Thursday Three Hundred: East Kessler Traditional Is a Refuge For Humans and Wildlife

Who would have thought that a home just south of downtown Dallas would be a certified wildlife habitat? Not me, that’s for sure, but this adorable East Kessler traditional is. It has enough creature comforts inside to be a refuge from a hard day at work, too.

At 415 Allison you’ll find a great North Oak Cliff traditional with tons of updates and plenty of character. This East Kessler home is marketed by David Griffin for $384,900. It has three bedrooms, two and a half baths, and 1,937 square feet of space. Built in 1956 and renovated to include a practically brand-new kitchen and master bath, this home is a wonderful place to move to if you’re ready to try Oak Cliff on for size.

According to Griffin, this home is owned by an organic gardener who had their backyard certified by the National Wildlife Federation. But there’s nothing wild about the interiors, which are calming and flow easily from one room to the next. I love the cabinets in the kitchen, which are white-washed to give a country home type feel. The appliances are all high-end, featuring a Viking cooktop, Jenn-Air oven, Bosch dishwasher, and solid surface work surfaces that are a gorgeous antidote to the common granite counter.

The kitchen opens to the den, which has a beautiful stacked-stone fireplace that reaches the ceiling. This is one of my favorite features of 1950s traditional ranches. It’s classic, it adds drama, and the architectural interest of these fireplaces is irrepressible. The biggest faux pas I see when it comes to these gorgeous fireplaces is when people paint them. Just don’t do it, folks!

The master bedroom is what you’d typically see in a home from this period — four walls, a few windows and a bed. The first thing I’d do is put in some light-tight Roman blinds and a stylish ceiling fan. I do like the furniture in this home though, and that trunk with the glass top as a bedside table? I’m stealing that idea.

The master bathroom has only one sink and an oversized shower with frameless glass surround. I am not big on glass surrounds, because they are a) a real b*tch to clean, b) they give you zero privacy, and c) tend to cost way more than they’re worth. With some great tile you could get some privacy and you won’t constantly be spraying weird chemicals in your bathroom. I’m just sayin’.

Everything else about the house? I love it. The two-car garage that is below level that includes a utility area? Love it. The backyard and stone patio? Love it. The lot? Adore it. And it’s priced right, too. What do you think?