(Excerpts from the article) Art and Patricia Stephens were like most couples on the verge of retirement. The Houston couple wanted to find a peaceful, beautiful active adult community where they could retire and enjoy the golden years of their lives. "We like Texas," says the couple, who moved from New Jersey in Art's job transfer with the Exxon Corporation. "But we don't care for the Gulf Coast humidity."
...The Stephenses began looking at a variety of developments and ended up finding exactly what they wanted in the Hill Country north of Austin. "We liked the area and we like Whitewater Springs," says the couple, who plan on moving into their custom-built cedar home later this month. "We are really looking forward to being a part of this community."
...Whitewater Springs, a 1,700-acre master-planned community north of Lake Travis and east of Marble Falls, is kown for its beauty, which includes dramatic elevation changes climbing over 1,400 feet. The community also boasts several private spring-fed fishing lakes and streams, mountain biking and hiking trails and a private community park, which includes a planned swimming and recreation center.
...The Stephenses' new 6,000 square-foot cedar home is situated on 1.8 acres at the top of a scenic mountain bluff where every effort has been made to maximize the panoramic 20-mile views.
...A 1,200 square-foot cedar deck blankets the back of the house and extends around to the front entrance. A four-foot custom pole fence drapes the edges of the deck. The Stephenses also added two custom benches and a corner nook to the deck - the perfect spot for a glass of wine and a romantic hill country sunset. "There's a surprisingly nice breeze that blows through every day up here," Art says. "That breeze helps cool off everything, even when we are going through this 100-degree summer.
...The Stephens home includes another 200 square-foot deck directly off their upstairs master bedroom. The higher elevation makes the view of the valley below even more spectacular. From the arched window in the kitchen to the large wall of windows in the main living room, every effort has been made to incor-porate the dazzling views into the Stephens' new home.
...The home is designed Conann Custom Homes who is building the masterpiece along with two other homes at Whitewater Springs.
...Dean and Marjorie Dearmont have lived in Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma and New Hampshire. Like the Stephenses, they are in the final stages of building their first custom home at Whitewater Springs.
"There's a certain satisfaction in building your own home," says Marjorie. "This is the first home we have ever built and we didn't know what to expect.
...The Dearmonts' steel-framed Austin chalk home sits on a two-acre homesite in Whitewater's spring-fed valley. At Whitewater Springs each custom home is built with the highest regard for the environment. Each must pass design approval by the architectural control committee prior to building. In addition, each home must have more than 2,000 square feet in useable living area.
..."We can't wait to be up there full time," says Marjorie Dearmont. "I grew up in the country and I can't wait to get away from the city and move back into the peace and quiet with our new neighbors."

...Conann Homes has created dozens of spectacular dwellings like this in and around the Austin/Round Rock area. They are considered to be one of the most experienced builders in central Texas - ed.