Maybe it’s all of those classic black-and-white Christmas movies like Miracle on 34th Street or Christmas in Connecticut with home and hearth as a central theme that kindle my appetite for the comfort of the traditional during this season.
But don’t bother trying to do a drive-by of this property, because this 1941 vintage gem sits perched atop a hill, behind gates, near the Fort Worth Zoo and Colonial Country Club on over one acre of wooded grounds.
In this neck of the woods, traditional means our own Texas Mediterranean vernacular, which is one of my personal favorites. After two hours of combing through listings, I finally and happily arrived at 2301 Stadium Drive in Colonial Hills.
Simple, Classic Design in Fort Worth’s Colonial Hills
The façade is, at first glance, almost exaggeratedly simple. On closer examination, it reveals a subtle and symmetrical composition comprised of classical elements.
The central bay is framed by two elementary pilasters that run through the first and second floors to support a triangular pediment. String courses bind all three bays at top. Handsome floor-to-ceiling windows with handsome frames projecting from the stucco walls have Juliette balconies. The forward vestibule looks to be a later add-on.
Inside we encounter a succession of clean, linked spaces with the same restrained use of ornament we observed on the exterior. The foyer is defined by an elegant and original cornice that traverses the front and a travertine floor. A comely Neo-Roman-style iron banister ascends the stairway.
The living room is enriched by its understated decor punctuated by Louis XVI-style chairs and trumeau and is anchored by one of the four fireplaces in the 6,400-square-foot house.
Another living area has a more Mediterranean feel with strong ceiling beams, Spanish tables, and a French provincial buffet a deaux corps. Upholstery is fresh and tonal white and off-white.
The kitchen features a full repertoire of appliances including two large in-wall ovens and a six-burner in-island gas cooktop with a commercial-grade range hood. A painted English dresser warms up the area as does the breakfast nook.
One of the cozier areas on the ground floor is the small library with an intimate fireplace.
At back … Wait. Where are the bedrooms? I had to check that I didn’t lose them in the download (there are four) to our site. Ditto bathrooms(there are four-and-one-half). I suppose, owing to privacy concerns, they weren’t included in the listing. I’m betting that they are as elegant as the featured rooms.
The back makes excellent use of the unusual one-and-one-quarter acre lot with a succession of terraces containing a pool and pool house, a greenhouse, tennis courts, and play area. Needless to say, there are 360-degree views that are stunning. The garage houses four cars.
Gage Bane of Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty is offering 2301 Stadium Drive for $2.95 million.
