The Rebirth of a Fort Worth Classic American Craftsman

Breanna and Matt King didn’t realize they were urban pioneers. They just know what they want, and they go for it. So 10 years ago, when they saw this classic American Craftsman in Arlington Heights at 1841 Hillcrest Street, they took a leap of faith. They knew this was a diamond in the rough.

Rough may be putting it mildly. The exterior was all painted the same muddy white, so none of the craftsman detail showed up. The previous owners were smokers, which brought a whole raft of problems. Popcorn ceilings and fabric walls completed the picture.

“My dad begged us not to buy this house,” Breanna said. “But we had a vision!”

The Kings got married when they were 19 and 20. Again they were told they were crazy to get married that early. But they had a vision about that as well.

“We’ve known each other our whole lives. We knew what we wanted.”

After graduating from Texas Christian University, the couple also knew they wanted to be close to downtown. They saw about 20 houses. When they found this classic American Craftsman with the big wrap-around front porch, they knew it was home.

“I’ve always taken a liking to older homes with character,” Breanna said. “I’m not a fan of cookie-cutter neighborhoods. There is something about the history and the character of an old home built in 1921. This home has personality. It was an incredible find. And it’s perfect for us. We are old souls!”

The 2,047-square-foot classic American Craftsman was in good shape when the Kings purchased it but in need of cosmetic updates. It’s clear to see what a fresh paint job did for the exterior and how it has helped define the original details. The hardwoods were refinished, and one of the bathrooms has been updated. It’s easy to see Breanna’s creative side. The couple loves to go junking and turn their finds into new treasures for the house.

Now that the Kings have two small children, they’ve simply outgrown this charming, two-bedroom, two-bathroom American Craftsman.

“It’s very bittersweet for me,” Breanna said.” I don’t want to leave. We are two minutes from the museums and off Camp Bowie near the cultural district. We can walk to the wine café and take our dog and our kids.”

As I’ve mentioned, the Kings know what they want. The thought of remodeling the huge attic and adding bedrooms or an addition with two toddlers in tow was a bit much. So, they have listed their classic American Craftsman in Arlington Heights for $495,000 and know it will be perfect for empty nesters, or another newly married couple like they were all those years ago!

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Karen Eubank is the owner of Eubank Staging and Design. She has been an award-winning professional home stager and writer for over 25 years. Karen teaches the popular Staging to Sell class and is the creator of the online course, The Beginners Guide to Buying Wholesale. Her love of all dogs, international travel, good chocolate, great champagne, and historic homes knows no bounds. Her father was a spy, so she keeps secrets very well!