Before a single wall went up, the Edge Family made one of their most important decisions: where to place the house on their land. They deliberately positioned it among the property's largest oak trees, both for natural shade and the aesthetic they were after.

"We really wanted it to be in between all of our trees, and that just kind of provides shade," Annie explained. Having moved from a property with no trees at all, they didn't take the mature canopy for granted.

The exterior palette reinforces the cottage look the Edge Family envisioned from the start.

The soft white siding against the green landscape delivers exactly the storybook cottage feel the Edge Family was going for, proving that exterior color choices can do a lot of heavy lifting when paired with the right natural setting.

What makes the Edge family's kitchen a standout cottage design?

If the exterior sets the tone, the kitchen seals it. Annie describes herself as bold when it comes to design decisions, and nowhere is that more evident than in her kitchen's dark, moody countertops paired with cool-toned cabinetry.

"I've always really liked the dark countertops versus the white," Annie said. That contrast between dark countertops and cool cabinetry, paired with the vertically stacked backsplash, gives the space visual depth without feeling heavy.

Function drove just as many decisions as style. The Edge family chose Tilson's alternate kitchen layout to accommodate a larger island—intentionally built without a sink. That decision gave Annie, who cooks, bakes, and entertains regularly, more room to work while also making space for family meals.

They also added a double oven and moved the microwave entirely off the island, positioning it on a shelf instead. That decision came from experience: a previous stay in a home with an island-mounted microwave taught them it wasn't compatible with two young kids who couldn't resist opening it repeatedly. 

Why did the Edge family choose a cathedral ceiling for their living room?

The living room carries the cottage theme forward with a cathedral ceiling that runs the length of the home, paired with oversized windows overlooking what the family affectionately calls "the meadow."

That vaulted ceiling was a deliberate choice, and not just for looks. The Edge family considered vaulting the space over the back porch instead, but ruled it out. "We get a lot of wasps and dirt daubers out here," Annie explained, adding that vaulting the porch would have turned it into a haven for insects. For a family that prefers to keep bugs at bay, moving the vaulted ceiling indoors was the smarter call—solving both an aesthetic and a practical problem in one decision.

Rather than an all-white trim, The Edge Family chose a beige tone that ties back to the home's exterior colors. "I kind of wanted it to match the outside of our house, so we wanted to have that contrast where instead of color drenching everything, we can have just a little bit of a difference," she explained. There's a practical upside too: a darker trim color hides scuffs and stains far better than bright white, an easy win for households with young kids.

How did the Edge family customize their master suite?

Family life shaped the master bedroom just as much as the kitchen. The Edge family extended the room by roughly three feet, a custom option that made room for their daughter's bed and floor space for their son, who often ends up there overnight. 

What design choices define the Edge family's master bath?

The master bath combines Annie's must-haves with her husband's personal touch. Annie, self-described as "a bath person," made the alternate master bath layout with a soaking tub a non-negotiable. From there, she gave her husband creative control over the shower.

The result, 4x4 Maroon shower wall tile, a nod to his Texas A&M roots. Paired with 1.5" Hexagon Mosaic Tile in Matte Arctic White on the shower floor. Countertops and cabinetry match the rest of the home for a cohesive look throughout.

A large window over the tub brings in natural light and a partial view of the meadow.

How did the Edge family design separate spaces for their kids?

With one son and one daughter, the Edge family used Tilson's guest bedroom and bath layout to create a distinct, private space for their son. It's the largest secondary bedroom in the home, sized to accommodate his bunk bed, toys, and everyday belongings.

Next door, a full shower with emerald wall tile, giving their son his own bathing space rather than sharing with his sister. That third full bathroom serves as an easily accessible guest bath, making it a practical layout for both daily life and visitors.

Their daughter's room, on the opposite side of the house, is generously sized enough for both bedroom furniture and a dedicated play space, with large windows that bring in natural light. Her attached bathroom carries a playful, bold statement: mosaic tile in a soft pink. According to Annie, her daughter refers to it simply as "my pink bathroom" and loves it. "We decided to add a little touch of fun and a more custom feel instead of a basic white tile bathroom." 

How did the Edge family fit a home office into their floor plan?

Rather than build a dedicated office as a separate room, the Edge family repurposed one of the secondary bedrooms for work-from-home needs. 

That flexibility highlights one of the biggest advantages of a customizable floor plan: rooms can be assigned based on how a family actually lives, not just how a blueprint labels them.

How did the Edge family design their dining area and back patio?

As a smaller family that hosts casually rather than formally, the Edge family opted to downsize their dining area to match their lifestyle. The scaled-down dining area still offers a view of the meadow and connects directly to the back patio.

Outside, the patio was sized to fit two grills while still leaving room to play, with a clear line of sight to the kids' playset in the yard. That combination lets the Edge family cook, entertain, and keep an eye on their children—all from one connected outdoor space.

Ready to build a home that fits your family's story?

The Edge family's Angelina C proves that a home doesn't have to choose between style and practicality. Every decision—from the vaulted ceiling that keeps wasps out to the sink-free kitchen island to the "pink bathroom" down the hall—came from a real conversation about how this family lives, not a generic checklist.

That's the advantage of building on your own land with a team that treats customization as the standard, not the upgrade. Whether you're drawn to cottage charm, need extra space for growing kids, or want a kitchen built around how you actually cook, a custom floor plan can be shaped around your life the same way the Edge family shaped theirs.

If their story sounds like the kind of home-building experience you're looking for, explore Tilson Homes' customizable floor plans and see how our team can help you tailor your own dream home from the ground up.