Picture Perfect Historic Prairie Home in Winnetka Heights
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The old house life is one coveted and enjoyed by legions of history buffs and appreciators of fine craftsmanship. To love an old home is to accept one of the most fundamental things about them — they’re old, and they’ll need fixing.
But in the hands of a true lover of aged architecture, an old house turns into a breathing, living structure full of history and life. That’s what we love about a brand new listing from David Griffin & Company Realtors agent Diane Sherman in historic Winnetka Heights. It was lovingly restored by its more recent owners, including sellers Barry Binder and Tracie Dockwell. The before-and-after shots will floor you!
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But to really appreciate how far this incredible, 1914-built prairie foursquare has come, you have to see where its new life started.
But after decades of work, the home is a preservationists dream.
“The work done on this home has been done thoughtfully over time by owners who have lovingly devoted decades of sweat equity while living in the home as the work was done,” said listing agent Diane Sherman, who is marketing 130 N. Edgefield Ave. for $479,000. Sherman says this home “is one of the most intact and lovingly preserved two-story foursquare designs in historic Winnetka Heights.”
Sherman, who is a notable Oak Cliff historian and a Winnetka Heights resident (she lives a stone’s throw from this listing), adores the history of this home. In fact, former owners of 130 N. Edgefield — Michael and Meeka Bain —still live in North Oak Cliff. The “before” photos were shot when the Bains started the restoration of the home (Sherman likes to call it “stewardship”) back in 1987.
“I like these kind of stories because it’s definitely not a flip nor a high-end restoration done for the purpose of resale,” she said. “We bought our home around the corner in August 1979 but we could not move in until June 1980. It took us 9 months just to make ours livable because it had been converted to a duplex after the WWII and rented out (often by the week during the 70s).”
Today, however, this home is just the kind of place for those who, like Sherman, Binder, and Dockwell, have a deep love for old homes. There are so many tremendous details at 130 N. Edgefield, starting with the lovely front porch and original, 25-pane sash windows that look out to the street.
“It is sited in the heart of the district, on a commanding corner with a rolling hillside lawn and a full front porch to capture those relaxing prevailing breezes,” Sherman said. “Divided pane windows sparkle with wavy glass. ”
Inside you’ll find beautiful woodwork that never suffered the indignity of being painted over the years, including column-topped half-walls and glass bookcases at the foyer, beveled glass pocket doors that still work perfectly, beamed ceilings, and a built-in China cabinet.
In all, this home has four bedrooms, two full bathrooms, a living and dining room, and a single detached garage with 2,479 square feet of living space. In the kitchen, you’ll find period-sensitive paint and cabinetry, with butcher block countertops over traditional doors and drawers. A tidy little island provides some work space close to the custom-painted Viking range and matching red refrigerator. A new walk-in pantry was installed in a nook under the staircase to make the kitchen even more attractive.
Just off the kitchen is a sunny mudroom — a wonderful use of space in an older home — with room for side-by-side washer and dryer and a great little built-in cabinet with what appears to be vintage washing soda bags affixed to the glass doors. It’s a great detail!
All of the bedrooms in this home are upstairs, with one full bathroom upstairs. The second bathroom is down. The master, which features a sitting area connected by French doors, is absolutely lovely and bright.
Sherman notes that, technically, the master suite is two bedrooms combined. Here, with the French doors opened, the connecting front bedrooms are made into one large suite with a sitting room. However, this additional space could easily double as a nursery, or a home office.
The downstairs bath, which features a classic tile scheme and perfect claw-foot tub, is just plain adorable. I don’t even care that the toilet is right next to the tub or that there’s only one pedestal sink below the vintage medicine cabinet. It’s so cute!
The upstairs bath, which also has a vintage medicine cabinet, is adorable, too.
“The privately fenced backyard features a party deck, antique brick walkways, raised garden beds plus picnic, seating, and bocce court areas,” Sherman said. I also love the mature trees, which go so well with the towering lines of this beautiful, historic home.
Always fancied yourself an old house lover? This is your invitation to make it official!
Want to know more about the heritage of this home? The sellers provided this neat narrative, including 1920s Sandborn Fire Insurance maps:
Historic Narrative 130 n Edge Field Ave Dallas by Joanna England on Scribd