Kyle Chandler, the Emmy Award-winning actor known for his roles in shows like Friday Night Lights and movies like The Wolf of Wall Street, has made quite a name for himself in Hollywood over the past few decades. However, despite his immense success and fame, the Texas native has remained loyal to his roots and opted to settle down on a sprawling ranch just outside of Austin in Dripping Springs. This rustic ranch property not only offers Chandler respite from the glitz and glam of Los Angeles, but also allows him to stay connected to the Texan lifestyle he holds so dear.
Recently, Urban Splatter magazine managed to score an exclusive in-depth tour of this stunning ranch property that Chandler calls home. Through detailed conversations and photographs, they provided an unprecedented glimpse into the Emmy winner’s lavish, yet low-key personal sanctuary. From the blend of modern and rustic design elements to the luxurious amenities and focus on eco-conscious living, it’s clear this ranch is the perfect representation of Kyle Chandler understated, yet refined style.
Kyle Chandler: A Brief Background
Before delving into the specifics of his magnificent Texas estate, it helps to understand a little bit about Kyle Chandler himself. Born in Buffalo, New York in 1965, Chandler’s family moved to Georgia when he was still very young. However, the actor credits much of his upbringing and affinity for the outdoors to his summers spent visiting his grandparents’ horse ranch in Texas.
After discovering a passion for acting in high school, Chandler went on to study drama at the University of Georgia. Through the late 1980s and 90s, he steadily built up his acting resume with small roles on shows like Homefront and Early Edition. However, his big break came in 2002 when he landed the role of explosive football coach Eric Taylor on NBC’s critically acclaimed show Friday Night Lights.
His nuanced, Emmy-winning portrayal of Taylor catapulted Chandler to stardom and had casting directors and producers clamoring to work with him. Soon he was landing prominent roles in high-profile movies like King Kong, The Day the Earth Stood Still, and Argo. However, it was his sly, scene-stealing performance in Martin Scorsese’s 2013 film The Wolf of Wall Street that truly marked Chandler’s arrival as a Hollywood A-lister.
Despite this immense success, Chandler has never forgotten his Texan roots. He had met his future wife, Kathryn Chandler (nee Macquarrie), on the set of Homefront in 1990 and the couple eventually wed in 1995. When it came time to settle down and start a family, heading back to Texas was an easy choice.
“There’s something about Texas that gets in your bones and my heart never really left this place,” Chandler told Urban Splatter. The couple found the perfect property on which to set up roots just outside Austin – a sprawling 28-acre ranch that allowed Chandler to stay connected to the Texan lifestyle while still commuting to LA for work. And thus, his magnificent Texas estate was born.
The Texas Ranch: A Closer Look
The Chandler Ranch sits on 28 idyllic acres in the outer Austin suburb of Dripping Springs. With the area’s wooded ravines, roaming deer and proximity to Hamilton Pool Preserve, the setting allows the actor to enjoy the natural splendor of the Texas Hill Country just outside his front door.
Though the exterior features classic ranch elements like a long gravel driveway and sprawling front porch, the home itself is modern luxury at its finest. Chandler worked closely with Austin-based BUILD Architecture Co. to design a contemporary ranch house that artfully blends the traditional and the cutting-edge.
The result is a stunning 8,800 square foot property with sleek lines and a seamless indoor-outdoor flow. “We wanted the home to feel connected to the landscape while also taking advantage of the site’s beautiful views,” notes BUILD lead architect Matt Garcia. This was achieved through careful attention to things like overhangs, tagged windows, and transitional spaces leading from interior areas to exterior living spaces.
Sustainability was also a priority, with eco-conscious elements like rainwater collection, geothermal HVAC systems, and passive solar techniques incorporated throughout the design. “It was important to us that the home be as kind to the land as possible,” Chandler explains.
The result is a property that manages to feel simultaneously grand yet down-to-earth. As Garcia notes, “The Chander Ranch exemplifies the new breed of Texas modern design which effortlessly blends sophistication with rural simplicity.”
Exclusive Tour of the House
The exclusive tour provided by Urban Splatter takes us through each part of this sprawling hill country oasis. From the opulent great room to Kyle’s own personal office, we get an inside look at what makes this ranch so special.
The Grand Entryway
The home’s entryway provides a surprisingly modest first impression that evokes the simple charm of traditional Texas ranches. A covered front porch leads through a screened wooden front door into a cozy sitting area tucked beneath a staircase. The neutral tones and textures of the space exude warm, rustic simplicity.
