You are sitting in a waiting room or standing in the grocery line. Magazines surround you, headlined with stories about celebrities and their secrets to a glamorous life. They give you a glimpse into a world that feels just out of reach, designed to make you want to be part of it. Right next to those celebrity magazines, you find home and lifestyle publications—showcasing stunning houses and
beautiful living spaces. Houses too perfect to be real, rooms too beautiful to believe. These homes are the one percent, with roots in timeless architectural design and traditional elegance. They’re the kind of homes admired from afar, but rarely seen in real life—the celebrities of homes if I may. You catch yourself wondering—what would it be like to live there? Turns out, you don’t have to wonder. My new listing, 10825 Smithdale Road is the cover of Traditional Home’s Fall 2025 issue! Living in one of these homes is no longer just a dream—it’s a reality, one phone call away.

Step inside, and you immediately sense the story this home tells—a story grounded in what the magazine calls “robust Texas bones.” It’s a space where every detail has meaning, where the past and present mingle effortlessly. The Dabbar family’s journey is woven into the very walls. In an exclusive interview with Traditional Home, Susan Dabbar reflects, “We grow when we travel and meet people and live life. They all influence my outlook and how I see the world.” That outlook shaped this home, interpreted masterfully by designer Ben Johnston, who embraced their vision: “I knew that Ben would be able to interpret my aesthetic story in this moment [and showcase that in this house.]”

The design doesn’t cling to one rigid style. Instead, it’s a mixture of what Susan and Ben call “a blend of special things, not a specific style.” It’s a delicate dance as they claim too many similar pieces can get lost, so the goal was to “juxtapose the best of what they love—timelessness realized through a modern lens.” The result is a home that feels both timeless and fresh, elegant yet personal.

Wander into the formal living room, where a French antique bench sits gracefully beside artwork that has been in Susan’s family for generations—a true symbol of enduring beauty and legacy. Across the hall, the dining room features a mural that seems to have no real end, softly fading out to flow seamlessly into the adjoining spaces, inviting conversation and connection.

Though the house retains its “original footprint,” the thoughtful alterations honor the past while welcoming today’s lifestyle. Each room offers something unexpected—a little “weird,” as Ben Johnston puts it—that adds character and warmth. These unique touches keep the home from feeling staged or sterile, instead making it a vibrant, living space.

So if you’re ready to stop flipping through magazines and start living your own beautiful story, 10825 Smithdale Road is waiting to welcome you home. What once felt like a dream glimpsed only on glossy pages is now within reach. Because here, tradition isn’t just admired—it’s lived, loved, and celebrated every day.

Until next time,
Dee Dee Guggenheim Howes

Source: Traditional Home magazine pages 50-58