Thanks to Charles at WRA Realty whose post about this property inspired me to write my own!
This 40-acre plot in Buffalo, TX, may seem mostly empty, but it’s not. Below the well-tended, park-like grounds lies sheer madness. Underground is a 3,000 sq. ft house featuring 3 bedrooms and 2 baths, all covered in nutty, brightly-colored murals. The trompe l’oeil wall paintings are meant to trick the viewer’s brain into believing they’re above ground, though the tunnel taking you down into the earth is telling a different story.
And you might expect that with all that madness on the walls, the decor would be on the minimal side so as not to compete. But no, the present owner didn’t feel the need to exercise any kind of restraint (or taste) in choosing furnishings. To me, his style seems more excessive than eclectic, sporting overstuffed brown leather sectionals (a particular pet peeve of mine), full-sized sarcophagi, ornate wooden furniture, rustic-style beds, and formal, carved marble columns.
Each room has a theme, because that’s definitely not just something that happens in casinos and motels. The themes include a beach room, an Egyptian room, a space room, a Mayan room, and an ocean room. I assume the marble bathroom is the Kardashian room. The house includes a meditation room (disappointingly not pictured in the listing. What do you suppose the theme is? Probably something restful.) and a panic room. Frankly, I think they’d all be panic rooms.
To see the rest of the photos and for more information about this crazy property, you can read Charles’s post on WRA Realty or you can go directly to the listing.
August 19, 2020 at 9:02 am
Wow. Um, $2.25 million to buy it and then…is there a $100K paint allowance? Or more? From a design perspective it seems really weird to try to defeat the very essence of what was built–it’s an underground house, why not work with that instead of against it? There could be so much cool grotto type action but….they picked “fake outside” which to me seems more depressing than cheerful. UGH.
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August 20, 2020 at 12:18 am
Agreed. I quite like your grotto idea, though! How cool would that be?
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August 19, 2020 at 9:51 am
What an absolutely bonkers property! It reminds me of all those Cold War era bunkers I have visited combined with zany art teachers from my High School days. There is just no way I could ever live in it but I think it might be fun to spend a weekend there.
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August 20, 2020 at 12:19 am
I could see that. It would make a fun Air BNB or party spot, I guess.
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August 19, 2020 at 12:50 pm
There are good reasons for living underground. For start the temp does not vary more than a couple of degrees. No heat or A/C needed. Air quality is not a problem. No worry about hurricanes, tornado and probably no earth quakes. Air exchange is not that hard to put in. It does have an effort on the body, but this does keep the berometic pressure steady. Clothes can be optional. Don’t need to worry about the neighbors etc. Hal
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August 20, 2020 at 12:20 am
I hear you, but I am a simple woman. I require sun and water to function properly. I am solar powered, and not meant to be kept in a cool dry place.
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August 19, 2020 at 6:54 pm
Lightening took out my internet. I don’t do much from my phone .
This is a crazy place for a lot of money. No to the art work but yes to the underground.
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August 20, 2020 at 12:21 am
Sorry about your internet! Lightning scared away my contractors, so I feel you. I’m with Laura. I think it would be a cool place to spend a weekend. No longer, though.
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August 20, 2020 at 9:41 am
I couldn’t live with it, but I do like its lack of visible impact on the land itself. Someone with more money than sense in terms of internal decor and zero sense of aesthetic.
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August 21, 2020 at 10:25 am
Agreed on all points!
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