10 Things That SCREAM “East Texas House” 🏡

Some things are just popular in a region. East Texas certainly has it’s own culture and housing is no different! How many things on this list are found in your house in East Texas? I know more than a few are at mine! East Texan…Guilty as charged and proud of it!

1. A metal roof – Because there’s nothing better than hearing rain on a tin roof.
2. A shop or barn that’s bigger than the house – Because Priorities.
3. At least one room with wood paneling – Bonus points if it’s never been painted or if it is knotty pine.
4. A porch made for sitting – Preferably with a ceiling fan and something cold to drink.
5. A driveway longer than some city streets.
6. A Texas flag somewhere – either on a flag pole, on some sort of yard art or maybe even painted on the barn roof or wall.
7. A fireplace that has survived 47 Texas winters – Only had to use it in 12 of those winters though!
8. A yard with at least one giant oak or pine tree – Bonus points for a fig tree!
9. A kitchen with a view of the backyard – So you can keep an eye on the dogs, chickens, kids or whatever else wandered up.
10. The drink fridge – That old fridge in the garage or on the back porch. You know the one.

I could probably think of 20 more of these. I had a friend who was moving to Texas from another state up North and we were house hunting in Palestine and she pointed out that every house we went to had a Texas flag themed something somewhere…one had a Texas bird bath, one had a huge Texas flag, one had a Texas bird bath, another had literally a Texas bedspread and a matching shower curtain. I didn’t even notice any of these items as being something to scratch your head over. Why?? Because I grew up in Texas and it is NORMAL. We love Texas. We love East Texas….and evidently we use it to decorate with too! It was just funny…like someone visiting from another country pointing out a quirky regional thing that I, as a lifelong born and raised Texan had literally NEVER EVEN NOTICED lol!! I will tell you that now I notice Texas flags in houses and I think of my friend every time I see a random Texas pillow, garden stepping stone, blanket etc and sometimes I text her a pic if it’s a really unusual item. It’s funny the things you notice once someone points it out. But anyway, I guess I have rambled on enough about Texas and Texas thangs…which means I’m just the same as every other Texan with Texan stuff everywhere! (My Texas merch is just mostly in my mind, evidently!)

What traits on this list are at your house? ….and what other traits did I miss??

Lisa Priest is the Broker of Picket Fence Realty in Palestine, Texas, where she helps folks find their place in East Texas with a little humor along the way.