If you like pink as much as the late cosmetics queen Mary Kay Ash did, then the house she built in Dallas might be just the place for you. The pink mansion sits on over an acre of land in Old Preston Hollow and is on the market for $3.3 million. Take a look!
In this close-up of the front door you get a better idea of how pink the house really is:
The mansion, which was designed by Dallas Design Group in 1984, is nearly 12,000 square feet. Mary Kay herself felt it was too big and moved back to the house she had lived in before this one in her later years.
The words “hotel lobby” came to mind when I saw the next room:
The current owners have neutralized much of the house, but there’s reportedly a pink quartz toilet that remains in one of the bathrooms.
Mary Kay started her cosmetics company in 1963. I think it’s the first makeup I ever tried, since that’s what my mom always had on her vanity.
There are 6 bedrooms and 8 baths. This one is so big (320 square feet, 2 stories tall, with an open loft above) it’s kind of ridiculous. And how would you like to wake up with the sun streaming through those windows every morning?
When I was researching this post, I stumbled onto a website called Pink Truth that sets out to debunk the myths about selling Mary Kay Cosmetics–mainly that you can’t really make money doing it (it’s all about recruiting). Have any of you sold it? Anyone earn a pink Cadillac?
The library is cozier:
The pool area was “copied from the legendary San Simeon estate in California:”
Want to live like a cosmetics legend? More photos and information in the listing by Karen Luter and in an article on Yahoo! (Thanks to all the readers who sent me info about it!)
P.S. This reminds me of Larry Dean’s pink mansion in Atlanta. Remember that one? It was even bigger than Mary Kay’s–a whopping 32,000 square feet:
It took 4 years to build and 15 years to finally sell, possibly because of the kinda crazy interiors (some of you liked them, but most of you…didn’t). It sold for $13.9 million and was then promptly demolished. You can read the whole story and see the photos here:
Larry Dean’s “Pink Elephant” in Atlanta
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Good morning, my dear friend!
Are you enjoying your weekend? I’m just getting ready to do some work around my house. I’m transforming my foyer by adding some wallpaper. Wish me luck!
I saw this house for sale before, but had no idea it was hers. The pool is the best part for me. Magnificent!
Have a blessed week, Julia!
xo
Luciane at HomeBunch.com
Finally a house that reflects money! In reference to Melissa Gilberts and Whitneys house lately. I would have to redo a few things. Like the bedroom is almost too casual mixed with all that open space and the antiques. It needs a huge four poster bed. HUGE. Massive. Then pretty and light linens on it. For how old it is, it’s not that badly dated. Just like a good Southern girl…….she built and decorated around the classics. I loved Mary Kay as a young child because of the pink cars, furs and that she built a business on her own. She’s Southern royalty.
Wow … this is hideous and I have to think it was much worse dressed in “pink”.
I hope whoever purchases it knows something about scale …
But thanks again, Julie … fun as always!
Remarkably little taste or beauty went into the design of this house–it is one of those places meant to challenge the viewer to guess what everything costs. The mystery is why would you build a house designed to appeal to the type of people you would not want to invite in? Maybe she wrote the whole thing off as an advertising expense for her company.
I do agree with Luciane above that the pool is a genuinely attractive feature.
Thank you for posting these pictures–houses like this are great. Depending on your preferences, you can have fun either admiring or expressing dismay.
–Road to Parnassus
My husband’s cousin earned a pink Cadillac in either the late 70′s or early 80′s, selling (and recruiting) Mary Kay.
The house is so huge, too big for me
but I could see a Mary Kay type of person here! I have heard the Mary Kay concept is just multi level marketing, or a pyramind type of way to earn money. Many of those around, but here in the Detroit area, you do see a pink Caddy once in a while with an MK on it!!
OK…I have to say I sold Mary Kay Cosmetics for over 12 years – stopping only when I had a full-time Interior Design/Furniture Sales job and an excellent paying job with my son as a Process Server. I made money – and that is part of the reason I continued for so many years to sell ONLY Mary Kay Cosmetics. It was my full-time job for most of those 12 years. I knew many Directors that had PINK Cadillacs and PINK Buick Regals! We all worked hard to make our money – with the highest priced item in our line while I was selling being $18.00. And, in order to win a PINK car of any kind (they added a PINK Grand Am, to their line-up, too) – you did have to recruit. At one time I had 6 recruits, but I decided that that wasn’t the direction I wanted to go – to Directorship! Once a Director, you’re managing everything for your team, while selling and recruiting more!! You’re helping everyone on your team to sell and recruit more, too! I was very happy to just SELL Mary Kay and I had the best customers…and Director!!
