As a native texan, Killion knows all the best places to thrift and antique in Round Top, Texas

Sisters are often busted borrowing each other’s clothes, makeup...basically everything—but homeowner Margaret Huber had her eyes set on something very specific: design advice. Her sister Alexandra Killion is known to everyone else as a Houston-based interior designer with a reputation for creating luxuriously layered rooms. So when Margaret and her husband, Mark, wanted to build a new weekend home on their 160-acre Round Top, Texas, property, Killion got the phone call.

The adage “It’s not the things that make the place—it’s the people” is true here: Killion’s husband, Tyler, signed on as the builder, and close friends Caroline and Matt Jarosz of Sport & Country joined as architectural designers. Everyone had intimate knowledge of how the Hubers lived, and it gave them an extra edge when organizing the 6,300-square-foot, five-bedroom home into distinct public and private areas. “We can have more than a dozen people for the weekend and it doesn’t feel crowded, but when it is just us and the two kids, it doesn’t feel like we are rattling around,” Margaret says. The kitchen centers around a 14-foot-long butcher-block island, while a game room for the kids (complete with vintage pinball machine) and bourbon room for the adults keep all generations entertained.

It also helped that Margaret and Alexandra know the area well: They grew up visiting friends and family in Round Top long before the area became known for its 30-mile-long biannual antiques show. But proximity to the design mecca in recent years was certainly useful in filling all that space. “I’ve been staying here with Margaret since 2015, and I’ve collected pieces for her home this whole time,” Killion says. “The new house came together in about a year, which is only two Round Top markets, but I mixed in things we had already found with discoveries.” A few Round Top treasures immediately made the cut: an ornate Art Deco mirror, cozy chairs, rugs, and a Belgian wood table and benches. The only wild card was a vintage tapestry. “I wasn’t sure about it,” Margaret says. “Once Alexandra paired it with the velvet green sofa and an all-white room, I loved it.” Proof that sometimes sisters really do know what’s best.

As a native texan, killion knows all the best stops along the 30-mile market.

“I love neutrals and my sister wanted all-white walls,” says interior designer Alexandra Killion. “Sage green cabinets kept the kitchen from feeling stark while not overindulging in color.” Ceiling fixture: Circa Lighting. Chairs: Argentine antiques from Round Top Antiques Fair. Table: client’s existing. Paint: Alabaster (walls) and Clary Sage (cabinets), both Sherwin-Williams. Faucet and fixtures: Kohler.

“Separating the kids’ spaces from the adults’ was a top priority,” says Caroline Jarosz of architectural design firm Sport & Country. Table and bench: antiques from Bader Ranch, Round Top Antiques Fair. Art: Brooks Capewell Photography. Ladder: Round Top Antiques Fair. Vintage pinball machine: client’s own.

Fanciful touches like this mirror from Round Top Antiques Fair enliven the home’s otherwise neutral palette. Faucet: Kingston Brass. Sink: Balducci Marmi. Sconces: Circa Lighting.

Focusing on the outdoors was critical, not just with sweeping views but with hardy decor. “When you are entertaining in the country, you don’t want to worry all the time; everything should be able to stand up to dogs and children running in and out,” Killion advises. Striped chairs, gray lamp, and tapestry: Round Top Antiques Fair. Sofa: Canvas Showroom. Pillows: custom. Coffee table: Home Source Furniture. Artwork: Etsy. Stools: client’s own.

Gingham and horse-motif pillows make the room suitable for a 10-year-old girl and can be adapted to her taste as she grows. Canopy: custom. Bedding: Biscuit. Side table: Living Spaces. Mirror: IKEA. Art: Society6. Lamp: Round Top Antiques Fair with OKA shade. Rug: Etsy.

Killion’s goal of ”making sure it felt homey” was achieved with the help of piles of textiles. Bedding: Pine Cone Hill with lumbar pillow made from a tapestry found at Round Top Antiques Fair. Bed frame: CFC Furniture. Lamps: Pottery Barn with custom shades. Ceiling fan: M&M Lighting. Rug: Round Top Antiques Fair.

A glass enclosure transforms the bathroom into a steam room with the prettiest views of the backyard. Bathtub: Signature Hardware. Fixtures: Brizo. Mirror: Round Top Antiques Fair. Wall tiles: The Tile Shop. Floor tiles: Floor & Decor.

A custom canopy with a Kravet striped fabric interior and P/Kaufmann fabric exterior adds old-school drama. Bed and side table: Round Top Antiques Fair. Bed linens: Etsy.

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Olivia Hosken is the Style & Interiors writer for Town & Country, covering all things design, architecture, fashion, and jewelry.

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