OUR APPROACH
More home.
No surprises.
Adding on to a house you love shouldn't be stressful. As a local design build firm, we create seamless Austin home additions, from additional rooms to second stories. We've built a culture of nailing the details.
Types of Home Additions We Support
Guest Suites and In-Law Suites
ADUs and Backhouses
Studios, Offices, and Flex Space
Meet the Architects
Our experienced team of architects, interior designers, and builders are passionate about our craft. They work as trusted partners to bring your vision to life.
CEO, ARCHITECT
Frank Farkash
Senior Designer, Architect
Krista Whitson
Sales Director, Architect
Maggie McIntosh
Build Director, Architect
David Mosser
Our Home Addition Process
Our difference in delivery lies in our collaborative approach and radical predictability, allowing us to commit to fixed-price construction, even for complex, ambitious architecture.
1
DISCOVER WHAT'S POSSIBLE
We begin with a custom feasibility study grounded in research, examining the development regulations specific to your property and evaluating both your site and your existing structure. For a fixed fee, we complete our research, document the property, and present two custom schemes that address your needs. We provide a construction cost estimate for each scheme to help you understand your options and assess project feasibility.
2
TAILOR TO YOUR NEEDS
Once feasibility is complete, we continue to Discovery, where we fine tune the plans based on your feedback and begin to discuss the look and feel of the space with our custom "style story". We also complete full as-built drawings of your home. These drawings become the foundation for our permitting and design development, and they're how we make sure the new construction ties cleanly into the old.
3
WORK THROUGH THE DETAILS
Once we've got a clear picture of your addition, it's time to dive into design. In Design and Planning, all selections are made and presented to you for review, and a 3-D model is generated so you can visualize the new spaces alongside the existing ones. Technical drawings are completed, a structural engineer is engaged to design how new loads meet your existing foundation and framing, and all permit drawings are readied. Moontower applies for the permit on your behalf and manages all necessary updates for clearance.
4
BUILD YOUR ADDITION
With a detailed design and construction contract in place, we're set up for a smooth build. Our superintendents and project managers handle the day-to-day scheduling and subcontractor coordination. Because many of our clients stay in their homes during construction, we plan sequencing, dust protection, and site access to minimize disruption. Regular meetings are held with you and your design team to inspect progress and answer questions, and your construction team keeps you updated on schedule and any custom changes.
Completed Projects
Thoughtfully designed additions that create more space without compromising the character of your home.
I came across Moontower looking for someone that would understand my vision of building a well designed, small house on a tiny lot. I wanted to use simple materials in an interesting, creative way. When I met with Frank and Greg I could tell they totally understood what I wanted. They took all of my ideas and ran with them. The house far exceeded what I hoped for. They were as invested in the house as I was and also in working out any ideas I wanted to explore to achieve the best outcome. It was an awesome experience and can't recommend them highly enough!
Christal
Moontower did an extensive renovation of our 1979 kitchen, living and laundry rooms in addition to installing giant windows that are magnificent. Honestly the 8 months of design development involving my husband and I getting on same page was way more difficult than actually moving out for 7 months during demo and reno 😊 Every single person we dealt with at Moontower was very very patient and professional. They warranty their work, going above and beyond for entire year post demo dealing with inevitable nitty and gritty issues that arise. We are thrilled with the work. Special shout out to Claudia, Kyle, Nathan and Ryan for holding our hands during entire process. And many thanks to Frank Jeff David and Amber for keeping us on budget.
Jw
What a pleasure to work with this wonderful team! We have been privileged to use Moontower's services several times throughout our 20+ years in Austin, for both our home and our small business. If you are looking for knowledgable, local, down to earth, friendly, and fair folks to work with, look no further. Moontower has an amazing team and will hold your hand (as much as you would like) throughout every stage of your project. Whether just dreaming up the idea with Frank and Maggie, to making sure it fits your budget with Jeff, or getting down to brass tacks with David, you are in excellent hands with this crew.
hELEN
Testimonials
Stay inspired. Stay in the know.
The Moontower Journal
Expert insights, design inspiration, and exclusive access to our latest projects—straight from the Moontower team.
Why Moontower
For over 16 years, our architects, interior designers, and builders have worked side by side to create luxury custom homes and additions throughout central Austin and Westlake. That integrated team is why our additions match the original home in scale, detail, and spirit. Moontower has been named one of Austin Home's Best Builders five times and Best Architects for the past 3 years. Our work has appeared on countless home tours, including the AIA Austin Homes Tour, the Austin Modern Homes Tour, the Preservation Austin Tour, and the Austin NARI Tour, and has been published in Dwell, Austin Home, Texas Architect, Spectacular Homes of Texas, and Tribeza.
7x
Austin Home Best Builder
3x
Austin Home Best Architects
16
Years Building
260+
Residential Projects Built
Why Local Expertise Matters for Austin Home Additions
Central Austin additions are shaped by rules that don't apply everywhere. Subchapter F, better known as the McMansion ordinance, caps floor-to-area ratio and height for single-unit homes across much of the urban core. Impervious cover limits, setbacks, protected and heritage trees, and historic review in neighborhoods like Hyde Park and Old West Austin add more layers.
After more than 16 years designing and building in these neighborhoods, plus Tarrytown, Zilker, Rosedale, Bouldin, Barton Hills, and Westlake, we know how to find the square footage your property is actually entitled to. Our feasibility study answers those questions before design begins.
Frequently Asked Questions
Costs depend on your home's existing structure, the scope of the addition, and your finishes, so an honest answer starts with a better understanding of all three. Our feasibility study exists to explore that balance for your specific home. For a fixed fee of $7,500, in 4 to 6 weeks we'll generate two design schemes specific to your needs and property, each with a realistic cost range, so you can decide with real numbers and real layouts what's right for you.
Design and permitting typically take 6 - 8 months across our Feasibility, Discovery, and Design & Planning steps, depending on scope and neighborhood requirements. Construction usually takes 6 - 12 months.
Often, yes. We seal off the construction zone, manage dust and site access, and sequence our work to keep disruptions at a minimum. Some projects, like major kitchen expansions or second story additions, include stretches where moving out may make your life easier.
Our architects document your home with full as-built drawings, then design the addition to respect its rooflines, proportions, materials, and trim.
No. Moontower's licensed architects and interior designers will design your addition alongside the estimator and builders who will deliver it.
Get in Touch
To start the process or ask a question, please fill out the contact form below or give us a call. A member of our team will be in touch shortly!
Thank you for your interest in Moontower Design & Build.