Posted: Sat, 27 Feb 2010 06:53 PM - 8,016 Readers

By: Nicole Villalpando

The Italianate estate on Lake Austin at 13234 Shore Vista Drive is wrapped in rich ancient oro travertine floors, wood-beamed ceilings and arched windows and doorways. But the focal point of this 2.87-acre estate is its waterfront setting and the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve across the lake.

Located in the gated River Bend subdivision near Steiner Ranch, the house is just up the road from Lake Austin Spa Resort.

A second home to a Houston executive, the estate is on the market for $3.9 million. Cindy Goldrick of Wilson Goldrick Realtors has the listing. Greg Hurd of Sereno Homes built the house in 2005.

Guests enter through the home's gates down the red-brick driveway to the stone facade of the red-tile-roofed, two-story house. Entering the custom Cantera doors, guests are immediately greeted in the foyer by the two-story living room. A large arched window overlooks the expansive grounds and the water. An arched limestone fireplace is at one end of the room. The other side leads to the dining room with wood-beam ceilings and views of the patio and lake.

The expansive kitchen, breakfast room and family room provide a comfortable setting. Black granite counters line the kitchen's two walls. In the center, a granite island measures 91/2 feet by 91/2 feet and features seating at one end, cabinets and drawers throughout. Stainless-steel Viking appliances and a limestone back-splash break up the dark wood and dark counters.

The family room offers a limestone fireplace and access to the backyard patio leading to the pool and spa, fire pit and grill area.

Down the brick pathway, an outdoor cabana offers a fireplace, seating area and ceiling fans. It could be screened in. The two-slip boat dock is farther down the pathway.

On the other side of the house from the family room, the stone floors and wood-beamed ceilings continue in the master bedroom. The spacious master bathroom includes a jetted tub surrounded by small marble tiles, a large walk-in shower with rain shower-head, and two vanities with honed marble counters. The walk-in closet offers tall racks that pull down for easy access. An exercise space is off the closet.

This side of the house also features a library, a powder room and a wine cellar with glass-and-wrought-iron Cantera doors.

Upstairs, the home offers four bedrooms, each with its own bathroom. Two of the rooms are connected to the game room with a wet bar featuring an ice-maker and microwave. This room also leads to the balcony.

The other two bedrooms are on the other side of the upstairs.

The house has a security system for the homeowners to monitor the house from a remote laptop.

Goldrick says the house offers the best of Austin: the lake and the pool room for entertaining without being far from the city. She also appreciates its architecture.

"No one room is too big," she says. "It's cozy in its own way in scale and proportion without forgoing drama and elegance."

*  Story Contributed by: Nicole Villalpando