Once in awhile we get a Monday Morning Millionaire that makes me think I could actually become a high class house squatter. I’d move in, bring my own maid and Turkish towels, even my own all-natural, biodegradable cleaning supplies and sunscreen.
Here’s the first place I’d squat: 5019 Shadywood Lane, listed with David Griffin, David Griffin & Company Realtors. First of all, I LOVE Shadywood Lane, always have. From the days when I used to carpool the girls over here, I would linger just a little longer on Shadywood. It’s not as boldly name recognizable a street name as DeLoache, or Strait, but it has topography, gorgeous trees, and is where the quiet wealthy live, where so very many stunningly beautiful homes and estates have been built in the last few years.
Let’s see who lives on Shadywood:
Mark Giambrone, Laurie Harrison, Peter Krause who has held fund-raisers for President Obama, Phil Romano, Stephanie and Hunter Hunt own property on Shadywood, and of course Kay Bailey Hutchison and fam. Not too shabby.
So I present a 7500 square foot creation by Fusch Architects, built about 11 years ago, in 2003. Amazingly, all that square footage holds only four main bedrooms, four full and three half baths in the main house. The house is completely built around a two and one-half story rotunda in true Tuscan villa style that is a 25 by 25 foot room itself. There are also two guesthouses and three garages stalls plus a gated motor court. Entertainment here is a snap because of the well-engineered traffic flow and large rooms. There is a dramatic downstairs master with an elevated sitting area that views the grounds, as every room does, and a master spa bath with huge circular garden jacuzzi tub, bidet, steam shower, and oodles of storage.
Note to whoever evicts house squatters: you will most likely find me here.
The kitchen has oceans of granite, the highest of high-end appliances straight from Capital Distributing, and double sinks, one a farm sink. There are tons of cabinets and a pot filler, and a wine cellar is nearby. There is a second kitchen outside complete with grill, as well as a library, media and game rooms. The grounds include walkways, covered and protected patios, organic gardens. You will think you are out picking olives — maybe you are!
The home was also engineered to be as green and energy efficient as possible, with solar panels, tankless water heaters, programmable thermostats and more. The entire home is wired to be “smart” , including the central vacuum system and the home elevator.
Finally, the pool: be still my heart. It’s a salt-water, lagoon-style pool with elevated rock stone seating along the edge. It kind of resembles a Hill Country lazy river and reminds me of the beach-slope pool at Boot Ranch.
Forget the garden tub, this is where you’ll find me: the High Class House Squatter.