Mary Kay had the big house (mansion) and shared it with EVERYONE! She had all new DIRECTORS at her house for big parties – the highlight being a photograph in her HUGE tub! Yes, people would laugh – but it was a highlight for everyone. Mary Kay truly was a people person and loved everyone she met. When you had the good fortune to meet her and chat with her in person, she made you feel that you were the ONLY PERSON who mattered to her! I met her…and that is one day I will never forget!
Mary Kay didn’t live in that house (mansion) alone! She felt it was too big for her and moved into the house she had lived in prior to it – in her later years.
Yup…you guessed it – I was one of those who LOVED Mary Kay – and I still think very highly of her and all she did. (Yes, I am still wearing Mary Kay cosmetics)
So interesting to hear from an “insider,” Jan. I don’t know much about Mary Kay and didn’t know you could get cars other than the classic pink Caddy. Great to hear your stories. Thanks!!
There’s always 2 sides to the story – about Mary Kay and her house and her business. I guess the disappearing comment was one of those wonky things!
Glad you can see it now! It was probably a page cache issue. I’ve been having some of those this weekend.
Thank you Jan for still believing in Mary Kay years later. Pink truth just makes me sad for all those bitter women.
-a Beauty Consultant whose heart belongs to Mary Kay
Hooked on houses, yes we have a white Chevy Malibu, blk equinox, gray Toyota Camry and ~~vroom vroom!!!~~ lmtd edition black ford mustang! <–it has some pink accents!!!!
I think the house is very pretty and can imagine it painted differently. Having said that it would not be a home I would want if I could afford it. A bit too much for my tastes. Yes, I tried selling Mary Kay and do really like their cosmetics. No, I didn’t get the car and am not good at trying to get people to do something they might not really like to do or have the ability to do well. I stopped.
this is great.. southern, overblown and PINK! great post…
Yikes, that is one over-the-top house. The only people I know that sell MK are doing it for the 50% discount on makeup and stuff for their own collections and friends and family. You only have to order $200 a year to stay active I guess. I did have a friend that got a free car leased for her on a continuous basis because of her sales…pretty nice that she never had a car payment for years! She had to do a ton of recruiting though, sounds like a pain in the butt.
I’m loving your apparent “Money Can’t Buy Class Or Good Taste” series!
Pamela
I think the pool is amazing, and the library is a place I’d like to spend time.
A pink mansion looks normal to me since I’m originally from Florida. The Don CeSar Hotel in St. Petersburg is a lovely(ish) shade of pink.
I’m not much of a mansion gal but if I was going to buy one then I like this one.
I swear, Julia, reading your site is better than going to a movie! This is such a Wow! post that my jaw was on the floor the entire time I was reading and looking at your photos. Thank you so much for keeping us entertained with such interesting stories; @hookedonhouses is now must-reading for me!
And Jan, thanks for sharing your story! I always enjoying hearing the inside story from someone who’s been there.
Thanks MustLoveBlogs!! There are so many good points in selling Mary Kay Cosmetics, I couldn’t help myself! All the time I sold, I made good money and was able to keep myself in MK products at cost, which was a plus, too!
Thanks also for telling your story. I always see those pink cars and wonder what it takes to get one. Living in Dallas seems like I see one at least everyday!
@Amy, Exactly, the Don CeSar is what I think of when I think “pink house…er, hotel”! Also, St. Pete has the Pink Streets (a really sweet story there…) and the other pink hotel in the area that I can never remember the name of. It is just so classically Florida. Texas? Not so much.
Now, that one in Atlanta, ugh! There is also a mansion in Cobb (northern suburban county) that is not only pink, but also has swan boats in the front yard’s pond. Tacky, tacky, tacky! More money than sense as we Southerners say.
Swan boats? Seriously? Wow!
Yep! Two white swan boats (sort of like the ones you used to see at fairs for the lovey-dovey water ride?) in a large front yard pond. It is tacky–honestly, that is the only word for it.
