Escape for a few blissful minutes to this stunning architectural creation by Douglas Guiling AIA on Strait Lane, brought to you by Lisa Peters of Caliber Home Loans as the featured High Caliber Home of the Week.
“The home’s architecture unfolds in a sequence that lets the suspense build,” explains listing agent Janelle Alcantara of David Griffin and Company. “When you first walk into the front foyer, you don’t see the great room right away, but you get the sense it’ll be something incredible as you turn the corner. Douglas Guiling thoughtfully designed it that way.”
Situated on a half-acre creek lot, the 6,616-square-foot home has five bedrooms, five full baths, and three half-baths, plus three living areas, two kitchens, and two home offices.
In the great room, a fireplace made of stained rift-cut white oak towers from the wood floors to the 21-foot ceilings. Concealed in the chimney column above the fireplace is a custom cabinet that holds a 120” TV. The extended lip on the house helps minimize direct sunlight in this room, which is situated in the back of the home. The circular peekaboo window shown below on the right side of the room mirrors the circular cutout on the exterior lip to the left.
With all the glass in this home, you might be worried about privacy, but Guiling designs with privacy in mind. “He designed it so the homeowner can make it from the master to the kitchen without having to get out of your robe,” Alcantara says.
Guiling uses a lot of natural materials in his work, often choosing indigenous materials to the region like white oak wood, which helps dampen noise and soften the space.
“He’s very inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright, who used a lot of organic materials and wood,” the listing agent Alcantara says. “You can really see the influence here.”
The whole home is smartly built, with beautiful form built into function. The kitchen is comfortable with an entire wall of white oak cabinets and tucked away appliances including a built-in microwave, built-in refrigerator/freezer, commercial grade range and vent, oven and convection oven, and dishwasher. The waterfall island has a breakfast bar to seat four and custom light pendants above. There’s a second prep kitchen, plus butler’s pantry and wine storage.
The master suite has a sitting area with fireplace and direct access to spa, led-lighted mirrors, heated floors, double shower with body sprays, vessel tub, and dual walk-in closets, one with washer and dryer hookups. A full-size utility room is located upstairs with additional washer and dryer hookups.
Upstairs, there are four bedrooms and space for a yoga nook or sound-proofed play area. “It’s got three sets of sliding glass doors, two to the outside and one interior sliding glass door, which means you can really turn up the music during yoga,” Alcantara says.
The backyard was made for Texas summers with a shaded pool and covered outdoor living area. It’s situated on a half-acre lot, so there’s a large flat yard that overlooks the creek below.
Landscape design was done by David Rolston, a naturalist himself, Alcantara says. “He wants the landscaping to be understated and accentuate the house in a way that’s natural yet modern.”
Janelle Alcantara of David Griffin and Company has listed 11468 Strait Lane for $3.695 million. To find details on the best modern architecture on the market, visit Alcantara’s site at GalaxyModern.com
