Thanks for reading,
Monday, 28 February 2011
Address to Impress - Home of the Week, 8916 Estribo Circle in Benbrook, Texas
Yes, I know, I am a day late again. I've been out of town a lot which has messed up my whole schedule! Regardless, here is this week's late Address to Impress Home of the Week. Located right across Highway 820 from Montserrat sits La Cantera at Team Ranch, yet another affluent subdivision. Within the large wooden gates is this home, 8916 Estribo Circle. The very palatial French residence is situated on 1.00 acre and boasts 7,135 sq. feet of living space. The home is at the very back of a small circle drive along with 4 other newer homes. The 1 acre is complete with great curb appeal and an eye-catching home. Built in 2007, the residence includes 5 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, an office with fireplace, multi-level media theater, several wall murals, wood features, an outdoor living area, half basketball court, 800 sq. foot pool house, 4 car garage with gated driveway, and more. The only thing I see wrong with this home is the noise - the home directly backs up to the service road of Highway 820 near Interstate 20. If you want to grow a family and wouldn't be bothered by the sound of fast moving cars and emergency vehicles, then this home is a perfect match for you!
Remodeled House in Alabama
Good Monday morning to you, dear readers! Sorry about not posting on Saturday and Sunday. We're about to move to Peru and I've been busy packing and weighing the things we are going to take, and selling the ones we can't. I'm glad and sorry to say I've sold every single piece of my lovely furniture. A pity I can't take everything with me.
Anyway, back to blogland now.
This 1915 Federal-style house in the historic Garden District of Montgomery, Alabama was bought and remodeled by Richard Norris and Mark Leslie. They transformed it from formal and rather stuffy into warm and inviting, with an overall masculine style and full of whimsical details.
The Federal-style facade, high on three-quarters of an acre in Montgomery's historic Garden District.
To one side of the foyer, a section of 19th-century Gothic wall paneling and a headless statue of St. Denis.
On the other side of the foyer, moose antlers, a Gothic crystal chandelier, and a rustic 19th-century French grandfather clock.
A chocolate velvet curtain adds drama to the stairs. The wrought-iron jardiniere is from the south of France. "It's such a strange, dark piece," Norris says. "We call it Rosemary's Baby's crib."
In the lounge, a small library with a Landau Devan Sofa and an antique ottoman. Like the foyer, walls and woodwork are painted Martin-Senour's Sealskin.
Upholstered pieces with high, dramatic backs were designed by Bobby McAlpine. Painted screens by artist David Braly have a kind of Gothic-Midwestern motif, including arches and acanthus leaves in a field of abstract cornstalks. Across the bottom the screens read: 'The corn is as high as an elephant's eye and it looks like it's climbing clear up to the sky' — lyrics from the musical Oklahoma! but in Latin. The mirror hanging on the screen is 18th-century French.
The dining area is in the same huge room as the living area.
Over the FiveStar stove is a silver-leaf Napoleon III mirror. The chandelier was fashioned from a pair of antique bronze sconces.
The sink resembling a buffet, has a marble backsplash and bat prints around it. The oval island is a nine-foot-long sheet of marble.
The kitchen's light-filled bay window opens onto a patio and garden.
Richard Norris designed the cottage-size parterre, reminiscent of gardens he had visited in Europe.
Behind the piano is an old sounding board which was originally behind the pulpit in an Episcopal church — it was the baffle that helped bounce the minister's voice toward the congregation
The 1850s Italian marble mantelpiece in the living room came from a Montgomery house torn down in the 1970s to make way for an interstate. Above it is a 20th-century interpretation of Leonardo's St. John the Baptist, in watercolor and pencil on butcher-block paper.
A small bedroom was converted into a dressing room. Two rustic armoires make up for the lack of closet space.
In the bedroom's sitting area, an Eames table and vintage butterfly chairs mix with a rattan sofa, a Pottery Barn rug, and a demilune console designed by Norris.
The walls in the master bedroom are Martin-Senour's Silver Green. The six feet tall headboard is an 18th-century stall divider from a horse barn.
All images and information from here.
Anyway, back to blogland now.
This 1915 Federal-style house in the historic Garden District of Montgomery, Alabama was bought and remodeled by Richard Norris and Mark Leslie. They transformed it from formal and rather stuffy into warm and inviting, with an overall masculine style and full of whimsical details.
The Federal-style facade, high on three-quarters of an acre in Montgomery's historic Garden District.
To one side of the foyer, a section of 19th-century Gothic wall paneling and a headless statue of St. Denis.
On the other side of the foyer, moose antlers, a Gothic crystal chandelier, and a rustic 19th-century French grandfather clock.
A chocolate velvet curtain adds drama to the stairs. The wrought-iron jardiniere is from the south of France. "It's such a strange, dark piece," Norris says. "We call it Rosemary's Baby's crib."
In the lounge, a small library with a Landau Devan Sofa and an antique ottoman. Like the foyer, walls and woodwork are painted Martin-Senour's Sealskin.
Upholstered pieces with high, dramatic backs were designed by Bobby McAlpine. Painted screens by artist David Braly have a kind of Gothic-Midwestern motif, including arches and acanthus leaves in a field of abstract cornstalks. Across the bottom the screens read: 'The corn is as high as an elephant's eye and it looks like it's climbing clear up to the sky' — lyrics from the musical Oklahoma! but in Latin. The mirror hanging on the screen is 18th-century French.
The dining area is in the same huge room as the living area.
Over the FiveStar stove is a silver-leaf Napoleon III mirror. The chandelier was fashioned from a pair of antique bronze sconces.
