The Woodlands Lifestyles and Homes: John and Claire Peppercorn’s home in The Woodlands.

When John and Claire Peppercorn decided to move back to the Houston area from Danville, Calif., a few years ago, they set their sights on The Woodlands. “We pretty much knew that we wanted to live there,” says John. “So we started looking for a house.”

The couple had lived in the Houston area twice before and were eager to find that perfect house after living 20 years in California. But the hunt for an existing home didn ’t go so well at first. “We really had certain things in mind,” explains Claire. “For instance, we really wanted the master bedroom on the main floor. Do you know how hard that is to find when you ’re looking for it? Not always so easy.”

“That was very important,” agrees John. “In fact, we wanted everything that we were going to use to be on the same level—the bedroom, the study, all the main spaces where we would hang out. And when guests come, we wanted to be able to put them upstairs where they ’d have privacy. We wanted the kids and grandkids to have their own space when they needed it. ”

So the Peppercorns started looking at lots. And there it was, the perfect lot owned by J. M. Wendell Custom Homes, backing up to the Player Golf Course. “We’re both golfers of sorts,” explains John, a retired Chevron executive. “This lot really attracted us. So me met with the Wendells and the chemistry was good. We could picture ourselves here. ”

Today the Peppercorns enjoy every inch of this 5,400-square-foot home with their main needs accommodated on the first floor. An eclectic blend of artwork, sentimental family pieces and interesting objects collected during their travels mix with muted colors and furnishings for a unique sense of style.

The outdoors is visually stunning as well with the house, in a warm stone, setting back from the street for expansive views of the neighborhood and golf course. “I’m kind of an outdoor guy,” says John. “We love the way the house sets back. We had that with our house in California and loved it. Also, we wanted to have stone, like the California house. Those are two features that we didn ’t mind having again.”

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top: Homeowners John and Claire Peppercorn left: Beams fashioned from barn planks add a rustic elegance to this grand room. The limestone fireplace was fabricated by Materials Marketing and designed by John. right: The library has a lodge feel with a stone fireplace and wood beams overhead. • below: A dramatic dining room with paprika red walls is a great place for entertaining. The living room chairs were white until John redid them. Claire had them reupholstered in this beautiful fabric. • Meals are always inviting at this breakfast table. The centerpiece is fashioned from parts of a wine barrel.