What a huge house! I have never used her cosmetics, but remember seeing the pink cars. I love the den, the pool area and the kitchen. But the rest seems very plush hotel-like. Great post.
As big as Texas! I think it would be lovely if everything was pared down to about 30% of its current size.
From everything people have said about her, she probably wanted such a big place to share with as many people as possible. Like one big giant homey conference room.
Like JD, I tried selling Mary Kay – I think it was in 1979, the year after I got married. I was not a good salesperson (I was only 22) and didn’t like talking people into things they didn’t need. I attended a local conference and discovered that the people who made all the money (and won the cars) were heavy recruiters, so I stopped, too, like JD. I always found Mary Kay to be inspirational, though, and the cosmetics were great. It just wasn’t for me!
We designed this home in 1984. I still have the original hand drawn plans. It was designed as a spec and Mary Kay bought it while it was under construction and the rest is history. Today, we sell many of our beautiful designs online via our new website http://www.DallasDesignGroup.com. We also design new homes around the country. If you are looking for a talented design team to design your new home, you just found it!
Erich@dallasdesigngroup.com
“Unique design doesn’t cost it pays!”
1-972-907-0080
DALLAS TEXAS
Thanks, Erich!
This place is too big for me, but I do love the library, kitchen, and pool area. Plus it’s much better looking than Larry Dean’s tasteless house.
Hi Julia, I was a director (platinum grand prix – there are 3 levels of cars, I was in the 2nd tier). Little – ok kinda big – thing you didn’t know about me! HA!. I sold Mary Kay for 15 years. Now I just liquidate it from those going out of business and resell it. MUCH easier than being a director – exactly like Jan (above said) – once you become a director you lose any flexibility you once had.
I saw this house was on the market a week or so ago and chatted with a friend of mine about it. We had a lot of fun trying to figure out what in the heck they were thinking with some of that layout.
I had no idea, Darla! How interesting! Sounds like a smart business idea you came up with.
The pink truth? The pink truth to me is that she did something right . You don’t purchase and maintain a house like that on a middle class salary. I believe that she was a smart, ambitious and strong woman. Funny how she ended up in a smaller house later on. To paraphrase Forrest Gump: ” Mama always said a person only needs so much room to live–the rest is just for showin’ off!” I keep telling myself that
. Interesting post!
I’m so sad that I don’t get to see it all “pinked” out.
Pink quartz sounds awesome to me.
Yea you finally featured it! You dug up a lot more info that I didn’t know. Great to see a lot more pictures than I had seen of it.
Yep, I finally got around to it! Ha. Thanks for your help with this one, Christina!
Mental note to self: When is your house too big? If it reminds others of a hotel lobby!
Ha! Might be a good sign.
I sold Mary Kay for about two years (2009-2011). It just wasn’t for me, but I can see how it can work for some people. I know people who just use it as side money. To make a lot of money, you have to put in A LOT of work. I had just moved to a new area and didn’t have any connections, which is one reason it didn’t work for me (i’m not the right personality too). I do love and still use the product. One of the reasons I left was because I didn’t agree with how Mary Kay corporate runs the business. I feel like they manipulate and coerce unknowing women to do things that aren’t financial responsible. They claim they are a God-centered company, but nothing they do or say is biblically based. I find it immoral. It takes a strong-willed independent thinking woman to distance herself from the company and what your director is pressuring you to do, and run your business they way you want. That’s what I did and several others I know do.
Very interesting. Thanks, Allison!
How come the more money you have the less taste you have !
I know someone who has won the Cadillac a few times and she does very well! I love pink!!!
I’m a new reader – just wanted to stop in and say that I LOVE your blog! Also, I was “roped into” selling Mary Kay in college. It was the first time I ever had credit card debt (lots of pressure to buy inventory to have on hand). It took me YEARS to pay off that debt…so no more Mary Kay for this gal
Don’t let all the pink fool you, Mary Kay was one tough cookie! I am a current Independent Beauty Consultant and absolutely love what I do. I agree with others in that the business is not for everyone but its been an awesome experience for me and my family. I love that I get to play with make-up and help women feel more beautiful and confident. I’ve also received great training that is not only applicable to my business but its also applicable to my family and personal life. Those who earn the pink Cadillac absolutely work hard for it…mine is on order…okay its not but I that’s what I’m shooting for! Haha! Thanks for running this piece, I’ve been a fan for a long time!