By:
Drew Henry
Photography By:
Joey Solis, Maverick Photography
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Paul Allen Custom Homes, a Cordillera Ranch Preferred Builder, is known for their client-driven approach. Rather than focusing on one design style or building spec homes for show, the team devotes most of their time to bringing unique client visions to life. So, it was a dream come true when the opportunity arose to take one of the team’s conceptual home designs from paper to build site.
The dining room includes the most dramatic ceiling and lighting design yet. The treatment features an alder wood bow frame trimmed in custom LED light strips suspended from the cathedral peak by industrial steel rods. The result is a space that feels grand yet intimate — and completely unexpected.
The impressive double-height great room draws the eye up with a unique drop ceiling comprised of layered squares outlined with modern LED linear strip lighting. Below, the floors are finished with a wood-look porcelain tile, adding to the organic feel of the home while providing a durable, low-maintenance finish. A two-sided marble and gold-trimmed fireplace divides the formal living space from the more casual lounge.
The open-concept kitchen is grounded by an oversized island with white Cambria quartz counters that spill over with a dramatic waterfall edge. The high-gloss laminated European-style cabinetry features wood grain and steel blue finishes, beautifully blending the modern with the organic. The Dacor Contemporary Collection appliance package completes the design with chef-grade quality.
Instead of a Wine Room, this designated Bourbon Room secures proper storage conditions for those hard-to-procure bottles of Kentucky’s best. With custom LED-lit shelves designed to accommodate collectible bottles as well as the homeowner’s favorite wines, the glass-enclosed, climate-controlled room provides a pleasing focal point from every direction.
“We knew we would build the home one day. We just didn’t know how quickly that day would come.” - Keith Norman
The primary bedroom features a custom upholstered and mirrored headboard wall feature and a canopy-style tray ceiling. While the stunning space oozes comfort, the luxurious en suite bath steals the show.
The floors are finished with oversized, high-polish Montblanc Statuario marble-look porcelain floor panels, further accented by the under-cabinet lighting on the high gloss wood grain vanities. The space is grounded by a copper porcelain tile accent wall that defines the wet room, which includes dual shower heads and a soaking tub. Brizo fixtures are the “jewelry” on this impressive bath.
Steps from the main living area, the lounge sits tucked away as one of the home’s best “not-so-kept” secrets. The lively space features a dynamic zig-zag-style ceiling treatment of shifting slopes. The wet bar is defined by a drop ceiling with another custom LED strip light design and a black and gold metallic finish porcelain tile feature wall. The spacious lounge houses a massive TV screen with plenty of room for air hockey and shuffleboard tables. With sliding door access to the covered patio, this space is an entertainer’s dream.
Outside, there is every amenity you could want for peaceful relaxation or grand entertaining. The covered patio includes a fully equipped outdoor kitchen complete with a smoker and room for dining and lounging. The courtyard pool has a stylish infinity edge that drops off into a second pool with a sun ledge for tanning. There is also a spa for cool Hill Country nights. The hilltop clearing has room for a turf and full-sized basketball and tennis court combo.
The Modern Organic home sits perched on a hilltop clearing, offering choice views of the rolling countryside. The dramatic drive up the pathway reveals an exterior finished with white stucco and smooth-cut limestone paired with a contrasting black window and door package, roof and dark wood accents.
“As a team, we sometimes work together on these crazy plan designs that never make it to market just to push the limits of our creativity,” said Keith Norman, Co-Owner & President of Business Development. “While we love the things we dream up, we rarely have the time to make them a reality because we are so focused on our clients’ experiences and building their dreams rather than our own.”
However, now was the time to turn this team’s dream home into a reality. “After a year or so of thinking about this project, we finally had the courage to push this creative design forward,” continued Keith. “We took all of our wildest ideas and translated them into a home design plan that was livable for the day-to-day. We specified all the materials and finishes — right down to a custom floating dining room ceiling treatment and light fixture two-in-one. When people saw that design sketched out, they thought we were crazy and that it would never work!”
The Paul Allen team hired a rendering company out of Miami to create a realistic walk-through video of their design. “It was amazing to see the property come to life at that stage, even though it was just on screen,” said Keith. After posting the video online, the home unexpectedly went viral.
“We knew we would build the home one day,” said Keith. “We just didn’t know how quickly that day would come. We actually had someone reach out from the video and say, ‘I want this exact house.’” Of course, the Paul Allen team met and began to ask about customizations. But no, this future homeowner wanted the team’s exact vision without any changes. “Earning our customer’s trust through our reputation and process is a game changer,” added Keith. “It allows them to sit back and enjoy the build process!”
For the team, seeing their creative design come to life as a home for another happy client was a dream come true.
Paul Allen Custom Homes
210.493.3204
PaulAllenHomes.com
