Wishlist Wednesday: Cliff Welch, Will You Be My Architect?

Share News:

I’m mixing it up a little this week, mostly because I’ve been inspired. While driving home from White Rock Coffee a few weeks ago with my pal Joanna England, we passed this amazing house on East Lake Highlands. I don’t know if you’ve realized this about me yet, but I kinda dig mid-century modern design, and this place is THE perfect mid-century model without having to pour in all the money of updating an older home.

It’s listed by David Collier at David Griffin and Company Realtors for $550,00. There’s no pictures listed yet, but you can see plans online. Turns out, it was designed by architect extraordinaire Cliff Welch. I went to his website and checked out his design portfolio, and folks, this guy is kind of a badass.

According to Art House Dallas:

“His firm’s focus is modern architecture, concentrating on residential, interiors, and small-scale commercial work. He has been a leading resource and proponent for the restoration and preservation of post-war modernism in Dallas.”

Look at all those clean lines…I’m in heaven!

A Tyler, Texas native, Cliff has local and national design accolades coming out the wazoo. And this is how I know this guy is cool: he also designs tree houses. Cliff, meet your new biggest fan.

No Comments

  1. Lisa on August 22, 2012 at 2:59 pm

    I've been in this house- a former neighbor of mine, Tom Welker is the builder who worked with Cliff. It's indeed- a pretty amazing house. Another architect was in the house during our tour and she commented that the style of trim used was very difficult to achieve – it's a very well done house!

  2. Lisa on August 22, 2012 at 2:59 pm

    I've been in this house- a former neighbor of mine, Tom Welker is the builder who worked with Cliff. It's indeed- a pretty amazing house. Another architect was in the house during our tour and she commented that the style of trim used was very difficult to achieve – it's a very well done house!

  3. Grace on August 22, 2012 at 4:18 pm

    So, is he related to Dallas architect Frank Welch?

    • Pat on September 4, 2012 at 9:01 pm

      No, but he is awesome anyway. Great person and great architect.

  4. Grace on August 22, 2012 at 4:18 pm

    So, is he related to Dallas architect Frank Welch?

    • Pat on September 4, 2012 at 9:01 pm

      No, but he is awesome anyway. Great person and great architect.

  5. Kyle Rovinsky on August 22, 2012 at 4:37 pm

    Candy, the photo you used is a rendering, so it is a little misleading.

  6. Kyle Rovinsky on August 22, 2012 at 4:37 pm

    Candy, the photo you used is a rendering, so it is a little misleading.

  7. Karen Eubank on August 22, 2012 at 5:00 pm

    You should see Cliff's own house and HIS treehouse! I did a story on it for Park Cities People years ago. Cliff is an amazing talent and Dallas is lucky lucky to have him! He's also a very nice guy!

  8. Karen Eubank on August 22, 2012 at 5:00 pm

    You should see Cliff's own house and HIS treehouse! I did a story on it for Park Cities People years ago. Cliff is an amazing talent and Dallas is lucky lucky to have him! He's also a very nice guy!

  9. Amy on August 22, 2012 at 5:14 pm

    @Kyle: I know it's a rendering, but there are no photos of this listing currently.

  10. Amy on August 22, 2012 at 5:14 pm

    @Kyle: I know it's a rendering, but there are no photos of this listing currently.

  11. Candy Evans on August 22, 2012 at 8:50 pm

    I would toss everything my blue and white and French what nots to live in this house. I swear it would make my brain streamlined. Only thing I'd keep is — guess it — the Duxiana!

  12. Candy Evans on August 22, 2012 at 8:50 pm

    I would toss everything my blue and white and French what nots to live in this house. I swear it would make my brain streamlined. Only thing I'd keep is — guess it — the Duxiana!

  13. Ed Murchison on August 23, 2012 at 9:19 am

    Actually, the house has been completed and is already sold and occupied. Three more houses are planned for that site. Cliff is a Dallas treasure. His houses are amazing.

  14. Ed Murchison on August 23, 2012 at 9:19 am

    Actually, the house has been completed and is already sold and occupied. Three more houses are planned for that site. Cliff is a Dallas treasure. His houses are amazing.

  15. Matt Rivera-Halstead on August 23, 2012 at 10:10 am

    I wonder if/when mid-century modern design will make it into more affordable homes. I think that Cliff May's original 1950's midcentury tract-house floorplans could be reproduced at a slightly larger size and sold for affordable prices like they were back then. They are relevant today in that they promoted open design and combining the outdoors and indoors with use of glass. He would use the same basic floorplan, but rotate it and change the garage and window placement to make them look unique even though they shared the same basic design. I would take model 3212, remove the walls between kitchen and living, and add a second living area to next to the master to separate it from the other 2 bedrooms and voila! A functional, affordable, efficient floorplan for a young professional or young family: http://www.cliffmayregistry.com/images/Model3212.jpg

  16. Matt Rivera-Halstead on August 23, 2012 at 10:10 am

    I wonder if/when mid-century modern design will make it into more affordable homes. I think that Cliff May's original 1950's midcentury tract-house floorplans could be reproduced at a slightly larger size and sold for affordable prices like they were back then. They are relevant today in that they promoted open design and combining the outdoors and indoors with use of glass. He would use the same basic floorplan, but rotate it and change the garage and window placement to make them look unique even though they shared the same basic design. I would take model 3212, remove the walls between kitchen and living, and add a second living area to next to the master to separate it from the other 2 bedrooms and voila! A functional, affordable, efficient floorplan for a young professional or young family: http://www.cliffmayregistry.com/images/Model3212.jpg

  17. NorthDallasRealtor on August 23, 2012 at 10:20 am

    Wow – amazing what great design can do. Wish Dallas had even more of this type of architecture.

