Valleydale Time Warp Offers Plenty of Potential

 

Tucked away on a cul-de-sac in North Dallas is a whole host of interesting midcentury modern homes, many of them untouched by renovation. This week’s High Caliber Home shows fans of the architectural style what living in the Rat Pack era would have felt like, complete with original double stove in the kitchen and — PINK BATHROOMS.

It’s a listing from modern home specialist with David Griffin & Co. Brandon Stewart, and we’re absolutely smitten with this beautiful time warp in Hill Haven Heights — our High Caliber Home of the Week sponsored by Lisa Peters of Caliber Home Loans. Ready to make this midcentury modern your own? Call Lisa Peters now to get the best loan for your homebuying needs — especially if you plan to do this home justice. While we love a good midcentury time warp, this property could use some TLC and a vision.

It all starts with a private entry courtyard that has filtered light and a water feature. I love these spaces because they offer tons of opportunities for a green thumb or a creative container gardener. Here you get to see the underside of that cool airplane shape, with it’s perfect symmetry. Check out those delicious clerestory and floor-to-ceiling windows, too! The brick and beams are all in great shape, but it looks like the water feature could use some work.

Past the foyer is the practically cavernous great room, which has a wonderful openness that shows of the expansive herringbone brick floors and exposed beams. The home’s courtyard offers enough privacy to completely eschew window coverings. Note the symmetry of the walls, and the tons of sliding glass doors extending the interiors to the outside and allowing the light to pool inside.

Of course, here’s where you start to see what I meant by “time warp” and “potential.” With 1,730 square feet built in 1953, there’s a lot of work to do to bring this home current, though a smart renovator will only improve and not “update” for the sake of updating. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, but if it is broke, be sure to invest in materials that closely mimic the original feel of the home. 

In this neighborhood, you’d expect to pay a premium for a property like this, but this home, with three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a heavily treed lot, is on the market for $565,000. 

 

The kitchen, with its upper cabinets obscuring the view of the dining and living areas, could do well with a freshening up. First step is removing those cabinets, putting in solid surface countertops that extend the breakfast bar of the peninsula, and refacing the cabinetry or at least putting some paint and new hardware on them. The floors could use a refresh, and check out that vintage oven! So cool!

The master suite, which is 16-by-13 feet, has a pretty spiffy pink-and-black tile color scheme and brass fixtures. It’s so fun! Note the continued use of exposed beams even in this room. Of course, vintage bathrooms aren’t for everyone, and who could resist the opportunity to expand the footprint of the master bath with that dressing area? If the buyer does remodel, I hope they’ll let us have a peek when it’s done!

The backyard has so much potential with that private patio, covered with wisteria vines and featuring a cool corner fireplace. Then there’s the backyard, which is perfect for a midcentury-style kidney-shaped pool. Just make sure the surrounding patio offers plenty of room for chaise lounges and champagne buckets! What do you think of this cool midcentury modern?