For more photos, click here.
For more photos, click here.
Nestled in the peaceful post oak savannah of Northeastern Texas, 75 miles from Dallas, this traditional/contemporary ranch-style home, built in 1997 and retrofitted in 1999, is fully equipped for energy self-sufficiency while offering all the modern comforts and conveniences.
Inside: 2000 sq. ft. of living space, with 3 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths, a spacious living area graced by a beautiful and efficient Vermont Castings woodstove, and a roomy, well-designed kitchen.
There is an ample laundry room from which you enter into the house by the side entrance. It also has space for a deep freezer. There is an inset ironing board built into the wall. The house has two hot water zones; the hot water heater for the laundry room and master bath is housed in this laundry room. The floor is an easy-to-care-for vinyl made to look like small ceramic beige tiles. The window in this room faces west and offers a beautiful sunset view in the evenings. Miniblinds keep the summer heat outside.
Just a few steps away from the laundry area is the master bedroom. It has two small windows on the north side of the house, with miniblinds. It has a large 5 blade ceiling fan with light attachment. It features two generous his/hers closets with stacked shelving. The house is fully carpeted, with the carpet being in very good condition throughout the house. The master bath is inside the bedroom area, and there you will find an enclosed tub with glass sliding doors, his and hers sinks and a separate commode room with private door. The ladies sink has a vanity and seating area for a makeup mirror. There is extra linen storage space in the bath and commode rooms. A small eastern facing window provides plenty of daytime light.
Just across the master bedroom is a small office (or would make a perfect nursery!) with plenty of built in beautiful golden oak bookshelves. They are fully adjustable. There is a nice matching computer desk and file cabinet that fits perfectly against the opposite wall, which will be offered for sale with the house should the new owners have a need for it. The window in that room is west facing and also provides gorgeous east Texas sunsets. It too has miniblinds for heat reduction. There is an overhead light but no fan in this room. It is fully installed with wall to wall carpeting.
Just a few steps from there you enter the dining/kitchen area. This is the heart of the house, with plenty of space for family gatherings next to the woodstove in the dining room. The floor is of vinyl strips to look like wood flooring. You get all the beauty of a wood floor without any of the work. It is very easy care flooring. The woodstove is on a gorgeous pad of tile with inlaid brass. This woodstove will heat the entire house even on the coldest days. It is a joy to use. It has an ashpan that collects the ashes and all it needs is a once a day emptying. It includes extra replacement parts such as the inner lining and glass window.
The wallpaper was updated in 2000 with quality paper and professional installation. The kitchen includes a breakfast bar, huge cabinet spaces, lots of drawers, and a fabulous pantry with rotating shelving. It is perfect for the gourmet cook. It has plenty of counter space and includes a built-in microwave, Kitchen-Aid dishwasher, and electric stove/oven. The sink is stainless steel, and the cold water is filtered by an NSA water filter installed under the sink. The refrigerator was new in 1998 and can be included in the sale if desired. There is an ice maker hookup to it.
The living room includes a huge built-in entertainment center with double bookshelves on each side encased with glass doors. There are built in drawers under the TV area made for VHS storage. Above the TV area is a VCR shelf and satellite control box. There is a working gas fireplace in the room near the dining entrance through the pocket doors. The floor is a combination of carpeting and the vinyl "wood" flooring that continues from the kitchen just over the high traffic areas in the living room which has kept the carpeting in the living room like brand new. A door exits to the back porch and a big picture window gives you a view of all the beautiful trees. Just off the living room is a powder room bath. It has just recently been updated to a Southwestern look. It has a toilet and a pedestal sink.
On the other side of the house are the two children's rooms, which share a large full bathroom. The west room is currently being used as an office but it has a full fan with light fixture, and a nicely laid out walk-in closet. The bay window faces west. The east bedroom also has a beautiful view from the bay window and also includes a large ceiling fan. All fans can be controlled at the wallplate. This east room has a huge walk-in closet.
Finally the front door is made of beveled glass in an oval pattern. It casts beautiful shapes of light onto the walls and floor in the foyer as the sun sets in the afternoon. It adds a very warm elegent appeal to the entire home.
Outside: Situated on 6 acres of beautifully timbered post oak
savannah, the grounds include
a small intensive-cultivation garden plot overlooking a placid pond
patrolled by genetically-engineered piranhas.
In addition to groves of post oak, the property also includes hickory, willow, sugar maple, and a pear tree with a partridge in it.
The infrastructure includes: a rain water cistern plumbed directly into the house awaiting the infrequent but sometimes generous rains; a large storage shed which houses the dual steam generators, two small gas generators and a several-year supply of beans and rice; and a roomy two-stall garage connected to the house by a covered walkway.
The house sits about 300 ft. away from the street, which is a small infrequently traveled country road. The driveway consists of white crushed stone which circles near the house around a large oak tree, creating a circular driveway. The exterior of the house looks like wood but is actually made of Hardy Plank which is a cement compound. It is totally fireproof and paintable. The landscape around the house is of Buford Holly, Youpon Holly, Azeleas, Barberry, Sages, Abelia, Fountain Grass, and Monkey Grass. The turf grass is St. Augustine, which is preferred for Texas shaded lawns. It has a 3 year old sprinkler system installed which is fully programmable. The area around the pond is home to apple, pear, cherry and peach trees. The peaches are delicious!
Part of the local fauna are groups of deer that pass over the property, raccoon, rabbits, armadillo, and tree squirrels. Flying squirrels have been seen. Notable birds are blue birds, cardinals and a variety of raptors. Hummingbirds have been noted which are actually smaller than the Monarch butterflies that wander through. Near the pond is a Martin House, or rather, condo.
Again, this modern, comfortable home is capable of complete independence from the utility company. It is on city services currently, but can be converted to off-grid living within minutes.
Water is collected through a gutter system off the large metal shed into 2 1500 gallon holding tanks. If needed a valve near the house could be turned and the water switched from city plumbing to the rainwater collection tanks to serve the house. There is underground plumbing attached directly from the tanks to the house plumbing. It would be pumped through a water filter in the shed, and in the kitchen through yet another filter under the sink. Then for drinking one could just run it through a Berkfeld water filter or equivalent. Otherwise the water would be fine for washing and cleaning. In case of further need for water, the pond could supply an ample quantity and would also be safe to drink through a Berkfeld water filter.
The pond is about 20 feet deep in the center and gets increasingly more shallow as it reaches its banks. It has a spillway for overflow which runs towards the back of the property downhill away from the house.
This home has many more extras. If interested, please email me for more information. Asking $299,000, negotiable.
For more photos, click here.
Note: the piranha reference is a joke. There are no fish in the pond that we know of.