It’s time to embrace transformation and act as better stewards of our existing homes.
Razing a house is seldom the best option, and this Preston Hollow transformation is a spectacular example of what should be done to ready a house for today’s market.
Listing today, this 4,912-square-foot property with five bedrooms (including a large bedroom with a kitchenette upstairs over the three-car garage), four bathrooms, and a powder bath is exactly what families want. What they don’t want is to do an iota of work, which makes this Preston Hollow transformation the best move-in-ready home we’ve seen in a very long time.
All credit to a seller that realized they were out of their depth and called on Compass Realtor Christy Berry, who has one of the most discerning eyes in the business.
“The sellers were a dream to work with,” Berry said. “They trusted me to do the right thing.”
Berry assured the sellers the bones of their home were great and that they only needed targeted updates. She called in Wren Homsey to consult on the house. Homsey has been renovating, updating, and bringing vision and beauty to properties in Dallas for 15 years.
“It’s important to put your effort and money into the areas where you spend the most time. I also believe in putting energy into making sure spaces have interest and color so that you see something beautiful when you turn a corner,” Homsey said. “A house should have soul. People are tired of the white box. Everything for sale right now is white, and it’s all still for sale.”
A Remarkable Preston Hollow Transformation
This Preston Hollow transformation is especially remarkable as only one wall was opened.
The kitchen cabinets were given a coat of Benjamin Moore’s Coastal Fog paint, which Berry noticed at the Kips Bay Decorator Show House last year. New hardware, lighting, and an extremely cool mirrored subway tile backsplash were added, along with durable quartzite countertops.
“We moved plumbing to relocate the sink,” Berry said. “It looked into a wall previously and now opens to the family area.”
Bathrooms are always at the top of any refresh list, and these are Instagram-worthy.
“The main bath was the most dramatic transformation,” Berry said. “We took a portion of the large playroom because it had a window and made that into a big closet.”
So much was transformed with simple things like paint and lighting.
“My go-to paint colors are Benjamin Moore’s Alabaster White and Dove White,” Berry said.
A Transformation on a Tight Timeline
If you think a transformation like this will take forever, think again. If you have an agent like Berry who has an excellent contractor and loyal subs, you are always in good hands. This project was done in just over three months.
I asked Homsey what she thought was most important for sellers to understand in any market.
“Make sure your home feels fresh. It must be clean, and your colors need to be inviting,” Homsey expounded. “You don’t want to walk into a house that makes you feel sad. Remember how important the kitchen island is. It is where people congregate. You have to have a place to sit, so staging is essential. You want to envision your family in the house, and you cannot do that in a vacant home. And, of course, hire Christy as your real estate agent!”
Our hats are off to the sellers, Berry, Homsey, and stager Jennifer Miller for recognizing the character and value of this home and spending the time and energy to make sure this Preston Hollow transformation lives on for another generation of owners. We hope to see more sellers realize renovating is better than razing!
Compass Real Estate’s Christy Berry has 6008 Glendora listed for $2.199 million.
