Monday Morning Millionaire Extravaganza: The Pride of Andrew Merrick on Bordeaux Boasts Most Refrigerators Per Square Foot in any Dallas Real Estate (& More Gossip!)

You remember Andrew Merrick: he built the most expensive spec home ever built in Dallas about the time this pup was built, 2005. That home, 3500 Beverly, sat on the market but Andrew and his investor, James Dondero, kept up the faith: sure enough, along came dream buyers Scott and Gina Ginsburg who had had a fire at their Park Lane manse, which was originally built by Jinger and Dick Heath. They snatched up 3500 and the house next door, tore it down, and now have themselves a veritable family compound there on Beverly. Meantime, cute Claire Dewar sold Ginsburg’s charred Park Lane pup not too long ago to a Guillermo Perales, one of the country’s top franchise restaurant operators and one of Golden Corral’s largest franchisees. He built a fortune and then some running 34 Golden Corral restaurants in six states, but then filed Chapter 11 for bankruptcy protection on four of the five limited liability companies he set up to run them back in 2009. It is amazing to see how much money can be made in the food biz. Guess that’s all fixed up now, as last I heard they were interviewing builders and getting ready to go vertical on Ginsburg’s old lot.  But I digress.

4223 Bordeaux has many of the same elements that 3500 Beverly has, namely, the best of everything in every room quadrupled and then some. The Mediterranean style home looks like an Italian villa, with approximately 13,000 square feet give or take a few, six bedrooms, seven full baths, two half baths, four living areas, a wine room, a media room and what I love best: an oversized underground garage.

You get a double front entry to the expansive center hall and sweeping staircase: perfect for an at-home wedding.  No sparing of woodwork in this formal living with built-in bookcases around the entire room.  The billiard room  — yes, there was a billiard room on Beverly complete with a kegerator bar — also has a wet bar with copper sink, granite counters, wine cooler, refrigerator drawers and dishwasher. (OK, where are you hiding the kegerator?) The kitchen has it all: Wolf double ovens and six burner gas range, double Sub Zero refrigerators with freezer drawers, Bosch dishwashers,  granite island the size of Manhattan with copper sink, ice maker and Miele espresso and coffee maker.  (You might be able to pay the property taxes with all the money you will save by not going to Starbucks!)  Large family room with fireplace and beamed ceiling overlooks the yard and outdoor entertaining terrace with yet another fireplace.  In any home of this stature, you will expect a fully equipped catering kitchen with a walk-in pantry, and this one is located between the main kitchen and the formal dining room.  Full quarters bedroom with bath on the first floor, but the piece de resistance is the expansive elegant master suite on the second floor: stone fireplace, hand painted ceiling accents, a balcony overlooking the yard, and his and her bathrooms each with walk in closets.  An adjoining master study includes a wet bar with YET ANOTHER refrigerator, copper sink, granite counter tops and YET ANOTHER built-in coffee maker.  Four secondary upstairs bedrooms are en suite with bathrooms and probably more dang refrigerators.

But do not forget the basement. That is where you will find me in the stone-walled wine tasting room with sunken wine vault, a media room and exercise room. Walk right out to the underground garage with spaces for six cars. This is why I think Briarwood needs two additional car slots. Candy’s rule of thumb: 5,000 to 8,000 square feet, three car garage. 8,000 to 12,000 four car garage. 12,000 to infinity, at least six cars…

Is there an elevator? I cannot believe you asked, of COURSE there is an elevator. Also  an AMX Smart Home System so you can control the entire house from anywhere. This home is a true treasure, and at $6,995,000 really a pretty decent bargain, don’t you think? I mean, in 2008 they were asking $11.9 million as I recall, so wow, this is almost half-price and worth every single shiny penny!