By Joy Donovan
Special Contributor
With its old-world stucco, this Spanish Colonial in Colleyville’s Montclair Parc is impressive in an understated way.
The crushed stone driveway gives an unmistakable crunch. The lush foliage blocks the western sun. The birds’ chirping fills the air.
An Italian villa? No. A Mexican hacienda? No.
A Colleyville Fooshee & Cheek Reproduction
This luxurious home sits on a half-acre in central Colleyville. It’s a precise reproduction of a 1921 Spanish Colonial home found on Highland Park’s tony Beverly Drive. Owners Jan and John Lynch unearthed the house’s original plans in Highland Park Town Hall, then painstakingly replicated the Fooshee & Cheek design.
Yes, that’s Fooshee & Cheek as in the designers of Highland Park Village. Dallas architects Marion Fooshee and James Cheek were known for their residential work that reflected extensive study of vernacular architecture in Spain, Mexico and southern California. Fooshee & Cheek designed Highland Park Village in 1931, a complex of buildings that became the first self-contained shopping center in the country.
“The special thing about this house is there’s only two of them in the world,” said Realtor Tim Cox with Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty. “The one on Beverly Drive is probably the single most famous Spanish Colonial in Highland Park designed Fooshee & Cheek.”
Fooshee & Cheek are also credited with work at Dallas’ Fair Park, too.
“They’re the best of the era, for sure,” Cox said. “Everybody wants a Fooshee.”
Authentic Period Details Throughout
In 2001, John Lynch, an attorney and a civil engineer, and Jan Lynch, a woman with a passion for detail, oversaw the building of this Colleyville standout. Located in the exclusive gated community of Montclair Parc, the home features four bedrooms and four full bathrooms. Its 4,549 square feet sits on more than a corner lot with lush landscaping.
A four-bedroom, four-bath home isn’t unusual at all in North Texas. This home, once spotlighted on a home tour, offers so much more. The beauty of the century-old design features uncommon elements that the homeowners searched for worldwide, reflecting their refined taste.
“It’s not just a 1927 [house] on the outside,” Cox said. “It’s authentic, top to bottom.”
Examples run throughout the home. The kitchen’s blue stone came from Morocco. Cantera stone was hand-cut in Greece. Replicated hardware emphasizes the 1920s aesthetic. Custom tile fountains adorn the gardens. Plaster walls measure nine inches thick, giving the home a quiet calmness.
Central air conditioning wasn’t found in 1920s homes, so this home follows the design principles of the time that created maximum airflow by placing rooms in a row so the breeze can come through. The 48 casement windows with machine-rolled glass catch the Texas breeze, even in the summer.
This special Colleyville neighborhood of Montclair Parc includes 72 houses and boasts a greenbelt, wooded lots, and a guarded security gate. It’s zoned for the Grapevine Colleyville Independent School District, ranked as one of Texas’ top school districts.
The flawless, historic details, though, are what make this house unique.
“It’s a very special place,” Cox said.
Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty‘s Tim Cox has listed 5301 Miramar Lane for $1.695 million.
