A Design-Inspired Highland Park Transitional Mediterranean Goes From Spec to Spectacular
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Alex and Carolyn Madrinkian had just moved to Dallas when they spotted this beautiful Highland Park Transitional Mediterranean spec by Byers Custom Homes. Alex, who has always had an eye for design, was keen to customize it. He took it from spec to spectacular!
“I had a vision for the house,” Alex said. “We had just come from Manhattan Beach, and we were trying to bring that California feel into it. One of the things we saw in Highland Park was that a lot of the homes were very divided with formal living spaces. We liked this home because it had an open plan, and my wife and I love to entertain. It fit that, and we wanted to bring in vibrant color and an airy feeling.”
You can see Alex’s talent for design the minute you walk into the 20-foot-tall entry hall of this Highland Park Transitional Mediterranean. He designed the custom rug, as well as all the other rugs in the house, with Kyle Bunting, a firm renowned for its hide rugs. “My intent was to draw the eye through to the family room.”
But before you head down the hallway of this 5,790 square-foot, five bedroom Transitional Mediterranean, the dining room to the left will stop you in your tracks. It’s not just lovely, it’s unexpected and innovative.
“I used a fabric wall covering from Knoll,” Alex said. “It matches the chairs and gives a free-flowing vibe to the room that makes it fun and airy.”
The table and chairs are classic Eero Saarinen from Knoll, covered in custom fabric.
“One of the things I try to accomplish is for every room to have a purpose,” Alex said.
Alex is an audiophile, so he turned what most of us would have relegated to an unused formal living space into a media and music room, complete with acoustic panels.
Once you get to the family room, you’ll see that Alex has taken the guessing game out of furniture placement, which can often be a challenge with open floor plans.
“The home was designed with a breakfast room, but between the family and kitchen, there was a large open section,” Alex said. “It’s just off the bar, so we created a little cocktail lounge, and it gets the most traffic.”
“A lot of the furniture is from Knoll,” Alex said. “I think one of the things that attracted me to this furniture is that it is timeless. Even though they are midcentury, they remain attractive and versatile today.”
The large primary features a Juliette balcony and a sitting area.
“The furniture and decor are from Jonathan Adler,” Alex said. “He inspires me a lot. I like his use of color and pattern.”
In addition to the luxurious bathroom with marble and quartz finishes, the primary suite has a knockout of a dual closet and a glam room.
“We took one of the bedrooms attached to the closet and created it,” Alex said.
Carolyn got her glam room in the house, and Alex got his favorite room, the garage! It’s climate-controlled with Swisstrax flooring, Sonic professional cabinets, and even a wall-mounted pressure washer.
“It’s my favorite part of the house because I’m a car enthusiast,” Alex said.
When you have the decorating bug, you just keep doing it, so the Madrinkians are on to their next design adventure, which means you have an excellent opportunity to own a spectacular home!
