The Turquoise Garden

The first time I drove up to this house I knew it was the one I wanted. The house is entirely hidden behind a lush curtain of wild trees and remains concealed until you turn in the driveway. I found it unbelievably charming. In the front, a huge shade garden awaits, enclosed by a weathered wooden fence, an arbor draped with jasmine, and crisscrossed with rock walkways, creating a picturesque outdoor retreat situated on the developed acre of land. The home’s expansive, shadowy porch wraps around three sides and stunning stained glass windows are featured in the front door and directly above it. Inside, the staircase gives a nod to the stained glass windows with one-of-a-kind, handmade mosaic tile risers. And oh, wood - it's everywhere, like the setting of a whimsical fairy tale, with brick floors here and there for an unexpected twist. Renovations have just been completed on the primary bathroom. We laid brick floors there too because we're fancy like that. The cabinets are hand-painted peonies, and there's a wet room with a claw-footed tub. The tile pattern is out of this world and lends the entire room a bit of crispness. The screened-in porch on the back of the house is all rustic country charm, while a Texas cowboy pool (ie stock tank), an old, red shed, and a second acre of untouched woods complete the picture. Every morning and every night a dozen deer gather around the backyard picnic table and wait patiently for us to feed them; its just part of this bucolic lifestyle. The kitchen is dark bottle green with an antique chest standing in for the island. Even the stove goes green and old family recipe boxes and heirloom china line up with modern kitchen equipment creating a casual and very functional space. If you are looking for a peaceful and backwoodsy location with an artistic bent then this is the one.