A Family Business And The Impressive Home Reno That Followed

Don’t you love a house with a story? As Compass’ Amy Sack point out, her latest listing is really cool on its own, but the back story of the couple that owns it – and renovated it during a global pandemic while pivoting a 130-year-old family business – makes it even cooler.

In 1887, Nick Thurmond’s grandfather opened a flower store, Nitsche’s Flower Store in Dallas. He sold flowers grown on the family farm. In 1970, Virgil Thurmond, Nick’s father, shifted the flower shop to a events and tradeshow business. Nick said it’s a very niche need that his family’s business was able to fill. They created sets and designs for the State Fair of Texas and once Nick hopped on board five years ago, they expanded to auto shows and conventions across the country.

Then in 2019, the pandemic hit and the convention-set-building business came to a bit of a screeching halt.

At that point, the family pivoted again and used their background in construction to start renovating houses. Nick and his wife, Taylor, had a house on Llano Avenue that they remodeled. It looked so good, they got a Post-It Note offer in the mailbox. They sold it, moved into this one, and started renovating it while their next house was being constructed from the ground up.

This year the State Fair was back in action, and the fine folks at the State Fair needed sets. And the company, which is now simply called Nitsche, delivered on that. All while renovating this house and G.C.ing the other house, again from the ground up. Got all that? It’s a full plate, people.

I point out that the Thurgoods actually lived here because this isn’t a “flip” flip. This is a complete renovation where they replaced all the wiring with copper and as much plumbing as they could. It’s a slab foundation so they didn’t break out the jackhammer, you know?

Nick said his wife does all the design work. “She tells me what to build and I build it.”

They’re obviously a very talented team because this house is beautiful. From the wideplank flooring to the perfect shade of white on the walls. Also to love, the raised ceiling, pop of open shelving in the kitchen, and dramatic white cabinets that reach the tippy top. The details are everywhere.

It’s thoughtful, it’s timeless, it’s perfect. Nick said Taylor draws inspiration from the actual house and selects materials and details that are true to the era. For this one he said there are original terrazzo floors under the hardwoods and it KILLED them to cover them up, but someone has chiseled into them. So instead, they added a terrazzo tile in the bathroom to pay homage.

If you’d like to take a look at the four-bedroom, three-bathroom, 2,330 square foot home at 6112 Brandeis Lane, Sack is holding it open today from 2 to 4 p.m.. It’s listed for $775,000.

P.S. Super quick shoutout. Some of the furniture belongs to the owners, but the rest is staged by the ever-delightful East Dallas Modern.