Disney Streets Midcentury Will Have You Singing Sinatra, Polishing Martini Glasses

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Disney Streets Midcentury | CandysDirt.com

all photos courtesy of Shoot2Sell

Carlos Cardoza is a man who makes things his own. Take, for example, his 1960 Cadillac convertible. When he bought it 12 years ago, it was boring beige.

“I don’t do beige,” said the graphic designer, laughing. “I thought, ‘this is the perfect car that needs to be pink.'”

It’s parked in front of another, much bigger project for Cardoza, his incredible 1954 midcentury modern house at 11016 Pinocchio Dr. This house is like no other, designed by architect Gordon Nichols and known as the Smith House. When Cardoza found it, the exterior trim was brick red and the inside was a mess.

“When I bought it 22 years ago, I had a vision,” he said. “It was very dark inside and it was dumpy, but I saw this house as a canvas.”

Like an artist, Cardoza worked on that canvas, first filling it with reproductions and later original midcentury furniture (his favorite stores are Design District shops Sputnik Modern and Collage Classics). He has painted and arranged, created and perfected. Now, it is a masterpiece of atomic era styling with four bedrooms, three full bathrooms, one half bath, and 2,240 square feet.

Cardoza is moving to Palm Springs, where there are practically MCM houses on every corner, so this gem is going on the market tomorrow—there’s an an open house from 5 to 7 p.m. and you can be among the first to see this midcentury marvel.

Disney Streets Midcentury | CandysDirt.com Disney Streets Midcentury | CandysDirt.com

In 1954, the Disney Streets were under construction and Pinocchio Drive was the place with the model homes, a showcase of architects and builders. Starting in September of that year, you could visit each one, decide on a style, and something similar would be built nearby on a new street. Architect Nichols built several midcentury modern homes in the Disney Streets, but none we’ve seen take it to this level: This is full-immersion, time warp real estate.

This is midcentury architecture at its finest: low-slung roof, expansive horizontal feel, great connection between the indoor and outdoor living spaces with lots of windows doors with large glass inserts. The brick fireplace creates a what the builder described as a “visual center” in the front entry hall—love that pink Roman brick!

The home is roughly T-shaped, with an open concept living area with vaulted ceilings, exposed beams, and authentic MCM features, like the Nelson Bubble Lamp in the dining room. The kitchen is truly a jump back in time, with the cool original cabinetry, vintage pink appliances, and Formica counters.

Almost every room opens to the the covered lanai and terraced decks, with views of the swimming pool. The north lawn features a private deck just off the dining area. Bring out the tray of martinis!

A large master bedroom suite at the rear of the house, overlooking the pool and featuring an unusual round window with starburst design. Its bathroom is a turquoise dream, with tile accent walls, dual sinks, and a memorable, retro look.

This marvelous midcentury modern will be listed by Ed Murchison with Virginia Cook Realtors for $665,000.

Disney Streets Midcentury | CandysDirt.com Disney Streets Midcentury | CandysDirt.com Disney Streets Midcentury | CandysDirt.com Disney Streets Midcentury | CandysDirt.com Disney Streets Midcentury | CandysDirt.com Disney Streets Midcentury | CandysDirt.com 11016-pinocchio-dr-dallas-tx-MLS-10 11016-pinocchio-dr-dallas-tx-MLS-11 11016-pinocchio-dr-dallas-tx-MLS-12 11016-pinocchio-dr-dallas-tx-MLS-13 11016-pinocchio-dr-dallas-tx-MLS-14 11016-pinocchio-dr-dallas-tx-MLS-15 11016-pinocchio-dr-dallas-tx-MLS-16 11016-pinocchio-dr-dallas-tx-MLS-17 11016-pinocchio-dr-dallas-tx-MLS-18 11016-pinocchio-dr-dallas-tx-MLS-19 11016-pinocchio-dr-dallas-tx-MLS-20 11016-pinocchio-dr-dallas-tx-MLS-21 11016-pinocchio-dr-dallas-tx-MLS-22 11016-pinocchio-dr-dallas-tx-MLS-23 11016-pinocchio-dr-dallas-tx-MLS-24 11016-pinocchio-dr-dallas-tx-MLS-25 11016-pinocchio-dr-dallas-tx-MLS-26 11016-pinocchio-dr-dallas-tx-MLS-27 11016-pinocchio-dr-dallas-tx-MLS-28 11016-pinocchio-dr-dallas-tx-MLS-29 11016-pinocchio-dr-dallas-tx-MLS-30 11016-pinocchio-dr-dallas-tx-MLS-31 11016-pinocchio-dr-dallas-tx-MLS-32 11016-pinocchio-dr-dallas-tx-MLS-33 11016-pinocchio-dr-dallas-tx-MLS-34 11016-pinocchio-dr-dallas-tx-MLS-35 11016-pinocchio-dr-dallas-tx-MLS-36

 

Leah Shafer is a content and social media specialist, as well as a Dallas native, who lives in Richardson with her family. In her sixth-grade yearbook, Leah listed "interior designer" as her future profession. Now she writes about them, as well as all things real estate, for CandysDirt.com.

9 Comments

  1. Joanna England on September 7, 2016 at 12:43 pm

    I just cannot even with this house! I love it so dang much! Great job, Carlos! I hope the next owner honors your vision with this home!

  2. Candy Evans on September 7, 2016 at 1:09 pm

    The round bed! Boomerang floor in the kitchen! Do you think if I buy this house I turn into a kid again? I mean having serious deja vue of my aunt’s house in Aurora, Ill. This is a perfect recreation of the era!

  3. Karen Eubank on September 7, 2016 at 1:28 pm

    Flawless, looks like a movie set, perfection in every detail!

  4. Janet Brown on September 7, 2016 at 6:26 pm

    The coolest house on the planet! Great design, Carlos. You are a creative genius!

  5. NormB on September 8, 2016 at 7:41 am

    Best viewed to the tune of “Take Five”.

    Cool.

    • Jeff Bilich on September 8, 2016 at 8:45 am

      My thoughts exactly! It’s like a museum, just beautiful.

  6. Joe Hill on September 8, 2016 at 9:06 am

    Is the pink Caddy included in the deal?

  7. MC on September 8, 2016 at 3:23 pm

    Love. I wish I had this much vision to not keeping choose grey and beige in safety!

  8. gilda morkert on September 11, 2016 at 2:14 pm

    Absolutely fabulous. Retro, colorful, artistic, cheerful, hope the Caddy comes with it. Awesome

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