Midway Hollow Modern Raises the Building Bar

Buyers are craving more modern, livable homes, and our Inwood Home of the Week is a sleek, sexy Midway Hollow modern at 3815 Valley Ridge Road just listed by Clay Stapp.

Holz & Stein recently completed this beauty. I was not familiar with the company, so I did a bit of research on them. Suddenly it made perfect sense that I was enamored of this house. The CandysDirt.com team recently returned from Boot Ranch in Fredericksburg where I was taken with the style of the homes — deeply rooted in original German architecture.

It was not particularly surprising to find that Holz & Stein founder Brian Karr has German roots. The company is named after the German word for “wood,” holz, and the word stein is Germanic for “rock” — two of the most integral parts of any build. Although this Midway Hollow modern may seem like a far cry from Texas Hill Country homes, it’s not. Both styles are bound together by simplicity, clean lines, and subtle details. It’s the less-is-more philosophy that has worked since the 1800s.

In addition to a hot builder, the cutting edge architectural firm Fifth Dimension Architecture + Design guided the creation of this two-story Midway Hollow modern. With just over 3,000 square feet, four bedrooms, and three bathrooms the house features rugged and recycled materials alongside streamlined European cabinetry, porcelain tile, and a garage prepped for electric cars.

White oak rift cut floors run throughout the home, and commercial-style steel windows allow in plenty of light. The beamed ceilings in the living room continue through to the outdoor living area, creating a nice design flow. I’m particularly fond of the open-plan kitchen as it marries together white lacquer and dark stained cabinets providing a nice combination of warmth and sleek style.

You’ll notice a new trend emerging that is gaining ground, and that is the wet bathroom. “The bathtub is inside the shower area, and it’s something we see more of,” Stapp said. “Most people think it’s a great idea, especially if you have kids. The wet area is pretty cool.”

Lisa Stapp did a tremendous job staging the house for the target demographic. Showing these modern homes empty does them no justice, so kudos to Clay Stapp and Co. for understanding just how much staging brings to the party here.

The outdoor living area is a perfect for entertaining, with a large patio, wood-burning fireplace, and enough room for a pool.

“This pocket of Midway Hollow has about 20 homes,” Stapp said.“It’s become a little bohemian vanguard of cool modern homes. We are finding it’s exactly what young buyers moving out of uptown want in a first home.”

Stapp has the home listed for $1.05 million, and it’s open this weekend!

Open House: Sunday, Oct. 15, 1 to 3 p.m.

Karen Eubank is the owner of Eubank Staging and Design. She has been an award-winning professional home stager for more than 25 years. She’s been a professional writer for 20 years. Karen is the mother of a son who’s studying music at The University of Miami. An ardent animal lover, she doesn’t mind one bit if your fur baby jumps right into her lap. Find Karen at www.eubankstaging.com