Peek inside T. Boone Pickens’ $7 million Preston Hollow home

The exquisite gardens are the icing on the cake.

9434 Alva Ct. in Preston Hollow

Empty nesters, grab your check book.

DALLAS — We love Tom and Laura Leppert’s home over there on Alva Court in the honeypot of Preston Hollow, listed with Mary Poss, but now comes a slightly sexier competitor to the field. Mmmmmnn.

Dave Perry-Miller & Associates

After lunch, take a dip in the pool.

Dave Perry-Miller has just listed 9434 Alva Court, asking a cool $7 million. And honestly, this has to be the sexiest, most romantic home in all of Dallas.

The home was built in 1996 by Janie and Cappie McGarr, but then when T. Boone and his wife, Madeleine, bought it in July 2005 for about $5 million, it was redone to the max. And I do mean the max. From a four bedroom home with a master on the first floor, it was taken to a three bedroom home with an expanded second floor master. In fact, the new master bathroom is so large it features a writing desk — what a splendid idea. The new master closet is larger than most starter homes. And the exterior gardens will make you think you are in Versailles so much that I swear you will speak French: mais oui, la vie es un rose!

Dave Perry-Miller & Associates

The master bedroom was extended to the entire second floor of the home.

The 8,215 square foot house home has terrific bones, designed by starchitect Wilson Fuqua and built by Jim Shaw. In fact, I remember when this home was under construction as we lived nearby — it took almost two years. The gated Mediterranean estate features magnificent French gardens and dramatic outdoor entertaining areas, all designed by Paul Fields of Lambert’s, with crepe myrtle, rose gardens, fountains, statues, the experience almost musical, crescendoed by a huge sparkling pool and full 500-square-foot cabana that looks inviting even on the dreariest of Dallas days. The grounds are just shy of 1 acre, smack in the heart of Alva Court. Somewhere on the property are also quarters for the housekeeping staff.

Dave Perry-Miller & Associates

Lunch on the patio? Yes, please!

Everywhere you turn, there is impeccable attention to detail and quality and the soft French interiors are so my cup of tea. To start, the custom designed iron and glass entry doors lead you to handsome antique French Quarter limestone flooring in the gallery and living room, forged iron grand stair railing with gold leaf detail, Waterworks and Sherle Wagner fixtures everywhere. The country type kitchen has vertical grain wood plank floors, and this home may well have been one of Ann Sacks’ best customers with the antique terra cotta tile backsplash throughout the kitchen. Get a load, too, of that La Corneu Chateau 150 60-inch custom range. There is architectural lighting to highlight great art everywhere. Three bedrooms, four full and several half baths, the original master is still down, making this a perfect home for empty-nesters.

Well, empty-nesters with a platinum retirement fund.