Once in awhile we publish a house that is so fabulous, we say it’s the “O-Alert”. When I give out the “O-Alert”, you know this is one piece of House Porn you just stop everything for and LOOK!
Feast your eyes on this fresh listing: a simple 1950’s ranch at 6722 Norway, between Thackery and Preston, prime Preston Hollow .36 acre verdant lot, that has been remodelled and tweaked to ab-soul-lute perfection. Built in 1950, it was remodelled first fairly significantly in 2008, pool added in 2011, and then more remodelling was done in 2015. Basically, this was a two-bedroom, 2800 square foot home that was added onto, yielding 3800 square feet, four bedrooms (one is used as a study) another full bath, and many, many beautiful additions.
This is our Dallas version of Fort Worth’s Palm Springs swank!
Here’s what the owners did in 2008: Stucco over the front brick and wood, new paint, new metal roof and gutters, new mercury vapor tree lights, installed two black granite water features front and back, some landscaping. That was the outside. Inside, they stripped the hardwoods and installed new 4-inch maple wood floors, and new bedroom carpeting. (I do like carpet in a bedroom, you?) The house was stripped to the studs and museum-finish walls were installed, as well as 15 new skylights. Totally new HVAC system. New tankless water heaters with a 50 gallon regular tank for the center of the house. (This is a good move, as those tankless deals can take forever to pump the hot water to the faucet unless you have a circulating pump, which is just another gizmo that can go out.) Sprayed attic (new) with foam insulation. Because the original home was a two bedroom deal, they converted a workshop space of 700 square feet to two stunning bedrooms, two large en suite baths and a hallway, many closets and a laundry room with sink, storage, full-sized washer and dryer, and counter space.
They also added a breakfast nook/morning room, but that’s on the other wing of the house, near the entry for the two-car garage with its fabulous new floor.
The kitchen was created with “Carrera” marble counter tops, Ann Sacks dark grey glass backsplash, and two stainless steel kitchen sinks with disposals facing a sprawling window to the front yard and street. Love it. This is brilliant — the deep stainless beauties are side by side, almost twins, because we know the small island sinks don’t cut it. There is a potable hot water faucet above 6 burner Dacor gas range, a huge kitchen island, Bosch dishwasher (in-between the two sinks), Sharp microwave warming drawer, walk-in pantry, new cabinets & hardware and stainless steel Dacor appliances — two ovens, fridge freezer, cooktop range, vent-a-hood, and built-in gourmet coffeemaker. Cabinets and shelves galore.
A black granite counter-topped wet bar floats in the Great Room, complete with bar sink, a Uline mini fridge & icemaker and mini bar faucet & sink.
The fireplace has new gas logs/screen in fireplace and new stone overlay.
New oversized bookshelves in the family room have a cool mirror backing, and new lighting. All wood in here was refinished.
The master bath was also transformed, with a “wet room” for the double header huge shower and Asian soaking tub — they are in the same room. There is a “Danby” marble vanity top, new plumbing fixtures and door hardware throughout, some new windows and new thick plantation shutters, sound system, speakers and media surround. The master bedroom is so large, it has it’s own living area. Really, I felt a hush when I walked in, just as you do at the One and Only or the Wynn. The room is like instant relaxation.
Then came 2011 and the owners did all this:
New heated self-cleaning (?) swimming pool with hot tub (Jacuzzi), fountain & pool equipment by Riverbend Sandler Pools, new leuder limestone decking around pool and patios, new gas grill and outdoor fridge, new backyard landscaping with new 8′ wood-on-wood fence along back alley, holly bushes, and outdoor up lights.
Zap those damn bugs: there is a mosquito mist spraying system front & back by Mosquito Busters.
Come 2115, they landscaped the front yard including new lawn, french drains, sprinkler system, soil, leuder stone/ pebble side walk, horsetail reed, 3 river birch trees, new concrete driveway, and front door planters with drip lines. House got new front metal gates, metal roof got a darker material, new gutters and leaf guard, and the east side of the house got a new 8 foot tall wood-on-wood fence.
Still, they could not stop: new outdoor shed west side of house, new drip lines along back and east side fence line, new LED bulbs for up-lights, total synthetic grass turf lawn in the back, capped old sprinkler system. (Brilliant!)
The garage got a new concrete floor, master bedrooms got new California Closets, new carpet in bedrooms, and new light/thermostat and security updates for smartphone/tablet updates and control.
Hit MLS this week, listed at $1,499,000 with Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s Christy Berry. 3800 square feet and 3 bedrooms. A very happy house, indeed, just waiting for a new owner. And some very motivated sellers, who oversaw the work. Of course, Jeffrey Grover is an accomplished local builder and remodeler: he’s sending out a lot of “O’s” in Midway Hollow with his new builds and remodels just west of Midway. I’ve got a message into him for an “O” interview… maybe some more photos… stay tuned!
