Outdoor Experience

"My clients wanted a very comfortable house, but one that met their entertaining needs as well," says Luis Jauregui, the home's architect and builder.

The homesite, a 7-acre lot adjacent to the 18^th fairway in a new golf course community, presented Jauregui with an interesting design challenge. "Although it was a great lot, its width and openness made planning the house particularly tricky because I knew that it would be exposed on every side. But this four-sided location also gave me the opportunity to create a variety of wonderful, functional outdoor spaces around the home."

The multitude of windows and doors throughout the 7223 square foot residence are all oriented to promote the visual connection between the indoors and out, he says. "And, the outdoor structures, including the sunken pool terrace and guest house are positioned so that they will not interfere with the views of the golf course from the main residence."

This courtyard also serves as the key focal point for the entry foyer where a dramatic window wall intentionally blurs the distinction between indoors and out, says Jauregui.

The master suite, which occupies the entire second floor, has its own covered terrace that links the bedroom and exercise room. A separate covered terrace adjoins the office on the main floor.

Jauregui says the outdoor terrace adjoining the home's entry portico encourages the use of the front of the home for entertaining as well. This terrace, which provides access to a main gallery as well as the billiards room, overlooks a landscaped water feature that accents the front elevation. "So often you see a home with a really beautiful, elaborate entrance, but in reality no one spends any time there," he says. "We created a very natural looking landscape plan for this home because we're finding today people prefer this to a very manicured look."

With its stucco and stone exterior, the home's architectural style reflects the regional design influences of its South Texas location including Mexican, European and American Indian details. "I like to design homes using an eclectic approach. There is definitely a cowboy connotation associated with this area and I tried to play that up," says Jauregui. "While this home's stone and stucco exterior gives it the appeal of a true Texas ranch house, it also feels as though it is part Tuscan country house as well."

The home was completed in August 2003.