The Woodlands Lifestyles and Homes magazine Sep 2009: Eric and Ann Berger’s Elegant, Plantation-style Home

It’s funny how the best things come along when you’re not looking for them. Take, for example, Eric and Ann Berger’s elegant, Southern plantation-style home. The couple was happily settled in a home in The Woodlands when fate presented itself in the form of a picture in the newspaper ’s real estate section.

“I was just casually looking through the paper and saw this amazing house. It looked like something out of Virginia, ” recalls Ann. Not looking to move (but immensely curious) they attended the open house that day.

The picturesque property with columns in the design of George Washington’s world-renowned Mount Vernon immediately intrigued them. And its location seemed the best of both worlds. Serenely positioned on five acres among equestrian trails and nature paths in the Ranches of Pinehurst, the pier and beam structure seemed far-removed from the Woodlands master-planned community. But in reality, it sits a mere three miles from the community and its myriad conveniences and amenities.

“We immediately fell in love with it!” Ann says. “When we went home, we couldn’t get it out of our minds. I got to where I had the house totally decorated in my head. Even the kids, they talked and talked about it. ”

But it wasn’t a fait accompli just yet. “We thought it through, we had to justify a move,” says Eric. “The lifestyle this place afforded us with its grounds, it seemed like it would be hard to beat. It has porches you can practically live on, substantial moldings that really give that southern plantation style feel, continued>>

Southern style has come to roost just minutes from The Woodlands. The house with lush grounds and grand porches epitomizes genteel southern living with unique detailing, including columns patterned after those at Mount Vernon. • The Berger family in front of their southern-plantation style home: Eric and Ann Berger (back row) with children (left to right) Colin, Aidan and Regan. • Aidan and Colin play ping-pong on the back porch while dad looks on from a comfy rocking chair. Furniture from Frontgate.