Articles about House Porn
Back By Popular Demand: House Porn on Shadywood Lane
This house is so gorgeous I had to Twitter pics while touring. The owners are from the Bay area and clean California influence is everywhere, from the uncluttered interiors to the outdoor living-friendly patio with Adirondack rocks around the salt water pool — a model pool for Harold Leidner’s ads. The approximately 7912 square foot home is on one of Bluffview’s most desired streets, and while built in 1952, the home is effectively new from the ground up, with two major remodels in 2000 and 2007. I can think of no better home for a party: walking paths take you from the pool to the rock spa and back to a hidden fire pit. Two bedrooms down including the master, which has a gorgeous bathroom, walk-in shower, and spacious master his and her closet. Detail to steal: marble surfaced island in master closet perfect for packing with full storage beneath. Three bedrooms with baths up plus a game room and snack bar. The outside covered kitchen and fireplace/patio is glorious, but I think my favorite part of this home is the hardwood floors — hand scraped in the kitchen and family room, smooth walnut in the formal areas, the various surfaces imparting a lived-in, old home feel to a home that is very much a spring chicken. Price Tag: $3,550,000 — not bad, actually, for Bluffview.
House Porn, Versailles-Style: Get Ready For The Next Most Talked About Home In Dallas
This is one you’ve got to see just as soon as I can get inside. Built by Christine Goff, architectural design by Will Snyder, backing by a prominent local. And I am ready to pitch a tent on the sidewalk, cannot wait!
Dallas House Porn: Reduced For Sale On Meadow Road — And Gorgeous
We love trees, but they sometimes shield perfectly beautiful homes from full view. Like this one, reduced for sale, on Meadow Road just west of Hillcrest. (Yes, it’s in the “good part”.) In fact, when we were looking for the most beautiful homes in Dallas, we couldn’t use many gorgeous numbers because of the trees. (Do not, repeat, do not go out and chop any trees just to be a most beautiful candidate!) Behind the kind of porte-cochere arch, this home has a lovely open floor plan, the bedrooms are downstairs, and there’s room for growth upstairs. Four bedrooms, four and a half baths. Only $755,000. I kid you not.
Update: I’m now told that this house has been leased. See, you were too late. But I’ll be the agents have a few more up their sleeves.
Dallas Real Estate: Watter’s Creek Is My New Fave Shopping Center
That’s why. Plus some really nice ‘hoods up there. Lookie what I found yesterday at Montgomery Farm: 5747 square feet built in 2006 with all the new bells and whistles — granite, gourmet, Sub-Zero, gameroom, media, five bedrooms, five and a half baths, four living areas plus it backs to the Connemara Conservancy so no houses, no utility lines in the back yard. And get this: 1226 Monica, Allen, slides in under one million at $965,000.
Open House Porn: What’s up this weekend…
My three favorite open houses to check out this weekend:
I think it must be pretty obvious by now what kind of house I like. It is tucked away, almost hidden from the street. It gives it somewhat of an enchanted forest feeling, which beautifully matches the interior of the house. I am not talking about unicorns and fairies, but cozy clutter. Lots of plants, patterns, and decoration. I must say though… the room with the table that appears to double as a giant Monopoly board makes me nervous. I spy, with my little eye, 17 crosses hanging on the wall. Is this the Bible Belt or what? Check out this house on Sunday from 3 to 5! Set you back: $1,649,500 Preston Hollow.
Well, just the other day I went on a walk with my wonderful roommate, and we did our usual judging of every house we walked by… as well as every person. We passed by this little gem and we both fell head-over-heels in love. It is adorable in every way shape and form. The perfect symmetry of the hedges and windows, the hanging tree protecting the lawn from the brutal Dallas sun, and, of course, the huge windows adorned with green shutters. If Sam and I were single (that is, if we did not already have a ‘unit’ that we are married to), we would be putting the moves on this one! Maybe we are just faithful because we are poor college undergrads! 4352 San Carlos Street for Ebby Halliday open Sunday from 2:00 to 3:30. $1,160,000.
Vaulted ceilings! Need I say more? I love this home because of the vaulted ceilings (obviously), big windows, black shutters, columns, and southern plantation vibe, but… this family seems to have a fetish for the color red. “Red rum, red rum,” except in this case “red room”. Don’t like red? Sherwin Williams is offering 25% off. Take a look at this on Sunday from 1 to 3, 4533 Bordeaux Avenue, shown by Allie Beth Allman and well-priced at $1,099,000 in Highland park.
