One of the most important things a seller can do is listen to their Realtor. I cannot emphasize this enough, especially when you have a significant luxury property like this gorgeous Preston Hollow Mediterranean mansion. Candy wrote about it in 2014, calling it one of the most beautiful homes in Dallas. It’s even better now, thanks to a skillful transformation arranged by Dave Perry-Miller’s Ryan Streiff.
It was designed by architect Hudson Lockett III and built by the legendary Nickey Oates, known for flawless classic construction. Of course, the style we were devoted to in 2014 was a lot different than what we love now, and that’s the lesson here.
To be clear, this Preston Hollow Mediterranean has it all. It’s in one of the best locations in Dallas. Set on a very private, gated acre, mature trees and beautiful landscaping surround it. With 11,508 square feet, five bedrooms, and seven-and-a-half bathrooms, it’s perfectly sized for today’s buyers. It was just dated, and Streiff knew the correct course of action was a transformation.
“Our clients trusted in the process,” Streiff said. “They understand buyers don’t want a massive project house. It feels overwhelming to them, especially at the higher price points. Right now, the condition lever is so much more impactful than the price lever.”
Streiff assembled a perfect trifecta of talent. He brought in Philip Thomas Vanderford, president and founder of Studio Thomas James, who you may remember from his exquisite work on multiple Kips Bay Decorator Show Houses and features in every magazine you can think of, from Elle Decor to Forbes. Brad Lemmons of Lemmons Remodeling and LR Paints was tapped to do the heavy lifting, and the always-on-point team at George Bass Stage & Design added the final touches.
The transformation on this stately Preston Hollow Mediterranean mansion began in June, and the house was on the market on Oct. 8. That’s what happens when you have true professionals on the job.
Vanderford was already working with the sellers on their new home. He’d also worked with Lemmons and Streiff before, so there was a deep level of trust on the project.
“I wanted to keep the classical bones but give the home a refresh and make it marketable,” Vanderford said. “We wanted to show the vision, give it a refined feel, and stage it so people could understand it.”
“Ryan and Philip approached me and said they had a great house that feels dated and dark,” Lemmons said. “I’ve known Ryan for several years and worked on his own house, so he trusts us. Philip’s solution was simple. The walls had heavy troweling, there was glazing on the millwork, and overall, it was ornate, which can be distracting. Philip’s idea was to go neutral and light and have a blank palette so potential new buyers can see the house for what it is and not get distracted by personal taste.”
Lemmons brought in a big drywall team to smooth the heavily troweled walls to a Level 5 museum finish. That made an enormous difference, but the most profound transformation was the floors. We’ve all seen red oak parquet lattice-pattern entry floors. They were all the rage in the early 2000s, but that look no longer resonates with buyers in 2025. Who knew you could bleach them? Well, Vanderford and Lemmons did.
“It’s a great solution for a variety of wood floors,” Lemmons said. “You immediately turn a liability into an asset.” His team carried out the bleaching process throughout the house. Now all the flooring has a cohesive look.
The millwork popped once the walls were smoothed out, and simple tweaks to the fireplaces, like removing the top part, completely changed the home’s look and feel.
Staging by George Bass Stage & Design
The entire process took four months, and at times, up to 35 people were working on the house simultaneously. It was not only the indoors that was transformed. The tile roof got a soft washing and the exterior was painted.
“The minute the exterior was painted, our phone began ringing off the hook,” Amy Yates with the Perry-Miller Streiff Group said.
The property features a pool, covered loggia, and expansive grassy areas, all surrounded by manicured hedges and mature trees for ultimate privacy and serenity.
“I love this house now, and to have George Bass put his touch on it pulled it all together,” Lemmons said.
This was such a success story from clients who were on board with the transformation to the dream team of professionals involved. It’s a lesson for anyone trying to sell a home, and most of all, it’s a lesson to listen to and trust your Realtor!
