4701 Malaquita Branch
$1,200,000
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Stan Barron Properties
is a licensed Texas real estate broker
512.345-8585
Spanish Oaks is unique for
several reasons. For starters, the neighborhood is stretched
across some of the region's most prized hill country
terrain. Even though Spanish Oaks is comprised of 1,200
acres, it will have only 477 homes at completion. Live here,
and you will be swallowed by ancient terrain steeped in
Texas lore. The neighborhood is surround by 15,000 acres of
nature preserves that are teaming with wildlife like deer,
cute squirrels and songbirds!
Most neighborhoods have
houses that are too close together, but inherent in the
design here is that all of the lots are big. As a result, it
"feels" like you are driving through an entire neighborhood
of
estates.
About The Home At
4701 Malaquita Branch
Wrapped in "Old World" charm, is this amazing residence at
4701 Malaquita Branch. The layout has five bedrooms,
four-and-a-half baths, a resort-caliber master bedroom wing
and approximately 4,009 square feet. The design includes an
attached guest house.
For a moment close your eyes and imagine you are driving through the countryside just outside some picturesque little European village. There on a hillside is a magnificent country house that exudes unsurpassed charm, patina and history. You wonder how many generations have lived there.
If you were teaching an architecture class on how to blend design, textures and materials you could use this house when it is time to go on a field trip.
Here is how the builder pulled off this appealing effect of making a new home appear "Old World". Something special is evident here before you ever step inside. Study the perimeter of most floorplans, and you will notice they are comprised of right angles--kind of predictable. But note the interesting "turned" layout of this footprint. This sets the tone for the overall "tower" design that is clearly visible from the street. It is a throwback to the way old houses in Europe followed the bent hilltop they were placed on. Same concept here. It makes the house appear as if it has emerged from its natural setting. The builder has further enhanced this look with his choice of materials. The roof is made of heavy, barrel-shaped clay tiles (roof has a fifty-year warranty). These are hand-formed, fired tiles &emdash;much more appealing than machine-made concrete tiles.
Additional accents on the exterior include thick arches and oversized light fixtures that are made to resemble lamps. The front door is made of knotty Alder--heavy, one and three-quarter inch wood accented with metal banding.
If your anticipation is
beginning to surge, wait until you step inside. Prepare for
sensory overload. You
step into a wide, arch-framed, light-filled entry. At your
feet are floors made from slate. Your eye is pulled straight
across the entry to a ribbon wall of windows that vividly
demonstrates the home's high-up hillside position: the view
is panoramic and far-reaching.
After this, you will likely feel yourself being drawn down the hall to your left. Through the archways you get your first view of the interior--a visual gulp that definitely puts this house into the "wow"! category.
The left side of the house is comprised of the kitchen and main living area. Instead of separating these spaces with any hint of a wall, two architectural elements are used--an archway and changes in ceiling height.
Do You Like To
Cook?
The cooking area here looks like something you see in a
magazine spread. This is definitely a kitchen meant to be
seen. You probably wouldn't think of a ceiling as playing
much of a role in the mood and atmosphere of a room design,
but it is an integral aspect of this space. For starters, it
is almost twenty-feet high which adds dimension to the
overall room. The ceiling has a sculpted look with its
"step-up" configuration. It is adorned with heavy wooden
beams that include perimeter and cross-timbers. High-placed
windows wash the space in soothing natural light. The room
is anchored with a magnificent piece of freestanding
furniture in the center that measures 9x12'; It includes a
built-in dining table, wine fridge, sink, and bookshelves
for placing cookbooks and art objects. This arrangement is
sometimes referred to as a "Bistro" kitchen because it
encourages guests to participate while the meal is prepared.
You can talk, laugh, drink wine, chop and mix ingredients,
then eat right in the kitchen.
The builder has
orchestrated a number of ingenious ideas to keep the kitchen
from looking sterile or overly glitzy. He mixed the cabinet
finishes--lower cabinets are in a natural stain--the upper
cabinets are painted. And some of the cabinet-fronts are
fitted with "seeded" glass. This is no ordinary sink--here
you have a long, deep, bone-colored farmhouse sink. You
don't even want to know how much
this stove cost. About the size of a Buick, this
commercial-caliber slab of stainless sculpture is an
eight-top, sealed-burner, dual-fuel, two-oven, convection
stove. It is accompanied by a wall-mounted pot-filler and
restaurant-sized vent hood. There is also a built-in
stainless refrigerator.
Since the kitchen is going to be one of the busy hubs of activities in the house, the layout includes a very showy little powder room complete with a vessel sink and art mirror--convenient and artistic.