Dallas Real Estate Love In The L-Streets: Here’s Why Lakewood/Lake Highlands Rocks
Traditional or mid-century modern? I don’t know, but she has hardwoods, a renovated kitchen with light wood cabinets, 2370 square feet, four bedrooms, 2 baths, a wall of glass facing the creekview, and will only set you back $279,900! Check out 10836 Colbert Way in the uber hot L Streets — this home would be perfect for a first time home buyer looking to cash in on that $8000 tax credit and may be eligible for FHA financing. That plus the agent, Ed Murchison, is one of my faves in Dallas.
To get a better taste of Lake Highlands, check out this article I wrote for D Home: Neighborhood Spotlight: Lake Highlands
Dallas Real Estate: It’s The Details, Baby, Even In The Closet
Here is one reason why we love older homes: attention to detail, like the key edge on these front hall closet shelves, because once upon a time folks created things with their hands and took pride in their craft. Our wonderful Art Director, Jamie Laubhan-Oliver, snapped this photo this weekend while touring a gorgeous Howard Meyer property on Lawther drive… $3.7 million says she and stunning. (LOVE Lawther Drive and one of these days think I may move there. Or near.) Thank you so much, Jamie; I’ve got to find the address and see this puppy in the flesh!
Open House Porn: It Was A Beautiful Weekend For Falling In Love With A Home…
Sorry! I lied. Except for the wonderful evenings, it was not a good weekend for any weekend fun or romance, well not ’till Sunday anyhow! If you are looking for a new home –or not, you just like to hope and dream like me — here are a few highlights from “Emily’s Weekend’s Open House Smorgasboard”:
This home is right up my alley. I am a recently transplanted Highland Parker, originally from New York, and this reminds me of the homes I grew up around. It is tucked away from the street behind a natural setting of trees and bushes. Everything is kept simple yet beautiful, from the architecture to the interior decoration. Even the pool area. If you are a person that likes to be close to your favorite restaurants, friends, the grocery store, and so on, but when you are home you like to feel a million miles away, this is the home for you.
Mi piacerebbe visitare l'Italia un giorno di questi! Translation: I would like to visit Italy one day. For now, I will just visit this Tuscan style home right in the heart of the Park cities, and you can come too! Between 3:00 and 5:30 on Sunday, August 2nd, Briggs Freeman has the pleasure of giving an open house for potential buyers and real estate lovers (or real estate voyeurs). I hate to pick favorites... but this is my favorite. You have to see this one yourself so put on your Sunday best, grab your umbrella, and get on over to Euclid Avenue. Faccia come se fósse a casa sua (Translation: Make yourself at home). Better yet, don't just make yourself at home, make it your home!
This traditional University Park home has three of my favorite things: hardwood floors, saltwater pool, and a large second floor deck. I would happily give my left kidney to live in this home. Unfortunately, I think the cost runs more around two kidneys, a liver, and a leg, but it's worth it!
Dallas Real Estate Open Houses: Check Out These Babes
This one is $3,295,000 at 5551 Edlen and a total bargain in the honeypot of Old Preston Hollow on those 3/4 acre lots. Go here, then meander over to the Creeks of Preston Hollow — one of the few times the gates will be open so you can peek inside. Here’s what’s open from Briggs Freeman, though I’m dissappointed that mega manse on Preston Road – the one the guy bought for his fiance for about ten million, then she said she didn’t want it — is not one of them. Darn it.
Open House Sunday
It’s hot, it’s July in Dallas, what else to do but check out Open Houses? This one is listed for $8,950,000 on Lexington and is open tomorrow from three ’till five pm. (And full disclosure, it was selected by my wonderful intern Miss Emily, an SMU student helping me with Dallas Dirt. Love Emily, she has great taste in House Porn!) Here are all the open houses at Allie Beth Allman, enough to keep you cool all day.
The Most Beautiful Homes In Dallas: Water Tower Place
Great view across the street.
Question: do folks who live near the Preston-Forest water tower get a reduced rate on their Dallas County taxes? I’ve always wanted to know why that wasn’t buried?
