Romance Week: This Highland Park Tudor Was Built on Love, Love, Love

This is Valentines week, and we are committed to bringing you the most romantic homes in town every single day. Like 4305 Arcady. This strong, sultry Tudor has it all including something money cannot buy: class. (It also just hit the market!) Perfect location on one of Highland Park’s French Streets, it was built by the greatness that is Tatum Brown Custom Homes, a CandysDirt approved home builder  in 2006, one of the tip top home builders in town. (Who is currently building out two dynamo celeb homes in Bluffview.) Perched on a whopping 90 by 167 lot, the home is as pristine as it was the day Mark Danuser did his final walk-through.

But the story is even more beautiful than the home. It is a story about love and homes. Liz met Robert In January of 2010, and they were married a year later. Robert adored Liz from the moment they met. Robert was everything Liz had ever wanted to find in a husband, but she was concerned over four precious things: her four children. Most men, she says, do not want to marry women with an entourage.

But Robert is not most men, and marry Liz he did indeed, and then brought her and the children home to this beautiful dream home with five bedrooms, six full baths, to house their new family of six!

Walk into custom millwork that lends the feel of The Lanesborough in Knightsbridge, with rich hand-scraped oak hardwoods, herringbone and limestone accents, arched doorways and ironwork. The 18th century front door leads you into the foyer and adjoining open formal living room with a large cast stone fireplace and a wall of windows to enjoy the street view, which you will with the expansive front yard. The dining room has a cross beam ceiling, a 350 bottle wine room with iron gate, and French doors to a front terrace. A large walk-in wet bar is conveniently located between the dining room and family area. The kitchen is well-equipped with Viking appliances, granite countertops, a deep sink and platinum designer fixtures, an island with room for seating, European wood inset cabinetry, and a full breakfast area loaded with built-ins. The kitchen also has a large pantry. Off this is the large family room, both rooms enjoying views of the backyard. The family room features oak beamed ceiling, an entertainment system, full surround sound and three pairs of European-style arched doors leading out to the covered terrace and outdoor living area.

There is a gallery hall with groin ceiling accents leading to a study covered with millwork — very British regency. You really do expect Lord Grantham to stroll in and ring for tea. Also downstairs is a guest room with en suite bath, built-ins and doors to the covered terrace. Liz, a talented artist, has been using this as her art studio.

Walk the grand stairs, front or back, or take the elevator up to the grandest master suite on the French streets. This one has a sitting room, private balcony, and of course his and her baths, both a sea of white carrera marble. Each side also has a separate walk-in closet. (Separate potties, too, keeps that love humming.) Upstairs are three more large bedrooms with tray ceilings, walk-in closets and en suite baths.

Do you ever have that argument about where to have the laundry room, first floor or second? How about BOTH floors? (That solves it!) The media room is on the third floor with full bath, coffee bar and additional storage.

Now let us wander outside, to the covered terraces spanning the back breath of the house. This entertainment area overlooks the pool with attached spa and water features, a full outdoor kitchen area with built-in grill, drink cooler and seating area. The port cochere allows easy drop of groceries or catering goodies, and there is a three car garage above which you have another 1,000 square feet of elegant living space, perfect for two teenagers, a nanny or the help.

As Lady Mary said in the most recent Downton, “we may be aristocrats, but we like to get our money’s worth.”

Get your money’s worth you will, here at 4305 Arcady with 6837 square feet on one of the most romantic streets in Old Highland Park. Asking is a mere $4,795,000, listed with Christine McKenny, Dave Perry-Miller, who lives nearby.

Back to our love story. Where are Robert and Liz going? On a recent trip to the beach in northern Florida, Liz fell in love with a home and, well, Robert bought it for her. Just like that. He’s perfect, no? So is she, They are meant to be. The couple plan to divide time between their second and third homes.

And that’s what we call true love around the house.