La vita è bella. It’s true: life is always beautiful when home is this expansive gated Italianate villa on Alkire Lake. In an auspicious neighborhood of stately manors, this one stands apart for its 2+ acres of Old World elegance and all-modern luxury. Thoughtful details include 12’ to 14’ ceilings, handcrafted hardwoods and a 100’ lakeside terrace. The primary wing shares these water views as well as a fitness suite and private laundry. Everything is elevated, from the actual elevator to the high-end appliances, designer lighting and inside/outside fireplaces made from Icelandic volcanic stone. But this list doesn’t begin to describe what you can’t put into words: waking up to the sunlight filtering through the oak trees, or sinking a line into the lake at dusk from your own dock. A world away yet an easy 20mi to Downtown Houston, this princely gated estate with panoramic views benefits from the area’s attractive tax rates and amenities, including the nearby country club.