Some prospective homeowners want a project house. Hoping to invest some sweat equity into their property, they’re on the hunt for a fixer-upper they can make their own. And in a hot area like Lakewood, where dirt can cost you nearly a half-million big ones, it’s a cost-effective way to get into a coveted neighborhood.
Fortunately for those wanting a turn-key solution, this is not that house. Located at 6811 Velasco Ave., this 3,428-square-foot beauty has been pristinely maintained and beautifully updated by its current owners. Instantly welcoming from the moment you pull up — who doesn’t love rocking chairs on a covered porch? — the ranch-style home is just as timelessly lovely inside as it is outside.
Light walls and mid-tone hardwood floors create a clean, neutral palette that will accommodate furniture of any style or shade. A formal living-dining room is bright, with large windows and a combination of recessed lighting and a stylish pendant. Thick crown molding and built-ins are nice bonuses. The sellers made many such updates to the home, including adding hardwood floors in the entry to match the rest of the downstairs living area.
Off the kitchen, the cozy family room features more built-ins and a gas fireplace. Thanks to a long breakfast bar, anyone cooking in the well-appointed kitchen can still converse with guests or watch TV. A breakfast nook boasts — you guessed it — built-ins for displaying servingware and the like.
There are five bedrooms in the home, with three full and two half-baths, but the showstopper is undoubtedly the spa-like master bath. A large walk-in shower has a rainfall head, body jets, and endless hot water thanks to a tankless water heater, while dual sinks and a seated vanity area provide ample space for getting ready on hectic mornings. But our favorite features of the bath are the heated floors and smart-tint window, which offers privacy on demand. (All of the windows in the house, in fact, have been upgraded to low-e windows.)
Upstairs, the remaining bedrooms and bathrooms are nicely sized. A third living space overlooks the backyard and boasts a mini kitchenette for when it’s too much trouble to go downstairs to grab a refill. There’s more living space outside — on two sizable, pavestoned patios — and a hot tub. The lot has mature trees and a side yard that could easily be used as a dog run or garden area.
Zoned for the coveted Lakewood Elementary and located close to amenities such as Lakewood Country Club, White Rock Lake, and Whole Foods, the home combines the best of looks and location. Listed by Alessandra Antonio of Coldwell Banker Residential, it has the hefty price tag of $899,000 — but then it's also a move-in ready family home in the family-friendliest of neighborhoods.
There's a second outdoor living space where the whole family can kick back and relax.
