Doors & Gables Magazine - April 2015 by Doors & Gables

Doors Gables

by Sebastian Barrett St.Troy

Doors Gables Magazine

Onion Creek & Luxury Real Estate Issue Sebastian Barrett St.Troy

Realtor & Market-Ready Ontologist 3571 Far West Blvd 59 Austin, TX 78731 USA

Cover & Layout Design by Sebastian St.Troy First Edition, April 2015 Circulation 1,000 copies

Service

Sebastian

Exective level, personalized services for discriminating clients where privacy is assured and protected. Doors & Gables is a boutique agency serving select clients in the greater Austin Metro area providing real estate, home staging and design services. I believe in old fashioned business values of honest communication, earned respect, and hard work to ensure my client’s satisfaction.

I am known for my enlightening work with Feng Shui, Numerology, Color Theory, Metaphysics, and Psychology - all of which I apply to every project. My gift is my genius, the ability to ‘see’ things not as they are, but as they can be. I believe that honesty, even when others may not desire to hear such, is extremely important in maintaining healthy relationships.

Hi, I’m Sebastian St.Troy. My approach is as simple as 1, 2, 3. Exective level, personalized services for discriminating clients where privacy is assured and protected. I provide specialized services that meet my client’s needs, not my desires. Whether it is buying/selling real estate; preparing a home for market, including Home Staging; designing a property’s landscaping, interior spaces, or even remodeling; or designing marketing materials, I am here to ensure that your needs are met through providing personalized services, specialized marketing, and creative designs. My hallmark is quality over quantity and my focus is on my clients. Sebastian Barrett St.Troy Chief Editor of Doors & Gables Magazine

Living in Onion Creek, your family will be just in the right place for enjoying the best of South Austin. 744-acre McKinney Falls State Park will be only 5 miles away, and it presents remarkable opportunities for mountain biking, hiking, camping, fishing, picnicking and more. If you are tired of these more physically demanding tasks, just take a walk to the nearby Onion Creek District Park. Another great element is Onion Creek Club, a member’s only golf course that is exclusive to the Onion Creek community. The twenty-seven course winds through an attractive landscape with beautiful homes and towering trees. While here, your family can enjoy a fitness center, an Olympic size swimming pool, meeting and dining facilities, and tennis courts.

nion Creek offers a vast variety of home styles creating an exquisite environment that features green yards, Heritage Oaks, and relaxed living. All residents of Onion

Creek are members of the Onion Creek Homeowner’s Association, which operates around-the-clock security patrols and holds multiple communal events throughout the year. Family home prices in Onion Creek varied from $175,000 to $548,000, effectively ranking it among the best neighborhoods in South Austin to own a home for family or retirement.

Children in Onion Creek neighborhoods attend school in the famous Austin Independent School District. They are all situated within 5 miles, and they include William’s Ele m e nt ar y, Blazier Elementary, Paredes Middle School, Bedichek Middle School, and Akin High School. There are also several p r i v a t e schools in the region including A u s t i n C h i l d r e n’s M o nte s s o r i, Bannockburn Christian Acad emy, Primavera Montessori and White Bird Montessori School. (read our Austin Private Schools article.)

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From Onion Creek, it is easy to get to St. Edwards University, University of Texas, and many more Universities that serve the Onion Creek Region. It’s also easy to access San Marcos (Home

to Texas State University) or move deeper South to San Antonio, making it a great location for professors to live. Onion Creek is fast emerging as the best location for people who want to work, live, and play in the quickly growing Austin Metropolitan region. Awesome Offerings for the Retiring population. The neighborhood is beautiful, its beautiful landscaping and sprawling lawns presents a peaceful environment for you to enjoy after a lifetime of daily chores and hard work. The community offers social life and activities that makes retirement fun. In addition, the neighborhood is only minutes from St.David’s South Austin Medical Center. Another benefit is access to South-Park Meadows, features locally owned favorites : Amy’s Ice Cream, Willie Nelson’s Texas Roadhouse, Little Woodrow’s and Waterloo Ice House. The Grove is a great place to relax and play while dining or shopping. Onion Creek is also home to Onion Creek Referral Group.

