Julio Quinones North Dallas Ranch Turns Up the Sparks in Sparkman Estates

This is one of those listings that drives me to drink because I cannot for the life of me understand how damn wonderful our real estate market is. Do you know that I wake up and pinch myself every single day? We are so lucky, I am so lucky, to be in a real estate market where we have beauty surrounding us. Beauty like the jewel box that is 3241 Merrell Circle.

If I were going to be poor — well, on a super tight budget — I’d so want to be poor right here in Dallas. Why? Because people are kind and generous and would give me their cast-off designer duds? Throw me a bottle of Veuve Cliquot and say, if you can catch it, you can drink it? NO!

Because we have the best dang real estate in the world. I am so not kidding. Our market just rocks. Here we have an ordinary ranch home made extraordinary by one of the city’s hottest interior designers, Julio Quinones. How hot is he? Have you ever been to Salumn, one of my favorite places in all creation to eat? That’s Julio’s work. Julio did all of former Mayor Laura Miller’s interiors, as well as some work for Christine Allison at D Home. He’s one of D’ Home’s favorite designers, I know.

Julio’s trademark work is all over Dallas, and it’s all over this precious, precious 2526 square foot ranch at 3241 Merrell Road, just east of Marsh Lane. There’s this great little coveted area called Sparkman Estates that is like a cult: homes come on the market, they are gone vamoooosh! I cannot even write about them fast enough.

But this house is no ordinary North Dallas ranch. It is quite the extraordinary, from the neat as a pin exteriors to the just plain blow you away interiors. I am so overwhelmed, I cannot even talk. Let’s take a look:

Not only is this home simply stunning from the exterior brick and trim facade to the center core of the Viking gas stove in the kitchen, it is located on a quiet cul de sac. You know how I love me those cul de sacs. Definitely safer, and heck, if you ever become president, you can just date it off for super security. The flooring in this home, like all the surfaces, deserves extra attention: smooth limestone, cork flooring in the entry area and formals. The kitchen is loaded — black leather finished granite on those countertops, baby — and features a handsome breakfast area with banquette overlooking the backyard.  The master retreat has built ins for books and knick knacks, a sitting area, a luxurious master bath and customized walk in closet. How many bedrooms are there in this house? Do we even care at this point? There are three, plus two full baths and one half bath. There is a two car garage. There is a lovely, arbor rich backyard that doesn’t ave a pool. Don’t need one in this neighborhood. Why? Because of the fantabulous Sparkman Swim Club, where my daughter first learned to swim.

No we didn’t live in Sparkman, we lived on Ainsworth nearby for the first three years of our marriage. I love this area and it’s so affordable: asking $460,000 for this treasure, reduced from $485,000. Which tells me the sellers are serious. They have a jewel of an agent on the job, Susan Melnick of Virginia Cook, who smartly flagged me down for this story.

Susan, my hats off to you. If I could give a prize for best listing of the month, this would be it.

Hmmm… now you’ve got me thinking…