Talk about taking a test drive in a home, I cannot think of a more beautiful setting for sweating than 4920 Mangold Circle. The home is empty, which actually gives you a chance to appreciate the clean, but definitive, architecture. So for once, we will not complain about no furnishings. Shh!
I told you about the location off Strait Lane, north of Royal, the “quieter” part of Strait Lane. But go inside to see how architect William Briggs blended Leuders Limestone on the interiors. Bringing natural stone into the home is one of the hottest new trends I have seen (huge on the West Coast) and no one seems to be talking about it yet. Of course, builders have always brought brick and stone into the home, but the smooth-as-a-baby’s butt Leuders on foyer and study walls just melts my heart.
And if you want to totally crumble, take a look at that vessel bath tub and the stone wall behind it in the master bath. Holy moly, buy me this house (this TUB!) and you can have ANYTHING!
Completed just this spring by Robert Raymond, the floor plan flow is wide open with huge windows and tall ceilings that bathe the entire home in natural light. The home is based on a functional U-shape design, all rooms hugging an infinity-style pool. The to east are the knocked-out master, a den or office with that gorgeous stone wall, and a secluded guest room. The master is not superfluous; it’s well designed for living, and the money was put into the areas that count with the graceful tub, the oversized shower, and dual master closets loaded with sturdy built-ins. Speaking of duals, there are also dual baths for him and her.
As I said in an earlier post, one of my favorite touches, in fact a trend I am seeing, is the side front door. Indeed, whose Bible says you must always have the front door front and center and facing to the street directly? This is where you actually do not see the front door from the street. You walk to the front, veer to the right and there it is, all glass and open. But invisible from the street!
Then, as soon as you walk in, there is that dramatic, floating staircase, a work of art unto itself.
The center rooms are the formals, living, dining, etc, while the kitchen is on the western side. The kitchen is a stunner but not on overkill: quartz countertops, high performance appliances, thoughtfully hidden outlets and dual pantries. There is a large, light-embracing window directly behind the gourmet gas stove — which makes indoor cooking vastly more interesting. There is a built-in banquet breakfast table that keeps the meal in the center of action.
So much storage, the Butlers pantry is as large as a caterer’s kitchen. The hallway to the garage and mudroom is loaded with cabinet/cubby storage, and the laundry room is immense. The glass doors fold back to make the outdoor living area fuse with the interiors.
Once outside, the covered terrace offers a veritable full kitchen: grilling station with Lynx grill, refrigerator and full pizza oven.
Said it before, will say it again: everywhere the eye can take you on this three-quarters acre plus lot is an adventure in architectural beauty, but the infinity-style pool views trump all.
(Pardon my pun.)
Upstairs are three oversized bedrooms, all with en suite baths, and of course more living space in the form of a sitting room for these occupants. Or any occupants.
4920 Mangold Circle is listed with The Perry-Miller Streiff Group of Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate. A veritable brand new home, the builder turned it over to the first owners last spring. Unfortunately, they have to switch states. It is listed for a mere $3,695,000 and I am not being cute: that’s a lot of bang for your house buck. There are more than 7,ooo square feet, a three car plus garage, pool, spa, outdoor living and complete kitchen with pizza oven, five bedrooms, five full and one half bath on three-quarters of an acre!
How in the world can you Trump that!