What We Need Right About Now: Great House Porn
And I found it for you: 4512 Isabella Lane, just a short hike west off Lennox Lane which is, as you know, one street west of Strait Lane where you-know-who lives….and you-know-who will probably soon live. This home is a refreshing change from the boring McMansion hum drums: there are, don’t faint, no turrets, no rock, no Country-French pickled cabs. The huge windows view the 1.07 acre lot without dust-catching mutton bars. (Usually I’m a traditional girl, but getting daring, way more contemporary in my old age.) The builder, South-African-born Simmie Cooper, calls it “transitional”; this house just rocks and is sexy to boot. (Can I please have a few hours alone with my husband in that master tub? Dim the lights…) Porcelain floors and shoe molding/wall trim, even both stairways are porcelain. There’s the usual humidor/wine room all visible, show-offable, a knock out theatre and ballet/exercise room upstairs, upper and lower laundry rooms, venetian plaster walls, lacquered mahogany, and the coolest kitchen I’ve seen east of the Rockies: lacquered striped mahogany, stainless steel, double everything — microwaves, ovens, fridge, dishwashers. Miele coffeebar — doesn’t everyone have one? We will forget the fact the kitchen is German-designed now that the nation who produced Hitler says we are no longer number one economically. Outside, glass-mosaic pool, huge travertine entertainment area with fireplace and grill, your 12,220 square foot urban utopia for $5,988,000. Agents: Francesca Allegra, Alex Perry, Kari Schlegel for Allie Beth Allman & Associates.
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I’ve heard from several well-placed sources that this home is grossly overpriced, even now with its price reduction. Also heard comments about unusual choices, etc. If you zoomed out on that pic, you’d also notice the neighbors homes look like 1970’s ranch houses. Great home if you want to stick out like a sore thumb!
I was inside the house at a really fun event on Thursday evening. Clearly A.P. has not stepped inside the house. Each and every corner has exceptional finish-outs. And A.P. been on Strait Lane or Isabella lateley? Didn’t think so. How about you go take an actual look at the house and then let us know again what you think.
I actually have been inside the home. Not saying the finish-outs are cheap, some of them just lack taste. When agents start saying “would be great for a professional athlete” that means it’s so over the top that it’s going to take a while to sell and they’re hoping someone with more money than taste comes along quickly. To each their own – great home if you want to flaunt your cash.
While I appreciate that it doesn’t look like your typical cheaply-done McMansion, I don’t think I agree with Candy that this is a contemporary style…but then again I haven’t been close to it, much less in it.
I haven’t seen this home first hand but the finishes in the photos do lend themselves to contemporary. (Is that Zebra wood in the kitchen?) Isabella is an interesting street and I’m pretty sure Sharif-Munir recently built and sold a similar sized spec home on Isabella for around the same price. Curb appeal is striking and there seems to be lots of flat wall space that an art lover could fill up nicely.
Ok, so I just now actually read the entire post. Laquered striped mahogany, huh? That’s a new one on me.
Took a peek inside at an agent preview. I think this home gives us agents something fresh and different to show to our clients other than the traditional high end homes. And, if I can’t be the listing agent, what better team could Cooper ask for than Allegra, Perry, and Schlegel? Talk about bringing something fresh to the market!
DDJ — LOL. You can call the SMU kids “fresh”, and I’ll just called them inexperienced. This home was previously listed with a significantly more talented agent and didn’t sell because the seller’s expectation on price was unreasonable. Not to mention that much of this house is pretty tacky. And yes, I have been inside.
I’m usually not big into the whole blogging thing but I couldn’t help myself when I say such an ignorant comment from “JK.” I personally work with Perry, Schlegel, and Allegra. Not sure about the rest of you, but I don’t generally refer to three Cox School of Business degrees with almost three years of industry experience who were ranked last year as number 8 in sales in the company consiting of about 200 agents as “inexperienced!” So, DDJ, I agree with you…yes, they do bring something “fresh” to the market and bring a whole new level of class to it as well that JK clearly does not have.
Regular Joe here, I’m no realty expert, I just like architecture and interior design. I was in 4512 Isabella and got the chance to show myself around. The house is for entertainment, but at the same time pulls the outside in to make a very peaceful and comfortable environment. If your just looking at the finishes themselves, they can come across odd. but when you look at the whole picture, the house comes together very nicely. If I had the cash, I would have purchased it after stepping in the front door! You guys forget that Some people have different taste, I just happen to think that this house will bend either way depending on how you decorate. And is, or can be a total gem.