A 21-acre plot turned boutique retreat, Austin-based interior designer Emily Seiders—founder of Studio Seiders—is quietly making Round Top, Texas, a destination worth the detour with the debut of Hideaway Round Top. Known for her design-forward approach rooted in place and history, Seiders brings a deeply personal vision to the farm-forward inn, blending Texas heritage with contemporary hospitality.
Tucked between Austin and Houston, Round Top may not be an obvious stop for most travelers, but its creative energy and small-town character have long drawn artists, collectors, and design lovers—perhaps most famously during the Original Round Top Antiques Fair, launched by Emma Lee Turney in 1968. For Seiders and her husband, Rick, whose families have lived in Texas for generations, the project became an opportunity to preserve that legacy while creating a new place for gathering.
Below, Emily shares the journey of reimagining a boutique retreat that’s unmistakably Texan at its core.
Cowboy culture and rural, farm-forward escapes are having a real moment in hospitality. How does Hideaway tap into that ethos without feeling like a trend-driven pastiche?
“The timing feels more serendipitous than intentional. When we purchased the property in 2020, our goal was to create a destination rooted in the stories and traditions of Round Top while helping preserve the character of this small farm town, especially given the lack of lodging in the area. We wanted Hideaway to feel like a true Texas farm shaped by our memories and family history—honest, straightforward, and free of trends, something our neighbors could feel proud of.
At the same time, there’s clearly a movement toward rural destinations where people can slow down for a few days. Hideaway offers that—a place rooted in nature, heritage, and tradition where guests can exhale and reconnect, even if only briefly.”
Walk us through the design process. What did the collaboration between Studio Seiders and Sam Burch Architect look like, and how did working with a Texas-based architect shape how the buildings sit within the land?
“My children are eighth-generation Texans, with ancestors having settled in Austin in 1835. Growing up in central Texas, with a farm near Round Top and a family foundation, we wanted to create a place that honored that heritage while remaining fresh and design-forward. We partnered with Sam early because of his reverence for traditional forms interpreted through a contemporary lens.
Together, we studied early Texas architecture and historic sites like Fort McKavett, pulling forms and material choices from those references. Having another native Texan involved made it easier to capture the spirit of settler culture while ensuring the buildings felt naturally grounded in the landscape.”
You’ve repurposed vintage textiles and antique quilts as modern art installations. How do you decide when a historic piece becomes décor versus something more sculptural or conceptual?
“Texas quilt-making was an important story to tell. My own family has quilts sewn by my great-grandmothers, so using them as artwork allowed us to visually share that history.
Where possible, we also incorporated textiles that reflect settler culture—homespun linens, ticking stripes, calico, and checks—many still produced using traditional methods today. The goal was to use materials that felt both practical and culturally rooted rather than purely decorative.”
Traditional German architectural forms are subtly echoed throughout the property. How important was it for those references to feel almost subconscious rather than overt?
“This isn’t a museum, and we didn’t want the design to feel literal or predictable. There are no obvious Western motifs: longhorns, cowhides, and horse paintings, to name a few. Instead, historic influences quietly guide decisions so guests sense the heritage rather than immediately seeing it.
Almost everything has a story tied either to settler culture or my own memories growing up on a farm. Ideally, guests discover those layers over time. To me, good design is sensory—you experience it gradually rather than receiving one visual impression at the door.”
With features like a chef’s kitchen, outdoor dining pavilion, and event-ready spaces, hosting clearly informed the design. How did entertaining—whether intimate or large-scale—shape your decisions?
“Round Top has become a year-round destination for group gatherings—family reunions, girls' getaways, weddings, antique show visitors—so, we needed a place that could support larger groups but still have the warmth of staying on a friend's farm. Nothing is oversized, but seating and gathering areas were maximized so everyone has space to relax.
From the communal fire pit to pool seating and shared dining areas, the goal was to balance privacy and community, allowing either one large group or multiple smaller groups to comfortably share the property.”
From walking trails to porches to the pond, movement through the property feels intentional. How did you think about how guests physically experience the land over the course of a stay?
“Meandering paths connect each building to different features of the property, encouraging guests to explore naturally. The experience follows the rhythm of the day—morning coffee on the porch, a walk to the pond or yoga deck, afternoons by the pool, and evenings around the fire. Even without plans, the spaces gently guide how guests move through their time there.”
As a Texas native and interior designer, how did working on Hideaway differ from designing for a client? Were there decisions that felt more personal or instinctual?
“Design usually involves telling a client’s story through space, but Hideaway allowed me to tell my own. I revisited childhood memories and family histories, imagining what life looked like for ancestors settling in Texas. That connection to heritage was a gift in shaping the project.
Ultimately, though, the space reflects broader Texas heritage, creating somewhere welcoming and relaxing for any visitor—a place to slow down and enjoy both each other and the landscape of Round Top.”
Texas, United States
