Vaquero, Southlake — Kitchen, Bath & Whole-Home Remodeling

Why we know Vaquero.

Vaquero is one of the most architecturally consistent communities in DFW. The original development — primarily between 2000 and 2010 — produced a portfolio of large custom homes with Mediterranean, Tuscan, and traditional vocabularies, mostly in the 4,500 to 9,000 square foot range, on half-acre to acre-and-a-half lots. The interiors share patterns: ten-foot ceilings, formal dining rooms separated by archways, kitchens that were modern in 2003 but feel closed-off today.

That consistency is useful. We know what a typical Vaquero kitchen layout looks like before we walk in the door. We know where the load-bearing walls usually are. We know which subdivision builders used which framing approaches. We know the original cabinetry suppliers and the original tile sourcing. None of this is mystical — it’s just experience. It means our first consultation is more productive, our estimates are more accurate, and the construction phase has fewer surprises.

The three patterns we see most in Vaquero.

The “open up the kitchen-to-family-room wall” project.

The most common Vaquero kitchen remodel. The original layout walled off the kitchen from the family room or breakfast room. The fix is structural — removing a load-bearing wall, sizing a beam appropriately, re-routing HVAC and electrical, refinishing the floor across the new opening. Budget band: typically $285,000-$425,000 for the kitchen and the structural work; closer to $475,000-$625,000 if the family room is reworked at the same time. Timeline: 18-22 weeks.

The “primary suite refinement.”

Vaquero primary suites are large but were laid out for early-2000s sensibilities. A corner whirlpool tub, a tiled-in shower with a half-wall, an oversized vanity without good lighting, a closet sized for fewer clothes than people now keep. The remodel: remove the corner tub for either a freestanding tub or expanded shower space; rebuild the shower as a frameless walk-in with a bench; redo the vanity with proper task lighting and a furniture-style base; expand or reorganize the closet. Budget band: $145,000-$245,000 for the bath and closet together. Timeline: 12-16 weeks.

The “whole-home refresh while we still love the house.”

Vaquero clients tend to stay. When they decide to renovate the whole home, it’s usually a 10-15 year planning decision. The remodel touches the kitchen, every bath, the primary suite, often the great room ceiling and lighting, often new floors throughout, often a coordinated outdoor living rework. Budget band: $725,000-$1,300,000. Timeline: 10-14 months. Most clients move out.

What we see in a typical Vaquero home.

A Swanson design philosophy: “Vaquero homes have great bones. The original architecture is detailed and warm — heavy doors, beam ceilings, real stone fireplaces, generous proportions. The interiors I update there usually don’t fight the architecture; they relax it. Lighter wall colors, simpler trim profiles, a cleaner material vocabulary, more linear cabinetry. The goal is to make the rooms feel like the rest of the house caught up with how the architecture actually wants to feel.”

Recent Vaquero projects.

See our Vaquero project portfolio

Ready to talk about your Vaquero remodel?

Talk to Chad about your project