This Tudor on St. Johns Drive is a Treasure Trove of Highland Park Living

Nearly perfect homes rarely pop up. When they do, I write about them fairly quickly, knowing they’ll be snapped up.

This beauty at 3102 Saint Johns Drive may be gone by the time I start my next paragraph.

Even more: the homes of architects, interior designers, and real estate agents are true-blue finds because they tend to be overloaded with goodness, from detailed architectural elements, thoughtful floor plans, to the latest and greatest in design elements and high quality materials, however much the discount received.

This incredible Tudor at 3102 Saint Johns Drive is also the personal home of Compass agent Lynda Piepgras, one of those multi-talented folks who can do it all: design, remodel, re-build. And, oh yes: sell.

An Incredible Location

Lynda and I first met in Highland Park when she sold her home on Golf Drive, that perfect stretch of homes backing to the creek. This home doesn’t back to a creek, but the lot is unprecedented by Highland Park standards at a whopping 75 by 150 feet wide. Piepgras remodeled an ’80s era home to perfection, from the graciously landscaped walk-up with outdoor dining, to the rich hand-scraped floors downstairs to the backyard swimming pool and grilling station/outdoor living area.

Walk into a foyer boasting a beautiful staircase, and immediately on the left is an enormous great room with full dining capacity and an adjacent wine station. Over the stunning black marble fireplace covering the ENTIRE wall is a hidden projector and retractable screen that comes down at the push of a button. Push another, black-out curtains cover all the windows, including the dramatic front bow bay, sealing the room to light.

“We have had 20 people in here eating, then watching movies or a game,” says Piepgras. “And have squeezed in 100 for a party prior to COVID in this house with no problems!”

Behind this room is a massive dining room with seating for 20, the location convenient to the double wine fridge off the media room. Then there is the kitchen, fully loaded with high-end appliances — Sub-Zero side-by-side, farm sink, pantry, recycle bin, open shelving and sleek custom cabinets. The huge island is a dramatic slab of rare granite that resembles wood: Piepgras says the stone can no longer even be found.

There’s a breakfast room with glass doors leading to the resort environment pool, spa, covered patio, and grilling station with built-ins to hold towels, toys, and pool paraphernalia. The pool area includes French door entrances to at least three rooms in the house, including a pool bath. There is another game room with a full bar, and a man’s cave-style office study that simply rocks: crotch wood paneling, fireplace, wet bar, French doors to the front courtyard, and real bookshelves galore. There is a full bath off this room should it need to be a downstairs bedroom.

Four more bedrooms are upstairs, all en suite baths, including the biggest laundry room on Saint Johns Drive with a farm sink and balcony! Every laundry room should have one — throw towels or sneakers out to dry in the sun, keep an eye on kids in the pool below, or tell the dogs to knock it off.

Speaking of dogs, there’s a full-turf dog run on the western edge of this 5,760 square foot property, with easy kitchen and dining room access.

The master is upstairs and loaded with great closet space plus an oversized bath, and also another upstairs balcony overlooking the pool. Everywhere you turn, there is a designer’s touch. Because, that’s Lynda Piepgras!

This is an ingenious home at 3102 Saint Johns Drive, perfect for families or empty nesters, loaded with versatility and liveability for nesting or entertaining. The location is right south of Mockingbird Lane off Airline Drive, which means you will walk to Snider Plaza and SMU.

Piepgras is asking $2.695 million to move this chapter in her real estate life. Stay tuned for the next one.

Open House: Saturday, May 29, from 2 to 4 p.m.