Be still my heart. I have admired 9700 Audubon from afar, always gazed at its beautifully arched doorways and windows, flushed delirious at the grounds. Very classic Nicky Oates floorplan and construction, this is not only one of the most beautiful homes in Dallas, but also one of the most functioning. The home is listed with fabulous Betsy Stern of Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty. Sprouting 11,508 square feet, there are five bedrooms, seven full and one half bath, four formal area, media room, exercise room, five fireplaces, four car garage and a pool and spa that beckons year round.
But the interiors — you just cannot describe them with words.
Enter to a large foyer with a criss-cross parquet floor the owners unearthed when they bought the house in 1995, under a floor that had been painted black. There is a grandly elegant curved staircase and balcony. To the left is a formal living room that is simply perfection. To the right, a large dining room with seating for 10 to 20 easily. The foyer is also large enough to be an entertainment hall and has, in fact, served such a purpose. This is a home that enjoys constant entertainment and flows with the guests and caterers. As for details, they are everywhere, from the custom-made floor grates to the intricate custom-made moldings. Ahead is the large step-down family room with fireplace and walls of French doors to the pool and exterior living areas. The kitchen is nestled behind the dining room and oh you should see the storage in the Butler’s pantry. To die for.
Behind the kitchen, and I really like this, is the study. Actually, this is super thoughtful placement, especially if it is to be used by a woman who may have something in the oven, or the man of the house who can bring portfolios right to his desk after entering from the garage, which exits on Park Lane. The room is kind of away from the maddening crowd of the house so too, if there is a party going on, you could slip in here and buy a company or two. There is a large bar off the family room with a wine fridge.
The master bedroom suite is downstairs, has an Emperor hallway leading to it, and brand new random plank pecan floors. The master bathrooms have just been completely redone. There are his and her’s baths and closets, the baths are so brand spanking new I thought I saw a price tag on the Carrera marble. There are lovely French doors in her HUGE bath boudoir which opens to fresh gardens. Her side is white marble and a space so large there is a footed Kohler soaking tub, shower, towel warmer and even upholstered seating. His is more paneled and tailored, with wood to soften the Carrera. The closet areas are surrounded by glass and wood closet doors, many built-ins and hers has an island for packing, of course, off to the second home.
There are two laundry rooms, one up and one down.
The remaining four bedrooms are upstairs, and each bedroom has an Emperor suite ante room and en suite bath, plus ginormous closets. The second laundry is upstairs and the washer/dryer are built into a limestone “tray” to protect from overflow mess. There is a guest suite nestled off the media room which also boatas a huge bar and second wine fridge, and an office to beat all offices. I counted four desks, two giant work tables for gift wrapping or projects, and even a receptionists’ desk. You could run a corporation out of the place. Upstairs on the thrid floor is an exercise room and huge cedar closet, as if you don’t have enough storage on the first two levels. Hiding somewhere, two safes.
The house was built in 2002, but walking in, it appears brand spanking new, from the toe molding to the ceilings. So much has been redone and painstakingly maintained. Every surface is new — paint, carpet, the glass bar, the landscaping, lighting, even the exterior awnings! There are six zones of HVAC, pager through phone system which you will need to communicate with each other, a workshop, mosquito blasting system, even security gates. Did I tell you about the 216 square foot cabana off the pool with bath? Did I tell you there are three staircases up to the second story?
The asking price is $7,250,000. 1.01 acres. With acres in this Honeypot now up to $2.2M just for dirt, or $50 bucks a square foot, this home is a keeper. Classic, beautiful, warm and elegant. No wonder this has always been one of my favorite homes in Dallas!
