A Magnificent Modern Prairie Mansion in Old Highland Park

How do you build a modern prairie mansion — not just any modern prairie, but a residence so spectacular that it will leave you breathless the moment you enter? Start with a generous budget, then hire a team with extensive experience, and great taste. To top it all off, throw in an homage to Frank Lloyd Wright and voilà: we have 3508 Crescent Avenue in the heart of Old Highland Park.

Builder Chuck Stephenson brought in Dallas architect Lloyd Lumpkins and the client brought in the talented Sofia Joelsson, owner of SoJo Designs in Miami, to create the 12,266-square-foot home.

The house was inspired by the work of Frank Lloyd Wright, with a nod towards his more contemporary Los Angeles textile-block houses.

“We wanted to have the modern attitude of the textile block but the indoor-outdoor relationships you have with the prairie styles,” Lumpkins said.

Remember I mentioned that this home is breathtaking from the moment you enter? That’s because the staircase is something you’ve never seen. Imagine an M.C. Escher drawing come to life.

“We wanted it to look as if blocks of stone were floating without any visible means of support,” Lumpkins said. “The chandelier plays right along with it—hovering Lucite panels floating in air. The two fit perfectly together.”

“The staircase is very dramatic with full glass panels going all the way up, and that light fixture is amazing,” Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s listing agent Pogir Pogir said.

If you can tear yourself away from the entry, which admittedly is tough to do, you may never want to leave. The modern prairie has four bedrooms, five bathrooms, four powder baths, and is filled with spectacular features, luxury finishes, and sophisticated details. Nothing has been overlooked. There are also plenty of items you’ve never thought of, but once you see them, you know you can’t live without them. For instance, this is the first house in Dallas to utilize the apure Porsche Design Studio lighting system.

Floor-to-ceiling walls of glass in the family room glide open with the touch of a button offering that seamless flow from indoors to out. The design plan ensured light would flood the house and there is simply not a dark room anywhere. Of course, should you want to watch TV, electric blackout shades will descend at the touch of another button. But seriously why bother when you have a state-of-the-art home theater in the basement?

Before I get to that tricked-out basement, however, the kitchen beckons. It’s another drop-dead gorgeous, dramatic room that barely resembles a place you make mac and cheese for the kids. All the cabinetry is Ornare, and — are you ready?  — there is a walk-in cold room. Why do you need a cold room? For serious entertaining! You can bring in trays of hors-d’oeuvres and have them ready for the waiters to serve. Believe me, if you are a big entertainer this will change your life.

And you will never have to worry about a power failure. This modern prairie also has a whole house generator. If you’ve ever lost electricity while hosting a cocktail party for 200, you’ll realize the importance of a generator.

You can take what I’ve dubbed the Escher staircase or the ADA-compliant elevator to reach the second-floor bedrooms and the game room. More floor-to-ceiling glass doors lead to the balcony with another feature you never realized you needed. Instead of a railing, there are waist-high glass walls. Brilliant, right? This feature allows you to take in the lovely backyard, designed by Reynolds Landscape & Pools.

Each of the four bedrooms is essentially a master bedroom. The actual master is on the first floor, but anyone would be quite happy in these en-suite, second-floor bedrooms. I know I would! Have I mentioned that I make a great lifetime house guest?

Head back to that sculptural staircase and descend to the basement. Pogir told me it has a proper basement. We know that what that means in Texas. “It’s an amazing environment done up with a flex room that could be anything, an entertainment area, a gallery, a workout room, or a studio,” Pogir said. “There is also a trophy room and a wonderful wine cellar with presentation glass to showcase 1,500 bottles.”

Last, but not least, the one item every car collector will covet is the presentation garage. Through the porte-cochere is a single car garage with a sliding glass wall. You can showcase your Lamborghini Veneno Roadster or your classic 1965 Shelby Daytona Cobra Coupe. If you don’t have a great car, you’ll want to get one. Meanwhile, this space can be used by your caterer because of course, it’s climate controlled. There are a total of four garages and, yes, they are all climate controlled.I’m impressed, and I’m not easily impressed. I’ve seen a lot of lovely properties lately, but this modern prairie is at the the top of my list.

If it’s at the top of your list, give Pogir a call. It’s only $11.95 million. That’s not a facetious remark. This is a great price for a custom home of this caliber.

Karen Eubank is the owner of Eubank Staging and Design. She has been an award-winning professional home stager for more than 25 years and 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.