by Joy Capps
photography by Robert French
Gone are the days
when a four-bedroom, two-bath, two-car garage house was the sign of having “made it” in San Antonio.
For a growing
number of
San Antonians,
building custom homes, which include home
theatres, gymna-siums, pool cabañas and wine cellars,
is becoming more the norm for those with generous
disposable incomes.
Today it’s not uncommon to find area residents upgrading from 4,000-square-foot dwellings to estate-sized custom mansions. To learn more about the upside of “living large” in San Antonio, we visited with three local homeowners who live comfortably in dream homes ranging from 8,500 to 19,000 square feet. While each one shared different reasons why he or she loves living in such a large house, the common positive thread was the additional privacy afforded by the extra space, both inside and outside the home.
Tapatio Springs
“We love the place and feel so fortunate to be here,” shared a Tapatio Springs resident who resides in a 13,000-square-foot custom home. Designed by Jack Graves of John A. Graves and Associates, this Mediterranean-style Tuscan villa is perched on a 2,000-foot elevation hilltop, providing sweeping views of the Hill Country. “Life is definitely more pleasant when you have the space,” she reflected.
The seven-bedroom, seven-bath villa sits on 10 acres surrounded by additional acres of greenbelt, offering more privacy than may be found in many settings that have a hundred acres or more. One would think everyday conveniences might be far away, especially since one has to drive to get to the nearest neighbor’s house; however, the estate is less than ten minutes from a hospital, medical clinics, shopping and restaurants.
When asked what they like best about their Tapatio Springs home, the owners say, “You have room to do everything you’re going to need to do for the rest of your life.” Because they have dedicated spaces for entertaining, including a large great room, formal dining room and large kitchen, it is easy to welcome and enjoy lots of guests.
When asked what they like best about their Tapatio Springs home, the owners say, “You have room to do everything you’re going to need to do for the rest of your life.” Because they have dedicated spaces for entertaining, including a large great room, formal dining room and large kitchen, it is easy to welcome and enjoy lots of guests.
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