I’ve told you every house has a story, and generally, it’s a romance. However, this Highland Park Mediterranean is not your typical love story.
It wasn’t purchased for a sweetheart. It was not passed down through generations. And it was not the dream home bought by a sports star with his first big paycheck.
But this Highland Park Mediterranean certainly has a heart-warming story. It was completely renovated by one of the best designers in the world for childhood friends.
Gonzalo Bueno is a founder and partner with design firms Treceavo Plano and Ten Plus Three. Bueno is well-known for his award-winning designs and has been featured in many publications, including Modern Luxury magazine and D Home.
Friends he’d know almost his entire life began exploring the idea of moving to Dallas. As often happens, they found this beautiful Highland Park Mediterranean almost as soon as they started looking. But there was a lot to be done. They reached out to their lifelong friend, and Bueno went into overdrive to have it ready for them.
“My clients had a clear idea of what they wanted, so we began remodeling the house to feel like them,” Bueno said. “It was very traditional, and we gave it a modern twist.” A glass panel stair railing was installed as were dark hardwoods and bronzed mirrors, to reflect the tastes of the new owners. Lighting was updated to befit their large art collection.
“We gutted the bathrooms and lightened them,” Bueno said. “Her bathroom had to feel like her — very white, marble floors, a modern tub, more mirrors, and all the details that resonate with her personality. Her closet was completely custom for an extensive bag and shoe collection.”
Then, of course, there was the furniture-buying process. If you’ve ever been through this, you know it’s a constant flurry from the initial resourcing to follow up, and then pinch-hitting if something doesn’t go according to plan.
As Bueno was in the homestretch on the 5,743-square-foot Highland Park Mediterranean, his team received a message from the client. “We’re sending our things. If you can find a place for them, we’d appreciate it.”
“We all gathered together in my office and decided we must make this feel like home to them, Bueno said. “We opened all the boxes, hung the art, and put up the tree, just in time.”
They arrived on Christmas Day.
“When they walked in, the first thing they saw was a picture of a parent who had recently passed on,” Bueno said. “They knew they’d made the right decision.”
This Highland Park Mediterranean was truly home.
And now it can be yours.
An extraordinary opportunity arrived, and the family is moving once again. Don’t look for this Highland Park Mediterranean on MLS. It’s never going to be there.
With five bedrooms, five bathrooms, a powder bath, and within easy walking distance to Highland Park schools, it’s not going to last long.
“I love this side of Shenandoah,” Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s listing agent Caroline Summers said. “The outside is so different from everything else. It has some true architectural identification and is not a cookie-cutter transitional. I also like that this Highland Park Mediterranean has never been an investor project. It was a custom home for the original family, then refreshed by the current owner.”
Caroline Summers with Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s has this gorgeous Highland Park Mediterranean at 3629 Shenandoah Avenue listed for $2.8 million.
Karen Eubank is the owner of Eubank Staging and Design. She has been an award-winning professional home stager and writer for over 25 years. Karen teaches the popular Staging to Sell class and is the creator of the online course, The Beginners Guide to Buying Wholesale. Her love of all dogs, international travel, good chocolate, great champagne, and historic homes knows no bounds. Her father was a spy, so she keeps secrets very well!
