Some contemporary house designs can seem a little untouchable — sleek and chic, but looking more like they should function as a museum instead of as a home for actual humans.
Our Monday Morning Millionaire is a Bluffview Austin stone contemporary that shows off exquisite design and practical function to work for real people.
Karen Eubank staged the house at 4421 Bluffview Blvd. so it would be seen as a comfortable place to live, in addition to showing off its gorgeous architecture, compliments of Phillip Jennings Custom Homes.
“When I was staging, a mom came by for a sneak peek with her little boy of about eight,” Eubank said. “When he threw himself on the large sectional and said, ‘All my brothers and sisters could fit here, this would be great!,’ I thought that was the best stamp of approval because that’s exactly what is going to happen — a family is going to gather here and watch TV, enjoy the fire, and hang out.”
There’s plenty of space for a family to stretch their legs with five bedrooms, five full bathrooms, one half bath, two living areas, three dining areas, two offices, and 6,011 square feet on two stories, built in 2014 and sitting on 0.42 acres. The floor plan also lends itself to entertaining and we can imagine some killer parties for human big and little.
The impressive curb appeal creates a substantial, yet approachable, feeling with a small courtyard leading to tall double glass doors flanked by matching windows. Across the threshold, walk into the living room with a fireplace with floor-to-ceiling stone surround and rift-cut white oak hardwood floors. Walls of windows throughout the house offer views of the front and pool-sized backyard, as well as the river-rock courtyard.
In larger houses like this one, staging becomes even more important to help potential buyers visualize how they would live there, Eubank said.
“When I saw the home empty, I knew it would be very hard for people to visualize how to lay out their furniture and understand the space because of the large size without staging,” she said. “Phillip Jennings always does a great job, but I think this is one of his best homes.”
The numbers back that up. In the National Association of Realtors’ 2017 Profile of Home Staging, 39 percent of seller’s agents said staging a home “greatly” decreases the amount of time a home stays on the market. Seventy-seven percent of buyer’s agents said a staged listing makes it easier for buyers “to visualize the property as their future home.”
The kitchen design impresses with its symmetry and clean lines — the design is anti-clutter. An oversized island features quartz countertop with a waterfall edge and seating for four. There are commercial-grade appliances, prep station, counter-to-ceiling backsplash, tall white cabinets (and plenty of them), and butler’s pantry with smoked glass cabinets. Nearby, an LED down-lit bar area with mother of pearl mosaic wall covering creates another conversation area.
A first-floor master suite provides a retreat with vaulted and beamed ceilings, a sitting area large enough for a couch and tables, and a private patio. But wait until you see the ensuite bathroom. A contemporary soaker tub takes center stage with a Marmara marble tile treatment running under it and up the shower wall flanked by Aspen white polished marble. The result is incredible. And then there’s the huge frameless glass shower with body sprays, marble floors, dual sinks, and to-die-for walk-in closet with organization system.
Upstairs, four bedrooms and a game room make for a perfect area for kids and guests. Three of the bedrooms have built-in desks.
In the pool-sized backyard, a large covered patio is party-perfect with a kitchen, including a built-in grill. There’s a loggia and large lawn by Garden Designs.
While this house certainly gets the highest marks for aesthetics and visual appeal, it’s not just a pretty face. Behind the scenes, it is created to be energy efficient as well as a smart home. That means the owners can control everything from lights and sound to security and garage from a smartphone or tablet.
“This house is in a prestigious area and it’s a recent build with smart home technology — it’s everything a buyer could want,” said Julie Pillans with Ebby Halliday Realtors. She is listing this Bluffview Austin stone contemporary today for $2.965 million.
