This Rejuvenated Highland Park Italian Revival Listed by Teffy Jacobs Comes With Quite The Pedigree

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Highland Park Italian Renaissance
Photography courtesy of Costa Christ Media 

It’s lucky for all of us that people like Jamie Singer are passionate about bringing new life to old homes. Plenty of buyers see the beauty, character, and value of historic homes. They just don’t want to do the work to update and create the functionality we need for modern living today. Singer has given new life to this Highland Park Italian Revival mansion in record time.

Highland Park Italian Renaissance

The vintage wood and glass door of this Highland Park Italian Revival opens to reveal a foyer with a 9-foot ceiling and a Clizia Mama Non Mama Suspension Lamp by Slamp Lighting adding just the right touch of modernity.
Highland Park Italian Renaissance

Singer was working as an executive director of a children’s cancer foundation and restoring homes on weekends. Rejuvenating homes has always been her passion, and in 2017 it became her full-time endeavor when she founded Crown Control Homes

Wrapped in pickled pecky cypress paneled walls, the expansive formal living room features a carved cast stone fireplace, handsome hardwood floors, deep molding, and scenic views of the landscaped grounds.

“I’m trying to save as many historic homes as I can because a classic, well-constructed house never goes out of style,” Singer said. “I try to keep the original charm and integrity as much as possible and update the interior to make it visually current.”

Highland Park Italian Renaissance

Saving an Italian Revival From Teardown

A friend told Singer the owner of this beautiful 1927 Fooshee & Cheek Highland Park Italian Revival on Beverly Drive was ready to downsize. However, she was not interested in selling to a buyer who would tear it down. That was music to Singer’s ears. Her offer was accepted, and she got to work reviving this beauty.

Light fixtures always make an enormous difference when updating a home. Singer chose a Generation Lighting Mellita satin brass pendant chandelier by Sea Gull Collection for the formal dining room.

This stunning Highland Park Italian Revival mansion was built for John Furneaux and his wife, Mattie. John was a prominent rancher and farmer best known for bringing scientific methods to farming. The home has been updated over the years, so it was in good condition when Singer purchased it.

The spacious kitchen was updated with Shaker-style cabinets and glass front upper cabinets, quartz countertops, and a glass-tiled backsplash.
Highland Park Italian Renaissance

Singer prefers, whenever possible, to live in a home while she is renovating and updating.

“I can see how the house lives and get a real feel for what is needed,” Singer said. “It makes a huge difference because in using the home each day, you see, for instance, where another shelf could be useful.”

A custom Carlyn Ray hand-blown glass pendant chandelier is a show-stopper over the stairs.

The 3,958-square-foot, three-bedroom, five-bathroom home took only three months to complete. Singer had everything ordered and ready in advance and has a brilliant team. All the bathrooms were renovated, keeping details like historic door handles when possible.

“We opened a wall in the principal bathroom because it was not relevant to how people use bathrooms today,” Singer said.

A luxurious primary bathroom features Bianco Puro white marble, brushed brass fixtures and mirrors
a Restoration Hardware oak washstand, and Calacatta counters.

Singer turned the 281-square-foot back house overlooking the large backyard into stunning guest quarters with a kitchenette and full bath. She even added a dog run and a Tesla charging station to the garage. 

Highland Park Italian Renaissance
Highland Park Italian Renaissance
The grounds have new artificial turf surrounded by hydrangeas, Japanese maple, crepe myrtle, and magnolia trees.

The new life Singer has brought into this gorgeous architecturally significant Highland Park Italian Revival showplace at 4209 Beverly Drive will easily last another century. 

Allie Beth Allman & AssociatesTeffy Jacobs has 4209 Beverly Drive offered at $4.495 million.

Karen is a senior columnist at Candy’s Media and has been writing stories since she could hold a crayon. She is a globe-trotting, history-loving eternal optimist who would find it impossible to live well without dogs, Tex-Mex, and dark chocolate. She covers luxury properties and historic preservation for Candys Dirt.

1 Comments

  1. Bill on January 17, 2023 at 3:57 pm

    Beyond perfection!!!! SO glad this gorgeous home did not meet the wrecking ball.

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