6210 Willow Lane, Dallas Texas

European-style manse built by Steven Hild near Preston Road and Forest Lane in North Dallas. Reminiscent of a French country estate with its 10-foot ceilings, its imported stone and hardwood floors, and its real Venetian Plaster walls, the sprawling, two-story home–which was planned and designed by award-winning architect Stephen B. Chambers–is distinguished on all sides by charming views of its natural setting. Think thick green foliage; soothing water features; tall mature trees (oak, Japanese maple); and a vast lake where ducks and geese cavort. Upon entering this bucolic, 5,800-square-foot Valhalla through custom wrought-iron gates–and just past the three-car garage–one steps into a luxurious space that might have been transported from Provence. Indeed, many of its features–from the fireplaces and flooring tosome of the doors–have been reclaimed from antique European dwellings. The limestone-floor entry leads to a stately dining room–Silver Leaf with glaze trim rings the room’s tall ceiling–and then on to an expansive sunken living area. There, one quickly notices the oak herringbone pattern flooring with mahogany inlays, the wood-burning limestone fireplace–one of four in the home all with hand-picked cast stone mantles imported from France!–and the French doors boasting spectacular views of the backyard trees and lake.