Help us shake it up on Shook. I cannot think of a nicer street than Shook Road, just north-ish of Gaston in White Rock. The houses on the south side of the street have what I call “Austin topography” — cool terrains that stair-step up to the house. (Cannot see it in photo.) It’s such a refreshing change from the usual prairie-flat ranch look that pervades most of Dallas area housing, I would think these houses would be flying off the shelves.
And in most cases, they are.
On this street, at 7128 Shook, is a Barnett West constructed home (2004) that simply will not sell. I have a few ideas why myself, but want to know what y’all think. The agent, Kay McFarlane with Jerry A. Allegro & Associates, has lowered the price to $895,000.
Buyers have said they don’t like the topography of the front yard, because “kids cannot play there.” Got news for you: half the time, kids don’t play in the front yard. The driveway is nice and broad for bikes, however.
The home is about ten years old, a Craftsmen prairie-style with a nice front porch of brick, cedar pillars and tongue in groove wood beadboard ceiling. Impeccable condition, almost brand new. And pretty loaded: there are hardwoods, beamed ceilings, beaded paneling, sunken dining room (WTF?) and nice appliances (Sub Zero etc. etc.) wet bar, media room, wine fridge. Lots of custom trim moldings.
Walk into the house and you have the foyer. To the immediate right is a study that I would/could use as the formal living room. This room has bookcases built in but as designer Sherry Hayslip says, every room needs a few books, some more than others. It also has a wine fridge, a good-sized one. Why they opted to have the wine in the study or what I would use as a living room is a bit baffling, but not terrible. I mean worse case scenario: rip it out! Take it to the bar in the family room!
Straight ahead is the family room, flanked by a really nice, granite-y kitchen. Oh yes, squeezed in-between the living room (or study) is a step-down dining room, with a small Butler’s pantry linking it to the kitchen. I don’t get that, because when you are walking with a plate of food and have to step down, well, you know what might happen. It’s only one step. Solution: just have someone serve the food.
Very nice covered back porch, and I just went ga ga over the back yard. Not only is there room for a pool or spa, but that topography that continues to elevate renders this a very private space.
But the shocker is what is to be found on the left of the front hallway, essentially the left wing of the first floor of this 3468 square foot house!
What is it? It’s a room with an elevator. Yes, to put an elevator in this house, these folks gobbled a room — a study or something, and added a whole elevator right to the second floor. Which is wonderful to have of course, but it basically stole a room from the house. Oh there is some space, enough to slip in a desk and file cabinet. Current owner used it as a meditation room. Which is a great idea, since there is a bathroom nearby. FULL bath, as I recall.
The bedrooms are all upstairs in this house, including the master, which is hefty and has a great master bath with jacuzzi tub. Then there is a bonus game/media room above the garage, no bathroom, but a closet and the “main” bath is a quick jog down the hall.
There is a term I have not used in a long time, “main bath”. Why? That’s because most homes nowadays north of $500,000 all have en suite baths, or at the very least, Jack and Jill. As does this home. There are three bedrooms total, and three full baths — including the one downstairs next to the elevator/meditation room. So the media/bonus room is the only one that does not have in-room access to a bath.
So I wonder if that is what has been hindering the sale of this home? Or is it the fact that the media/bonus room has no en suite bath or powder? I think one can be added quite easily. The room is a whopping size, I’m going to guess about 20 by 19 since it is over the garage, which has a finished floor by the way. But how hard is it to get your butt up from the TV and walk down the hall?
Also upstairs, at the end of the hall, is a built-in communal study desk/corrall. The laundry room is upstairs and has full floor protection from overflows. I know that upstairs laundries are big in the Park Cities, are they big in White Rock/Lakewood as well?
Anyhow, I think this is a house with potential. The seller is ready to move on, the agent has lowered the price from –Holy Cow — $1,199,000. ‘Course 117 days on market is not horrible, but I see this house as a good example of how, even when you build, don’t get too specialized? (That sunken dining room is a head scratcher.) That elevator could come out (stay tuned) or I honestly don’t mind that as much as I do the sunken dining room. Maybe we make the dining room the formal living? I don’t know need some help here, dear readers! This house has some amazing bones and content, it just needs — je ne sais quoi — HELP!
