ome on in C

Lake Highlands homeowners let neighbors sneak a peek for a worthy cause

Story by Christina Hughes Babb |

by Jeanine Michna-Bales

WWith its rolling landscape, towering dogwood trees, kid-friendly green spaces and vibrant flora — especially during azalea season — Merriman Park Estates is arguably one of Dallas’ most desirable neighborhoods.

That is why, despite a growing family, Amy and Ric Moseley didn’t want to part with their property on Colfax, where they had lived in a modest home since 1999.

Amy, born and raised in Lake Highlands, says that in addition to the aesthetic surroundings, she adores the neighborhood for its sense of community. Her parents still live in White Rock Valley, and many of her high school friends have returned to the area to raise their children. She puts it simply: “Lake Highlands is home.”

After daughters Maggie and Kate, now 12 and 10 re- spectively, were born, the Moseleys started thinking about remodeling and expanding, but it proved complicated. Eventually they decided to tear the whole thing down and build a new home.

“It was not an easy decision,” Amy says. “We lived in that house for years and had made a lot of memories there. Seeing it come down was emotional.”

Architect Lynn Beckwith of Highland Homes worked with the family to build their dream house, a process that took 18 months or so. In May 2011, the Mosleys moved into their new 4,500-plus square foot, four bedroom, and four and two half bathroom abode.

Wide-open spaces — the breakfast area, den and kitchen are all attached, for example — and flooding natural light are the home’s signatures. Amy, with the help of a friend — an interior designer and Lake High- lands graduate named Lori Courrege — used muted, natural tones with splashes of rusty orange as a framework for simple, refined furniture as well as paintings by local artists.

“I gave artist Michelle Stroescu my colors and commissioned her to do something for the game room,” she says. Two pieces from Dallas artist Scott Kerr hang on other walls. Sliding barn doors that open to that game room at the top of the stairs play up the rusticchic vibe. Though they look as if they could have been, the doors were not salvaged from an old world farm. The wood is new and another local artist, Cindy Householder, did the finish on the doors to give them that rustic, beat-up look. “She did an amazing job,” Amy adds.

Kate and Maggie’s rooms are as young girls’ rooms should be — dazzling blues and limes and pinks featuring fuzzy pillows, squiggly

CHRiSTMAS EVE WORSHiP

5:00 PM

Family Christmas Eve Worship

Hear the Christmas Story read and dress as your favorite biblical character. It will be a full house, so come early for a great seat.

7:00 PM

ChristmasCandlelightEve Worship

Candles and carols, with music led by Chancel Choir, soloist and instrumentalist.

JOiN US

Dec. 15th at 8:30-11AM

Breakfast In Bethlehem

Pancake breakfast, crafts, bake walk & gingerbread house decorating.

Breakfast: $3 Adults / $2 Children

Dec. 9th at 6:30 PM Concert Holiday in the Highlands prints and funky bedframes.

From classic carols to the ‘Canine Christmas Concerto’— enjoy this pure, musical celebration of all things Christmas!

Admission is free.

The home is one of four on the Lake Highlands Women’s League’s 34th annual Holiday in the Highlands Home Tour. Though it’s not easy preparing to show your home to hundreds of visitors, Amy says she is happy to do it. “It is for such a good cause.”

The home tour, along with an accompanying crafts market the same day, is the league’s only big fundraiser, says member and publicity chair Cheryl Zreet. The earnings are used primarily to award college scholarships to Lake Highlands students and to supplement the needs of Lake High- lands schools. Last year, Zreet says, the league gave away about $160,000. Since its inception, the organization has given about $1.318 million to scholarships and more than $602,587 to school and capital projects. “That’s almost $2 million,” Zreet notes.

Chairwomen Carolyn Murray and Allison Brown selected the four homes for this year’s tour — they include new construction (the Moseley home), a renovation and an *elaborately outfitted hunting-themed home — think horned beasts welcoming tourists as they enter — that organizers promise “will attract a lot of attention.”