Place des Vosges; Urban Hideaway in Dallas’ French Countryside

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2 - Exterior 1

Each time I’ve been waved through the gates at Place des Vosges, I’ve been riding shotgun in a Bentley … something akin to tooling around Arlington in a Toyota. It’s just what you do. As Karen Eubank recently pointed out, the original Place des Vosges is in Paris (near the Bastille).  It’s also a stroll from a friend’s Paris home so I’ve enjoyed many a chocolate and a gab in its center park in the same manner as one-time resident Cardinal Richelieu … without the palace intrigue.

However, Dallas’ Place des Vosges, begun in 2006, is based on the slightly later Place Dauphine, located at the tip of Paris’ Île de la Cité and completed in 1616 … 400 years ago.  Both are residential “squares” with a central courtyard, but Place Dauphine is triangular in shape, more like our Place des Vosges.

The development comes to an arrow point on Irving Avenue and Turtle Creek Blvd. to “aim” residents towards Turtle Creek.  It mirrors Place Dauphine’s arrow point, pulling eyes down the River Seine at Pont Neuf.

The “arrow” pointing to Turtle Creek. Unit #2 is in the center top facing towards the creek.

The “arrow” pointing to Turtle Creek. Unit #2 is in the center top facing towards the creek.

These distinctions are often lost to time, but in speaking with Judy Pittman, the original exclusive broker for Place des Vosges, you learn. I don’t have space to share all the architectural tricks that were pulled in the design of this exclusive development of 16 homes.  But every proportion, every view, every window, staircase, and brick was meticulously planned.  And driving around the interior, it shows. It really is its own little world.

The homes themselves are classic French townhomes from the outside.  Their interiors are as unique as their original residents … one even has a turret that opens at night to reveal an observatory … another a full underground garage.  The homes themselves have attracted owners almost certainly downsizing from Park Cities or Preston Hollow. But these owners weren’t downsizing the home, they were downsizing the yard work.  Case in point …

Unit #2 surrounds its owners in 6,163 square feet with four bedrooms and four full and two half bathrooms. Definitely a family home.  Coming full circle, it’s listed with Judy Pittman for $3.75 million (one of the first homes I’ve seen in this bracket that’s pretty close to its DCAD valuation … hurrah!).

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If you hadn’t figured it out already, the entry tells you this isn’t some Oak Lawn, cookie-cutter townhouse.  This is an elegant space for receiving guests and transporting them to the main level via an elevator or for a dramatic entry, the stairs (I’ll take the stairs).  Why is the living level on the second floor?  First, tradition.  Grand town houses of the era often had upstairs living spaces.  Secondly, from the second floor you can see Turtle Creek through the complex’s gates (in winter after the leaves have fallen).

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Once you’ve whisked up the stairs you can see the first of two large terraces that face greenery or Turtle Creek, depending on the season. In this picture you can see the tremendous formal dining room and a peek into the kitchen.  Notice the inlaid wood floors demarking the dining room?

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The second-floor terrace is completely secluded in summer and sheltered from the weather, although you can always hear the burbling of the central fountain.  The center bump-in helps bring light to the ground level ,or as a notch to accommodate a taller tree growing from the ground level. Being very near the kitchen, it’s the perfect place to enjoy breakfast before the heat kicks up.

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On the other side of the second floor is the formal living room with tons of windows to bring in light and views of the trees. The recessed ceiling houses additional lighting to suit the mood.  Also, on the right you can see doors leading out to the terrace.

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The dining room is a stand-out. Hand-painted wallpaper, stone fireplace, and a better view of the elegant inlaid flooring.  But this room is not all that it appears. There’s something hidden here.  Look at the built-ins …

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The built-ins are built in alright.  Built in wine refrigerators!  Talk about not having to go far to whet your whistle — you barely have to get up from the table!  That’s my kind of dinner party.

