The Lake Forest French Chateau-Inspired Home That Candy Evans Missed Out On Can Be Yours

This Lake Forest French chateau-inspired home would have been perfect for Candy Evans, but it wasn’t available when she was house hunting. So, lucky you, now you can be her neighbor!

I’m not sure there is a bigger vote of confidence for a neighborhood than having the most knowledgeable person in North Texas real estate choose to move there. When our publisher scoured Dallas for her recent house hunt, she landed on the gated community of Lake Forest. She and her husband, Walter, wanted the privacy, security, and amenities offered by this sought-after neighborhood.  

The 170-acre neighborhood was created from land that was formerly the campus for H. Ross Perot’s billion-dollar computer services company, Electronic Data Systems (EDS). When the company was acquired, it was moved, and if you want to know the inside skinny on how this beautiful neighborhood evolved, there is a phenomenal history on their website.

There are only 19 residences in the estate section of Lake Forest, and they rarely come up for sale. To see a 7,554 square-foot, five-bedroom, five-and-a-half-bathroom Lake Forest French chateau-inspired home here is not only a “honey, stop the car” moment, it’s a “honey, get your pen and sign the contract” moment!

From the moment you lay eyes on the gorgeous iron front entry door, you know you’re in for a treat. The grand foyer offers a stunning view of the formal dining room, complete with graceful arched floor-to-ceiling windows, high ceilings, and a beautiful built-in to display your treasures.

The expansive great room features extensive custom millwork with built-in bookcases flanking the fireplace. It opens to the kitchen and breakfast area, featuring a large center island with custom-built-in seating, which we rarely see and is a great idea. This kitchen has it all, from the Wolf appliances, including double ovens, a microwave, a built-in range, and, our favorite, warming drawers! 

Everyone wants a downstairs primary suite today, and this one is huge. There is a sitting area at the end of the room with a fireplace and custom built-ins. Another fireplace provides the focal point for one side of the his-and-hers bathrooms, and there is more closet and storage space here than you could ever possibly imagine. 

Of course, the three upstairs bedrooms, a game room, and a wet bar offer views of Lake Forest’s private lake and grounds.  And, you won’t lack for entertainment with a large media room featuring a wall-mounted screen, projector, and surround sound. With this at your fingertips, you may never go to a commercial theater again.  

This Lake Forest French chateau-inspired home features a whole-house automated lighting and sound system, an elevator, and a three-car attached garage that features custom cabinetry and a dog-washing station.

Let’s not forget why our publisher chose Lake Forest. All the glam and none of the work. You can catch Candy and Walter in the pool, on the tennis and pickleball courts, or on the walking trails with their Doodles. 

Dave Perry-Miller Realtor Laura Michelle is the most knowledgeable Realtor in town when it comes to Lake Forest because you guessed it, she lives here too! She has this Lake Forest traditional home at 12229 Pecan Forest Dr. available for $2.5 million.