A beautiful Monolithic Dome home — This dream home has a diameter of 50 feet, a height of nearly 29 feet, two stories and 3500 square feet of living space. The dome sits among shady trees on five wooded acres in gently rolling hills.
Beautiful Monolithic Dome Home in the Texas Hill Country
Location, Location, Location
In 1999, Kim and Robert Reynolds designed and built a Monolithic Dome dream-home, a 5/8th sphere with a diameter of 50 feet, a height of nearly 29 feet, two stories and 3500 square feet of living space.
Shaded by more than 80 live oaks, the dome sits on five wooded acres among gently rolling hills, seven miles northwest of Bandera, Texas.
An asphalt driveway, some 375 feet long, winds from the road and through the trees to a tall, steel gate at the entrance to this unique property.
Eleven Serene, Breathtaking Rooms
A mahogany, leaded glass front door with matching side lights welcomes visitors into this dome-home’s spacious interior.
It encompasses a great room with formal living and dining areas, a master sitting room, three bedrooms, two and a half bathrooms, an upstairs den and a large utility room.
A 24-foot Texas limestone fireplace dominates the great room, with its floor of Italian imported ceramic tile that looks like wood parquet and adds to the room’s feeling of warmth, comfort and security. The great room’s living area features a mini-bar with decorative glass shelves.
The upstairs master bedroom has a dream-come-true master closet that’s 28 feet long, 8 feet wide and 17 feet tall at its highest point, with ample hanging and shelf space.
Master bedroom has an attached sitting room that could easily be closed-off and converted into a nursery or fourth bedroom since it has its own entrance and closet.
Special features of the master bath include a roomy Jacuzzi tub, double sinks, vanity, separate shower, custom tile and 36-inch-high, custom cabinets.
Plentiful, 36-inch-high, custom cabinets grace the kitchen as well. It also features a large wine rack, a ceramic stove top, double ovens and a built-in microwave with a large, round island.
Most of the home’s interior walls are painted a soft gold with high-gloss white trim. The upstairs den and sitting room have brick red accents. A downstairs bedroom is painted a cool, periwinkle blue with high-gloss white trim. The kitchen and half-bath feature custom wallpaper.
All metal accents, such as doorknobs, cabinet hardware, ceiling fans and faucets are polished brass.
Ceramic tile or carpeting covers the floors throughout the home.
The dome’s interior walls are commercial steel, fire-resistant and termite-proof. All windows are double-pained.
Other Features
An under-the-stairs closet and 200 square feet in a round basement provide extra storage space.
The dome-home has its own well and a top-of-the-line septic system.
Air-conditioning is a single zoned, 1.5-ton unit with dual speed and one heat strip. Interior temperature is kept at 75 degrees during the day and 68 degrees at night; monthly electric bills run between $80 and $120.
Six hundred feet of flexible PVC pipe run from the exterior of the dome, around the cellar and up to the air-conditioning intake; this acts as a heat exchange. As the air-handling unit brings air in, the earth cools or heats the air, making the air-conditioner/heater more energy efficient.
Energy efficiency is further enhanced by maroon awnings over all downstairs windows and doors.
Dome’s exterior has been sprayed with acrylic stucco and skirted with decorative limestone.
The separate garage, a 40′ × 32′ insulated, steel structure includes a 15′ × 32′ workshop, an 18’ garage door and a concrete floor. Another 10′ × 16′ building provides additional storage.
A six-foot-high cedar fence encloses a yard.
Note: Information in this article was originally presented in May 2008.
Entryway — A mahogany, leaded glass front door with matching side lights welcomes visitors.
Kitchen — Thirty-six inch high, custom cabinets grace the kitchen that also features a wine rack, ceramic stove top, double ovens, microwave and large, round island.
Dining area — Most of the home’s interior walls are painted a soft gold with high-gloss white trim.
Living area — The great room is divided into a formal living room and dining area.
Fireplace — A 24’ Texas limestone fireplace dominates the great room.
Den — This comfortable, easily maintained den features a colorful area rug over the ceramic tile floor.
Sitting room — Its attached to the master bedroom but can be closed-off and converted into another bedroom.
Luxurious parlor bath — It features a sparkling white bowl-shaped basin, polished brass faucets and a rosy pink wall covering with a floral trim.
Master bedroom — It’s spacious, comfortably furnished and has an attached sitting room.
Master closet — It’s 28 feet long, 8 feet wide and 17 feet tall at its highest point, with ample hanging and shelf space.
Master bath — Special features of the master bath include a roomy Jacuzzi tub, double sinks, vanity, separate shower, custom tile and custom cabinets.
First guest room — The home includes two, comfortable guest rooms with generous closets.
Guest bath — It includes a wall of mirrors and a marble counter top.
Second guest room — Its decor is both cheerful and relaxing.
Utility room — Cabinets and hanging shelves provide needed storage.
Curvy driveway — An asphalt driveway, 375 feet long, winds through trees to a tall, steel entrance gate.