“This is a happy house,” Briggs Freeman listing agent Meredith Ferrell said. “It makes you feel like you are on vacation every single day.” Ferrell has summed our Inwood Home of the Week up beautifully. The moment I saw this University Park modern French Eclectic at 4026 McFarlin Boulevard, I could not stop smiling. It’s light, bright, and the owners have used color in the right places — and in the right proportions.
It’s hard to believe this 4,163-square-foot modern French Eclectic was built in 1994 because it’s been beautifully updated. In fact, it looks like brand new construction. That’s primarily due to the present owners. They not only did a complete cosmetic interior and exterior update, they also created the landscape plan and added a new driveway.
I tell sellers constantly that a couple of coats of white paint can completely change the sales appeal of your home. White not only highlights the architectural features of a house, it also serves as a canvas for your taste. In this home so much goes into that happy factor, not the least of which is the use of color. This Modern French Eclectic is a lesson in the appropriate use of color. I was completely stunned to learn the seller is not a professional interior designer … she should be.
When a home has five bedrooms, three bathrooms, and a powder bath, you can have some fun with color. One of the best places to go wild is the powder bath. Check out the great wallpaper in this one! Fabrics allow for some real drama without detracting from the bones of a home. What I love about this house is the color makes it cheerful, but the use of white gives a fresh, clean, modern look that you cannot achieve any other way.
The former study in the home has been turned into a music room, and it’s the one downstairs room that is not white but note it’s still a neutral color that sets the tone for personal décor.
If you’ve ever wondered how to remodel a kitchen properly, this is it. Another great lesson the classic look of white. And note you do not always need to have white Carrara countertops for a sleek, clean and modern look.
I love any vaulted room but especially a vaulted master. This technique is another easy way to update a home. Just pop the ceiling, add some beams, and instant character! And that master bath is drool-worthy.
Last but not least, the updated backyard is essentially another room. A covered patio and pool make Dallas living a lot easier in the summers.
And of course, let’s not forget location. We tend to think everyone knows this, but with new folks pouring into the city daily, not everyone is familiar with the Park Cities, or “the Bubble” as we locals say. The Bubble is the twin municipalities of Highland Park and University Park. It’s one of the most coveted locations for a home, not just because of the stellar school system but also because of the small-town feel. Pick up a copy of one of my favorite books “Great American Suburbs, The Homes of the Park Cities, Dallas,” and read any of the essays written by Prudence Mackintosh. She has captured everything you need to know about life in the Park Cities and the “tranquility of the Bubble.”
If you’re destined for a life in the Park Cities and are as in love with this University Park modern French Eclectic as I am, don’t wait. Even at $1.999 million, this happy home is not going to linger long.
Karen Eubank is the owner of Eubank Staging and Design. She has been an award-winning professional home stager for more than 25 years and a professional writer for 20 years. Karen is the mother of a son who’s studying music at The University of Miami. An ardent animal lover, she doesn’t mind one bit if your fur baby jumps right into her lap. Find Karen at www.eubankstaging.com
