Category Archives: Urban second homes

My Serene Second Home in Downtown Dallas: Uber Customized at the W

Written by Candy Evans on July 13, 2011

This meticulously spacially planned designer condo in the W South Tower is a true one-of-it’s kind in the building. The interior was designed by New York designer, John Chadwick. Then along came Scott and Cooner, who installed the Varenna kitchen with Kuppersbusch appliances, SubZero, caesarstone countertop and a glass backsplash to match the island.

Posted in Dallas real estate news, emerging real estate markets, Second home trends, Second Shelters, Urban second homes | Tagged Bedroom Doors, Dallas real estate news, Garage Spot, Kuppersbusch Appliances, Scott And Cooner, Sliding Doors, Square Foot Unit, W Dallas | Comments Off

A Perfect Second Home in New York City: The Paramount Hotel

Written by Candy Evans on July 12, 2011

We are going to feature very select hotels here on SecondShelters, because more hotels are becoming second homes, some offering CondoHotel deals as well as residences. Two weeks ago, I was in New York City, where I have had my share of negative hotel experiences. Hint: you smell Febreeze, there’s a reason. But I finally found the most perfect hotel in New York City if you want to be in the middle of Times Square and simply walk across the street to a theater. I’m talking 46th Street just a bit east of Broadway. Location with a capital L but also, once inside, a complete peaceful oasis from the NYC jungle with a huge Texas plus to make Dallasites feel right at home: interior furnishings by our very own Cantoni. Continue reading “A Perfect Second Home in New York City: The Paramount Hotel” »

Posted in Designer's Corner, Famous Architects, House Candy, New York City, Private Residence Club, Second home trends, Second Shelters, Urban second homes | Tagged Broadway Location, Ian Shrager, Liza Minelli, Paramount Hotel, Philippe Starck, Starck Bathrooms, Yoko Ono | 5 Comments

Dallas Celeb Real Estate: Where Jon Voight Slept in Dallas — 1505 Elm

Written by Candy Evans on March 18, 2011

From Midnight Cowboy to best grandpa ever!

Whenever and wherever he slept at 1505 Elm, the proud grand pappa had the photos of his grandchildren on every wall to keep him company.

Posted in Celebrity Homes, Dallas real estate news, Second Shelters, Urban second homes | Tagged 1505 Elm, Dallas real estate, Grandchildren, Jon Voight, Photos | Comments Off

Dallas Celebrity Real Estate News: Jon Voight Slept Here

Written by Candy Evans on March 18, 2011

Or, here’s why we like it when movies are made in Dallas.

First: what’s not to like about 1505 Elm in downtown Dallas? The .59 per square foot home association dues? That it was designed by George Dahl, built in 1957 as Dallas Federal Savings, once belonged to the Chamber of Commerce, was snapped up by Lazarus Property Co. who purchased the building in 2001 and turned it into 67 luxurious condominium units? There’s underground and valet parking, theater, fitness center, sauna, wine cellar, a catering kitchen, exterior amenities like a pool, dog run, and exterior cooking pavilion, and 24 hour valet and concierge. Enough good stuff that when actor John Voight was in Dallas recently to film the pilot for Midland, he leased a two bedroom, two and a half bath unit at 1505 Elm for about $3,000. (Can you imagine what that would have cost in NYC or LA?) Not only did he lease it, he furnished it complete with big gorgeous blown up photos of his grandchildren, yes, Angelina’s babies.

Posted in Celebrity Homes, Dallas real estate news, Second Shelters, Urban second homes | Tagged 1505 Elm, Charlie Palmers, George Dahl, Iron Cactus, John Voight, Luxurious Condominium, Mansion On Turtle Creek, urban second homes | 1 Comment

Slab Versus Pier & Beam: Which is Warmer?

Written by Candy Evans on February 3, 2011

OK, it is really cold in Texas tonight. 20 degrees right now. Supposed to go down to 14. It is my opinion that most homes in Texas are not built for this kind of weather unless they have basements and theromopane windows. Home with old single pane windows are frozen over. I had a pier and beam home because I thought that would be warmer, now I have a pier-ed slab. Both, it seems, are cold. So informal poll: which is warmer in winter, the slab or pier and beam home?

