French Estate: Part 3

From yesterday's post - here is the exterior shot of the home, featuring a stone facade with cast stone trimwork and slate roof. While this is a very stately look, I pefer a more "romantic" version of the French homes, with lush landscaping and shuttered windows and hanging lanterns. There are some truly gorgeous homes throughout Preston Hollow. I just went down a street today on the way to a client's, DeLoache off of Inwood and Northwest Highway, and found a least 5 I could post about, some I may need to scale a fence to get a good shot, but what's a little trespassing charge(!) - but of course did not have the camera charged! I definately have to get some pics posted. Here is a sampling of styles I found on the MLS in that area to tide you over until then.

A mere $17,500,000, yes that is an eight digit figure for this estate/compund, any takers...? You would be neighbors with some of Fortune 500's list makers, Ross Perot Jr., for one. I would be so skinny as I am always forgetting something in one room to the next and can you image how much walking in a house like that is, I'm tired already!

I do like this "simple" English Country look, the lots are so large in Preston Hollow, you really do not think you are minutes from the Tollway and everything in Dallas. It's the best of both worlds, country charm with winding tree lined roads and big city convenience - at a price.

This home was featured as Luxe magazine's 2008 showhome, I will have to post further about this with interior photos. The interior is quite modern considering the facade, which I wasn't too crazy about - it's looks to me like it is trying to be a Tuscan Colonial/Georgian style home, it looks confused. And has an asking price of $15,000,000 - in this economy - are you kidding? All it takes is one buyer, though, I guess they are banking on that.

Now this home does not look confused, it looks like it decided it wanted to be an Italian villa and it suceeded. It looks romantic and makes you curious about what lies beyond the courtyard, I love homes that slowly reveal themselves and play hard to get so to say, instead of laying it all out in the open...we all like a little mystery.

And lastly is a Mid-Century Modern concept home, I love the unexpected look of this home in Preston Hollow, gives the eye some visual interest and gives all those nosy neighbors something to talk about...

French Estate: Part 2

I promised I would post some more photos of the French Estate, so here they are! Pictured above is the grand entrance flanked on each side is a formal living room and dining room. The staircase features a beautiful custom wrought iron railing and slabs of French limestone on the treads. The main flooring is also limestome with accents of Lagos Azul and Jerusalem Gold limestone.

Another shot of the formal living room, here you can see the custom plaster mold on the ceiling - and we got some fire going in the fireplace! As this was a model home we didn't have enough in the budget for a firescreen...

The masculine and very formal French study. I was so excited when I found that oil portrait to go abover the mantel! The French doors open out onto a private courtyard. The bookcases are mirrored on the opposite side of the room.

A view of the kitchen, breakfast, and formal bar area. I need to get a better photo the kitchen so you can see all the gorgeous detailing of the cabinets and the finish, but you can see where we choose to do wood bands with insets of Seagrass limestone with accents of the Jerusalem Gold limestone dots. The house is in a wash of warm taupes and French gris colors.

A view of the family room, again I'll have to get a closer image of the detaling of the beautiful cabinetry. I would have loved to do some stationary drapery panels mounted on iron rods on the windows in there - I loathe budgets!

The lady of the house's master vanity featuring Calacutta Bore marble and a soft damask wallcovering from Antonia Vella Collection.

The formal butlery

The huge wine room - my favorite room! We did a random slate floor with accents of river rock pebbles bordering the room and also on the stair risers (not shown).

Sweet Swedes!

Dormer

Gorgeous Chandelier

I love look the look and feel of Swedish and Belgian design. It is always so light and airy, refined and elegant, but casual and livable at the same time. It seems as if I am hearing all my client's say they want some sort of Swedish influence in their home, steering well away from dark heavy designs like beefy furnishings and bedding and choosing to simplify their home and I think, their minds too! A few of my favorite pieces from avidHOME to bring in the look without the price tag of the real antiques without sacrificing the look! Although some are French inspired, the washed finishes of these pieces lend themself nicely to Swedish design.

As featured in Veranda magazine below, our cast iron finials look great on a mantel

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