Lovely Ranch in Mockingbird Park Offers Artful Interiors

On a day-to-day basis, there are two things that make me happy: a glass of good prosecco and Realtors that are genuinely jazzed about their listings. And I know when I choose a property represented by David Griffin & Company agent Sam Saladino, I will always get the latter. And there’s plenty to be excited about with his new listing at 5304 Livingston in West Highland Park, making it a shoo-in for this week’s High Caliber Home of the Week presented by Lisa Peters of Caliber Home Loans. 

“From the moment you step onto the sidewalk, the house exterior and landscape welcomes you in a way reminiscent of post-World War II optimism, and the beginnings of the sophisticated suburban lifestyle,” Saladino said. “Classic brick, shutters, huge picture windows, and shake shingles combined for a restrained, cultivated exterior devoid of tension. Everything is ordered, balanced, in its place.”

Of course, once inside, you start to notice that there’s a level of taste and adventure that is irresistible!

Beautiful, smooth walls, luminous hardwood floors, and gorgeous lighting make this two-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath, 2,327-square-foot Mockingbird Park ranch feel far younger than its 71 years.

“The interior retains a formality with separate living and dining rooms, but all open one into the other thanks to a thoughtful redo a few years ago. Wonderful clear coated wide plank white oak hardwoods throughout reflect all the wonderful natural light in the house,” said Saladino. “We freshened up the interior walls with one of my favorite whites — Benjamin Moore’s ‘China White’ — which is the perfect foil for antiques mixed with soft contemporary furnishings and modern art works.” 

There are two living areas — a glorious formal with a gorgeous fireplace — and a sunroom, which has floor-to-ceiling windows on three sides that allow tons of light to filter into the home, making the crystal chandelier glow below the vaulted-and-beamed ceiling. It’s warm and artful and thanks to the finish-out, can support a variety of decor styles, Saladino said. And he’d know — this Realtor has a long history of interior design prowess. And while there is a lot of white paint, there’s at least one delicious pop of color in the powder bath. It sports bold custom wallpaper, a very sexy wooden vanity, and on-trend brushed brass fixtures and hardware. Trés chic!

And its location — on an oversized lot in a great area of West Highland Park — is enviable and accessible. Plus, there’s a beautiful backyard with a pool, as well as a two-car garage with attached guest quarters. Saladino, who is marketing 5304 Livingston with fellow David Griffin & Company Realtor Lori Ericsson, has priced this lovely, updated ranch for $1.25 million.

“The lot is oversized and has a gentle sloping curve at the corner,” Saladino noted. “The placement of the home on the lot gives the house and side yard a luxury most corner lots don’t have — hardly any cross traffic and a buffer from ambient noise.”

And then there’s the kitchen, which has a beautiful soft neutral color scheme that outdoes the latest white kitchen trends with class. The stone countertops add some texture to the room, which sports a full suite of stainless steel appliances that includes a six-burner Wolf range and a glorious side-by-side SubZero refrigerator. 

“The master has a wonderful large picture ‘sit in’ window overlooking the pool and yard,” Saladino notes. The ensuite master bath is a stunner, too, with a large, marble-lined shower, a beautiful vessel tub, and an oversized double vanity. 

“Speaking of the pool,” Saladino segued, “I love the old school oval with matching brick from the main house. Very Eva Gabor!” At the back of the lot, the main house enjoys a comfortable distance from the classic guest quarters with slate tiles and full bath. It’s a treasure of a property and we can’t wait to see who snaps it up!