Most Beautiful Homes In Dallas (Clearing Throat Loudly)
This is the statute in front of the “interesting” house I found on Forest Lane… someone please tell me, what is this?
Most Beautiful Homes In Dallas — We’re Looking For Ya’
It is time, once again, for us to begin collecting the Most Beautiful Houses In Dallas for our September/October issue of D Home. As I perused some neighborhoods today, I almost pitched my editors the antithesis: The Most Unattractive Houses In Dallas. (Feel free to send me submissions in that category!) But alas, the print product is all about pretty. And Dallas is chock full of gorgeous homes — even Mama at The Realstalker says so. We want pretty and hope you will snap a few shots and send us the photos and addresses and tell us why you think that house is so very, very beautiful. (Or not.) This poor house is not really unattractive, working on the lawn I guess, it just has this huge sculpture in front that always makes me jam on the brakes every time I drive by.
Time For (Hot, Hot) Dallas House Porn: 5030 Park Lane
I sashayed into Christie’s luncheon with Anne Igelbrink, she being head of decorative arts for Christie’s Great Estates and a lass who really knows antique furniture and accessories. I was a bit late — what else is new, I was oogling another house. To be perfectly honest, while I love all things Christies, I couldn’t miss seeing THE HOUSE at 5030 Park lane, since the great Sherry Hayslip decked it out. (Peggy and Laura were timely and have info on the luncheon here.) This is a must-see, and I had seen the home about a year ago when I wrote it up for D Home. I understand it was built by Denny Alberts, the man who lured Dean Fearing to his Ritz development, who also met the love of his life mid-way through building 5030. Tuscan Villa meets California cool, wish I had snapped a shot of the wine/bar room off the formals. It’s also 8500 plus square feet, on 1.06 acres in the Honeypot, and only $5,995,000 (bargain, reduced from $7.25M) listed with Briggs-Freeman mother-daughter team Joan Eleazer and Layne Pitzer. The duo also have 1851 Turbeville Road listed… for $27,500,000. Sound familiar?
Tuesday Morning House Porn: Santa Barbara Style Invades Dallas
First it was Santa Ana. Now it’s Santa Barbara invading with these sleek, cool, clean-lined homes that make us want to get Botox, lose 10 pounds, and work out with a trainer four hours a day clad in Juicy Couture (preferably in the in-house gym). Feast your eyes on this new listing right on West Lawther Drive, $4.895. Catch that view overlooking the lake. Are we in Dallas? Or La Jolla?
I could so live here…
The Real Estalker Pens Up Preston Holler
I love Mama — now more than ever for the nice write-up of 5323 Park Lane. (And she called me the dee-voon Dallas real estate gossip — you betcha!) Read every morsel of her delicious verbiage (”Holler”, “terlits”) then check out the comments — boy are they bad. But her copy purely sings, here’s my fave line:
“Preston Holler is one of Dallas’ finer and most expensive neighborhoods where many of the swank streets are lined with mansions that make Beverly Hills look like the damn ghetto.”
You’ve got it right on, Mama! And margaritas on every corner.
D Sale of the Week: Sergei’s Dallas Palace
3916 Marquette is the stunning home of Dallas Star’s ice hockey defenseman (and now free agent) Sergei Alexandrovich Zubov, his wife Irina and two children. This Dallas palace was purchased in 2006 and the Zubov’s went to town decorating; the perfectly finished-out interiors would make a Czar or Czarina give up the throne for good. There are five bedrooms, six and a half baths, a keeping room, wine cellar, den, study, media room, steam shower, outdoor covered loggia, dipping pool, kitchen. We know that Sergei is not a small man, hence the double shower in the master bath. With the family off home-hopping between their New York and Florida abodes, 3916 Marquette can be yours for a mere $4.1 million.
Agent: Jamie Adams, Prudential Fine Properties: 817.226.4920.
House Porn Extravaganza: The 100 Most Expensive Homes In Dallas, 2009
Get ready for major financial house porn: the D Magazine print product is out with the lowdown of who owns Dallas’ 100 most expensive homes. (I kind of gave you a tease about this a few months ago, suggesting we send these people thank-you notes for paying the highest property taxes in Dallas County.) Well, as you can probably guess, that list is already outdated. Number four on the list, the $28,742,300 home of software titan Lawrence Lacerte at 5323 Park Lane, is wrong. Last Tuesday the home changed hands from Lacerte to Kelsey Warren… and that Dallas County appraisal is not too far off from the home’s confidential selling price. The buyer, Kelsey Warren, took out a $14,000,000 loan, paid cash for the rest. On a $14,000,000 home mortgage, the monthly payments are about $103,000 per month, not counting taxes and insurance.
