Oak Park Estates Ranch Offers Period Charm Plus Fab Updates
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When Warren Farmer purchased this 1958 Oak Park Estates ranch from a friend, he already had a vision in mind. The home, which had some issues hiding beneath the flooring and walls, turned out to be a project that was ripe for a full-on transformation.
“This was kind of my pet project,” Farmer said of 1532 Trailridge Drive. “In several places, we took it down to the studs. There was some water damage that happened over the years, and we repaired all of it. It’s mostly new.”
The results have earned this beautiful remodeled ranch in one of our favorite areas of Oak Cliff the title of High Caliber Home of the Week presented by Lisa Peters of Caliber Home Loans. Not only is the home gorgeous inside and out, but it’s also located in a prime area of Oak Park Estates, which enjoys wonderful topography and access to Five Mile Creek.
Of course, while the home is now stunning and offers move-in ready interiors and a functional, spacious floor plan, Farmer definitely had his work cut out for him when he took on the renovation of 1532 Trailridge Drive. The three-bedroom, two-bath ranch had great bones with masonry that was in fabulous shape, but the interiors were showing their age. It was the perfect opportunity, said Farmer, to create a home that still had the kind of coziness and charm that ranches are known for, while updating and expanding the layout for today’s lifestyle
The kitchen was completely gutted and expanded.
Much of the home was taken to the studs.
The home benefited from a seamless addition that tacked on close to 300 square feet with a sunroom that looks out onto the newly painted deck and backyard. And there are some significant upgrades throughout, including designer tile in both bathrooms, cabinet organization, and new lighting, as well as new thermal windows, updated plumbing and electrical, and a fabulous contemporary entry door.
Of course, Farmer’s vision was one inspired by everyday living. The kitchen tells that story best. While it was a gut job, Farmer planned the space out quite methodically.
“I’ve worked in catering and in restaurants. Cooking is a big part of my life,” he said. That’s part of the reason he went with a more open upper cabinet plan, making hubs of storage surrounding the built-in oven and microwave and the slide-in range, and topping cabinets with butcher block. “It’s a softer look. It’s definitely a cook’s kitchen.”
The real stroke of brilliance is the built-in desk at the end of the kitchen. It can do double duty as a home office or as a buffet for serving holiday meals or at parties.
“The lighting above it is actually a different tone than the other lights, so that it is a ‘pure’ white, which is easier on the eyes for working,” Farmer said. “Plus, this is where the main WiFi connection comes in and there are extra outlets, as well as built-in USB ports.” 
The bathrooms were another area where Farmer got creative.
“The old bathroom in the house was blue and white. It was in pretty good shape, but it took up too much space and was an inefficient design,” he said. “I didn’t want to make it so generic, but I wanted to pay tribute to that old blue and white bathroom.”
He paid homage in the subway tile and color scheme, with a cool tile layout and fun contemporary vanity.
The home now has 2,270 square feet, with gorgeous refinished hardwood floors and tons of light pouring in through the windows. The master suite is a beauty, too, with a large bedroom, oversized closet, and gorgeous five-piece en suite bath.
Plus, the location can’t be beat.
“It’s a beautiful neighborhood,” Farmer said of Oak Park Estates. “The streets back up to the creek. It’s pretty much intact.”
The deck just off of the sunroom offers a great space for outdoor entertaining overlooking the backyard.
According to Heritage Oak Cliff, Oak Park Estates is a sought-after “pocket neighborhood” of intact ranches:
There are approximately 590 homes in the neighborhood. The northern section of the neighborhood was originally developed in 1955 by local Dallas developers, Vernon and James Smith, with the southern section added in the 1960’s by developer Fred Partleton. The northern and southern sections are separated by Five Mile Creek, which runs through the middle of the neighborhood and is a wildlife haven, exhibiting many species of birds, reptiles and mammals. The Oak Park Estates development was marketed simply as “Oak Cliff’s finest neighborhood.”
Oak Park Estates has a rich history of community involvement. There has been a neighborhood association, crime watch committee, and/or garden club existing as far back as the early 1960’s. The current Oak Park Estates Neighborhood Association (OPENA) was officially incorporated in January 2008. The meetings are lively collaborations with our neighbors. We engage on issues affecting our neighborhood and devise action plans to make our neighborhood a serene, pleasant place to live and raise a family
It’s a perfect spot for a family, and we’d be thrilled to move into this thoughtfully renovated ranch in Oak Park Estates.
Virginia Cook Realtor Susan Melnick has listed 1532 Trailridge Drive for $369,000.
