Update 9.23: We have learned the home builder for this home was Sam Elchami of Versailles Custom Homes.
You have seen this house a thousand time and you know you wanted to know what it looks like inside! Well, hello 9625 Preston Road, you are stunning, gorgeous, light, white and bright and one of the most perfect party houses ever. EVER!
Enter through the oversized, accentuated corner door entrance of glass and ironwork. I have always loved the positioning of this door, as if the architects said you know, we don’t really know if we want to face Preston or Walnut Hill. So they chose to face BOTH and straddled the corner.
This Italian styled mega-villa straddles the entire intersection well. Ten foot walls barricade the home from the busy street, which is a non-issue anyways given the sprawling one acre lot. They create an entire world, a village behind which all kinds of magic happens with almost as many bars a bedrooms, ornate mouldings, marble and a backyard water oasis.
The entrance is equally dramatic from the inside, defining the corner into a huge, etched arch with steps descending to the grand formal living room. To the east is the formal dining, the entire living area soaring open to the top second story. You can proceed west to the study, or second family room, proceeding outside to the expansive outdoor entertainment area and exercise studio. Or head towards the kitchen with one of the most stunning counters in North Texas — onyx, lit from below — all loaded with top of the line appliances and custom cabinetry. Let me see if this sets the tone of this home to you: the wine cellar is off the breakfast room! There is also a bar/butler’s pantry in here where I envision a waiter being stationed during a party. From this room, and the expansive breakfast room, you head further down a hallway to the laundry room, one of the powders, and the Master Retreat.
This house coins a new phrase: Master Reposing Area. You certainly cannot call this a master sitting area, no no no. No mere sitting happening here. Look at those twin chaise lounges which invite you REPOSE like Cleopatra and Mark Anthony may have, watching TV with a fire licking the fireplace, sunset dancing on the pool outside your door. You know that in this most sexy home, with this very private retreat, one “reposer” will be quickly moving from one lounge to the other, and this couple won’t be “reposing” very long if you get my drift.
9625 Preston Road is the sort of home that makes Viagra superfluous!
I must tell you that the entire swath of home, all 10,000 square feet, wraps around the pool, water features, and entertaining spaces with grace and water views from every room. Try, if you can, to see the home at sunset — views will be spectacular.
Ah, but I digress from our tour: enter the master retreat through the Master Reposing Area, which has a see-through fireplace of pure white crystallized stone. Seriously the most over the top Master Retreat around: there is a bar in one corner of the master, and a huge spa bath with center jacuzzi tub in the bath, which flanks the huge walk-in shower which has a window to the outdoors. Oh I think there is a wine fridge in the bath, too. The master closets are enormous and feature custom glass doors for all the hanging storage, as well as storage and shelves.
It is time to go outside. There are so many doors to do this with as I may have mentioned, the outside pool and water features are meant to be enjoyed and taken in from every single room. There are also several shaded resting areas with tables, designed to serve small groups of guests.
My second favorite room in the house is the study — it is just beautiful, a happy room. (My favorite room is, as you probably guessed, the master. Hot flashing still…)
There is an incredible upstairs with a full media room, game room and three more bedrooms and baths, including one that has an ante-room mimicking the master on a smaller scale. All bedrooms are quite private and separated, including the one accessible by balcony. Five bedrooms total, five full and four half baths. I will add that there are four bars in this house as well, almost as many bars as bedrooms! The home is owned by spinal surgeon Dr. Michael Rimlawi, who I wish could remain with the house, talk about hottie. It was built in 2004 by Oscar Tice and I remember the construction well. Took forever. Here is a small example of the detailed quality I saw in every corner: custom-made grates for the heat and air.
All walls are museum quality finish, and the house could pass for brand new from the gleaming ebonized wood and marble floors to the enamel-coated mouldings and trim that are everywhere. The home has been recently redecorated to lighten and brighten — Clay tells me the interiors were originally darker. Well, it looks like the designer took a light saber to everything. The result, of course, is sparkling.
There is also a four car garage and large motor court behind the double-swing metal gates, which require security to enter. Talk about security, there is also a manned guard house. Clay tells me this is a home for a buyer who wants to make a strong statement: let me take that a little further. This home is perfect for the buyer who wants to entertain like mad — visualizing a Cattle Baron’s pre-party — who wants a little paradise in the center of town because there is no more convenient location. This is also for the buyer who wants a large lot without the tremendous work that accompanies one acre plus living: there are parches of green grass, and expansive gardens, but this yard was designed to be extremely low maintenance for an estate of this magnitude: all you do is keep the fountains clear, stoke the fires, and keep those bars well-stocked with bubbly! Asking $5,950,000.
