The Sugar Land neighborhood of Sweetwater is a place where prominent post oaks shade the pristine main boulevard, right off US 69. It’s quiet, with a sprawling golf course and country club and an HOA. And among the Venetian-style mansions, there’s a custom-built home that does not look like the others—which is absolutely why we love it.

“It kind of has this old look,” says Anne Marie Ponce de Leon of her enormous English Tudor. “But when you come in, it feels cozy and warm.”

Part of that is thanks to architect Patrick Berrios and builder Chris Sims, who captured Ponce de Leon’s vision. But the home also reflects her family’s desire to honor their Orthodox Christian faith and culturally diverse heritage—Anne is Egyptian; Guillermo is Cuban; both sets of their parents were immigrants—while accommodating their three young kids, plus three grown ones who visit. The result is a six-bedroom, nine-bathroom mix of incredible, livable luxury.

Chapel-worthy picture windows, wrought-iron chandeliers, warm wooden arches, and custom-built balconies belie the fact that this entire home is brand-new. Decorator Micah Tipler cleverly mixes opulence (hello, regal formal dining room overlooking the pool) with kid-friendly swag. The mudroom has built-in cubbies for bags and shoes, and a “planning room” off the kitchen houses Chester and Oreo, the family’s guinea pigs.

But you’d be hard-pressed to find a mess in this gala-ready home, where even the kids’ toy room transforms into a chic dessert-and-coffee area during parties, with ample storage space hidden in dark oak. The adjacent great room can fit a dance floor (they own one; it has its own special closet), and there’s a pub-style bar, hookah-filled game room, intimate card room, and “bunk-bed room” that can sleep at least six, because who wouldn’t need to crash after all that?

The family often can be found in their sprawling kitchen with its two large islands. You might also catch them doing yoga in the gym, watching Netflix in the theater, or soaking in one of six luxurious washrooms—our favorite was the burgundy Moroccan stunner off the mudroom.

“I spent two years combing through endless photos and project décor on Houzz,” Ponce de Leon admits. “It’s spectacular. You can look up ‘Moroccan bathroom’ and get 10,000 pictures for what people have done. It's like Pinterest but for everything home décor.” And if you want to cop her style? “I’m on there now, too.”

Home Details

• Size: 14,000 sq. ft.
• Architect/Builder: Patrick Berrios, Sims Luxury Builders
• Year built: 2017
• Current owners: Anne Marie and Guillermo Ponce de Leon