Design that Stands the Test of Time

Hank Hill, founder and owner of the Hank Hill Company began building spec houses in June of 1976. While this work brought food on the table, his career change into custom homes was a divine calling. 

“Just before the crash of 2008, the Good Lord woke me up in the middle of the night and told me to get out of that business and just build custom homes,” Hill said.

This switch effectively changed his life, within six months he was awarded with three custom contracts. Over the next decades his business continued to grow in Memphis and surrounding areas.

Historical Hernando 

The Classic Georgian Estate lies on West Commerce Street in Hernando, Miss. Playfully known as, “Mississippi’s Front Porch,” the building site is in Hernando’s Historic District. This required their building permits authorized and approved by the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. 

Despite this, Hill described the biggest challenge of the project to be the topography of the site,  a 30-foot drop-off from the front of the house to the backyard. The design team decided to build the swimming pool between the back of the house and the tennis court. 

Artful architecture and quality craftsmanship is timeless. The French Georgian façade balances striking design and delightful symmetry. Expansive Kolbe windows accompanying sophisticated and operating white wooden shutters. Framing the entryway by the rich mahogany TruStile door and internationally arched sawn limestone entryway and gas lanterns. 

Behind the project’s architecture was Shapiro & Company Architects, a skilled residential architecture firm based in Memphis, Tenn., and Dallas, Texas.

Refined Southern Style 

The entry hall design is stunning yet holds a secret surprise. The paneling under the stairs disguises a door to the powder room. Natural tones continue from the exterior with rich wood from the flooring to the banister. 

The closed concept layout allowed each room to have their own feel and design. Hill expressed a great appreciation for the interior designer, Missy Steffens. Her curation is a beautiful combination of elegance and livability. 

The kitchen design is polished, poised and perfect for preparation. The natural statement piece of the kitchen is the designer range. Carrying the home’s theme of balanced whites is the custom cabinets accented by gold fixtures and Visual Comfort lighting. A separate prep kitchen and pantry features the continued accent colors on the cabinets, fixtures and charming wallpaper.

The dining room offers interior and structural design elements that marry the classic and contemporary. Flooded with natural light from traditional French windows and doors, the glass chandelier and fireplace ground the room as a formal yet comfortable gathering space. 

The millwork throughout the project is exceptional, Hill notes. Inside the study is a rich mahogany build-in, featuring a bookshelf, cabinets and a fireplace. The study is furnished with complementary jewel tones and finished by highly skilled painter, Larry Brown.

The focal point of the primary bathroom is the freestanding Kohler bathtub framed wisely by the curtains and window. Clean yet stylish whites allow for the details to shine. The moulding of the room adds character along with the dual vanities with arched mirrors and eye-catching gold hardware. 

The backyard of the project offers as much careful consideration as the home itself. As Hill mentioned, the topography of the land presented challenges expertly handled by the design team. The home presents easy access outdoor living with a covered outdoor kitchen, seating area and fireplace outlooking the pool. 

Honored for Excellence

Hank Hill described his building philosophy as simple;  do the right thing, work with the best people and deliver extraordinary homes. “Find the best craftsmen in each trade, maintain the right amount of work to keep them busy working for me so they are always available, keep my customers well informed about the progress of the job so they know what is going on and what is coming next,” said Hill. His work motivation is as timeless as the project. 

The Classic Georgian Estate was honored at the National Association of Home Builders at their 2025 Best in American Living awards. It took home a silver award for Best One-of-a-Kind Custom Home. While honored by the award, Hill’s focus lies on providing fantastic homes for great people. 

Photos courtesy of Hank Hill and Ross Creative Group.

This story is featured in B&D March, read the print version.