When Britain’s Daily Mail newspaper features a Colleyville English country manor house, it’s a reminder that Texas and England have had a longstanding love affair.
The English are enamored of our cowboy culture, wide open spaces, and outgoing nature. We are in awe of royalty, the accent, and, of course, the English country manor house. Nothing defines English life more than the country home and lifestyle.
It’s been over 30 years since I was whisked away to Huntsham Court in Devonshire by a young Englishman eager to impress me with the wonders of his country. I fell in love with both, but only one lasted: my deep and abiding love of the English country manor house.
So I was intrigued when Compass agent Lauren Moore’s listing hit the market. It’s everything I could have imagined — beautifully designed, carefully thought out, and absolutely stunning inside and out.
The owners, Alfonso and Sharon Chan, are both engineers. Need I say more?
This is not just a beautiful home. It’s also engineered to a degree you won’t find anywhere else. The Chans hired architect Larry E. Boerder, who is known for his expertise in classic design, and landscape architect Bruce Berger of Armstrong Berger.
An Inspired English Country Manor
An incredible amount of research and planning goes into building a home of this stature, and inspiration is lent by all who participate in the process. The owners loved the historic homes of the Hudson River Valley, which, of course, were influenced by English country homes. Boerder added his inspiration to the collaboration by introducing elements of Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio’s Villa Rotunda, which overlooks fields and woodlands in Vicenza, Italy.
“Sharon made every selection and oversaw the engineering, architecture, and design,” Moore said. “She designed every pattern on the floors and thought out every detail in this home. The mahogany paneled hallway and enormous staircase were inspired by the Jeremiah Lee Mansion in Marblehead, Massachusetts, and the Schuyler Mansion in Albany, New York. The staircase spindles were specifically designed so that they repeat in sets of three. Everything in the house has a story, and the quality is stunning.”
Of course, the bellboard has captured everyone’s imagination who has seen the house in photos or in person. It’s not only a nice nod to history, but it’s also smart. Forget calling the kids on their phones. Just ring for them! It was created by the same craftsman who made the bellboard for the “Downton Abbey” TV series.
The home is positioned at the top of Mockingbird Hill, overlooking Berger’s landscape of mature pine, oak, magnolia, and maple trees and with an unobstructed view of the stocked fishing pond.
On the uphill approach, there is a great lawn of trimmed coastal hay housing a sheltered and landscaped six-hive bee apiary, which means you can continue to farm bees and apply for an agricultural exemption!
The garden is based on a traditional English country estate. There is a sense of procession and progression that feels natural on this property. We created intimacy well before the front door and set the tone for what the rest of the garden would deliver, and the effect is calming and visually appealing. Using various materials that included stone, trees, and specimen shrubs brought scale, texture, and cohesiveness to the property. The series of outdoor rooms and gardens encourage you to use the whole property and slow down and enjoy the respite.
Bruce Berger
There is nothing like an English country manor house. It offers a lifestyle on a completely different level than most of us have experienced. The Chans have created a home and an idyllic landscape on par with the best I’ve seen in the English countryside and now it can be yours.
Moore has this spectacular English country manor house at 6300 Pool Rd. listed for $6.75 million.