Window Wrapped Living
Room
The main living room and kitchen are unified by flooring--a
rare technique for installing wood floors with an
"antiquity" finish--this expensive process uses extra-wide,
four-inch planks that are distressed before being installed.
This special finishing is more interesting looking that
ordinary hardwoods and much more durable so that it stands
up to kids and pets.
If you enjoy the sound of
a crackling fire in the winter, you will appreciate the
trouble the builder went to. No small aluminum firebox
here--this is an oversized "real" fireplace made with
genuine firebricks--big enough to hold logs.
Spa-Like Master
Bedroom
The master is downstairs, and it takes up the entire right
wing of the house. It is a private retreat, is oriented to
take full advantage of the sweeping hill country views. A
set of doors leads straight out to a terrace where you can
enjoy fresh coffee and the newspaper on weekends. On
pleasant evenings, you can open the windows, listen to the
sound of the wind weaving through the treetops and go to
sleep by moonlight and a star-filled sky. But there is so
much more. The sleeping area is divided from the closets by
a freestanding stone wall. It is like having an art piece in
the bedroom.
The bath area is comprised of two very inviting spaces. Tiled areas around the sinks are decorated like jewelry with grids of reflective glass tiles. When you see the freestanding tub, you will swear it was imported from an old Chateau. It is cast-iron with a porcelain lining and zinc-looking exterior finished with wall-mounted fixtures and a handheld sprayer so women can easily shampoo their hair. When is the last time you took a shower with your sweetie? You will want to when you see this walk-in shower. It includes a handheld shower head plus another one overhead sometimes called a "rain forest" head. The house is equipped with the latest in hot water technology that generates unlimited hot water via two tankless water heaters.
There is a small extra room at the end of the bath area--a flexible small space that is essentially all windows yielding nothing but a sprawling vista of unspoiled hill country. Why not use this area for mind, body and spirit. It would make an ideal space for yoga. Or meditation. A couple of comfortable chairs, and you have a quite alcove to read a book or write a letter to an old friend.
The last interesting twist to the master bedroom has to do with the third garage bay (split off from the other two, but attached to the right side of the house). It has an extra door so you can pull in and enter the house by walking into the master bedroom wing. Why would you want to do this? Ever had one of "those" days at the office? You know, one of those stress-packed, tension-riddled days when nothing seems to go your way. You don't want to bring that energy home to your family, and this way, you can slip into the master bedroom first. You can decompress in your own space--maybe you take a long hot shower or soak in the tub. You can put on some comfortable clothes and unwind a bit before you see the kids.
What Is A Built-in Guest
House?
The main house has the master downstairs with three large
bedrooms and a game room upstairs. Instead of simply
sticking a fifth bedroom into the floorplan, the builder has
hit on yet another brilliant idea. The front left corner of
the design (see floorplan) includes a guest house. It is
attached to the main house, but not connected by any common
door. It has its own door that leads out to the front
courtyard. It has a full bath and closet. Imagine the uses.
For starters, if there is any chance you may need to take
care of one--or both--of your parents some day, you can put
them up here. Use this space for anyone who comes for a
visit during the holidays. The lack of stairs is ideal for
seniors.
It would also work as a home-office. The front side location is well suited if you need to meet with clients or take in deliveries--easily done without ever having to set foot inside the main house. Or use this room as a home gym. Lastly, if you have a college-bound student, she can live here--come and go at odd hours--without ever disturbing you.
Let's review. 4701 Malaquita Branch was built by Doug Connolly Builder, Ltd. This new home has five bedrooms, a 3-car garage and about 4,009 square feet. The unique architecture has the personality of an old European country house, and includes attributes such as a view, tile roof, restaurant-grade kitchen, fabulous master bedroom and a guest house. Serious inquiries only, please. If $1,200,000 is your price, please follow the suggestions below to see the inside.
Spanish Oaks is not only gated, it is designated by the developer as a "limited access neighborhood". This means you cannot simply drive out and cruise through the neighborhood. All visitors must set an appointment and stop in at the on-site office at the sales center. Set an appointment--either with the listing agent (Stan Barron, 512.345-8585) or the (Spanish Oaks staff 512.533-2370). This makes it a little inconvenient if you are in a hurry, but you will greatly enjoy it if you end up buying a home here. By not allowing "Sunday" drivers or curiosity seekers access, it results in less traffic on the streets, it makes the neighborhood quieter, and it makes it more enjoyable if you want to go for a walk through the peaceful setting that is so unique to Spanish Oaks.
Click
here
to see floorplan, site plan, map, more photos