A Private Westlake Estate Built Around the People Inside It
You come for the Austin skyline. You leave remembering the Hill Country.
That is what the owners of this home told us when we asked what surprises guests most, and it captures something essential about Hard to Leave. Every guest who books this property expects the downtown view from the upper deck. What they do not expect is to stand at the great room windows on a quiet morning, coffee in hand, looking west at the rolling cedar hills spreading toward the horizon with no city in sight, and feel like they have stepped outside of Austin entirely. Both things are true here at the same time. That is the particular alchemy of this place.
This is a 5,505 square foot luxury estate in Westlake, renovated in 2022 by a couple with a clear brief: one wanted a home with serious design ambition, a gallery-quality art collection, and a kitchen worth cooking in. The other wanted somewhere warm and livable, a place that could hold a family, welcome a crowd, and feel like home rather than a showroom. What they built together is one of the most fully realized vacation estates in Austin -- a property where design and warmth exist in genuine balance, where the butcher block island gathers people naturally and the covered deck at twilight turns a group of friends into something that feels like family.
THE HOUSE
The approach sets the tone. A sweeping cobblestone motor court, mature live oaks casting long shadows, dramatic yucca plantings against limestone garden walls. At golden hour the house glows amber behind the trees. At twilight the windows fill with warm light and the city begins to appear on the horizon beyond the roofline.
The great room is where the stay begins in earnest. The ceiling vaults upward, crossed by dark exposed wood beams. The floor-to-ceiling limestone fireplace rises the full height of the wall. An entire wall of windows fills the room with light and frames the Hill Country in every direction. French doors open to the covered deck, and the boundary between inside and outside dissolves entirely. The furniture is generous: deep cream sofas, teal velvet accent chairs, a marble and gold coffee table. The art collection begins here and continues through every room of the house with a seriousness and confidence that you do not expect in a rental. The floating staircase, with its open oak treads and blackened steel railing, doubles as a gallery installation. The emerald green powder room with city skyline wallpaper and an octagonal gold mirror is a destination.
The owners told us that their single favorite thing about this home is the way the great room gathers people naturally around the butcher block island. It is easy to understand why. The kitchen was built for exactly this. A substantial island runs the length of the cooking space, with a Wolf and Bertazzoni professional range built directly in, double ovens, seating for four along one side, and enough counter surface that four people can prep a meal without anyone getting in anyone's way. A Sub-Zero refrigerator, a wine fridge, forest-green cabinetry with glass-front upper shelves, and pendant lighting in brass complete a kitchen that functions entirely like a professional tool and feels entirely like a warm home at the same time. Three distinct dining configurations seat sixteen people without crowding: the formal dining room with its butterfly canvas, globe chandelier, and floor-to-ceiling Hill Country window; the breakfast nook with its round pedestal table, dusty purple velvet chairs, and garden views; and the island with four counter stools.
Downstairs is a second complete world. The lower-level lounge has terrazzo floors, a second gas fireplace with a sleek dark surround, a large flat-screen television, a full shuffleboard table, and deep sectional seating surrounded by bold, gallery-quality artwork. This is where the group lands after a day at the pool. Where movies happen. Where the evening extends past when it probably should. A built-in desk with a printer and dedicated WiFi connection serves anyone who needs a quiet workspace without leaving the property.
Six bedrooms, each finished with the same design intention that characterizes every corner of this home. The primary suite is a retreat by any measure -- a king bed with a tufted teal velvet frame, a coffered ceiling with a brass statement ceiling fan, custom built-in bookshelves, and Hill Country treetop views. The en-suite bath is the finest in the home and among the finest in any vacation rental in Austin: a freestanding soaking tub in front of an oversized black-framed window, dual floating navy vanities with marble countertops and brushed gold hardware, Art Deco fan wallpaper in burgundy and gold, and a separate walk-in closet suite with custom charcoal cabinetry. The remaining five bedrooms -- two additional en-suite configurations, a warm shared-bath pairing of queen rooms, and a fully configured nursery suite with crib, glider, high chair, and baby gates -- ensure that every member of the group is sleeping as well as the occasion deserves.
THE OUTDOOR LIVING COMPLEX
Spring and summer at Hard to Leave are built around the pool terrace, the sport court, and the upper deck, and the three work in concert the way a great property always does. The 750 square foot freeform pool sits on an expansive travertine surround with wicker chaise loungers and layered stone retaining walls that give the space the feeling of a Hill Country garden. Steps climb to the covered lower lounge, where limestone columns, a shiplap ceiling, a gas grill, and all-weather furniture create a sheltered outdoor living room.
From there, an exterior staircase ascends to the covered upper deck -- the property's most coveted space in any season. Elevated into the cedar canopy, framed by limestone columns, warmed by the chiminea and cooled by the ceiling fan, this deck looks north toward the Austin skyline and west across the Hill Country. At sunset on a clear spring evening, the sky turns rose and gold, the downtown towers catch the last light, and the cedar hills go every shade of green. Beyond the pool, 2.8 acres include a large open lawn, a full-court sport complex striped for basketball and pickleball with batting cages and evening lighting, and cornhole on the grass. The acreage, the sport complex, and the proximity to downtown are what no competing property in this market can replicate at once.
