Castle-like Oakland County mansion, with ‘resort-style’ features, on market for $6.45M

No detail was spared in the design and construction of a stunning Normandy French Tudor-inspired estate with over 14,000 square feet of living space that is for sale in the guarded and 24-hour gated community of Orchard Ridge in Oakland Township.

The custom mansion — with old-world flair, steep-peaked roofs, a turret and an asking price of $6.45 million — is nestled on a 4.25-acre lot adorned with extensive landscaping and tranquil views. The home overlooks a private pond with a fountain and a meticulously maintained yard, flanked by large trees for privacy.

Outdoor amenities include a 60-foot-by-25-foot built-in swimming pool, playscape, a patio, and a lower sunken patio with a gas fire pit surrounded by large slabs arranged to create additional seating areas. Additional outdoor spaces feature terraces that wrap around the main floor, a covered sitting porch, an open porch, and a cooking porch and patios overlooking the private grounds.

“Every detail in the house is just beautiful,” said Thomas Zibkowski of Real Estate One, the property's listing agent.

Built in 2007, the house boasts six bedrooms, six full bathrooms, and three half baths. It has been recently placed back on the market after previously being for sale at a higher price.

The Free Press featured the mansion in 2015 when, again, it was the highest priced house in the neighborhood at $7.5 million.

Even at the new reduced price, this mansion remains the most expensive property for sale in the neighborhood. There also are new homes being built in the area. Despite the ongoing construction, this home is likely to still sit at the high end of the price range in the neighborhood, likely due to its many amenities.

Hidden closet spaces, a panic room

Some of the exceptional details throughout the house include stonework, millwork, marble, detailed woodwork, a sound system, hidden closet spaces, a panic room, intricate trim work, custom flooring, extensive crown molding, pillowed-edge pecan floors, chandeliers, recessed lighting, and ornate base trim.

“You can't find a home like this built to this quality, with all the details, that's not going to take you five years to build and cost three times the amount, especially in this neighborhood,” added Troy Zibkowski, also with Real Estate One.

The elevation of the property allows for stone walls, outdoor stairs, and exquisite landscaping.

Upon entering 5537 Orchard Ridge, guests are greeted by a grand two-story arched foyer with a barrel-vaulted ceiling featuring ornate decorated ribs and a hand-stenciled painted ceiling. The foyer includes two semiconcealed coat closets, a stone floor with metal inlays, panelized walls, and a floating spiral wrought iron staircase.

Beyond the foyer is a mahogany dual-level library that features a decorative spiral wrought iron staircase, an upper catwalk and shelves, a coffered ceiling, a carved stone gas fireplace and a two-story bay window that opens to the large, parklike backyard.

The first floor boasts a gourmet kitchen with dual islands, a walk-in pantry, hammered copper sinks, and commercial-grade appliances. The kitchen opens to a family room divided by hand-carved pillars featuring a two-story ceiling with painted trellis beams, a carved stone natural fireplace, two-story windows, and two French doors leading to a covered terrace with an outdoor fireplace overlooking the pool.

The first floor also includes a breakfast nook with two French doors that lead to a covered and open terrace, along with two-story windows offering views of the pond and fountain. There’s also a circular chilled wine cellar with stained glass windows and limestone surrounds, a dining room with a clear caned window with views into the wine cellar, a laundry room, and a butler’s pantry.

Owner's suite is really a private retreat

The primary first-floor owner’s suite, located in its own wing, serves as a private retreat with a luxury bath featuring heated floors, two separate toilet rooms, a large shower with glass surround and two glass entry doors, his and hers separate dressing quarters, a fifth fireplace, sitting area, a personal office, and large windows that overlook the private grounds.

Built for entertaining

The finished walkout lower level, with high ceilings and several doors that lead outdoors, is built for entertainment. The lower level includes heated floors, a fireplace, a bay window with a window seat, a stained lacquered beadboard nautical-style ceiling, a custom bar, a wine-tasting area with stone walls and a wood ceiling, a billiards area, golf simulator with full-size carpeted walls and a baffled ceiling, pool/game area, gym, an indoor hot tub that accommodates 12 people, a sauna, a full bath with a changing room, a locker room with heated stone floors, and a greenhouse atrium/conservatory with woodwork around windows, stone walls and a water fountain.

“It’s resort-style living,” said Troy Zibkowski.

The second level houses the rest of the bedrooms/custom suites, one with an added turret space, including an apartment for in-laws or an au pair that has a living room, mini kitchen, bedroom and bathroom. There’s also a second-floor laundry room, a cedar closet, and hidden closets. An elevator services all three floors, along with two staircases.

The property also includes an attached four-car heated garage and a heated two-car garage connected by a drive-through porte-cochère.

"It's an investment," the owner told the Free Press back in 2015. "But it's also a great place to live."

Former Free Press special writer Judy Rose contributed to this article.

Brendel Hightower writes about real estate for the Detroit Free Press; she has 25 years of real estate experience. Contact her at bhightower@freepress.com . Support local journalism: Subscribe to the Detroit Free Press .

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Castle-like Oakland County mansion, with ‘resort-style’ features, on market for $6.45M