Homes hold so much more than rooms full of furniture. They carry with them the memories of all the families who spent days, both good and bad, sheltered inside. That’s what makes it difficult for Jon Leatherberry to sell his lovely home in Hillcrest Forest, just east of Hillcrest and north of Northwest Highway. It’s a wonderful, sprawling ranch that has been remodeled to be well-scaled for family life.
“The neighborhood is great,” Leatherberry said. “I call it the ‘poor side of Hillcrest,’ but it really is amazing.”
Well, there’s nothing poor about 6924 Azalea, which Leatherberry has listed with flat-fee firm Door for $799,000. The home, which sits on a lovely street that backs up to the Northaven Trail, is oriented perfectly on more than a third of an acre. With a generous setback and a serene, private backyard, this four-bedroom, three-bathroom home carries its more than 3,000 square feet with aplomb.
“I love the fact this house has been updated appropriately and is incredibly spacious,” said Karen Eubank, who staged the property. “You don’t realize just how huge it is until you’re inside — I seldom see rooms this size.”
However, the generous lots and fabulous location means that more builders are discovering Hillcrest Forest, too. “We have just started seeing a number of tear-downs in the ‘hood,” he said. “What I really like is the oversized lots and the quiet streets. There is very little traffic in the neighborhood.”
It’s truly a fabulous area — close to shopping and amenities, with great private and public schools nearby. It’s located near the sought-after George Bannerman Dealey Montessori School and is inside the Kramer Elementary attendance zone, too.
But what’s great about this home has very little to do with its surroundings and more to do with what it surrounds, Leatherberry noted. The home wraps around the backyard, creating a private area and visual barrier. Each bedroom opens to the beautiful pool and patio.
“My favorite room is the study,” said Leatherberry. “The view from that room to the backyard is amazing. On cool fall and spring days, I would sit in that room with a great book, turn on the pool’s water feature, and relax.”
Of course, the rest of the home takes advantage of the views, but in different ways. Check out the kitchen, for instance. With not one, but two wine refrigerators, an enormous Sub Zero side-by-side refrigerator/freezer, plus a commercial-grade Wolf range, this kitchen is well-equipped to host friends and family that will help you improve your view on life.
“I also love the kitchen,” Leatherberry said. “The oversized island provided a great centerpiece for me and my friends to enjoy tasting different wines and catching up on life.”
And with two wine refrigerators, you can collect many, many bottles with which you can share! Also note that there is tons of light in this kitchen, making it perfect for buffets as well as homework duty.
Naturally, the kitchen opens up to a family room. The open floor plan is great for those who opt for more casual entertaining, as is the trend these days.
The master suite is appropriately spacious and features some fantastic architectural style points. It’s warm without being overly traditional, too. The master bath, which has separate vanities, and oversized tub, and a large shower, is bathed in marble and tile.
“But the best feature of all is the immaculate backyard,” Leatherberry said. “The house was built for the backyard. It is a great place for parties, both big and small, and just hanging out. Teaching our daughter to swim in the pool is a memory that will last forever.”
Eubank concurs.
“It’s a great family home and the lawn has been banished, which is fine by me. Who wants to mow? Turning it into a party paradise with that gorgeous pool and pergola was inspired, and once you open up those French doors, your party can easily flow from inside to outside,” she said. “You also have plenty of room beyond the pergola to in fit a playscape if you have little ones.”