Posted in Dallas real estate news, Urban second homes | Tagged Basements, cold weather & homes, Informal Poll, Pane Windows, Pier And Beam, Slab, Weather | 6 Comments

Super Bowl XLV Creates Significant Growth for Dallas/Fort Worth Rental Market

Written by Candy Evans on February 2, 2011

It is a tribute to the power of the real estate market that one of the major advertisers in this year’s game, again, is HomeAway.com. (Click here to see their unique, customizable spot — travelers can insert their faces as a main character in the commercial and vacation rental home owners can feature their listings. I’m even in this one!) The Austin-based firm offers a comprehensive on-line smorgasbord of vacation homes for rent, what many of you may know as VRBO (vacation rentals by owner) dot com. The company is doing extremely well, and growing, because more Americans want to monetize their vacation home properties, and more families want to stay in private homes when they vacation.

Posted in Celebrity Homes, Dallas real estate news, Real Estate, Second home demographics, Second Shelters, Urban second homes | Tagged Dallas Forth Worth rentals and Super Bowl XLV, DFW rentals and Super Bowl, Super Bowl commercials, Super Bowl XLV, Vacation Home Properties, Vacation Rentals By Owner, Whopping Increase | Comments Off

Dallas Real Estate News, Super Bowl XLV Rentals: DFW House Porn’s Finest Hour

Written by Candy Evans on January 24, 2011

It’s the Steelers versus Green Bay! This is a guest post from my Arlington, Texas correspondent and fellow House Porn lover John Burgdorf: Superbowl XLV comes to town soon and Arlington will be filled with Pit and cheese fans needing beautiful homes, sexy homes. John did some research to bring us the best. Hurry, Steeler and Green Bay fans are trolling the Internet as we speak! These won’t last long:

Posted in Second home trends, Second Shelters, Super Bowl rentals, Urban second homes | Tagged Bay Fans, Colleyville Texas, Household Items, Steeler fans, Superbowl Xlv | 4 Comments

House Porn, New York City Style, Continued

Written by Candy Evans on January 18, 2011

I found this jazzy website showcasing 5 East 44th, and listening to it just reminded me of the good old days when properties could be sold for $1500 per square foot. (Ah, those were the days.) Also found out this building is one of the narrowest “slivers” in midtown, only 28 feet wide, designed by Alan Ritchie of The Office of Philip Johnson, which also designed the Urban Glass House at 330 Spring Street. Developer was Sam Suzuki of The Vintage Group. I wondered what was going on across the street: the Cornell Club. Here’s the fun stuff: the site once was occupied by Canfield’s Gambling House, which was closed in an anti-vice campaign in 1901 by District Attorney William Jerome and, according to New York Songlines, a website, was “perhaps the most prestigious illegal joint of the Gilded Age.”

Posted in New York City, Second Shelters, Urban second homes | Tagged 5 East 44th | Comments Off

Dallas Real Estate News: Mockingbird Station Developer Goes Belly-Up in Fort Worth

Written by Candy Evans on December 30, 2010

That would be Ken Hughes, who just lost 29 unsold condos in the ArtHouse section of So7, the residential, office and retail development next to Trinity Park on Fort Worth’s near west side. The Fort Worth Star Telegram reports the units were sold to an Arlington-based real estate investment group called PassGoLtd., after the property had been posted for foreclosure.

Posted in Dallas real estate news, Fort Worth Condos, Second Shelters, So7 Fort Worth, Urban second homes | Tagged Fort Worth is my second home, Fort Worth urban living, Ken Hughes, Mockingbird Station, So7 Fort Worth | 1 Comment

Secret House on Secret Street in Not So Secretive Dallas

Written by Candy Evans on December 21, 2010

Guest post by Andrew Chalk

Let’s say you wanted to live in a second home in Dallas, so you could get away from it all without actually stepping one tootsie outside of Dallas. Try this pup. It is not on Zillow. It is not on Google. Even the street is private. However, it is just one and a half miles from downtown Dallas. It does have the trademark sign of picky realtor Doug Newby on the front lawn, and it does appear among the featured listings on his web site. I am talking about 3840 Turtle Creek Drive. Newby’s web site describes it as a 3000 sq. ft. period modern from the 1960s with an abundance of windows, porches, decks and terraces. Those can all be put to good use as one aspect of the house overlooks the manicured lawns of a $20m house and another overlooks the Dallas skyline. Its 0.58 acres is set in leafy Turtle Creek Park amid only 35 other architect-designed residences. Newby even lets on that “this small, secure neighborhood is my favorite in Dallas.”