See George W. and Laura Bush's Deep-in-the-Heart-of-Texas Ranch- Raechal Leone Shewfelt ( Yahoo Celebrity

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(David Woo/Courtesy of the George W. Bush Presidential Center)

It's been more than five years since George W. Bush traded life in at the White House for full-time Texas living. The former President Bush hasn't downgraded his digs, though. He spends most of his time in an upscale home in Dallas and the rest enjoying the great outdoors with his family at his 1,600-acre ranch in Crawford, Texas. (It's the same one where he often retreated during his two terms as commander in chief.)
The beautiful one-story house, which sits among live oaks and cedar elms, has three bedrooms and an adjoining guest house with two suites. Completed in 2001, the structure also features a pool, sweeping views, eco-friendly details, and — probably the former first couple's favorite thing — a focus on nature and relaxation now that the news cameras have gone.
Bush 43 and former First Lady Laura Bush gave Architectural Digest a rare look at the sprawling Prairie Chapel Ranch for its August issue. Take a peek!

[Related: Read the Full Story on ArchDigest.com]

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(Peter Vitale)

The 68-year-old former president once had little time to flex his creative muscles, but these days he does it regularly. He picks up a paint brush and does just that in a spacious breezeway with either glass or screens, depending on the temperature. "We wanted to see and enjoy the beauty as much as possible," he noted.

[Related: Portraits by George W. Bush]

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(Peter Vitale)

[Related: See More Photos on ArchDigest.com]

It's not quite the Oval Office, but the study in the ranch home is gorgeous nonetheless. The walls are covered with both artwork and historical documents.

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(Peter Vitale)

The polished yet still cozy living room shows some of the many windows — that are also doors — throughout the airy residence. "It's slightly motel-ish, but we love that," Mrs. Bush said with a laugh. All joking aside, the architect who designed the ranch, David Heymann, told Architectural Digest that she "has a very, very good eye" and was instrumental in the design process.

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(Peter Vitale)

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The Bushes often take advantage of their uncovered pool and the rest of the grounds with their 32-year-old twin daughters, Today correspondent Jenna Bush Hager and Barbara, the CEO and founder of the non-profit Global Health Corps.