Lakefront Luxury
Riverstone is a community in which luxurious, resort-style homes are surrounded by a landscape of water features and numerous amenities. In addition to all this beauty, it is only minutes away from Sugar Land’s Town Center and only a little further to all that Houston has to offer. And for those who desire the ultimate in luxury along with lots of space and beautiful views, Riverstone Island brings as much to the table as any Houston-area residential destination. Only nine homes, each with one-acre lots and stunning lake views, occupy this exclusive estate enclave. Every property on the Island is a dream home.
This month’s featured home offers all of the luxury one would expect for a home on Riverstone Island, but on top of the elegant touches and rich finishes, its owners designed their home to be a custom work of art that they could live in. Unlike many clients who purchase a home of this magnitude (around 16,000 square feet), this couple was involved throughout the design process, from conception to selections and finally furnishing. However, they knew that the key to success on a project of this size was bringing together people they could trust to understand their vision and listen to and value their input.
“Putting together a team that can work together is vitally important,” said the husband. “When working on a project that is so detailed, everyone from the interior designers to the architect and contractors must communicate effectively and efficiently, and the team of people we chose had a great rapport.”
“Twenty-Two Fifty Interiors was integral to the success of this project,” said the wife. “The design team influenced elements in every aspect of the house from the interiors to the exterior, helping to select everything from tile and stone to custom furnishings and finalizing the overall color and design style.”
“As a designer, this is the type of home that you dream of working on from start to finish,” said Teena Caldwell, of Twenty-Two Fifty Interiors. “The sheer size of the new construction was a challenge because, despite building a home on such a grand scale, we still want to make sure the space feels inviting and personalized for the client.”
To accomplish that, elegant touches were added all around the home in order to seamlessly move the eye from space to space. Upon approach, the first impression is a grand one: an expansive French-style estate on the edge of a large lake with a vast green front lawn and broad drive that leads to an amazing porte cochere.
On the ceiling, artisans created plaster molding pieces, which include multiple layers of crown molding and personalized coffered ceiling panels. These details showcase the two-story-high barrel-vaulted ceiling and flow from the porte chochere through the front door and into the foyer and living room, where an expansive window is on display at the back and motorized drapery treatments hang from the second story to the floor. The effect creates a perfect frame to view the lake at the back of the house and offers an extremely warm “Welcome.”
Other unique features of the home include the diamond plaster wall treatment used on the walls and ceilings to create a subtle shimmer effect and, in key places, is highlighted with hand painting.
A local artist painted the ceiling in the stair hall and the walls of the powder room. As well, gold and silver metallic paints and delicate floral patterns were hand-painted above the fireplace in the family room to accentuate the vaulted ceiling. But perhaps the most interesting mural is in the wine room, where an artistic illustration of the home is depicted as if it were nestled in the countryside in the south of France.
More rich, custom finishes set this structure apart and emphasize the French chateau design. Habersham cabinetry, including moldings and hand carving, was selected with every attention to detail to underscore the French design and to create storage that resembles individual pieces of furniture. The paints, glazes and hand-distressing also elevate the customization.
The homeowners’ specific lifestyle needs were incorporated into the home’s design. For example, they desired an exercise room that overlooked the manicured lawn and lake. A personal massage room overlooking the back of the home is a true spa environment with a tiled wall with floating shelves that display essential oils and artfully folded towels.
The master retreat, too, is entirely special with multiple rooms from a cozy sitting area to a private office. The crown jewel of the master suite, however, is the spacious bathroom designed to be light and airy. The marble tile, groin vaulted ceiling, sunken tub, expansive mirrors and multiple chandeliers make this the stuff dreams and romance are made of.
Along with the his and her vanities on either side of the bath, just off the master bathroom are his and her master closets and dressing areas that provide the utmost in privacy. These artfully designed rooms feature the same custom built-in cabinetry found throughout the home. Hers is opulent with distinct areas, including a private dressing room built to resemble a high-end clothing boutique, displaying her shoes and accessories behind glass doors. Tufted round seating was specifically designed for space. This multi-level closet offers every type of storage option making it as functional as it is pretty.
Luxurious and practical, the guest bedroom room feels like an executive hotel suite, allowing guests to move freely from their bed to a well-appointed desk or computer.
Like most people, the homeowners love their kitchen.
“I love that the kitchen has multiple areas,” said the wife. “The main kitchen space is functional, yet just as grand as the other rooms in the house with beautiful blue granite and custom cabinetry that looks like furniture. But just off the butler’s pantry is a secondary kitchen that is more secluded. It’s great for parties, keeping the main kitchen clean for guests while still being able to prepare and clean up after the entire meal.”
Other unique rooms featured in the home include an art gallery in which the homeowners’ art collection and Asian antiquities are on display, and a dance room with the latest home automation and sound system, which make it the perfect place for hosting parties.
One of the most challenging tasks for the design team was to incorporate existing antiques with elegant new furniture pieces that accentuate the grandeur of this home. Asian and French designs were integrated throughout the home, which resulted in a very elegant and balanced end product.
“When we got down to furnishing the home,” said Teena, “it was important to keep in mind the overall theme of the property. We incorporated French antiques and traditional furniture with a few modern accents to create a timeless feel.”
In the living room, for example, the client’s personal collection of antique accessories fit right at home with furniture by Ebanista and Sherrill and Hancock and Moore, to name a few.
Color choices in a home of this level of elegance are as important as finishes and furniture. Because the home has many rooms that open to each other, the design and color palette was carried from room to room. Fabrics from Marge Carson, Stroheim and Fabricut in cool, natural colors such as soft greys and creams and silvery blues keep the space grounded while pops of gold accents add interest and create harmony. The color palette lends itself to a fresh and comfortable atmosphere that brings the outside in and offers a juxtaposition from the traditional lines of the furniture.
The interiors seamlessly flow to the outdoor spaces and highlight the lake and manicured lawn. The custom design and attention to detail that are evident indoors are equally infused in each of the outdoor areas. Outdoors, the home offers a variety of spaces that overlook the lake, much like a beautiful resort. Each space offers a sense of complete privacy while surrounded by water.
The couple agrees that the way the interiors and exterior were designed to flow and fit together create a luxurious space.
“We’ve created a home that has a stately and elegant feel, yet it’s comfortable and designed in a way that invites you from room to room and from indoors to out. It certainly is our dream home and meets all expectations and more,” said the wife.
“It was a pleasure to work on a project of this magnitude with a couple that were so invested in the design,” said Teena. “They trusted us to guide them into creating the type of home that they had always envisioned.”
The result is a beautiful home that is not only grand, but also a relaxed and restful retreat from the outside world. And, most would agree, a true work of art.
