Tired of Open-Concept? Classical Perfection Can Be Found in Monticello

It’s not as easy as you might think to turn out a weekly Fort Worth Friday column. This week I had to sift through a lot of less-than-wonderful to find wonderful. I believe one example will suffice. See above.

Even the most cavernous of open concept schemes can’t prevent the weight of all of that costly lumber from bearing down on one. Address withheld. By the way, do you know there are 1,452 words in the English language with a double H? I digress.

After searching through dozens of listings, my patience was richly rewarded with the discovery of a listing that embodies near sheer classical perfection. It had such an air of familiarity I began to wonder if I had encountered this exquisitely comely dwelling before.

“Wait a minute,” I thought as I perused the photography, “it’s not the house I recognize, it’s the impeccable design and style.”

A quick text and prompt reply confirmed that it was the work of the talented and very architecturally literate Justin Seitz, whose work has been highlighted here before. A trip to his website is time well spent and features example after example of the designer’s restrained, opulent approach.

Brimming with curb appeal, the house sits on a deep, lush, half-acre lot. The front door is reached by an offset slate walkway. The dainty symmetrical portico fairly floats over the handsome structure. The chimney at center creates an interesting and strong architectural element.

Hiding behind the modest proportions of the façade lies four bedrooms, four-and-one-half baths, and over 4,100 feet of ethereal space. At over 600 square feet, the vast living room is the size of a small loft apartment.

As is customary with Seitz, materials are of the highest caliber.

Impressive are the custom doors, paneled walls, and white-washed brick floors in the vestibule. The perfect proportions of the voluminous living room are given added strength by the coffered ceiling. Speaking of proportions, notice the way Seitz establishes a line with the French windows topped with clerestory windows matched by the cased openings with over trumeaux, symmetrically dispersed around the delicious space. The book-matched stained maple chimneypiece crashes dramatically through the entablature to the ceiling.

The interior architecture wasn’t the only thing about this listing evoking a strong bout of déjà vu. 

The sophisticated styling of the rooms looked a lot like … could it be? Yes, a text exchange confirmed it was Fort Worth’s favorite luxury stager, Tina Sharp McMackin who has been featured no fewer than 10 times in CandysDirt.com.

The kitchen has a nostalgic ambiance with its industrial super range hood, a vintage-looking center table, and floor to ceiling cabinets painted a dreamy color I think I’ll call “Moonstone.” The backsplash is a hand-painted tile from Tabarka. Details. Notice the custom edge of the black granite countertops. Seitz tells me it’s a modified Dupont edge.

Even the seemingly endless corridor is a delight with French windows with pool views. The length of the hall is made manageable by beams that punctuate the ceiling at rhythmic intervals.

The ground-floor, 350-square-foot, primary bedroom has a soaring vaulted ceiling and a bay window looking out to the pool. The fully equipped en suite bath features twin sinks, a sleek slipper jetted tub, as well as a steam shower and sitting area. Bedrooms are split over two floors.

The back portico reprises the front with columns and another chimney breaking through the roof. The beautiful cruciform pool is embraced by two wings, almost certainly later, but skillfully conceived additions. The two-car garage is at the end of a gated drive.

John Zimmerman of The John Zimmerman Group at Compass listed 3612 Monticello Drive on October 1st for $1.7 million.