The Oaks Estate on Lake Thonotosassa Boasts 36,361 Square Feet.

“The Oaks,” a magnificent sprawling country estate situated on Lake Thonotosassa is on the market for $22 million. It is one of the largest homes in Hillsborough County. With meticulous care to every element of the architectural design, The Oaks is one of Florida's most significant homes to be built within the last century. The home has ¼ mile of lakefront property on Hillsborough County’s largest lake and is only twenty minutes from downtown Tampa. With six hundred trees including almost four hundred mature live oaks and twenty-one Italian Cypress trees, imported and transplanted to create an idyllic landscape, “The Oaks” is a natural fit for the estate name and incomparable to any home in Tampa Bay.

This French -Normandy country style gated manor was designed by the award-winning Cooper Johnson Smith Architects and built by Alvarez Homes. The construction process took 4 years and was completed in 2012. The collaboration between the owners, the architects and the builder is evident in the hand-picked, out-sourced materials from around the world and contributes to the refined details and sense of warmth that is rarely found in homes built today.

Surrounded by handcrafted rolling hills with manicured lawns, gardens and trees, the grounds encompass a long private brick driveway, main house, 2-story guest house, antique collector garage that can hold up to 20 cars, workshop, well-appointed pool house, gatehouse, horse barn with grazing pasture, indoor and outdoor salt water pools, expansive loggia’s, 2-story boat house, race track, and 1 mile jogging trail. 4 contiguous properties were acquired to form the 36 acre estate with 1,278 feet of lake frontage. Main residence with elevator access to all levels comprises 4-stories with 6 bedrooms, 8 full and 7 half baths, plus 7-car garage. The Oaks offers a world class men’s lounge, chef's kitchen with finest cabinetry/appliances, master suite with sitting room and his/her bathrooms/closets, grand salon, craft room, fitness room, steam and sauna rooms, massage area, bowling alley, an indoor heated saltwater pool, game room, 3 fireplaces, and magical night lighting.

The entirety of the compound features 8-bedrooms, 12-bathrooms, and 14-half baths for 36,361 SF of air-conditioned space and 42,782 SF under roof. In addition, there is a separate 11,000 SF air-conditioned state of the art workshop with 2 half baths and a gatehouse with 1 half bath.

“The Oaks is an architectural masterpiece of epic proportions, and achieves the rare ability for a home of this size to feel warm, intimate, and inviting,” says Mary Pond, listing agent for the Pond Gunning team at Smith & Associates Real Estate.

With a passion for details, the owners traveled the world to lovingly craft a home that has splendor and warmth. That warmth is felt in the design of the open layout kitchen featuring top-of-the-line appliances from Perlick with an elegant Imperial blue granite on the kitchen countertops and a backsplash that stands out as an aesthetic centerpiece. The most notable appliance in the kitchen is the 72” LaCornue range with double vaulted ovens and large French top. Oak’s kitchen also features Wolf island oven, Subzero Refrigerator and wine cooler, ice maker, 2 chill drawers, wood beams and oversized pantry.

Taylor & Taylor Partnerships designed the interiors of this country manor with timeless, meticulous detailing and input from the owners that establishes The Oaks as an iconic home in the tradition of some of the most admired homes in the world. Details like custom hand-painted silk wallpaper, herringbone pattern wood floors in the men's lounge and grand bedrooms with spacious dressing room and closets, make the home versatile for spacious living, intimate family nights or more formal entertaining.

Lit by almost one thousand lights, including an underwater light in the front fountain and the boat dock area, this self-containing property and home is magical at night. Phenomenal views of the countryside and lake vista, create the backdrop for a home that is relaxing and comfortable.

The home is owned by Don Wallace, founder of Lazy Days RV, and his wife Erika.

To see more visit The Oaks website.