You Won’t Recognize This Highland Park Mediterranean That Jonathan Rosen Just Listed

Nothing exemplifies how tastes and bank accounts have changed more in the past few years than this Highland Park Mediterranean.

Our CandysDirt.com crew has a long history with this one. We all did the proverbial jaw-drop back in 2018 when we partied here during the property’s first sale. This was once, of course, the home of Wade Neal Barker, a Mesquite bariatric surgeon who pleaded guilty to his role in a $200 million health care fraud deal involving the now defunct Forest Park Medical Center on North Central Expressway (just north of Forest Lane), of which he was a co-founder. Dr. Barker was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison. 

When I opened up my computer today, I did that jaw-drop again.

Any home designed by Robbie Fusch, built by John Sebastian, and landscaped by Harold Leidner is going to be spectacular, but this one still stands out, definitely more impressive. At 16,098 square feet with six bedrooms and 10 bathrooms, you’ll have to put GPS trackers on the kids. That can work out in your favor, however, if you don’t tell them about the wine grotto. It’s better than any escape room.

What caught my attention in this home was the main thing I wanted the owner to change. However, when you’ve purchased a $6 million lot and then put $22 million into your property, you are not open to changing oceans of mustard Venetian plaster — and it was everywhere.

Here’s a tip for selling a house: Never, and I mean never, tint your Venetian plaster with a color. And never use mustard color anywhere, for any reason. Not even in a Mediterranean.

The new entry, pristine white and clean-lined, looks magnificent! It’s just what I had envisioned and makes it clear you are entering not only a substantial home but also a tasteful one.

Don’t get me wrong — I like color and wallpaper, but there are many situations when white is right, especially when you have architectural interest. The redesign of the entry and staircase is simple yet complete genius. It is also completely unexpected in a Mediterranean home.

The floor makes the statement here, and that’s where it should be made. If it’s not a statement you love, it’s a lot easier to change than miles of mustard. Regardless, you know if the entry is an indication of what comes next, simply call your banker now. 

The home was laid out beautifully when it was built because life centers around the kitchen and this one has been transformed into a much lighter, brighter space that is so welcoming. It’s a great example of the right way to blend the family living space and kitchen without it feeling like a big box of a room.

What is particularly nice about this arrangement are the floor-to-ceiling French doors opening onto yet another living area, which then opens to the pool. You have to do a double take a wonder if you are actually inside or outside, but seriously, stop thinking, grab a cocktail, and enjoy that glorious backyard view.

When we were having one of our infamous CandysDirt.com Staff Parties here, we shot a video of Candy, who dubbed the principal suite an environment. At 2,600 square feet with gigantic his-and-hers bathrooms and closets, a private living area, and a loggia with a fireplace overlooking the grounds, it’s more than a wing, so environment pretty much sums it up.

An elevator runs to all three floors and there is the requisite media room and state-of-the-art home gym with a dry sauna and massage room. What will stop you in your tracks is the fact that you can house 12 cars here — yes, 12.

That alone makes it worth the sticker price, don’t you think?

I’m so happy this home has finally blossomed into what we all knew it could be. I think it’s going to make someone — a lot of someones, that is, unimaginably happy.

Compass Real Estate listing agent Jonathan Rosen has this lovely Mediterranean at 3509 Euclid Ave. in Highland Park available for $27.995.