Can you just imagine writing a check that hefty?
Father’s Day Vacation House Porn: Upper Canyon Road, Santa Fe
Dad has enough neckties. In fact, he probably needs more closet space just to house all those years of ties. Why not buy him (instead) a little getaway in the most delicious part of Santa Fe — upper Canyon Road, above the gallery walk, an historic 1940’s pueblo-style adobe with more than 4000 square feet completely renovated, top-to-bottom. Dad will like everything about this home but he will love the Santa Fe River running through his new backyard: only $2,699,000 but I hear the Santa Fe real estate market is a bit soft right now so go ahead, make an offer!
Zillow Hearts Dallas’ Biggest Real Estate Deal
Yep, even those folks out west are impressed.
Home Builders Association of Greater Dallas Hearts Dallas Dirt
Fun times last week when I spoke to the Home Builders Association of Greater Dallas at their quarterly meeting — that’s me with Jeff Dworkin. Great group of builders and they didn’t even shoot me when I mentioned the TRCC. As I was describing the blog to the crowd, one builder asked me to explain “House Porn” . Well, I told him, it’s basically looking at pictures of gorgeous homes — homes you will never be able to have, or ever own — and kind of dream, drool about them. Wish you could have them. You know, just like guys look at regular “porn”.
The builder got all red in the face. I’m a deacon at my church, he told me, I don’t look at “porn”.
D Sale of the Week: 6202 Mimosa
Walk right in, tell the movers where you want everything to go, and just start living in an impeccably-designed, perfectly thought-out custom home built in 1999 by Joe Kain, designed by renown Dallas architect Robbie Fusch. 8,000 square feet well placed on this 112 by 150 foot Preston Hollow lot east of Preston Road, so you have just enough yard for pets plus this inviting infinity-edge pool. Five bedrooms, richly panelled study, mud room, wrapping room, home office, guest suite, hand-scraped hardwood floors, virtually all the latest and greatest. Great location, neighborhood security patrol, lock and go at your leisure.
$2,450,000.
Agent: Ralph Randall, Dave Perry-Miller & Associates, an Ebby Halliday Company: 972.733.9613
Portrait of the Artist At Home:Pamela Nelson’s Commode
In case you decide to get creative this weekend.
D Sale of the Week: Lake Highlands, Secluded Living, Higher, Drier Land?
Property like this just doesn’t come on the market but once in a lifetime: 1.49 acres — that is not a misprint — in the middle of Lake Highlands off Church Road for $650,000. (Acres in Preston Hollow? You are talking $1.5 minimum, most soaked right about now.) Peaceful wooded acreage with a creek seconds from Lake Highlands High School and White Rock Trail, civilization completely blocked out by trees.
“The property is zoned commercial,” says agent Nancy Harmon of ReMax, “live here, then go commercial — open up a bed and breakfast. ”
Or simply enjoy the 3350 square foot home, built in 1943 and remodeled where it counts in the baths, kitchen; four bedrooms, four baths plus grounds-sweeping patios and decks. Ebby agent Robin Moss Norcross, who knows Lake Highlands better than her own mother, says 9243 Church Road was one of the first homes in the neighborhood.
“The Vernon family lived there,” says Robin, “and they raised a house full of boys, all of whom went on to become quite successful.”
The land was originally owned by Mrs. Vernon’s family, and forever there was nothing else in the vicinity except for raw land and and trees. Now, you must drive through a town-home development to access the home.
“They are completely blocked once you are inside this oasis,” says Harmon.
One of the Vernon boys raised in this house: John Vernon, a prominent Dallas attorney who grew up to marry modeling guru Kim Dawson’s daughter, Kim, now a physician at Medical City Hospital of Dallas.
Norman Brinker’s Dallas Home
Though it’s now owned by oncologist Dr. Dennis H. Birenbaum, and on the market with Polly Kinzie of Allie Beth Allman for $6,300,000, I will always think of 9410 Alva Court as the home of Dr. Terry James, who built it, and the great Norman Brinker, who James sold it to in the ’90’s.
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