How does Ceci Bates design homes for enhanced views?

Ceci Bates designs homes with dedicated observation spaces, like decks with libraries and powder rooms, ensuring the view is a lived experience, not just visual.

Who is the architect behind Ceci Bates' home designs?

Roberth Jordan, an experienced architect trained in Venezuela, designs homes for Ceci Bates, ensuring each space aligns with how the owner wants to live.

Why include an elevator in a home observation space?

An elevator in a home observation space ensures easy access, making the view enjoyable for all, regardless of physical ability, demonstrating Ceci Bates' commitment to functional design.

Notes From Our Journey

From twenty-six years of building custom homes on Lake Texoma, here we share about our process and what we've learned about design, materials, engineering, and the decisions that shape a home built to last for generations — the questions clients ask us most often, and the answers we give around the table in our design center.

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Designing Homes with Observation Spaces for Living, Not Just Looking

Designing Homes with Observation Spaces for Living, Not Just Looking

Ceci Bates

October 23, 2026

In many homes, the finest view is acknowledged in passing, but rarely fully embraced. It’s admired momentarily by visitors, yet without a comfortable vantage from which to enjoy it, these extraordinary views often become an afterthought. Ceci Bates and architect Roberth Jordan have recognized this tendency and chosen a different approach, ensuring the view’s potential is neither overlooked nor underutilized.

On a recent project nestled on a hill overlooking Lake Texoma, Roberth crafted a home featuring a dedicated observation deck at its apex. This was not just an architectural flourish, but a purposeful creation designed to enhance daily life. The deck boasts a balcony that offers expansive views of the water, presenting more than just a seasonal sight but a perennial retreat.

To transform the deck into a truly functional space, several thoughtful features were incorporated. A compact library was added, providing a quiet refuge filled with books, encouraging the owner to linger and lose track of time. Accessibility was considered essential; thus, an elevator connects this pinnacle to the rest of the home, ensuring that an inability to climb would never detract from enjoying the vistas. A discreet powder room further grants the comfort to remain on the deck for extended periods, making a trip back down the stairs unnecessary.

This is not merely a feature; it is about aligning the architecture with the lived experiences the owner treasures. In doing so, Ceci Bates delivers more than a home with a view; they provide a haven where the owner can wholly embrace it. It is this attention to living, not just form, that sets the firm apart — designing spaces not just to be seen, but to be lived in.

The truly remarkable homes are those where the most stunning spaces serve genuine purposes, balancing beauty with usability. To understand more about how Ceci Bates designs homes that harmonize both aesthetics and function, explore our approach at cecibates.com.