Posted: Sun, 16 Jan 2011 09:31 AM - 16,089 Readers

By: Nicole Villalpando

2924 Cliff Point, Spicewood

Originally listed for $16 million, Castello Sul Lago sits on a bend of Lake Travis in Spicewood. Almost a year later, it's now on the market for $9.8 million.

This estate features over-the-top marble and gold finishes. The more than 17,000 square feet include a two-story library with red walls, gold-leaf fireplace surround and an antique chandelier. Other rooms that stand out: a first-floor, three-room art gallery; a second-floor media room with a wet bar; a third-floor ballroom; a meditation room with a 19th-century French wood altar and natural stone walls; a guest house; a housekeeper's quarters; and a five-car garage and an air-conditioned two-car garage.

Luisa Mauro of Marathon Real Estate has the listing.




3900 Pearce Road, Austin

This is the house that domes built. Room after room features one interesting dome after another. The grandest of the domes is in the 37-foot-tall rotunda surrounded by travertine and black marble floors and travertine columns. A German pastry chef did all the hand-painted three-dimensional scroll work on each of the domes.

A two-story study with hand-scraped walnut floors and alder bookcases provides a great retreat. Interesting stone features pop up in all of the bathrooms, including marble basket-weave walls and a geode sink. The dining room offers Gothic arches, a slab of rainforest gold marble and a wine room. A plush media room features movie-theater seats, with cup holders, facing a 133-inch screen.

Outside, a second-story spa flows into the first-floor pool that offers many waterfalls and a beach entry. A full outdoor kitchen provides a fabulous space for entertaining.

A separate 1,700-square-foot guest house allows a guest to be fully independent.

The 12,000-square-foot estate was on the market for $3.85 million and has been reduced to $3.65 million. Kathleen Bucher of Keller Williams Realty has the listing.



1009 N. Weston Lane, Austin

This Arthur Andersson-designed architectural wonder sits on two different planes. Up high is the main house, detatched garage, indoor sports court, office and media room, guest house and art studio. Down a path and across a 200-foot-long cable suspension bridge is the stunning two-story boathouse with a wet bar, refrigerator and outdoor shower.

The main house features interesting spaces, from the music room with built-in bookcases to the living room with gigantic windows. Each of the children's rooms has a loft for studying. A meditation room is tucked into a quiet space on the upper level.

Terraced gardens and a zigzagging pool complete the 3.6 acre property.

The house was listed for $6.7 million and has been reduced to $6.2 million. John Teinert and Chris Pellegrino of Austin Fine Properties have the listing.



7014 Greenshores Drive, Austin

This old-world estate features a 7,200-square-foot main house, a carriage house, a guest house, a natatorium, a gate house for a caretaker, a storage barn, a boat house and a pump house.

In the main house, the second-floor two-sided river-rock fireplace is the focal point of both the walnut-paneled study and the master bedroom. The first-floor club room is a large space with high ceilings, a stone fireplace and glass doors leading out to the patios.

The enclosed natatorium features a geothermal-heated pool with blue Italian glass tiles and a full kitchen including a grill.

The boat house's second story offers a screened-in space that acts as a lake living room and a bar.

The property remains at $12.9 million. Doug and Mary Land of Capital City Sotheby's International Realty have the listing.



3402 Mount Bonnell Road, Austin

This house is known for its see-through pool that hangs over the edge of Mount Bonnell.

The ultra-contemporary house designed by Arthur Andersson features a gray-and-white palette throughout and offers interesting architectural details from the cutouts in the staircase to the sleek design of the vents. The side of the house that faces Lake Austin is a wall of glass on both floors. A massaranduba deck wraps around the home to get guests closer to the amazing view.

The property also features an apartment above the garage.

The property is now listed for $2.95 million, down from $3.5 million. Barbara Boyd of Boyd & Boyd Properties has the listing.



4708 Island Cove, Austin

This 12,000-square-foot home sits a block away from Lake Austin, but has a boat dock at a parcel down the street.

Most of the living space is on the main level, which offers old-world details in a comfortable setting. A second-floor guest suite provides two bedrooms, a full bathroom and a family room.

The lower level features the ultimate bar with game tables done in an Western theme. The bar came from a 19th-century hotel in Big Spring. This level also provides an office, a gun room, a brick wine cellar and a plush media room.

The home was originally priced at $12.8 million and has now dropped to $2.7 million. Gregory Cooper of Goldwasser Real Estate has the listing.

*  Story Contributed by: Nicole Villalpando