“Estate” is a word we don’t toss around lightly. It conjures up those venerable English country homes that stand for centuries and are passed on from generation to generation. So when we tell you this is a Preston Hollow estate — it’s exactly that. And any Brit who’s inherited a stately pile, as they call it, would be green with envy over this classic European three-story, 12,976-square-foot estate at 5414 Falls Road. It has all the privacy and beauty of any bucolic mansion with the benefit of a perfectly placed location, minutes from the best private schools as well as the Dallas Arts District via the Dallas North Tollway.
It also has none of the issues that are part and parcel of those inherited halls, chateaux, and manor houses.
“It’s built like a commercial office building,” listing agent Molly Malone with Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate, said. “The overall quality of construction and finish is impeccable. It’s one of the best built houses I’ve ever seen, and I’ve been in real estate over 30 years.”
Beauty is a given in the $6.295 million home. Richard Drummond Davis was the architect, and his attention to detail is legendary. There are vaulted-and-beamed ceilings, Gothic arches, wainscoting, Venetian plaster walls, limestone counters and floors — the list of stunning materials and features is endless. With five bedrooms and nine — yes nine — full bathrooms, as well as three powder bathrooms, there was a lot of room for his clever and innovative design.
So many large homes are built without a great deal of thought to maintenance and the essential running of the house. This estate is the ultimate exception. With features like geothermal HVAC and a 25,000-gallon cistern used to irrigate the lush landscape, it’s obvious a lot of thought went into making this home run efficiently.
Every inch of the place is gorgeous, but we have to point out one of the things we see as a trend in high-end homes, and that’s dual master bathrooms. Having a master suite with a balcony that overlooks the grounds is another must.
This home is built for entertaining with five (fine!) living areas and three dining areas. There’s a catering kitchen inside the four-car garage making outdoor entertaining a breeze. With multiple outdoor living spaces, a saltwater pool and the essential mosquito misting system, you may never want to entertain anywhere else.
“It’s a unique house,” Malone said. “There is not one I can compare it to and the privacy is a real amenity.” Of course it helps when you have neighbors that value land and privacy as well. This house backs up to Kelcy Warren’s (yes the Warren in Klyde Warren Park) eight acres, so you’d be hard pressed to find anything more private — or more gorgeous. Go on, go borrow a cup of sugar!
