- A Texan mansion on the outskirts of Dallas features unique touches such as a servant bell board reminiscent of the one seen in Downton Abbey
- The five bedroom home, which sits on six-acres of land was built in 2017, and is set to enter to market for $6.75 million
- The home draws inspiration from historic country homes of England and the northeastern U.S. including New York’s Hudson River Valley
It’s a home even the Crawleys could be proud of.
A Texas mansion oozing with charm, complete with quirky features such as a servant bell board, similar to that found on Downtown Abbey, is about to hit the market for $6.75 million.
But the property is far from historic having only been built in 2017.
Set on six acres in the small city of Colleyville, about 15 miles from Dallas, it was constructed by Alfonso Chan, an engineer and patent lawyer, and his retired engineer wife, Sharon Chan.
The pair, originally from New York’s Hudson River Valley, wanted to build something that had the ambiance of historic homes in the Northeastern U.S. and the old world country homes of England.
The Chans bought the land in 2009 for about $1.5 million and took another eight years before the five-bedroom, 10,500-square-foot mansion, designed by Dallas architect Larry Boerder, who specializes in classical architecture, was finally built.
Designing the magnificent property took two years while the physical construction and final landscaping took a further five before the Chans and their two children could finally move in.
The landscaping in particular mimics that found at historic homes in the Hudson River Valley.
A meandering driveway leads up to the top of a hill before the home is finally unveiled amidst a canopy of trees.
After just six years, the Chans’ two children have grown up and moved making it the ideal time for them to sell and look for somewhere smaller.
The home was built using limestone drawing influenced from the Gilded Age Mills Mansion in Staatsburg, New York.
The Chans even installed a custom bell board in connecting it to various rooms throughout the home.
But rather than using it to call for service, Mom, Sharon, joked how the system allowed her to summon her kids from different parts of the house.
“Long ago, if you were upstairs you’d ring for tea or food or snacks, I thought it would be funny to flip it. So from my bell board, I can ring the kids downstairs,’ ” Sharon Chan told the Wall Street Journal.
Those visiting the home will find a rich mahogany paneled hallway with a huge staircase drawing inspiration from the Jeremiah Lee Mansion in Marblehead, Massachusetts and Schuyler Mansion in Albany, New York – both properties were built in the 1700s.
Arched doorways in the great room lead to a covered porch while marble fireplaces sit in the library and bar room complete with built-in bookshelves.
The bar features a polished-nickel foot rail and mirror-backed glass shelving making it the perfect place to entertain with room for up to 150 guests.
The kitchen and breakfast room draws inspiration from the aesthetics of Holkham Hall, a renowned English country house.