Lake Terrace Midcentury Modern Offers Authentic Updates, Excellent Design

You’re probably already familiar with the Lake Terrace neighborhood of East Dallas, though you might not know it yet. Bounded by Northcliff Drive, Peavy Road, East Lake Highlands Drive, and Kirkwood Drive, this little area features some wonderful midcentury modern homes and post-war ranches, some of which have been lovingly preserved and updated. When David Griffin & Company Realtor Jennifer Rice told me she would soon have an East Dallas midcentury modern on the market, I was so pleased to find out that it was not only a splendid example of a Lake Terrace midcentury modern, but that it was the personal home of her and her husband, Joshua. 

Why is that important? Because he’s the Joshua Rice behind Joshua Rice Design — an interior design firm that does amazing work in several contexts, as well as bespoke furniture design. He honed his skills under the acclaimed Bodron+Fruit and has gone on to work on some of the most significant modern homes in the city.

So in 9810 Northcliff Drive, sited right across the street from award-winning Hexter Elementary, you get a high-impact capsule of midcentury modern design completely renovated by a celebrated interior designer and marketed by an especially popular Realtor. If that doesn’t say “power couple,” we might as well redefine the term. 

All the more reason to name this exceptional property, which hits the market this week, our High Caliber Home of the Week presented by Lisa Peters of Caliber Home Loans. We know you’ll fall in love with this Lake Terrace midcentury modern, so call Lisa Peters today to put in your highest and best offer on this one-of-a-kind home.

“The house was designed by architect Gregory Cavanagh and built in 1960,” Jennifer said. “It is a gold medallion home, meaning it is all electric.”

It was definitely something to be celebrated in 1960, as these homes came with electric water heaters, furnaces, and kitchens. It seems surprising today that this was something to boast, but even at that time, some homes still used less-than-optimal fuel sources to heat water and keep its occupants warm and comfortable.

Jennifer and Joshua are the home’s second owners, which is special in itself. To see what the pair have done to make this three-bedroom, two-bath, 1,513-square-foot Lake Terrace midcentury modern even more special will make your eyes pop.

Jennifer says she loves the exposed brick, the monolithic brick garage wall facing the street and the way it makes for a private entry, and how the afternoon sun creates a pattern of that same brick wall through the trellis.

“This is a charming, midcentury gem that has been professionally redesigned to capitalize on space,” Joshua said. “The thoughtful layouts, bright open spaces, and considered, thoughtful materials combine to make the space feel substantially larger than it actually is.”

 Everything in this home — from the finish-out to the furniture — feels deliciously authentic. The skylights, combined with the clerestory windows, bring in tons of natural light without losing privacy. 

“The living, kitchen, entry, and dining are all located around a central ‘hub,’ which contains the utility room, storage, and pantry,” Joshua said. “These spaces are accentuated by interior red brick walls that flow from the interior to the exterior bringing the outside in.”

See what we mean? It’s definitely fitted for modern family functionality, with a warm and clean-lined aesthetic that features greatly in Joshua’s other work. We adore the galley kitchen, especially the deliciously dark counters and backsplash over the European-style cabinetry. It all complements the exposed brick walls, especially the modern industrial light fixture over the dining table. The smooth white walls are just begging for your art collection, too.

“Through the hall you enter into the private areas of the house,” Joshua said, which include three bedrooms with generous closets. There’s one central bath with floor-to-ceiling mosaic stone tile, white oak cabinetry, and clean white countertops. “The second en suite bathroom is the area of the house that is most original to the 1960s aesthetic. It has been updated for looking function while keeping the original Green mosaic tile.”

“You enter the huge backyard through the dining room sliding door to see a clean, multi-level wood deck with integrated planters and landscape,” Joshua said. It’s definitely striking and beautiful, and perfect for entertaining.

David Griffin & Company Realtor Jennifer Rice will list 9810 Northcliff Drive for $450,000.