However, the area also provides a sneak peek of the home’s grander features through views of the inner courtyard, great room, and wine cellar beyond. It’s an invitation to explore the home’s splendor at a relaxed pace.
The Great Room
The entryway opens up into the magnificent great room – the crown jewel of the ranch house. Soaring ceilings and walls of windows flood the space with natural light, while its positioning allows panoramic views of the surrounding Texas landscape from every angle.
The living space features clean lines, walls of steel grey limestone, and concrete floors warmed by organic wood accents and furniture. A floor-to-ceiling stacked stone fireplace serves as a focal point, lending a cozy lodge-like feel to the room.
Just off the living space sits an opulent wet bar featuring a marble and quartzite waterfall countertop – perfect for entertaining. The overall effect is that of rustic grandeur: sumptuous yet down-to-earth, classic yet modern.
The Kitchen
Through wide pocket doors lies the home’s expansive chef’s kitchen where Chandler’s wife Kathryn reigns supreme. “I love to cook and entertain so having a large, well-designed kitchen was an absolute must,” she explains.
She worked closely with designers to fit the space with top-of-the-line appliances set against a striking backdrop of floor-to-ceiling marble-look tile. Quartzite counters and an enormous kitchen island provide ample space to create lavish meals for the couple’s family and friends.
The modern, glamorous kitchen opens into a cozy dinette – the heart of the home. “This is where you’ll find us 90% of the time,” Chandler says. “It’s where we gather as a family.” The informal setting helps balance the sleek, high-end aesthetics with a warmth and livability.
The Dining Room
For more formal entertaining, a separate dining room sits just off the kitchen. A stunning antler chandelier hangs above an oversized dining table, while a wall of glass doors fully opens the space to the outdoors. Kathryn Chandler explains that she loves, “throwing open those doors so the indoor/outdoor boundary completely melts away.”
The blend of reclaimed wood, stone floors, and custom leather and velvet chairs give the dining room a distinctly Texas ranch feel. As Chandler points it, “It’s the perfect place for an intimate dinner or a barbeque feast.”
The Home Theater
What estate would be complete without a lavish home theater? The Chandlers’ media room features tiered seating with 18 plush recliners and 4K digital projection for the ultimate viewing experience.
The rustic space mixes materials like barn wood, corrugated metal, and ranch floors with sophisticated tech features like Dolby Atmos surround sound. As self-confessed “movie buffs”, Kyle and Kathryn Chandler have found their private cinema to be one of the most enjoyed aspects of their new home. It serves as the ultimate spot to screen films Kyle has worked on or unwind with classics they both love.
The Master Suite
Winding plaster walls give way to the master suite: an indulgent oasis with its own luxury amenities. The bedroom features a custom four-poster bed made from wood reclaimed from an old Texas ranch.
The spa-like bathroom contains an enormous walk-in shower with dual rain shower heads, a freestanding oval soaking tub, and vanities made from a single slab of marble.
The master also opens through glass doors to a private screened-in porch featuring an outdoor fireplace – the perfect spot to enjoy a quiet morning cup of coffee. As Chandler notes, “I love starting my day out here listening to the birds with a cup of coffee in hand. It’s those little moments that make this place so special.”
Kathryn’s Glam Room
One especially enviable feature is Kathryn Chandler’s extensive glam room/closet. The enormous space boasts endless shelves, shoe racks, and drawer space catered to organizing her extensive wardrobe.
The central island features a marble top and crystal chandelier, ideal for using as Kathryn’s dressing space. “I wanted a dedicated glam space where I could pamper myself and get ready in luxury,” Kathryn explains. The spectacular closet exceeds even her wildest dreams in that regard.
Beyond clothing storage, the space also contains a full vanity area and lounge zone with velvet chairs – the perfect spot for Kathryn to sip champagne with girlfriends as they get dressed up for a night out on the town.
Clearly no expense was spared to create the ultimate glamour zone. “I figure she deserves it for putting up with me all these years,” Kyle jokes.
Kyle’s Office
While his wife enjoys her glamorous dressing room, Kyle also has his own personal space within the ranch in the form of a private office. The sophisticated yet inviting room features memorabilia from Chandler’s acclaimed acting career accenting its wood-paneled walls.
There are his two Emmy awards, as well as signed posters, meaningful gifts from directors and costars, and keepsakes from unforgettable film and TV sets. “It’s really special being able to surround myself with memories from the incredible projects I’ve been lucky enough to work on,” he explains.