Executive Level Real Estate If you are looking for a family or retirement home in Austin, Onion Creek offers you the best value. It has a great history, it is beautiful, peaceful and packed with all the necessary support amenities. Get in touch with Sebastian St.Troy (Realtor at Doors & Gables) by phone or email. You’ll be able to discuss your desires and he’ll go to work find a home that is suited to your interests. 512.964.2080 doorsandgables@gmail.com

A Brief History

nion Creek is a residential area located about 6 miles to the southern edge of downtown Austin and East of the famous Interstate Highway 35 in Travis County. Settlement in

this area started as early as 1850 when Onion Creek Masonic Lodge was chartered. The modern upscale golf community of Onion Creek began in the early 1970s when C&D investment and Lumbermenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Investment corporations began development of a 960 acres piece of land along Onion Creek. Pioneers of the project included McDonald Wayne, the president of Lumbermenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Investment Corporation, Golfer Jimmy Demaret and Jimmie Connolly of C&D Investments. Development started in a 33,000 square foot country club, and Demaret designed an 18 holes golf course which was opened officially in the early fall of 1973. Later in 1974, the Onion Creek Country Club and luxury division officially opened with a decorated celebration that

included Tennessee Ernie Ford, Bob Hope, and several other celebrity guests. Over the decades, the golf course earned international reputation as the premier destination in Texas. The Legends Tour, the very first senior professional golf tournament, was held in Onion Creek for 11 years, commencing 1978. In 1996, Golfer Ben Crenshaw personally designed 9 more golf holes in the course and LPGA conducted its Harvey Penick Invitational in Onion Creek in 1999 to 2001.

10401 La Costa Dr. 4 Bedrooms, 3 Full & 2 Half Baths, 3,551 Sq.Ft.

$375,000

Situated on a bluff backing to a greenbelt overlooking Onion Creek. Spacious with 2 living areas and 2 dining areas. Expansive family room upstairs with wet bar. The kitchen with breakfast bar offers plenty of cabinet storage. Large, partially covered back deck for enjoying the Oak shaded atmosphere. MLS # 1788756

Listed by Kim Gayer, REALTOR, Gayer Group

10113 Wild Dunes Dr.

10205 La Costa Dr.

4 Bedrooms, 3 Full & 1 Half Baths, 3,709 Sq.Ft.

3 Bedroom, 2 Full & 1 Half Bath, 3,326 Sq.Ft.

$369,900

$540,000

Listed by Joe Bayarena, REALTOR, e-Executive

Listed by Kim Gayer, REALTOR, Gayer Group

Stunning 4 bedroom home features a separate downstairs office, winding staircase, beautiful granite countertops, custom cabinets with all new GE appliances and a gas downdraft cooktop. The enormous master bedroom enjoys a sitting area and 2 huge walk in closets. 2 sides of lot back to the Onion Creek greenbelt. MLS # 5126855

Ambience of French Architecture blended with a touch of Mediterranean flare, situated along the natural Onion Creek greenbelt. Formal living and dining opposite foyer, both with fireplaces. Family room with fireplace. Rich cherry wood flooring accents the foyer, breakfast and kitchen areas. Master suite with fireplace. MLS # 1134855

Victorian, Modern, and Classic

Royal Estate

An Estate fit for Royalty in Dripping Springs, Texas. The stately charm of the Queen Anne period in a pastoral Texas Hill Country setting with exactness to detail uncommon today. Each time you enter the gates, it’s like going back in time. When you walk into the house, it’s the same.

3,800,000

Turnkey $4,500,000* Heliport features a landscaped 3,200 sq.ft Heli-hanger with Office/Staff Studio with full bathroom and secure storage. Helipad with landing lights extends beside the Heli-hanger. Travel time via helicopter to Austin Bergstrom International Airport is roughly 15 minutes. Additional photos on next page or online.

Every detail was considered in the quest for authenticity to the period in the design and construction of the manor. From the use of true-to-the-period cypress siding, to the selection of colors and flourishes, to landscaping with roses of the Queen Anne period–the goal was to resurrect the stately charm of the Queen Anne period in a pastoral Texas Hill Country setting with exactness to detail uncommon today. 17 Acres fully fenced with 8′ fencing and a total of 3 entrances to property along 2 different roadways – Main entrance with circular, concrete driveway, Heliport entrance, and Farm House entrance, each with security cameras and remote control operations. Paths and private drives meander throughout the property connecting the main Queen Anne home, the modern Retreat Center, the traditional Farm House, private Heliport, Pool & Guest Cabana, and barn. The Queen Anne Home with 5,152 sq.ft. features a Grand Foyer, Parlor/Family Room, Dining Room, Gourmet kitchen with LaCanche range, Scullery, Office/Library, 3 Bedrooms - Master bedroom on main floor, 3 Full & 1 Half Bathrooms, 4,500 sq. ft. Wrap-around Deck and includes three water supplies, Geothermal heating & cooling, Crestron Smart-House technology system, and Security system with multiple cameras throughout property. Modern Guest Retreat designed by Dick Clarke A sleek, modern 3-story guest home with media room, resistance pool, spa, gym, wine cellar, three-car garage, and observation deck. The Annex features six wells for geothermal heating and cooling. 3,637.18 sq.ft., 1 Bedroom, 2 Full Bathrooms and includes Crestron Smart-House Technology.

