Seth Fowler: This Wedgway Midcentury Modern is a Perfect Example of The Style

By the time this Tarrant County Tuesday article posts, this home will have multiple offers submitted and for a lot more money than the list price.

So why write about it?

Homes like the Midcentury Modern on Wedgway Drive are why I love writing a weekly column. There is nothing more fun that finding a hidden gem of a home that has had so much pride and thoughtfulness put into it. It doesn’t matter if the home is new or old, small or huge. ZIP codes and area boundary lines mean nothing when there is a home that not only makes me want to write about it, but makes me wish everyone has a chance to see it.

An Architectural Throwback

The term Midcentury Modern has crept back into our vernacular over the past 10 years or so. (We can probably trace it back to the success of Mad Men and Don Draper.) It’s also a term that is even overused in real estate similar to how “Mediterranean” was once used and abused to describe anything that had a barrel-tile roof in the 2000s.

I’m a firm believer that all real estate agents should have to pass a class on basic architectural terms and styles before they can hang their shingle out for business. It’s important to note that CandysDirt.com uses Virginia Savage McAlester’s A Field Guide to American Houses as our Bible of residential architecture. You should all get one of these and study up.

What’s Midcentury Modern Anyway?

Midcentury Modern isn’t necessarily one style, it’s a combination of styles and designs from post-World War II to the early 1970s. It’s a style that emphasizes open floor plans, large floor-to-ceiling windows, opening the interior of the home to the outside for family events and gatherings.

I think this Wedgway Drive property is a quintessential example of a true Midcentury Modern-style home.

Simple is Better

As you venture through this home you’ll notice that it is a very simple floor plan. Rooms are open and bright, many with access to the large covered patio. It’s almost as if everything is there for a purpose. That is another specific trait of Midcentury Modern homes. Because homes aren’t overly large, space is a premium therefore every nook-and-cranny are purposeful and intentional.

Notice in the above photo the variety of materials used in one space. This is another example how Midcentury Modern style uses materials that wouldn’t be found together in a more traditional setting.

Also, as many Midcentury Modern homes have low, flat roofs, oftentimes there is little-to-no space for a traditional attic for even HVAC duct work. Creative solutions are needed to get air flowing in homes with those limitations. In this home, the ducts have been incorporated into the overall aesthetic.

Inside And Outside Living

Certainly one of the staples of all Midcentury Modern homes is the perfect blend of the inside of the home with the outside. Think about it — when this style first came into existence in the post-WWII era, the suburbs were sprouting up, families were utilizing their yards for more than a place for pets, and many Americans found themselves with newfound desire to congregate with their friends and neighbors.

As many Midcentury Modern homes were in California, there’s not a better place to spend time outdoors. In a land where 69 degrees is considered “frigid,” there is always plenty of opportunity to enjoy the backyard.

Don’t Make ‘Em Like This Anymore

Unfortunately, this short article doesn’t do this home or this style justice. Can you see why I get my bow tie spinning when I come across homes like this? It just shows that it’s not about the neighborhood or the size or ZIP code or ornate pediments that makes a great home.

Certainly the owner’s taste and desire in merging the Midcentury Modern furnishings and landscape with the home give it an extra boost. The home is function and quirky and unique, attributes that really make it stand out.

Soon a lucky buyer will be selected by the current homeowners. Hopefully the next owners will carry the torch that has been lit by the sellers, and keep the look and feel of this outstanding Midcentury Modern home true and intact. It was truly an enjoyable experience to preview and write about this home. We need more of them!

The super-hip power couple of Ida and Ted Olsen at Williams Trew Real Estate listed 3717 Wedgway Drive for $359,000. Hurry to see it in person because it’s probably already gone.