When it comes to marketing, Briggs Freeman/Sotheby’s International Realtor Janelle Alcantara is the consummate pro. Which is why we weren’t surprised to learn about the ingenious strategy she’s using to sell her personal home.
Turns out, you have until midnight, Monday, February 14, to put in your offer for this beyond-cool Midcentury Modern ranch. Asking price: $1.2 million.
The lucky bidder will be announced on Tuesday.
Janelle has already received several offers. And there’s more to come. “During the first 24 hours on the market, we’ve already had 37 showings. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.”
Among the words used to describe the house: Cheerful. Happy. Amazing.
In full disclosure, I have a special affinity for the property. It was reimagined in 2012 by the late architect Tom Greico — an extraordinary talent, an exemplary partner, and in Candy Evans’ own words, “a damn nice guy.”
He and Janelle not only had a special working relationship. They were also best of friends.
“Tom had already looked at many other houses with me,” she says. “Usually, it ended up with him telling me my ideas were too big, too expensive, too crazy. But this one was different.”
I laughed when Janelle told me that Tom was originally against raising the roof to install an expansive glass wall. We both knew he wouldn’t rest until he figured out how to make it happen. (Spoiler alert: He worked with his engineer to develop a custom steel truss system.)
The result is a bright, airy 900-square-foot great room flooded with natural light. Highlights include a wood-beamed ceiling and Porcelanosa fireplace that mimics sculptured concrete. An open kitchen, also on Janelle’s wish list, sports chic white cabinetry.
“It’s refreshing to see how 2,683 square feet can perform like a 4,000-square-foot house. Nearly all the interior spaces have some connection to the outdoors,” she says.
The swoon-worthy yard is quintessential Palm Springs. A funky-shaped pool and spa with underwater seating screams “come out and play.” Kudos to landscape designer Randy Angell, who brought Janelle’s vision to life.
“I had created this spectacular wall of windows that looked out to one of the ugliest yards in Dallas,” Janelle admits. “I remember the day Randy presented his design to me. It was spectacular. It was the icing on the cake!”
And did we mention there’s an outdoor stage?
“We built it for my daughter, Sierra, who loves theater and fashion. She’s hosted runway shows, dances, comedic performances, even an Oscar-themed birthday party.”
Work-from-home couples will appreciate the pair of home offices. One does double-duty as an extension of the dining area, complete with buffet bar for entertaining.
Lovers of midcentury design won’t want to miss this Saturday’s open house from noon to 4.
Our guess is it will be your only opportunity to preview this amazing property before Janelle selects its future owners next week.
“When I found this house, it had a vaulted ceiling in the living room and a fireplace between the interior space and backyard. It wasn’t terrible, but I knew that I could create something spectacular,” she says.
Tom is smiling — and like the rest of us, waiting to see what Janelle does next.
The four-bedroom, four-bath home is located at 5650 Brookstown Drive, Dallas.