Read More Online

Private Heliport

Stylish Master Bath

Modern Guest Retreat with indoor pool & wine cellar

Texas Hill Country setting

Pool & Guest Cabana

A Life for Sale

By Kali´ Rourke

We have always loved living in Northwest Austin, and when we started our family, we moved to Jester Estates as the oldest started school. It was the perfect neighborhood for our kids, with sidewalks everywhere, a playground and pool in walking distance, and the Balcones Canyon Preserve right on our doorstep. There is even a bat cave!

Business, family, life or anything else, include one constant … CHANGE.

Children grew, the family transformed, and the largest change we experienced was downsizing as one of our girls graduated from college and the other was half-way done. We were selling our spacious and magazine-worthy home of seven years, changing our living space (both size and location) drastically and in the midst of all of this my incredibly insightful husband had an epiphany. As we touched up paint, trimmed landscaping, replaced old carpet and generally made our house look as beautiful as it had ever looked, he said, “This is how it works, isn’t it? We get used to things and put them off, and only when we are about to sell something do we take the time to really look at it closely and fix it up as close to perfection as we can.” I laughed and agreed that was truth…Not only with houses, but cars and other things as well!

He said, “What if you had to sell your life, right here and now, what things would you fix up?”

I was stunned. I started to think seriously about his question. What would I fix up if I had to sell my life? What would I change or do better or do more? It’s been a pretty darned good life. Not perfect, for sure, but exciting and productive and has accomplished some good things…but is it in good enough shape to sell? I think the only time we even let this thought cross our minds is: • When we decide to marry • When we decide to add children to our family • When we are dying and setting our affairs in order, and • During rehabilitation when we are truly taking stock of our lives and choosing to rebuild them. There aren’t many other times that we aren’t just in “living in the house” mode. So today I challenge myself and I challenge you to think about your life as a commodity. Think about what it is, what it could be and what you would change, do differently or do better to make it a truly desirable product on the “life market.”

Dr. Stephen Covey, author of “7 Habits of Highly Effective People,” says to “leave a legacy,” and perhaps that is part of making a truly desirable life. It may mean different things to different people, but I do know that nothing, absolutely nothing will change in your life the way you want, unless you decide that you want it to. It will change; everything inevitably does, but only you have control over how proactive you are in your life and how you react to the change that is beyond your influence. I want a very valuable life and I want to inspire my children to desire one for themselves. One that is full, satisfying, and leaves more than a headstone behind.

How about you? Read more on

The Austin Experience Blog

Kali´ P. Rourke has been donating her time, treasure and talents to public service since retiring from her career as a mortgage banker and title insurance professional. She is a Mentor and active with the Seedling Foundation, Impact Austin, and the Austin-Travis County Mentoring Advisory Council. Kali´ is a blogger at Kali’s OQM Musings, and a professional vocalist in her spare time. She spent most of the 80’s in Austin theatrical productions and still keeps her hand in as a singer/songwriter.

Modern, Entertaining, & Uniquely Texan

Uniquely Texan Texas is known for ranches, fanciful soirées, and gracious hosts. This modern Texas Ranch For Sale was designed for grand scale entertaining. Located Southwest of Austin in Dripping Springs.

Located southwest of Austin in the rolling countryside known as the Texas Hill Country, this 25 acre ranch for sale (fully fenced) was designed as the quintessential party ranch. The main compound consists of 7 buildings gathered around the pool, all situated to provide privacy and views of the Hill Country. Arrive via auto or helicopter (helipad located along a path from the pool) and then you and your guests can ‘party til the cows come home’ or retreat from the hustle of city life. The main building is the Grand Pavilion with Kitchen (includes an island that seats 10) and the Grand Salon with plenty of seating areas, pool table, and easy access to the pool. Adjacent to the Grand Pavilion is the hotel like Guest Quarters that includes a Master Suite on the second level with views of the Hill Country from the outdoor deck and 3 Guest Bedrooms on the main level, each with a private bath.

2,695,000

6,960 Sq.Ft., 7 Living Structures, 7 Bedrooms, 7 Full & 2 Half Bathrooms, 2 Car garage, ±25 fully fenced acres (Ag exemption), and Private Helipad. If you are interested in a private tour of the Texas Ranch For Sale, please Get In Touch, as we’ll be honored to show you this great Texas Ranch For Sale. MLS # 5402900

Connected to the other pavilions is the Party Pavilion with stage, lighting, lounge area, and another Guest Suite for the star of the show. The main floor of the Party Pavilion houses the 2 car garage, covered tandem parking and 2 storage rooms. Down the path are 2 Guest Pavilions with private baths and 2 additional structures ready to become a Summer Kitchen, Covered Patio, or what you may need to ensure your guests enjoy their stay. 6,960 Sq.Ft., 7 Living Structures, 7 Bedrooms, 7 Full & 2 Half Bathrooms, 2 Car garage, ±25 fully fenced acres (Ag exemption), and Private Helipad. Listed by Sandy Cary, Realtor, Kuper’s Sotheby’s International Realty