Ready for a Change of Pace? Look to the East and This Texas Chateau

November 11, 2023 | Candy's Dirt | | Sponsored by Ebby Halliday Realtors

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During the pandemic, when many fled the confines of big-city life for something less … big city-ish, East Texas became an obvious choice. The proximity to Dallas, the pace, the space, and of course, the thriving local economy – its allure proved hard to resist for many. (Including Ebby Halliday Realtors, who opened two offices there in Tyler and Jacksonville in 2022.) And that allure is still undeniable.

So if you’re willing to expand your consideration set a little ways down I-20, we think you might be pleasantly surprised with what you can find. This strong contender at 4510 Cascades Shoreline Drive should jump to the top of your list if you are down for some serious life change and luxury. It looks like a resort home and it lives like one, too. The five-bedroom, French Contemporary home on .98 acres, rivals anything on Beverly Drive or Lawther Drive or in Old Preston Hollow, but is just five miles from downtown Tyler in a luxury home community adjacent to the Cascades of Texas Country Club.

“Tyler is the perfect combination of smaller town life with every big-city modern convenience,” says Ebby Tyler listing agent Kelley Brownlow. “And one of the perks of living a bit further afield from the Metroplex, is that you get tremendous value in real estate for your dollar.”

The motor court surrounded by mature trees and sculptured landscaping reminds one of a period movie. You might imagine a horseless carriage pulling up and a butler opening the passenger door so Dame Judi Dench can step out.

But that’s the extent of our throwback analogy. Because everything waiting on the other side of those heavy wooden front doors emphatically says “today!”

Custom designed by Fusch Serold and Partners in 2007 and inspired by homes in the South of France, the generously sized, three-story home (thankfully with elevator!) merges formality and function into an inviting ambiance.

As you enter in, the eye goes to a majestic staircase – until you spy the barrel-vaulted central corridor that visually divides the dining room and two-story great room with hand-carved stone fireplace and wall of windows overlooking the lake from an elevated vantage point. With so many magnificent features, it’s hard to know where to look first!

We’re going to let a lot of the pictures do the talking here, but that said, we think a few things merit a mention. For starters, the pristine open-concept chef’s kitchen rendered in monochromatic tones certainly needs a paragraph of its own. With its commercial-grade Wolf range with French cooker, Sub-Zero refrigerator, dual dishwashers, soapstone countertops, Carrera marble backsplashes, marble island, and open shelving, it should be in a coffee table book. (Oh wait, it was! As well as the subject of a designer blog under previous owners.)

A coffee table book features the elegant home

You can enjoy coffee and croissants in the adjacent breakfast area or take it to the loggia for your daily dose of vacay vibes.

The serene, light-filled primary suite with lake views is on the main floor while the remaining four en-suite bedrooms are on the top floor.

The ground floor features a gym and media room, along with a wet bar and wine refrigerator. And the lower loggia gives way to a saltwater pool, lush grounds, poolside fireplace and fire pit. With the holidays coming up, imagine family gathered under the twinkling lights for hot cocoa while the scent of pinon pine floats through the air.

And as is often the case in houses like this, what you can’t see matters, too. The entire home uses a new Control4 system to remotely access music, cameras, lighting, and shades while the alarm system keeps the home safe in your absence.

Like Kelley said earlier, you can’t beat this opportunity for value. But you do have to be willing to embrace a new mindset. The $3.1-million-dollar price tag should help with that.