WHO STAYS HERE
Families gathering from across the country for a reunion or milestone birthday. Wedding parties arriving for celebrations at Vista West Ranch, Camp Lucy, or Contigo Ranch, using this estate as the hub for a weekend of events. Corporate groups who want something that feels nothing like a conference hotel. Multi-generational families where grandparents and grandchildren need to share space without sacrificing anyone's comfort. Couples celebrating something significant who want scale, privacy, and a kitchen worthy of the occasion.
Hard to Leave accommodates all of them. And it does so with the kind of design quality, spatial generosity, and genuine warmth that makes every guest feel like the home was built with them specifically in mind.
THE LOCATION
Hard to Leave sits in Westlake, the cedar-covered neighborhood southwest of downtown Austin that offers the rarest of combinations: complete privacy and complete access. Fifteen minutes separates this estate from the Texas State Capitol, South Congress Avenue, Barton Springs Pool, Zilker Park, the Barton Creek Greenbelt, ACL Live at the Moody Theater, Stubb's Amphitheater, and the Moody Center. Lake Austin Marina is 15 minutes. Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is 25 minutes.
In the other direction lies the Hill Country corridor. The Salt Lick BBQ in Driftwood is 25 minutes and a Texas pilgrimage that every first-time Austin visitor owes themselves. Jester King Brewery on Fitzhugh Road, a world-renowned farmhouse brewery on a 165-acre ranch with live music every weekend and Stanley's Farmhouse Pizza next door, is 25 minutes. Treaty Oak Distilling, a 28-acre ranch in Dripping Springs with craft cocktails, Texas BBQ, and live music, is 25 minutes. Vista Brewing, Desert Door Sotol Distillery, Driftwood Estate Winery, and Duchman Family Winery are all within the same corridor. Hamilton Pool Preserve and Krause Springs are 35 minutes for swimming hole days.
THE PROPERTY
Hard to Leave offers six bedrooms sleeping eleven across a 5,505 square foot Westlake estate on 2.8 private acres, with five and a half bathrooms and a primary suite with one of the most fully appointed bathrooms in any Austin vacation rental. Kitchen capacity for sixteen across three dining configurations. Outdoor amenities include a 750 square foot freeform pool, a covered upper deck with chiminea and Austin skyline views, a covered lower lounge with gas grill and outdoor dining, a full-court sport complex striped for basketball and pickleball with evening lighting and batting cages, and cornhole on the open lawn. Two gas fireplaces. Full laundry, Sonos throughout, high-speed WiFi, and Nest thermostats. Five parking spaces on the cobblestone motor court.
Provided During Your Stay:
• Luxury, high thread-count linens and plush towels
• Laundry room with high capacity HE washer and dryer with laundry detergent
• Stocked kitchen
• Coffee maker, blender, KitchenAid mixer, and more
• Complimentary toiletries
• Starter supply of all soaps and paper products (paper towels and toilet paper)
• If you need us, we are available 24 hours a day with live help to assist you
YOUR WALKER LUXURY TEAM
Welcome to Walker Luxury Vacation Rentals, where exceptional guest experiences and premium hospitality are our top priorities. Each of our homes comes with a dedicated team of knowledgeable agents that are available 24/7. Your personal representative is not only well-versed in every detail of the home, but has likely enjoyed it with their own friends and family. They will quickly become an invaluable resource, guiding you to the best experiences and locations tailored for your group.
ADDITIONAL NOTES
Once a booking is made, Walker Luxury Vacation Rentals will reach out directly. All guests are required to fill out our Guest Agreement and agree to the terms, conditions, and rules of the agreement.
This is a residential home in a quiet neighborhood, and we take keeping our neighbors happy very seriously. No parties, loud music, or rowdy groups. This is not the house for that. Violations of house rules will result in immediate eviction and hefty fines. Please book responsibly and respectfully.
Cancel within 24 hours of booking free of penalty.
While we love to celebrate special occasions, the property does not operate as a venue. Reservations are for accommodations only.
The pool is not heated. This is a multi-level home with indoor and outdoor stairs and is not well-suited for guests with significant mobility limitations. There is no garage access. Outdoor security cameras are present on the exterior perimeter.
HOUSE RULES:
• Age Requirement: No guests under 25 unless accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. No bachelor parties.
• Smoking: No smoking anywhere on the premises.
• Outdoor Spaces: Not available for use from 10:00 PM to 7:00 AM
• Pets: Pets are not allowed at this home.
• Check-In: 4:00 PM
• Check-Out: 11:00 AM
• Parking: 5 spaces available; driveway parking only, no parking on grass
Reserve Hard to Leave at walkerluxury.com or contact the Walker Luxury team directly.
Walker Luxury Vacation Rentals is Austin's longest-standing locally owned vacation rental management company, offering local expertise, elevated hospitality, and exceptional stays across Austin and the Texas Hill Country.
