A romantic stone mansion in North Carolina is offering bibliophiles the chance to create their ultimate retreat thanks to a dramatic two-story library just waiting to stock the shelves.
The custom-built estate known as Stone Manor recently hit the market for $7.2 million after last changing hands in 2018.
Located in the gated Longview community in Waxhaw, about 30 minutes south of Charlotte, the 11,279-square-foot residence offers so much old-world grandeur that visitors might think it’s been there for centuries.
In reality, the seven-bedroom, 7.5-bathroom home was completed in 2005, although it has undergone a “thoughtful and extensive renovation” in recent years.
The house’s European-inspired architecture relies heavily on timeless craftsmanship. An impressive stone exterior, dramatic arched openings, high ceilings, intricate millwork and wide plank floors create the feel of a century-old estate rather than a modern luxury construction.
“Stone Manor has the appearance and craftsmanship of a timeless, European-inspired estate,” says broker Mirjam Petersof Peters & Associates, Inc.
“The architecture is defined by substantial masonry, grand proportions, high ceilings, dramatic arched openings and extensive custom millwork.”
One of the home’s most striking rooms is the library, complete with floor-to-ceiling bookcases and an upper gallery overlooking the room below. A wall of bay windows helps flood the space with light, adding even more romance to the beautiful room.
There is also plenty of room to add cozy seating areas, where residents can curl up with their favorite book and forget about the outside world.
The library is reminiscent of spaces normally only seen in movies, such as the incredible room from the Disney film ‘Beauty and the Beast’, or the mysterious study rooms of Hogwarts in ‘Harry Potter’.
It’s no surprise then that Peters describes it as one of the estate’s most memorable features, alongside ‘the impressive curved staircase under a vaulted ceiling’, multiple fireplaces and carefully framed views throughout the house.
Although the architecture creates a lot of drama, the house was designed with livability in mind.
“Despite the scale, the house does not feel cold or institutional,” says Peters. “Each room has its own identity, yet the spaces are naturally connected for everyday living and large-scale entertainment.”
In addition to the library, the home includes large formal and informal entertaining areas, a temperature-controlled wine room, beautifully appointed guest quarters, and five fireplaces.
Recent renovations have updated the kitchen, bathrooms, flooring, lighting and interior finishes with high-quality materials, while maintaining the original architectural character of the home, giving buyers the appeal of a mature estate without the burden of a major renovation.
Outside, the 1.75-acre double lot – an unusual offering within Longview – has been transformed into what Peters describes as “a private retreat.”
A saltwater pool and spa anchor the wooded backyard, along with a pool house, outdoor kitchen, covered entertaining areas and an outdoor fireplace. Beautiful golf course views complete the setting, while the mature landscaping helps maintain a remarkable sense of privacy.
The home also features a four-bay garage and a dedicated area for golf carts.
The property is located in Longview, one of the region’s premier gated golf communities. Although club membership is separate, residents have easy access to golf, tennis, dining and fitness facilities, as well as all the nearby shops and restaurants of Charlotte, Ballantyne and Waxhaw.
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Larissa Runkle is a seasoned real estate writer, lifestyle journalist and marketing strategist with more than a decade of experience and more than 2,000 published articles. Her work in housing, personal finance and lifestyle has appeared in major publications such as Bankrate, MarketWatch, Yahoo Finance and New York Post. In 2023, she launched a boutique copywriting studio to work with land developers and top real estate agents, creating strategic content that builds lasting brand authority. When she’s not writing, Larissa enjoys the outdoors from her home in Colorado’s San Juan Mountains, where she lives with her husband, son, and German Shepherd Yoko.
