Home of the week: Winspear penthouse at The Vendome in Dallas

It's been reduced more than $2 million from its original price.

View from Winspear penthouse in The Vendome

This is an unusual Sale of the Week. My dear readers, this is House Porn at its highest and finest in Dallas.

The name Winspear rings a bell, no? As in the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House that comprises one of the four beautiful arts venues at our AT&T Performing Arts Center? They are among the most charitable people in Dallas. Mrs. Winspear has been on the Dallas Opera board since 1975, and they have donated $1.5 million to complete the Lyric Theatre at the University of North Texas’ Murchison Performing Arts Center, and the Bill and Margot Winspear Endowment for the College of Music at UNT. They have given more than $2 million to the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Centers. There is also, of course, that $42 million they gave to give Dallas a 21st century version of a traditional opera house, seating 2,200 with the most perfect acoustics in the world.

Not only does this penthouse on the 18th floor of The Vendome, that’s 3505 Turtle Creek, have great acoustics, it has its own swimming pool with 24 feet ceilings overlooking Turtle Creek and the Dallas skyline. The 14,740 square foot spectacle took four years to create. The penthouse encompasses more than 20 rooms including two powder baths, five full bathrooms, four bedroom suites, a media room, a club room, a golf room, and a game room. The details are beyond superb. (Design District devotees would drool at these interiors.) Surely you have heard by now of Sherle Wagner, the highest of the high-end gold gilt gorgeous bathroom fixtures? This penthouse, I’m told, is like a Sherle Wagner museum! There is custom DeGournay silk wall coverings, European marble fireplaces, rare carved French 17th century entry doors, everything you would find in $20 million estate, only it’s on the 18th floor of the Vendome and that is your view 24/7.

Previously listed with Judy Pittman in April of 2009 for $8,850,000, it is now listed with Ralph Randall of Dave Perry-Miller & Associates for $6,695,000. I will see it and bring you all the details as if you were there — front row seat! From what I’ve heard, at the new price, this is like getting a few bullions of gold for darn tootin’ free ...