That Seventies House on Bellaire Park Court

According to Laver’s Law, 3509 Bellaire Park Court, lies somewhere between amusing and quaint. James Laver was an esteemed and influential curator at the Victoria and Albert Museum who enunciated a timeline for the cycle of fashion, receiving a Neiman Marcus Fashion Award in 1962. Ten years ago, you might have lethargically said this house was so 70’s. Now,  you would enthusiastically say the multi-level residence, embedded into a tree-lined hill, is so 70’s!

Time has been good to the vintage residence but there is more than nostalgia at play here. Quality shines through in the confident construction, perfectly sited on the lush lot, surely the design of a talented architect. Verticals are emphasized in the bold blocks which thrust forward, drawing the eye inward and upward.

There is something Japanese about the play of natural materials which harmonize indoor and outdoor areas. The 3,400 square foot, three-bedroom, two-and-a-half bath home spreads across three stories centering on an open staircase.

The plan is open. The living room contains one of two fireplaces. A bookcase closing the room to the staircase landing looks to be an awkward addition. But oh those views! Looking out, you might forget you were in sweltering Texas and think you were somewhere in the verdant Pacific Northwest. Multiple balconies afford additional opportunities to enjoy the vistas.

Level two contains the kitchen, two living areas, two dining areas and a study which could be converted into a fourth bedroom.

With the fad for walls of reclaimed wood, the illuminated staircase gracefully winding through the heart of the house looks more au courant than it looks vintage. All three bedrooms are on the third floor. The spacious 300-square-foot master bedroom has a fireplace.

And check out the master bath! Unbelievable that this intimate, woody aerie has survived more than 40 years intact, unrenovated — but remember this is Fort Worth.

And what can you say about the ageless beauty of the dry stack stone hardscape which descends from the back of the house which looks as if it was always there? Though the garden seems to wend indefinitely into space, the lot is less than a one quarter acre cul de sac lot. The free-standing house is part of the McCarthy Condo subdivision, but residents have access to Tanglewood schools.

Kathy Ferguson at Virginia Cook Realtors has priced 3509 Bellaire Park Court at $699,000.

Eric Prokesh is an interior designer whose work has appeared on HGTV, and in books and publications including D Home, Southern Accents, House Beautiful, and House and Garden. In January 2005, HG named Eric one of the 50 tastemakers in America and D Home has included him as one of Dallas’ Best Designers for 10 years. Having lived most of his life in Dallas, he now calls Fort Worth home and is one of our experts on beautiful Fort Worth Dirt. His own home on historic Elizabeth Boulevard has been featured in 360 West.