Neighborhood Knock-Outs: These Midway Hollow Specs Exemplify Contemporary Cool

It’s impossible not to notice the plethora of exceptional contemporaries in Midway Hollow — and the Iconic Real Estate signs in front of them. Each exemplifies the CandysDirt.com-approved builder’s trademark style: homes that are sleek and modern, yet at the same time, warm and inviting.

“Our aesthetic leans toward minimalism and a mix of materials,” says designer Heaven Porteous. “The Avant Group specializes at blending functionality with high design. We let the houses speak for themselves.”

It’s clear the strategy is working. Since launching in 2015 with just three spec homes, custom builds now represent a majority of the group’s business. 

“Our profile is to make modern houses affordable,” says Porteous. According to the company’s 2019 Custom Home Pricing guide, construction costs range from $165 to $185 per square foot (based on home size with standard equipment and finishes). “Our cost-to-build beats all our competitors.”

How do they do it? Solid contractor and vendor relationships are key. So is offering a full-service in-house team that includes Porteous; big-picture visionary Chris Jent; award-winning custom builder and Certified Green Professional Louis Howell; and Iconic Real Estate owner and company founder Matthew Scobee.

“The feedback we get is how much smoother the process is when we walk through the entire design/build with clients,” says the Avant Group designer. 

A native New Yorker, Porteous admits to being amazed by the sheer amount of space to work with in Texas.

“All of our houses reflect an appreciation for efficiency.” Floor plans connect rooms that make sense. In real life, that means garages have direct access to pantries; laundry rooms connect to closets. “Every home takes the flow of the owners’ lives into account.”

And while Avant builds throughout the Metroplex — Lakewood, Lake Highlands, Preston Hollow, Highland Park and Frisco — a trio of Midway Hollow spec homes showcase the company’s signature style. The 3406-square-foot property (currently under contract) at 3759 Juniper Drive sports a covetable single-level floor plan, 12-foot ceilings and spacious living/dining/kitchen area. Ideal for entertaining, a recent company-sponsored event comfortably accommodated over 100 guests. Additional features include a double pocketed-door den, expansive sliding glass doors opening to the outside and ebony skyfall granite countertops. 

 

Dual-tone stucco adds interest to the front elevation of the 3752-square-foot home located at 9936 Dresden Drive. Inside, 20-foot ceilings in the main living area support an open, airy feel; modern LED light fixtures provide visual interest. In addition to the lower level master suite and study, two additional upstairs bedrooms connect via a railed passageway to a game room with an adjacent covered balcony. 

A third Midway Hollow spec, located at 3835 Seguin Drive, features a single-slope slanted skillion roof and exterior LED soffit lighting. Slated to be available at the end of November, the 3350-square-foot home also has Calacatta-like quartz in the kitchen and a unique wood accent wall in the master suite.

“We’ve gotten more requests for this floor plan and front elevation than any other property,” says Porteous. And there’s more to come. “We haven’t strayed from the product we’re putting out there. The cool thing is that clients are coming to us because they like what we do.”