The sink resembling a buffet, has a marble backsplash and bat prints around it. The oval island is a nine-foot-long sheet of marble.
The kitchen's light-filled bay window opens onto a patio and garden.
Richard Norris designed the cottage-size parterre, reminiscent of gardens he had visited in Europe.
Behind the piano is an old sounding board which was originally behind the pulpit in an Episcopal church — it was the baffle that helped bounce the minister's voice toward the congregation
The 1850s Italian marble mantelpiece in the living room came from a Montgomery house torn down in the 1970s to make way for an interstate. Above it is a 20th-century interpretation of Leonardo's St. John the Baptist, in watercolor and pencil on butcher-block paper.
A small bedroom was converted into a dressing room. Two rustic armoires make up for the lack of closet space.
In the bedroom's sitting area, an Eames table and vintage butterfly chairs mix with a rattan sofa, a Pottery Barn rug, and a demilune console designed by Norris.
The walls in the master bedroom are Martin-Senour's Silver Green. The six feet tall headboard is an 18th-century stall divider from a horse barn.
All images and information from here.
Saturday, 26 February 2011
Former Dallas Cowboys Head Coach Wade Phillips Puts His North Dallas Home on the Market
Well, after the Dallas Cowboys let him go, it seems as if Wade Phillips is ready to get out of Dallas altogether. Just yesterday, his Dallas home located at 6115 Norway Road went up on the market. The Hill Country inspired home features a 8,742 sq. foot home on a 0.45 acre lot - not common among actual Hill Country homes. Wade and his wife Laurie enjoyed 5 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms, a 3 car garage, landscaped yard with pool, 5 fireplaces, and more! Also looks like a detached servants quarters was built across from the garage bays. The home is listed for $3,295,000.
Thanks for reading,
Photo shoot
I had the pleasure of working with an amazing client to completely redo her main living space. She moved to a new home and wanted to start over with a fresh new look. We did this mostly through paint and furnishings and it turned out great! I had the space photographed a couple of weeks ago and wanted to share a few images. I am in the middle of putting together a new website so for now just a sneak peek. Have a good weekend!
Friday, 25 February 2011
New Pictures of Chateau du Lac, The $19 Million Dollar Listed Estate in Flower Mound, Texas
Recently, I did a post on the Chateau du Lac, back on the market after a short break. The $19,900,000 listed mansion encompasses over 10 acres of manicured acres and scenic water views. Although I am not deathly in love with the old world feel, the expansive lot size, water views, and amenities have sparked my attraction. Here are some new and up to date pictures posted by the Chateau's realtor - enjoy!
Thanks for reading,
What's Up with These Crazy Lot Sizes - Come on Builders, Everything is Bigger in Texas!
A reader recently commented on the lot size of one of the Rate or Hate homes, Plano's 2504 Beacon Crest. As I have said time after time and as this reader reinstates in his comment, the small to extremely small lot sizes seen throughout north Texas is draw-dropping. Here are a few examples:
1680 Prince William Lane in Frisco, Texas - Here's The Listing
This is a nice French inspired home, am I wrong? I was attracted to this home until I saw, yes, the lot size - 0.29 of an acre. How in the world can a 7,857 sq. foot home (classified as a mansion) be built on such a small lot size?! Throw this home onto a 3-5 acre property and it's got my vote.
2 Park Row Court in Pantego, Texas - Here's The Listing
Here is another in Pantego, Texas (Arlington). This Mediterranean villa is literally crammed and smooshed into a 0.20 lot size! I mean look at that, no front yard and no backyard.
4041 Grassmere Road in Highland Park, Texas - Here's The Listing
And oh yes, aren't we all so familiar with the less than perfect lot sizes of Highland Park. With 4041 Grassmere, the builder managed to tightly fit a 12,500 sq. foot French home onto this 0.50 of an acre lot size. Would this home not be perfect with more lavishly landscaped land, an actual front yard and a circle driveway? Expand this home to a 4 acre lot and boom, perfect.
The only possible explanation I found to this real estate phenomena is the maximization of profits. Think of it - these builders could take a 10 acre plot of land and turn it into 10 nice homes on an acre each; however, to maximize profits, they take a 10 acre plot of land and build 20-30 nice homes each on a very small lot size. Ever see these homes built really close together? That's exactly what they are doing. Build more homes, make more money. Builders, everything is bigger in Texas! Expand those lot sizes!
What's your opinion?
Thanks for reading,
To-Die-For Westlake Estate Just Listed - 5 Paigebrooke
Here's yet another fine example of a fantastic home built in Westlake that isn't located in Vaquero. As I stated in the earlier Westlake home post, other properties and listings get shoved aside amongst the popularity of Westlake's own Vaquero, taking up most of the small town. Regardless, here is newly listed 5 Paigebrooke. The beautifully built stone French castle sits in the private Paigebrooke community on 2 acres. Built in 2008, the key features include 5 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms with 6,766 sq. feet of living space. Other amenities include a large private courtyard with fountain, 4 car garage, porte cochere, media room, game room, outdoor lounge area, rock lined pool, and much much more.
Thanks for reading,
Country House in Spain
What a lovely Friday, isn't it? Get ready to enjoy a dreamy house with stunning views in Spain. I love everything about it, the mix of French and English furniture, the rustic outside, the sturdy beams and solid front door, and of course the soft palette in every room.
Come enjoy with me!
A very happy weekend to all of you, my dears! Hope to see you here tomorrow!
All images from here.
Come enjoy with me!
A very happy weekend to all of you, my dears! Hope to see you here tomorrow!
All images from here.