I am in Houston attending the National Association of Real Estate Editors annual spring conference, along with Joanna, and I just got back from a private tour of River Oaks. Mama mia, I am still on the House Porn high!
So I bring you a version of the very type of homes one finds in River Oaks, but in OUR Dallas fairest of the fair, Highland Park.
3521 Beverly Drive is an original Anton Korn built Spanish revival, 10,482 square feet of pure dimensional perfection on a huge 72 by 200 (that’s whopping) lot on the most chi chi street in the Park Cities. You know Tom Hicks lived on Beverly before he bought up the Crespi Estate. The Muses also lived on Beverly once. Beverly Drive is a starter street for billionaires or just where some billionaires choose to live quietly, kind of like Gina and Scott Ginsberg.
The best thing about 3521 Beverly is that while she may be wonderfully historical, true to her 1920 birthdate, she was updated to the moon in 2006 through 2007. In fact, the owners didn’t even move back in to the home until 2008. She was given a new lease on life with an open floor-plan, all new electrical and plumbing and just about everything. The home has five bedrooms, six and one-half baths, four distinct living areas, wine cellar, huge laundry with wrapping room, quarters and pool, and a four car garage. The home is sitting on about three quarters of an acre.
The home is listed with Christine McKenny, Dave Perry-Miller for $5,995,000.
As 2014 as she is on the inside, this home’s character is all about the elegant past,
evident in every room.
There are gorgeous original hardwood floors, custom recessed lighting designed by Essential Light, stained glass window accents, mahogany exterior doors, a gorgeous red concrete tile roof, and hardware reused and subtly incorporated with replicas.
The grand 2 ½ story entrance begins with the custom mahogany front door, 1920s- era sculpted shell accent, stained glass window, Donghi hand-blown venetian glass and metal chandelier. All that for a door. The foyer has inlaid hardwood created of four unique woods. The dramatic curved staircase sports iron work and mahogany railings.
The formal living space is next and and serves up a European black carved marble fireplace (gas or wood burning) and a gorgeous Spanish antique wrought iron chandelier. The dining room has two custom Italian crystal light fixtures, plus open shelving for art display with limestone shelves and LED accent lighting. This room opens to a Butler’s pantry with decorative clear stained glass front cabinets, a built-in Miele coffee maker, dishwasher, and walk-in pantry.
The kitchen offers treasures Anton Korn could only have dreamed of: two Sub-Zeros, a 48” Wolf commercial range with double ovens and pot filler, a Broan vent, warming drawer, built-in drawer microwave, Miele steam oven, two sinks, and dishwasher. The counters are created of recycled glass and quartz. Cherry cabinets rise up to the ceiling and seemingly, beyond. There is a huge mahogany center island with seating, a spice drawer, a lazy susan in corner cabinet space, full extension drawers, and pull out recycle and trash bins.
The family room offers a mounted TV with surround sound, three mahogany French doors leading to an outdoor living area plus the best access in the house: the wine cellar.
Yes, the original basement has been converted into an approximately 1200 bottle, 524 square foot wine cellar with split-faced travertine walls, red onyx countertops, and custom made metal and wood tasting table with lazy susan. About that tasting table: don’t waste a drop.
There is a huge game room with a cast stone fireplace an a custom bar, also a full bath with penny tile that doubles as a pool bath.
My favorite room is the Master bedroom suite with 1920’s era gas log fireplace, Murano glass sconces and plantation shutters, Miele coffee bar with granite counters, sink and mini fridge, large private balcony with 3 ceiling fans, plus study. As for the master bath, I don’t know how they managed it to make it so very spa-like: Sun Touch heated natural stone floors, a huge lucite tub –yes, lucite! A walk-in steam shower with dual heads and body jets, and his and hers vanities with under secondary beds on with en suite designer baths. 3rd floor features full bath and 2 bonus rooms which could function as 5th bedroom or nanny suite, game, media or exercise room. Fabulous outdoor living with summer kitchen, fireplace, mounted tv, ceiling fans, limestone and solid porcelain flooring, Mosquito Mist System. Italian glass mosaic throughout Oxygenator pool with built-in Jacuzzi and in-floor cleaning system. lighting and hidden medicine cabinets. Good Lord, what else? Stained glass windows with light features, built-in TV, another fireplace, his and hers toilet rooms — a REAL marriage saver — as well as his and hers walk-in closets with built-ins. Her closet features a dressing area, make-up vanity or Mom’s desk with natural light for better make-up application, a luggage island, pull out shoe racks, and an attached cedar closet. Oh and you can lock the closet door, too.
Upstairs are secondary bedrooms with en suite designer baths. The third floor features a full bath and two bonus rooms which could function as a fifth bedroom or nanny suite, game, media or exercise room. Or anything your hear desires, actually. The outdoor living here is incomparable with summer kitchen, yet another fireplace, a mounted TV, ceiling fans, limestone and solid porcelain flooring. Do you get nibbled by mosquitos as much as I do? Not in this home: the Mosquito Mist System keeps those suckers at bay.
Oh yes, even the built-in pool has Italian glass mosaics sprinkled throughout. The Oxygenator pool features a built-in Jacuzzi and in-floor cleaning system.
I mean, this home has so much! But take this pedigree over to the good folks at Inwood Mortgage and watch them treat you like VIPs. Because when you have a castle like this, you really are VIPs!
• 3 generously sized secondary bedrooms on second floor have plantation shutters, crown molding and lots of natural light. All have En Suite bathrooms with white subway tiles and individual color schemes to match bedroom design
• Laundry room located on second floor has a bountiful amount of storage, drip dry area, sink, and gift wrapping or craft station.
• Third floor features a full bath with honeycomb marble floor and soaking tub; 2 bonus rooms with window seats, carpet tiles and additional storage. Could be used for game room, media room, exercise room, 5th bedroom or Nanny suite.
• Fabulous outdoor living- covered patio with 3 ceiling fans has limestone border with solid porcelain inset, summer kitchen has Viking grill, outdoor wood burning and gas fireplace with stone surround, mounted TV, and Mosquito Mist System. Stylish Italian glass mosaic throughout Oxygenator pool, limestone stepping stone, built-in Jacuzzi, in-floor cleaning system, lighting and water features.
• Attached 768 square foot quarters over garage has its own HVAC and hot water heater, ceiling fans, and mini kitchen with honed granite counters, sink, dishwasher, refrigerator and stylish full bath.
• Original 2 car garage converted into 3 car with automatic gate and alley access; additional covered parking accessed from front of the house also features an automatic gate.
• Smart Home- Crestron home controls for programmable lighting system, heating and air, all AV and sound. Controls at home computer stations can also be accessed wirelessly. Surround sound in all public spaces (except for secondary bedrooms).
• Foam insulation throughout is great for energy efficiency, allergens, as well as noise barrier between the floors- Highest electrical bill was under $900
• 5 Trane HVAC units, 6 zones. 3 Tankless hot water heaters, Energy efficient windows
• Whole house has a water filtration system, as well as an additional filtration system for Kitchen and Butler’s pantry.
