Driving up to the 2021 Kips Bay Decorator Show House was a déjà vu moment of sorts. After all the fanfare and fabulousness surrounding its reveal last September, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Yet knowing that the mastermind readying the property for the market was Allie Beth Allman agent extraordinaire Alex Perry, there was little doubt it would be exceptional.
And that it was.
When I arrived at the Old Preston Hollow estate last Tuesday, the place was bustling. With a freeze on the way, a crew was busily covering the meticulously landscaped grounds. It would be a shame to lose even a single plant. Once again, the landscape design group From the Ground Up had transformed the front courtyard into a spectacular garden oasis.
As of Saturday afternoon, the 11,185-square-foot, six-bedroom, seven-plus-bath property was officially for sale. Asking price: $10.995 million.
Needless to say, drive-up appeal is a “wow” moment.
As is the entry hall, which features two stand-outs from the original Kips Bay house: striking black-and-white tile and Larry Whiteley’s steel branch light sculpture.
But glance right and left. Unlike the stop-you-in-your-tracks designer showcase of yore, this home has a sophisticated, peaceful, unified vibe. Credit goes to designer Chad Dorsey and stager Cindy Musgrove, founder of boutique staging company Blu Sky Living.
“The original design of the Kips Bay Show House was layered, bold, and loaded with gorgeous details. The important thing was to maintain many of the beautiful elements while making the space cohesive,” says Musgrove.
Livability was also a top priority.
“When staging a home of this magnitude, we continue to ask ourselves, is this believable? The interiors need to have broad appeal yet still be aspirational,” she added.
A major benefit was the many incredible finishes throughout the house.
That said, it also presented the biggest challenge.
“We had to decide what finishes, while amazing, were too polarizing. Once we decided which rooms were going to be a part of the cohesive design, we selected a soft, unifying palette and new light fixtures,” says Musgrove.
Walking through the house, we were delighted that a few of our favorites made the cut. The Bordeaux-colored suede walls leading down to Yates Desygn’s super sexy basement are pretty spectacular. And we remember loving the Arte hand-painted wall coverings in Traci Connell’s “Martini Muse” bar.
A calming white replaces red in the primary bedroom. And the closet has been reconfigured to provide more hanging and storage space — the handiwork of Daltxrealestate.com approved builder Hudson Construction Group, which also collaborated on the project.
The Georgian estate also features multiple living areas, a sunroom, two full kitchens, a breakfast area, a wine cellar, and a home theater. Many rooms open up to the lavishly landscaped backyard complete with outdoor terraces, pool, playhouse, and immense open lawns.
And did we mention that it’s move-in ready?
“How many 1.4-acre, nearly 12,000-square-foot homes in Preston Hollow can you move in tomorrow?” asks Perry. “I would say zero.”
To preview 5138 Deloache or request more information, contact Allie Beth Allman & Associates listing agent Alex Perry.
