Luxury home: Great Falls estates near clubs, parks, horses

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By Michele Lerner SPECIAL TO THE WASHINGTON TIMES

Great Falls is a favorite destination for visitors who enjoy driving along winding country roads to admire how the "other half" lives. (More like, how the "other 1 percent" lives.)

Woodlands, creeks and ponds define the landscape in this Fairfax County community, where zoning restrictions ensure that each home is an estate, with the smallest allowable lot size set at 1 acre. North of Georgetown Pike, zoning rules require most lots to have at least 2 to 5 acres.

Equestrian centers are part of the local landscape, along with country clubs and parks along the Potomac River. Neighbors meet at the Great Falls Village Center for running errands or at the beloved local landmark restaurant, L'Auberge Chez Francois.

Creekstone Communities, a custom builder in the Great Falls area, is building five estates in the community known as the Pond at Beach Mill. Four of the five homes at the Pond at Beach Mill will have a view of a pond, which is part of the 16-acre property. Set on lots of 1.75 to 5 acres, the homes will be priced from $2,500,000 to more than $6,000,000. Each has space for a swimming pool if desired, along with gardens, landscaped grounds and woods. This is the only gated community in Great Falls.

Buyers will be able to build custom homes or may use semi-custom home plans provided by Creekstone. Standard features include four sides of brick or partial stone with stone details, a three-car side-entry garage, a brick or stone entry stoop, professional landscaping and a front post lamp.

The homes have 9- and 10-foot ceilings; hardwood floors on the first floor; crown and chair-rail moldings; oak stairs; ceiling medallions; high-tech wiring; a security system; and zoned high-efficiency heating and cooling with a gas furnace and a gas water heater.

Buyers may choose from maple, oak or hickory kitchen cabinets to blend with granite counters and stainless steel appliances. Each bath has ceramic tile floors, and the master bath includes a soaking tub and separate shower.

A sample floor plan available at the Pond at Beach Mill features a central circular staircase visible from multiple rooms, including the grand two-story foyer and hall. Columns flank the entrances to the formal living room and formal dining room on either side of the foyer. A two-sided fireplace is shared by the living room and a side sunroom, while a glass door opens from the living room to the front porch. A study with built-in bookshelves is next to the living room.

At the back of the home, a two-story family room includes a fireplace, columns and French doors to an optional rear deck. The family room opens into the morning room, which has another set of French doors leading to the deck. A half bath is nearby, along with a second staircase.

Just beyond the morning room is the expansive kitchen, which has a center island and a separate island with a breakfast bar. Near the kitchen are a walk-in pantry, a butler's pantry and a laundry room. Adjacent to the laundry room is a door to a second front porch.

Tucked in the corner of this home is a practical family foyer with a second half bath and extensive closet space. A door leads from this space into the four-car garage.

Upstairs, the master suite has a double-door entrance into a rotunda, a tray ceiling in the bedroom, a separate sitting room with an optional fireplace and a dressing area with an optional juice bar. Extensive walk-in closet space and a luxurious bath with a soaking tub and an oversized shower complete this suite.

The upper level includes a second master suite with a sitting room, walk-in closet and private full bath. Two more bedrooms each have a walk-in closet and a private full bath.

Buyers may choose to finish the lower level with a media room, a bar, a study, a game room, a family room, storage space and more.

For more information on the Pond at Beach Mill, call 703/757-7500 or visit www.creekstone.com.