Spacious, Open Floorplan, Elegant Finishes Will Sell This Webster Grove Home

Today’s Tuesday Two Hundred is a home in Northwest Dallas that went from cluttered and cramped to contemporary and classy in a substantial recent renovation.

The Webster Grove house at 3233 Dothan Ln., near Royal and Webb Chapel lanes, was an outdated ranch, built in 1961 and looking worn. It’s a 3-2 with 1,625 square feet, but felt smaller.

New owners bought the house in May and gave it an overhaul, from a new roof and hardscape work, to opening up the floorplan inside and adding stylish amenities that make it stand out. It has many similarities to a new-build, but with the benefits of being in an established neighborhood.On the outside, only nice thing about the curb appeal used to be those irises (I do hope they dug them up and replanted them elsewhere). Now, a new sidewalk, painted brick facade, new columns on the front porch, and new windows give the place a clean, fresh look. When the landscaping fills in, it will be even better.

It was listed Friday by Danny Scott with Watermark Real Estate Group for $294,900.

What was a closed off, claustrophobic collection of rooms in the front of the house is now feels like a huge, bright space. The owners removed walls between the formal living room and dining room, kitchen, and den. They vaulted the ceiling and added recessed lights. Wall-to-wall hardwood floors, and new windows add to the effect. The fireplace also got a facelift, with new gray bricks and gas logs.

It’s unfortunate the house isn’t staged; because this space is so large and open, seeing it with furniture and accessories would help buyers imagine how they would live there.
A completely new kitchen is the highlight of this area of  the home—check out the before photos above to see how closed off and dated it used to be. Now, it faces out to the living area, and has a large island and breakfast bar. All counters are now granite, and new stainless steel appliances include a gas range and refrigerator. There’s a pre-wired “nook” below the sink to the left, for a microwave, perhaps.

A nearby separate utility room has built-in cabinets, room for a freezer, and hookups for an electric or gas dryer and washing machine. I guess when the previous owners shot photos of the house, they were in the midst of having an “in-home” yard sale. The rooms were packed with junk, painted/wallpapered unbecoming choices, and just generally pretty awful.

Now, the new windows and hardwood floors in the master and second bedrooms open the spaces up, and new gray carpeting in the third bedroom is a vast improvement. In the master, there’s an entire wall of closets, and an ensuite bath. In there, you’ll discover a Carrara Marble shower, contemporary fixtures, new vanity, and a fresh feel. The second bathroom got a similar makeover, with new glass tile in the bathtub/shower, a new vanity with granite countertop, and a new window. The backyard is improved, with a new fence, new driveway, and an extended paver patio. The grass—or lack of it—looks a little bare, and those pretty irises are gone, too. But then, so is the looking-worse-for-the-wear pergola. The big shade trees stayed {phew!} and there’s enough room back there to add a swimming pool. It is a blank slate waiting for personalization.

The list price of $294,900, or $181 per square foot, is on the high end for the area, but not by much, and the upgrades to this house are substantial. Nine neighborhood comps range from $167,222 to $327,531 (median sale price: $265,000) and $90 to $189 per square foot (median sale price: $137 per square foot).

This renovation certainly enhanced the property by leaps and bounds—there’s almost no comparing the before-and-after. It fell short in a few ways, like not staging the house for sale and leaving the backyard so blank. We’d like to hear your opinion on the reno and how fast you think it will sell.