Posted: Sat, 9 Oct 2010 12:03 PM - 10,751 Readers

By: Nicole Villalpando

From the front, Jon and Joyce Champeny's house at 1023 Challenger Drive in Lakeway looks unassuming. A limestone exterior with a standing-seam metal roof gives it a Texas feel.

But the front of the house hides the grandeur of Lake Travis and the architectural wonder that is at the back of the house. Designed by architect Robert Jackson, the 1998-built house looks almost like a flying saucer jutting out from the hillside above Lake Travis. Two levels of circular decks feature tapered columns. The top-story deck provides the majestic view of a bend in the lake and a built-in gas grill for entertaining. The lower level offers a private retreat with a fireplace and a hot tub.

The interior of the house is built to take in the views with large windows angled toward the lake.

The house was the Champenys' chance to design the house of their dreams. After moving around during Jon Champeny's 33-year career with Exxon, they retired and settled in Lakeway for a few years before deciding to build the house. Now, they are downsizing and have moved to Querencia at Barton Creek, a resort-style retirement community, to have easier access to senior services.

The Champenys have put their Lakeway home on the market for $2.35 million with daughter Suzee Brooks of Lyon Real Estate.

From the glass-and-wrought-iron front door, guests arrive at an open living room with large walls of windows. A limestone wall and limestone fireplace break up the glass. Jackson reflected the curve of the deck and its pillars in the curved-and-pillared entrance to the living room. Pecan floors flow throughout this level, adding light and warmth to the modern architecture.

The dining area offers a granite and pecan buffet that runs the length of a wall. A window sits above it, giving the area natural light. The buffet provides multiple drawers for silver and china storage.

The kitchen picks up the pecan in the cabinets. A large, granite island offers barstool seating and a sink. The kitchen's Thermador double ovens are placed side by side and lowered to make it easy to pull a turkey out of the oven. The kitchen also offers a SubZero refrigerator and Thermador stove as well as a wine closet beside the wet bar.

The wet bar area has two openings. One faces the entryway by the living room. The other is a Dutch door that can be partly opened for serving at the kitchen. The bar features an ice maker, fridge and sink.

A large walk-in pantry provides multiple storage possibilities. The laundry room with a sink, a half bathroom and a three-car garage with a workshop are near the kitchen.

Across from the living room, an office also can be used as a TV room. Doors in this room open into the high-walled courtyard. This space is perfect for growing flowers or vegetables without worrying about deer getting in.

The master suite sits across from the office. A floor-to-ceiling window crowns this room. A loft above can be accessed from a hidden staircase inside the bedroom. The loft is a perfect spot for exercise equipment, for reading or for a hobbyist. It also offers a large window for looking at the lake. This house is outfitted with storm screens that can be remote-controlled for privacy but also will come down when they detect high winds.

The master bathroom offers a large tub and a walk-in shower with dual shower heads. The shower leads to an outdoor shower that is walled-off for privacy. The bathroom also has his-and-hers granite vanities, walk-in closets and a toilet and bidet area.

The lower level is perfect guest quarters. Two bedrooms with a shared full bathroom sit near the family room. The family room with stained concrete floors offers a bar area with a sink and room for a full refrigerator. Doors open onto the lower-level deck.

This home sits in a bend in Lake Travis and has room for two boat docks, including a 1,500-square-foot one that has a chemical toilet and storage. The path down to the docks has been paved for golf cart access.

The person who buys this house "definitely will be someone who appreciates architecture and quality construction," Brooks says. "It's someone who likes to entertain, maybe an empty nester who has guests or people with older children."

As much as her family has loved this house for the many Memorial Day and Labor Day parties and fundraising events for Lakeway philanthropies, Brooks says, "It will be good to give it a new life and a new invention. It will be interesting to see what happens next."

*  Story Contributed by: Nicole Villalpando