When not reminiscing over mementos, Chandler uses the office’s large farmhouse style desk to pore over scripts and handle business matters. The space provides a cozy, inspiring refuge in which to handle career obligations or simply recharge his creative side.
Outdoor Oasis
Of course, the real crown jewel of any Texas ranch is the outdoor living space, and the Chandler home delivers in this regard. The property truly blurs the line between indoor and outdoor with its sprawling swimming pool, outdoor dining area with pizza oven, sunken fire pit lounge, and spacious covered lounge area.
Outdoor heaters, a full outdoor kitchen and strategically placed fireplaces allow for comfortable use of the amenities year round. Kathryn Chandler explains, “We take full advantage of the beautiful Texas weather by spending most of our time outside.”
For Kyle, the outdoor spaces provide room to enjoy favorite pastimes like riding ATVs, playing basketball on the sport court or simply fireside stargazing. “To me, this is the ultimate luxury,” he says.
Personal Touches and Lifestyle
Beyond just its lavish features and extensive grounds, the Chandler Ranch’s uniqueness stems from the very personal touches that reflect Kyle and Kathryn’s own passions and pastimes.
As an avid sportsman, Kyle made sure to incorporate areas where he could enjoy activities like shooting hoops or playing catch with his kids. Spaces sized for family movie nights and meals around the cooking island reflect the Chandler’s devotion to quality time spent together.
And nods to Kyle’s career appear through memorabilia displays and an extensive film library in the home theater. As Kathryn notes, “We wanted a home tailor-made for the way we like to live. All the special features perfectly capture our family’s lifestyle.”
This ability to patiently craft each element in line with their own desires sets the home apart from other extravagant celebrity estates. The Chandlers were able to dictate every detail, like Kathryn’s dream glam closet or the opulent fireplace-adorned outdoor lounge aimed at highlighting Texas’ natural beauty.
Sustainability and seamless indoor/outdoor flow were also prioritized in order to create a tranquil retreat that channels the rustic Texan lifestyle Kyle grew up enjoying. As he describes it, “This ranch represents my own little slice of Texas heaven.”
Notable Features and Memorabilia
Some particular standout elements of the home that reflect Kyle Chandler personality and background include:
- Extensive film library: The home theater contains copies of all Chandler’s works, director’s cuts of his films, and favorite movies for family movie nights. This reflects his career as an acclaimed actor.
- Signed memorabilia: Unique posters and photos signed by collaborators like Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio hang in Kyle’s office, nodding to his impressive Hollywood relationships.
- Private basketball court: Chandler is an avid athlete so having an area to shoot hoops was a must. It provides a way to bond with his kids over their shared love of sports.
- Reclaimed ranch wood: Wood reclaimed from old Texan ranches was used extensively throughout the home. This maintains a connection to Kyle’s family history on Texas horse ranches.
- Custom suede pub: The basement pub features walls made from Chandler’s old suede jacket from his rodeo days along with custom saddle bar seats. This infuses Kyle’s cowboy background into the design.
- Rustic stone fireplaces: Multiple indoor and outdoor fireplaces crafted from Texas moss rock stone reflect the regional character and Chandler’s keen attention to detail.
- Water collection system: Rainwater collection used for irrigation helps make the home more sustainable. This feeds Chandler’s environmental consciousness.
These personal touches turn the home into a reflection of Kyle Chandler himself, right down to the smallest memorabilia and design choices infused with memories and meaning.
Conclusion
Kyle Chandler magnificent Texas ranch represents the ideal blend of contemporary luxury and traditional Texan lifestyle for the acclaimed actor. The 28-acre Hill Country property allows Chandler to enjoy both a tranquil pastoral setting and all the amenities expected of a Hollywood superstar’s home.
Through the exclusive photos and tour provided by Urban Splatter, we are given an inside look at Chandler private world. What is revealed is a home expertly tailored to his family’s needs and interests where Chandler can enjoy quality time surrounded by objects from his accomplished career and rich heritage.
This peek behind the gates provides powerful insight into Chandler core values. His continued devotion to all things Texan despite his fame shows a dedication to his roots. And his pursuit of a balanced, sustainable ranch lifestyle reflects an actor who values genuineness and community over flashy excess.
In the midst of a bustling career, family obligations, and time split between Texas and California, Chandler has managed to craft a personal sanctuary that elegantly blends both rustic and luxurious. This place he fondly calls his “slice of Texas heaven” is, in many ways, the perfect metaphor for the Emmy winner himself – a seamless marriage of Hollywood glamour and down-home heart.
