As iconic American architect and designer Charles Eames once said,“The details are not the details. They make the design.” Exemplifying the principles of Midcentury Modern design, Eames’ diverse work — which went beyond ubiquitous chairs and ottomans to include everything from whimsical toys to sprawling homes — celebrated impeccable craftsmanship in a way that’s reflected in the contemporary trend of quiet luxury. A highlight of the 2025 AIA Austin Homes Tour — taking place October 25 and 26 — the Timberline Residence in Rollingwood smartly embodies both of these design movements, leaning into the timeless Midcentury aesthetics while favoring fixtures and hardware that are simultaneously minimalist and luxurious.
Designed by the Austin firm A Parallel Architecture and built by Shoberg Homes with interior design by North Carolina-based House of Nomad, the Timberline Residence also upholds some of the tenets of green building — evidenced by its use of locally quarried limestone and responsibly sourced cedar siding.
In this project entry, Alexander Marchant Lead Project Manager Dallas Rogers sheds light on a few of her favorite details that make Timberline such a distinctive gem.
Approaching the entryway, it’s hard not to notice the oversized custom pull that distinguishes the front door. But on the other side of the door, a bespoke bronze deadbolt created by Idaho-based Rocky Mountain Hardware makes a decidedly more discreet statement. An apt name for a pared-down design, Rock Mountain’s “Element” is an ode to simplicity. “It’s a really cool, minimalist deadbolt in silicon bronze light finish,” Rogers said. “Most deadbolts have big, round rosettes behind the thumb turns. But there’s no rosette on the ‘Element,’ just an elegant little thumb turn.”
In the sunlit kitchen, pale wooden slats in the ceiling evoke the clean, Midcentury lines of a 1940s-era Nelson Platform Bench while living brass accents add a sense of warmth. Standing proudly on the marble kitchen island, our Newport Brass “Jeter” pull-down faucet meshes effortlessly with its surroundings. “The ‘Jeter’ has a really different look, especially because of the handle,” Rogers said of the antique-brass kitchen faucet, which is outfitted with a pot filler. “The homeowners were looking for something minimalist that had a little extra flair to it. It’s definitely one of my favorites.”
Another discerning kitchen detail is the air switch — a contemporary update on the standard garbage disposal switch. “Instead of having that basic on/off switch, the air switch is installed on your countertop — and it matches your faucet and the finish,” Rogers said. “It’s just more decorative, and there are some really beautiful ones. They come in all shapes and finishes — some have porcelain, some are really ornate, some are modern. It’s something extra we ask clients about when we’re doing a kitchen. And 99% of the time, they want one.”
Echoing the warm brass accents, the refrigerator and kitchen cabinets at Timberline are finished with Bauhaus-inspired pulls from the Classic Brass Après collection. “Classic Brass has so many different brass finishes but the satin tarnished finish we used is so warm,” Rogers said. “It really brightens up the kitchen.”
Natural light and brass accents continue in the bathroom — a serene oasis with an organic color palette dictated by natural stone walls, marble countertops and mosaic tile. Timeless and understated, everything from the robe hooks to the freestanding tub filler are from Jaclo’s versatile “Contempo” collection in aged brass finish. “Aged brass is different from unlacquered brass,” Rogers explained. “It’s still a living finish, but it comes already looking the way everybody wants unlacquered brass to eventually look. It’s just a really warm, beautiful, lived finish.”
A longtime Alexander Marchant favorite, Classic Brass “Edge” pulls bring the bathroom cabinets to life in a way that’s both minimalist and chic. “I think Classic Brass has the best ‘Edge’ pulls out there, because they have so many finishes. But they can also do custom sizes and they have so many different styles — the most I’ve ever seen. If you don’t want the hardware to be the focal point, they give cabinets a clean, beautiful look.”