This 6-bedroom Dallas home was inspired by the owners’ travels and love of history

Every home tells a story, but this custom home tells multiple stories — some about history, others reflecting the owners’ travels and how they met. While many custom homes incorporate personalized elements, this one takes it to a whole new level.

The home at 5928 Glendora Avenue was built in 2008 for the Arata family. Kathryn and Stephen Arata met at Southern Methodist University, and you’ll see this element of their story reflected in the home — Mustang blue and red elements can be found throughout the design. The home has six bedrooms, seven bathrooms and one half-bathroom.

Kathryn Arata called the 8,656-square-foot home a Tudor design but noted that elements throughout are pulled from different eras and multiple countries.

“It’s a traditional home, but the art is what makes it look old,” she said. “We’ve traveled all over the world and collected items that fit within our aesthetic, which is this sort of Gothic Revival.”

Arata received an interdisciplinary degree in medieval studies from SMU and said she has always loved the Middle Ages. The family also traveled extensively and sourced design inspiration from their trips.

“There are elements around the house that are reminiscent of places we visited around the world,” Arata said.

Two 300-year-old fireplaces from Belgium are placed in the home, she said, and a tile painting on the floor was modeled after art in Turkey. The home’s front door was designed to mimic the door at Shakespeare’s house in Stratford-upon-Avon, she added. The wood beams in the two-level great room are modeled after a cathedral in Sweden.

She said the home was designed for entertaining, so the shared or public spaces — the kitchen, great room, living room, dining room, wine room, library and media room — are all on the first level. Five bedrooms, including the primary suite, are on the second level.

The primary suite has tall, vaulted ceilings with wood beams that Arata said were modeled after St. Margaret’s Church, Westminster, in London. The suite features a large bedroom with a sitting area and a fireplace, plus an attached private library or study.

The home also has a finished basement that includes an additional living room with a bar. Another room could be a craft or hobby room. Arata noted that the sixth bedroom suite, which is on the basement level, is ADA-compliant (there’s an elevator in the home, too).

Outside, the home has a patio complete with two misting systems, one that prevents mosquitos and another that helps cool the space. The home sits on 0.498 acres and has a pool in the backyard.

The property is on the market for $3,490,000 and is listed by Danna Morguloff-Hayden and Martha Morguloff of Ebby Halliday Cos.

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