2 Mule Ranch
Story:
It was a beautiful Spring day in a sleepy rural town. I spend my life in the suburbs so a trip to the country is a rare treat. This trip included sights, sounds & smells from a Little House on the Prairie episode including the Owner’s cattle squatting on the land. The cows thought I came to feed them so they persistently nibbled my elbow or nudged me with their nose. Trust me you’ve never been nudged until a cow nudges you. Then I noticed two mules calmly mingled in the herd. I inquired about the mules and the Owner said, “They are the live-in security team and watch over the herd”. That’s when I declared this unique place the two-mule ranch.
Location:
Poth, TX (Designed 2014; Built 2015)
Idea:
sprawling ranch
Personalized new home!
Stats:
3,015 SF; 3BR, 4BA, great room, office, pool plaza, 3-car garage, 1-story
430 SF guest home, game room, 1BA, outdoor shower, 1-story
Client’s Style:
craftsman
Services:
The Sketch, The Details, The Docs
Lifestyle Features:
- dining bar in the kitchen to combine work & play
- sweeping stone arch to differentiate between living & kitchen
- modern fireplace to create a sleek look
- recessed A/V component center for easy access, but concealed equipment
- masonry surround to accent the cooking area
- individual his & hers private master bath with shared shower
- two private guest bath areas with shared tub/shower
- holiday nook; flexible change across the seasons
- tall glass-faced cabinets in master closet to protect & present clothing
- mini-mud room to discard outer wear
- beach entry pool for easy access
Environment Solutions:
- stone & cedar finishes to portray a natural feel
- continuous spray foam roof deck to create super-insulated enclosure
- fiberglass-wood clad doors for durability & beauty
- vaulted ceilings in living & bedrooms to promote natural circulation
- plumbing in interior walls to maintain insulation continuity
- south-facing double doors & north-facing casement windows to capture seasonal breeze
- fire pit, pool plaza, swim-up bar for outdoor living
- buildings organized around outdoor living to screen weather & views
- multiple multi-zoned air handlers for controlled comfort
Community Influence
- create wings to protect the outdoor entertainment from wind & neighbor’s view
- stone + board & batten cedar siding to emulate “rural” buildings
- build beyond the flood plain to avoid the seasonal creek
- long winding driveway to provide separation from roadways & neighbors