Friday Five Hundred: A Home With a Dome in Kessler Park

What a tremendous find! Kessler Park is one of my favorite neighborhoods. The incredible diversity in architecture, rolling topography, proximity to downtown Dallas and the Bishop Arts District, as well as the close-knit feel make this neighborhood a popular location for families and professionals.

And if you’re looking for a cool home in North Oak Cliff, Kessler Park is where you’ll find one to your taste. Take, for example, this 1970s contemporary at 1652 Sylvan Ave. that has a dome in the living room.

 

Yes, you read that right! This cool midcentury-inspired 1970-built soft contemporary has a domed ceiling in the main living room that is just fascinating, isn’t it? I am both perplexed and intrigued by this feature! In fact, the whole house is half head-scratcher half unbridled potential that it feels like a room-by-room emotional rollercoaster. It’s listed by Kathy Hewitt of Hewitt and Habgood for $579,000.

You might already realize you recognize this house. If you drive down Sylvan to or from the Bishop Arts District from Fort Worth Avenue, chances are you’ve seen the art in the front yard that makes this home stand out from its neighbors. There is immense value in this home, especially considering the size of the lot (almost .4 acres) and the size of the home (3,720 square feet). There are four bedrooms, four baths, four covered parking spaces, two living areas, two dining areas, a basement wine cellar, and a separate guest house with bath that would be perfect for a home office.

Of course, the tradeoff is that this home is outdated. And, considering the upgrades necessary to make this home attractive to a potential buyer down the road, it might be a tidge overpriced. The flooring — carpet and tile in most areas — needs attention, as well as the popcorn ceilings. The kitchen, while spacious, is rather outdated. Still, you get a cool double-sided fireplace in both living areas, and the clerestory windows are terrific.

The master suite is large, but very outdated and bland. There are tons of windows, though, so those of you who are fans of natural light will adore it. Otherwise, you should consider it a blank slate. The master bath, which has opposite vanities and a separate tub and shower, is a great size, too. With a little updating it would be gorgeous.

The backyard is a real treat, though, thanks to the deck and the “pond.” OK, I’m a little confused by the “pond.” Is it a fountain? A water feature? A pool? Not quite certain, but I suppose once it gets to a certain temperature in Dallas, I’m jumping in regardless! The modern guest house is so cool, too, and it has a separate bathroom, which is perfect for either home office space or a place to put people who aren’t too keen on sharing spaces while visiting. And there’s a greenhouse, too!

So, what do you think of this unique North Oak Cliff home?