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The kitchen and breakfast area are tucked between the grand staircase and the dining room.  It has plenty of light, as well as sight lines.  It may not be open concept, but it’s hardly a walled garden.  Informal parties would circulate through the area and around the whole of the second floor.  Of course it goes without saying that the millwork in a property like this is beyond huggable.  Of course, this kitchen has all the modern conveniences its 17th century counterpart lacked, like refrigeration, electric dishwasher, and thermostat-controlled range.  Figure in indoor plumbing and living here is living in the best of the past.

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Again, moving up a level either by elevator or stairs and you reach the master retreat, office, and family room.  You may be thinking you see a round skylight. Wrong.  When a home is this special and classically inspired, it’s called either an oculus or, since we’re in French territory, œil de boeuf (bull’s eye). They’re used to bring light into a structure.  In this case, it lights up the stairwell all the way to the ground.

In this photo, the doors on the far left lead to the family room …

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It’s nice to see that the owners thought about the future.  While that’s a pretty large TV on the wall, its frame is larger still.  As TVs grow (don’t they always?) the cabinetry and frame are built to accommodate.  Another thing to note … look at the ceilings … and the speakers.  There’s some great acoustics in this room.

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The master bedroom.  It’s big. It’s grand. It may look a little dark, but just to the right of the picture is another window.  In a room this large, you can’t see everything in one shot.

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Like all good houses that know where to draw a line, this one also has his and hers bathrooms.  Above we see the hers side.  Swathed in marble and mirrors, it’ll getcha clean while you forget whether you’re in a hotel or your home.

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Not to be outdone, the “his” side has a more classical wood theme.  If this were a cheap house, I’d forgive you thinking the flooring was carpet, but it’s actually three varieties of stone in a diagonal basketweave pattern.  There’s almost too much storage in here for one man.  I fear there’d be a constant vigil to keep “her” from infiltrating into a drawer here, a cabinet there.  Were this the “hers” side, I’d call out the window seat, but men only sit in one place in a bathroom.  So that’s either a pet perch or where I’d momentarily rest a foot while putting on a sock. No bathroom lingerer me.

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Speaking of bathrooms, guests aren’t shortchanged either.  More stone inlay flooring, antique vanity, and super-high ceilings.

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I always like to leave with the outdoors.  Here we see the upper terrace.  Again, in a few short weeks when the trees shed, you’ll be able to see to Turtle Creek.  But there’s one thing you never have to wait for in this home … quiet.  Being in the center of Place des Vosges, there’s no sound beyond the occasional neighbor arriving home.  Just walking around you’re struck by the silence and country feel before remembering you’re so close to the urban core of Dallas.

This is a rare time at Place des Vosges. Of the 16 homes, four are currently for sale. Of course I asked what was up.  Turns out it’s coincidence.  For those shopping in this bracket who want to be secluded yet handy to the city, the choice is yours.

Place des Vosges Unit #3

Place des Vosges Unit No. 3

Pittman’s other listing, No. 3, is a bit more Palladian three-bedroom home with five full and two half baths covering 5,724 square feet.  It’s listed at $5.75 million and also has a creek view.

With just 16 unique and very swanky homes, making a mistake at Place des Vosges is impossible. Talking with Judy Pittman, the woman who’s been there since the beginning, is the best place to start.

Remember:  High-rises, HOAs and renovation are my beat. But I also appreciate modern and historical architecture balanced against the YIMBY movement.  If you’re interested in hosting a Candysdirt.com Staff Meeting event, I’m your guy. In 2016, my writing was recognized with Bronze and Silver awards from the National Association of Real Estate Editors.  Have a story to tell or a marriage proposal to make?  Shoot me an email [email protected].

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Jon Anderson is CandysDirt.com's condo/HOA and developer columnist, but also covers second home trends on SecondShelters.com. An award-winning columnist, Jon has earned silver and bronze awards for his columns from the National Association of Real Estate Editors in both 2016, 2017 and 2018. When he isn't in Hawaii, Jon enjoys life in the sky in Dallas.

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