapport with Stephi, the project manager, and our hire decision was therefore very easy. We provided Stephi with just a few design parameters, but essentially we provided her a blank canvas. We were awestruck with their team’s design. They masterfully conquered the design challenges of our property (narrow and 4 feet lower than the new 100 year flood plain) with a plan that combines functionality with art, and created a beautiful structure that our family will treasure for generations.

My husband and I wanted to have a functional yet pretty second home on our family's ranch. We did not want a traditional house and what Black + Vernooy did for us was perfect. They designed 3 modular units ( Great Room, Master and a 3 guest bedroom modular) that were connected by an open air, vaulted Pavilion. The lines are clean and we love the airy feel to the place! This is a perfect retreat for our family when we come to the ranch!

We hired Black + Vernooy approximately in April of 2003. They worked closely with us and the builder we jointly selected to carefully design our house, taking into account the special features of our site and our design preferences. The process took about a year and the creative process was an enjoyable experience. They carefully supervised the build, which was completed in August of 2005, at which time we moved in. Our house is beautiful and unique, and meets all our aesthetic and functional wishes. We proudly show it to our guests and we have enjoyed many family gatherings with our children, their spouses and our grandchildren, all of whom it was designed to comfortably accommodate. If we were to consider building another home anytime soon, we would definitely choose to work with Black + Vernooy once again. They are excellent in all respects. It was a pleasure to work with them all.

Black and Vernooy designed our wonderful lake house. They really listened when we described what we wanted i.e., low maintenance, save trees, indoor/outdoor ambiance. Their plan was innovative and beautiful, mirroring our desires and budget. The firm worked diligently with the builder and when the house was completed, Sinclair Black, the entire group and especially Stephi Motal exceeded our expectations.