It was sooo hard not to tell you who’s house this was back when Ralph Randall had it listed, but there is one thing I pride myself on, and that is my ability to keep confidences. And so, when I wrote up this exquisite home on Park Lane in Sunnybrook Estates listed for — wait, I could not even tell you what it listed for — I said it was beautiful, but I cannot tell you who owns it. Well now, FINALLY, the Wall Street Journal has spilled the beans: the home belongs to golfing great Lee Trevino and his wife, Claudia. I have been in the house a few times for events and, when Ralph had it listed, a book event. The Trevinos never wanted Ralph (or anyone) to reveal that this was their home. And that is perfectly understandable. Just makes it kind of hard to sell the house, a 10,000 square foot house! (Note: these photos were taken when Ralph had the listing — Penny is likely having the home re-shot.)
Now Penny Tower Cook of Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International has the listing, has lowered the price to $13 million (Ralph had it on for $14,000,000) and has apparently convinced the Trevinos to let their names be associated with the house. Stefanos Chen at The Wall Street Journal writes that the home was built in the early 1950s and was thoroughly renovated in 1997-98, as we know. Says Trevinos paid $3.5 million, then renovated. Pretty solid. Every single inch is perfect.
“I’m from Connecticut, so I wanted a casual home atmosphere,” she (Mrs. Trevino) said about their gut renovation project, which brought more of a French country aesthetic to the interior. The couple moved to Dallas, Mr. Trevino’s hometown, to raise their two children, who are now in their 20s. They are selling because they would like to move to a smaller home and travel more, she said.
The 10,000 plus square foot home has a stunning main abode, a cabana, quarters, putting greens, tennis court, pool, private stone-lined waterway and even an original storm shelter. The beautiful estate, or a portion of it, was built in 1939 in old Preston Hollow when Preston Hollow was not even a part of Dallas.
Nestled on almost five acres along a tributary of Bachman Creek, the English style home has had only three owners over the past 75 years. Several years ago the Trevinos embarked upon an extensive, exhausting refurbishment of the original estate led by Boerder-Snyder Architects, designer Rebecca Hughes, and contractor Mike Deaton. Original elements were restored and fluffed, including the lime stone veneer facade and the slate roof. The original 1939 structure was then seamlessly expanded while it was improved, yet all the while mindful of the principal architect’s English country intentions and integrity. The main residence consists of four large, airy bedrooms — the master alone is about 18 by 26 — , five full and two half baths. The master bath is a his and her’s with enough closet space to hold Neiman Marcus NorthPark’s couture department. There is the original living and dining rooms, a conservatory, a sun room, family room with office tucked away, loggia, chef’s dream culinary kitchen, trophy room, a morning room (we know what those are) with media, and then something very unusual and uncommon, a “common room”. A “common room” is what the English and Canadians call a shared lounge, that is connected to many private rooms and sometimes shares a bathroom. The common room in this estate is more like the resting room at the Ritz Carlton Spa, and has an exterior entrance. Retractable doors from the main house serve as the entrance to the magical back yard acreage experience with lush green and color, color everywhere. There is an outdoor kitchen on the way to the pool pavilion should you need nourishment. There are twin open-air pergolas near the pool pavilion, a pool and spa. There is also a large cabana room with a full service kitchen, fireplace, shower bath, and changing rooms. I have no doubt you could create a private jogging trail in the woods if none exists. There are also, and this is highly unusual, not one but TWO putting greens. A charming footbridge crosses a Bachman Creek outlet with limestone retaining wall, which leads to a peninsula where you find the regulation-size tennis court. Tucked discreetly in this scenario is a full service laundry facility, a breezeway, and a spacious four car garage. Oh, and those Preston Hollow pioneers were smart whippersnappers: this home also has an underground storm shelter built in 1939 and tucked away in the original basement. If I have said it before, I’ll say it again: one of the most significantly amazing homes in Dallas, and the tops of any Most Beautiful list I might create.
You know what I hope? I hope the Trevinos let Penny post some of the interiors — the kitchen, family and formal rooms. They are amazing… and would appeal to a wealthy buyer who might want one of the most significant homes in Dallas, certainly Preston Hollow.
