This University Park Hill Country Modern Caught My Jaded Eye!
Share News:
When you see as many luxury homes as I do, you tend to get a bit jaded. We have a lot of beautiful real estate on the market, but much of it looks alike. It takes something different to pique my interest. So, when luxury stager George Bass shot me a text last week saying, “You need to see this one,” I knew he had staged something special. He was right, as usual. This University Park Hill Country modern farmhouse is going to set some new standards for the luxury market.
I think it comes down to builder Brian Shaw, the owner of Shaw Building Group.
“I build homes I want to move into,” he said. “Before I start the next house, I spend about a year gathering ideas that catch my eye on social media. I particularly notice restaurants because they are usually on the front end of design. I imagine how that will fit into a residential use. However, I don’t want things that are so popular you can look back in a few years and know that was a trend from a particular year.”
Although Shaw has been known to sketch out builds by himself, for this University Park Hill Country modern farmhouse, he turned to architect Clay Nelson, president of C.A. Nelson Architecture Group LLC. The two created a home that, of course, flows beautifully, but it’s the nooks and crannies that made it for Shaw.
“It has hidden corners and intrigues,” he said. Shaw sent his inspiration photos and notes to SWOON, the Studio, which put together the design book that led the project. “I improvise a lot, and they are great at pivoting.”
You know you’re in for that something special the moment you cross the threshold. Warm white oak millwork on the walls, staircase, and laid in a chevron pattern on the floors creates an immediate soft, inviting feeling.
I’m so glad to see the return of the archway. Segmented arches were used to frame the entries into the dining room and what has traditionally been called a formal living room. Shaw presents this jewel box of a room with a fluted wood wall and a marble fireplace as a parlor.
“I joined Park House Dallas in 2020 and fell in love with their Peacock Parlor and billiards room,” he said. “Every house needs a room like this, so I brought that feeling to this room. You can have a boys’ night in here or set up tables for Mah Jongg for a girls’ night.”
A spectacular marble-clad bar serves the parlor and the family room beyond.
“I love drawing the eye to a wall or the ceiling,” Shaw said. “We went kind of wild on the bar ceiling and did detail on the dining room ceiling. I’m fascinated with going old school and bringing back texture. I want to create rooms that you want to touch.”
When it came to the open plan family room, Shaw drew back a bit. “We have a lot going on throughout the house, and I wanted a palate cleansing situation here, easy on the eye.” This room opens through sliding glass doors to the limestone loggia, outdoor kitchen, pool, and turfed backyard.
This may be the most beautiful kitchen on the market right now. I’m a big fan of the continuation of white oak wood from the cabinets onto the ceiling. It wraps you in warmth, which should be expected from the heart of the home.
Of course, a house is never a home unless it’s staged. Shaw brought in the George Bass Stage & Design team for this University Park Hill Country modern farmhouse. “There is the art of the house, and then there is the art of the furniture,” Shaw said. “Their team is great and so passionate about their work.”
It’s clear Shaw’s project dream team hit it out of the park.
