A Friendswood home with lake view is designed for family and friends

Marcus and Yolanda Davis began setting goals for themselves and their life together ever since they were teenagers at La Marque High School 42 years ago.

Those goals included college, careers, marriage, children and homes.

The Davises, married for 33 years, are parents of three, and grandparents of two, and are basking in their now “forever” modern Mediterranean-style home in the West Ranch subdivision in Friendswood.

“Little did I know my husband’s drives some afternoons were going to lead us to Friendswood,” Yolanda said.

The 5,200-square-foot home features a high-pitched tile roof, arched windows and doorways, an exterior balcony overlooking a man-made lake and a five-car garage.

“It was here everything I ever dreamed of in a home came to fruition,” Yolanda said. “We’ve always wanted a custom stucco Mediterranean home with a modern twist, tile roof and on the water. And once we worked with the developers and gave them our ideas, 12 months later we had our dream house.”

The Davises love to entertain, so guests are greeted with a 20-foot foyer with rotunda ceiling and a Juliet balcony where the study sits off to the left in the entryway.

To the right is an elegant dining room with dark wood floors, which are throughout the home. The dining room features a built-in china cabinet with inside lighting. In the spacious living area is a custom-designed Italian leather couch overlooking a massive 20-foot stone fireplace that Marcus designed himself, he said.

“Most of the décor was done by Yolanda, but I take credit for the fireplace and the rug in the living room,” Marcus said. “As far as the house is concerned, we liked the idea of a gated community and wanted a home on the newly developed lake in which we can wake up to every day.”

The five-bedroom, five-bath home splashed with turquoise and gray colors in accessories throughout, has a clean, sleek feel to it. And in the master bedroom suite, bling was a must, Yolanda said.

“I love anything with bling in it,” Yolanda said. “I worked with a designer at Noel Furniture in Houston for our custom king-sized bed from the headboard all the way down to the footboard and bed skirt. My bedroom is my sanctuary. It and my closet are my favorite parts of our home.”

The master suite also includes a sunken bathtub with steps leading up to the tub, as well as a two-way entry to a marble stone shower with two shower heads and a bench along the wall of the shower.

Marcus’ favorite part of the house is the outdoor living area, which includes an expansive patio, a freeform swimming pool the couple designed, an outdoor kitchen, a restroom with a full shower, and a built-in fire pit.

“Being outdoors around the fire pit is my favorite thing to do at our new home,” Marcus said. “I’d also say the game room is one of my favorites, too.”

In the open kitchen, you’ll find a massive marble table that seats five along three sides, as well as a breakfast table for four, with modern appliances matching the décor of earthy tones.

“I know I said my bedroom is my favorite, but if I’m being honest, it’s a toss-up between that and my kitchen, as I love to cook,” Yolanda said. “We wanted not only our family, but our friends to feel welcome in our home, and so the kitchen had to fit the ideas of family when it was being built. It’s absolutely gorgeous.”

Those family dinners include their mothers, who visit each weekend, and will eventually be full-time occupants of the home once they decide to come and live with them, they said.

And although they aren’t done decorating — they’ve only lived there for 10 months — it’s beginning to feel like home, they said.

“Family is important to him, so it was important to him to ensure the house would accommodate our mothers who are both elderly,” Yolanda said. “We don’t even know how we ended up here. I’m not talking financially, but just stepping out of our norm. But I’m glad we did. We love it here.”