  18. NorthDallasRealtor on August 23, 2012 at 10:20 am

    Wow – amazing what great design can do. Wish Dallas had even more of this type of architecture.

  19. Candy Evans on August 23, 2012 at 4:38 pm

    Didn't Kim Schlegel try to do that with KSW Homes? Seems I wrote about them…

  20. Candy Evans on August 23, 2012 at 4:38 pm

    Didn't Kim Schlegel try to do that with KSW Homes? Seems I wrote about them…

  21. Thomas Welker on August 23, 2012 at 5:02 pm

    Yes Cliff is an awesome Architect. Attached is a link to pictures of the first home which was completed and immediately sold. The rendering shown is for house #2 which may be sold as well. The remaining two homes will be two story designs, so if you know of anyone that would like be a part of a Cliff Welch designed home from ground up this could be a great opportunity. The second home should start in September with an April completion date. The property has a circle community drive with a private conservation area. While the homes are not large in scale they have a great attention to detail and have quality finishes normally found in much more expensive properties. The homeowner shared her most expensive electric bill this summer with Green Mountain Electric and thermostat set at 71 degrees it came in at $180.00

    Link: https://picasaweb.google.com/welkerthomas/10221ELakeHighlands#

  22. Thomas Welker on August 23, 2012 at 5:02 pm

    Yes Cliff is an awesome Architect. Attached is a link to pictures of the first home which was completed and immediately sold. The rendering shown is for house #2 which may be sold as well. The remaining two homes will be two story designs, so if you know of anyone that would like be a part of a Cliff Welch designed home from ground up this could be a great opportunity. The second home should start in September with an April completion date. The property has a circle community drive with a private conservation area. While the homes are not large in scale they have a great attention to detail and have quality finishes normally found in much more expensive properties. The homeowner shared her most expensive electric bill this summer with Green Mountain Electric and thermostat set at 71 degrees it came in at $180.00

    Link: https://picasaweb.google.com/welkerthomas/10221ELakeHighlands#

  23. Amy on August 23, 2012 at 6:27 pm

    Thanks for the info and the link, Thomas! Great work.

  24. Amy on August 23, 2012 at 6:27 pm

    Thanks for the info and the link, Thomas! Great work.

  25. Cindy Sherman on August 23, 2012 at 11:09 pm

    Candy we need a neighborhood report on this place!

  26. Cindy Sherman on August 23, 2012 at 11:09 pm

    Candy we need a neighborhood report on this place!

  27. Holly Maxwell on August 24, 2012 at 8:02 am

    Hi Candy,
    We live in the house Cliff designed on Chapel Hill Road and can attest to Cliff's talent, professionalism, perfectionism (a good thing!), vision, dedication and patience. (We must have had 10 meetings just choosing the brick color.) Dallas is indeed lucky to have such a gifted architect who designs each home with thoughtful consideration to it's owners and the site.

  28. Holly Maxwell on August 24, 2012 at 8:02 am

    Hi Candy,
    We live in the house Cliff designed on Chapel Hill Road and can attest to Cliff's talent, professionalism, perfectionism (a good thing!), vision, dedication and patience. (We must have had 10 meetings just choosing the brick color.) Dallas is indeed lucky to have such a gifted architect who designs each home with thoughtful consideration to it's owners and the site.

  29. cliff on August 24, 2012 at 7:20 pm

    First and foremost, I a truly appreciate all of the nice comments. Any accolades need to be shared with the rest of my office: Paul Vetter, Dean Bowman, and Will Erickson and the developer, Tom Welker. It's rewarding to know there are those out there who appreciate what we do.

    While all of our work has roots in early modern design, recreating a mid-century home is never the intent. Despite some of the press, there is no such thing as a "new mid-century modern" home. That said, the design principles that influenced the early MCM homes are still valid today, and are exemplified in our projects: large overhangs to protect from the elements, open plan, expression of structure, appreciation of natural light, connection between interior and exterior spaces, honesty of form and material, and embracing technology and current lifestyles. There is also a timelessness to a well designed, well crafted modern home.

    For those interested, I do have a blog, admittedly, I don't keep it as current as I should, but use it to post current projects, events, and opinions.
    Please check it out.
    http://welcharchitecture.blogspot.com

    Finally, while I respect his work and what he has done for regional modernism, I have no relation to Frank.

    Cliff

    (PS- we were not involved in the stockade fence on the first house.)

  30. cliff on August 24, 2012 at 7:20 pm

    First and foremost, I a truly appreciate all of the nice comments. Any accolades need to be shared with the rest of my office: Paul Vetter, Dean Bowman, and Will Erickson and the developer, Tom Welker. It's rewarding to know there are those out there who appreciate what we do.

    While all of our work has roots in early modern design, recreating a mid-century home is never the intent. Despite some of the press, there is no such thing as a "new mid-century modern" home. That said, the design principles that influenced the early MCM homes are still valid today, and are exemplified in our projects: large overhangs to protect from the elements, open plan, expression of structure, appreciation of natural light, connection between interior and exterior spaces, honesty of form and material, and embracing technology and current lifestyles. There is also a timelessness to a well designed, well crafted modern home.

    For those interested, I do have a blog, admittedly, I don't keep it as current as I should, but use it to post current projects, events, and opinions.
    Please check it out.
    http://welcharchitecture.blogspot.com

    Finally, while I respect his work and what he has done for regional modernism, I have no relation to Frank.

    Cliff

    (PS- we were not involved in the stockade fence on the first house.)

  31. Lynn Slaney on August 27, 2012 at 6:36 pm

    Wow…move over Lake-Flato!

  32. Lynn Slaney on August 27, 2012 at 6:36 pm

    Wow…move over Lake-Flato!

Leave a Comment