This is one of those Real Estate sleepers you might not think about giving a second glance at first blush. I mean, best spot on the block between West Greenway and Inwood and yes, the front door is Feng Sui red and all, but the home was built in 1948 on a humongous Greenway Parks lot that is almost half an acre in garden-bursting size.
But, like Christopher Columbus, those red-brick exteriors hint at a little darkness inside, right?
WRONG! Surprise, surprise, look what is inside: white-washed wood floors, creamy white and gray walls, and lightness everywhere. The 3473 square foot home has three bedrooms, three full baths and one powder, and three living areas. The kitchen is pure white, could use updating, but not bad at all. There is a garden room that was added on at a later date, featuring a pretty, tongue-in-groove wood cathedral ceiling. And there are quarters.
The outside is a veritable water playground, with huge pool and trees. Then like frosting on a fabulous cake, there are those aforementioned guest quarters with a small kitchen.
Even better: the home has been reduced in price from $1,785,000 to $1,699,000. $498. a square foot in hotter-than-hell Greenway. Why has no one snapped it up?
I’d like your opinion, but I think it’s simply lack of vision.
Candy’s Vision 1: paint the exterior brick off-white or smooth grey. After all, the house has a lifetime-quality metal roof. Let’s go for a soft contemporary look.
Candy’s Vision 2: Keep the flooring contiguous — get rid of that carpet and either match the hardwood, or pick one of those new ceramic tiles that looks like hardwood in the garden room and that little room off the family area. I do love all the bookshelves and crannies.
Candy’s Vision 3: A whole new kitchen with white carrera marble center slab, floating down the side.
Do that, live in the home for about 5 years, and perk up the quarters. Five years, get an architect to draw up plans for a new home on the lot, camp out in the guest quarters, and build. Do you know how much money you’ll save being able to live on the job site, how well you will supervise the build, and how exciting it will be every day to see the progress in your new home?
OR! Remodel the pup all at once, while living in the guest house. It can be done, and it’s actually a fun adventure.
Anyhow, that’s my take, what’s your’s? Listed with the precious Erica Kuppin at Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Real Estate.
