Make a Midcentury Modern Move to The Disney Streets or Kiestwood

If you are looking for a Midcentury Modern home in Dallas, you need a Realtor who knows this market better than anyone. You need Coldwell Banker’s Ed Murchison. He’s always our go-to for insight on these homes that are unfortunately becoming rare. 

There are enclaves of Midcentury Modern residences all over Dallas, but you must know where to look. The Disney Streets have some of the most visible examples as do Lake Highlands and East Dallas. A neighborhood that does not immediately jump to mind, however, is Kiestwood in Oak Cliff. This week you can sneak a peek at two of Murchison’s listings, one in the Disney Streets and one in Kiestwood. 

Things Are Getting Hot, Hot, Hot in Oak Cliff’s Kiestwood Neighborhood

Kiestwood is quickly becoming the new hot neighborhood in Dallas and for a good reason. Its collection of well-preserved Midcentury Modern homes, its proximity to downtown Dallas, and its neighborly community make it a highly desirable place to live.

Murchison’s listing at 3232 S. Ravinia in Kiestwood looks a lot like a David Braden design, but we can’t confirm that.  It also looks like it belongs in Palm Springs. All the sleek, functional style hallmarks are here like enormous floor-to-ceiling windows and doors opening to the pool.

It’s surprising to me that we are not more familiar with Kiestwood, but for the neighborhood’s sake, that’s probably a good thing. It means the vast majority of these Midcentury homes on sizable lots are still intact, and the neighborhood has not lost any of its character or fallen prey to builders eyeing large lots. 

“Today, over 400 homes contained within the Kiestwood Historical Homeowners Association boundaries represent the largest, intact concentration of Mid-Century (1950s) ranch-styled structures in Dallas. Of special note are the contemporary/modern and Dilbeck-inspired styles found here. The Kiestwood Historical Homeowners Association is located between Kiest Boulevard, Southwood Drive, Hampton Road, and South Ravinia. This mix of houses all blend to form one of the finest surviving style examples that take us back to the idyllic settings and times of “Leave It to Beaver” and “Father Knows Best”.

Oak Cliff Heritage Society

If you aren’t old enough to know those two TV shows, just think about Mad Men, and you’ll get the idea.

This 1957 house on Ravinia sits on top of a hill on a half-acre lot with 2,896 square feet, four bedrooms, and three bathrooms. Keep this in mind as we travel north to Midway Hills and the Disney Streets.

We Love The Disney Streets and Their Iconic Midcentury Modern Homes

We do. We’ve written endlessly about the iconic Midcentury Modern homes here.

Murchison’s 1955 Midcentury listing at 11038 Pinocchio Dr. also has four bedrooms and three bathrooms. Although it’s on a bit less acreage with a few hundred fewer square feet, it’s in impeccable condition with the same vaulted ceilings and the same enormous floor-to-ceiling windows and doors leading to a dreamy backyard.

The home has been updated with modern appliances, a new HVAC system, and energy-efficient windows, ensuring that it’s not just a beautiful piece of history, but also a comfortable and efficient home for modern living. 

Both Murchison and I have concerns, however. We don’t want to see the Disney Streets disappear, and neither should you. Midway Hills has some of our most iconic examples of Midcentury Modern architecture, yet absolutely wonderful 1950s homes are now being razed by builders.  

It takes an intelligent and style-conscious buyer to understand that bigger is not always better, character is more valuable than square footage, and green space should be coveted rather than filling every inch of a lot with a structure.

Our Midcentury architects understood that there should be a sympathetic balance between nature and structure. These homes are a testament to the neighborhood’s history, and we need to ensure they remain. 

Having an opportunity to own a home in this unique neighborhood for a price well below a million is a rarity. These homes are not just about character but also about superior construction, surpassing anything we see in the market today. Midcentury Modern homes are a wise investment that you can feel confident about. 

And come on! Who would not want to live on a street named Pinocchio? 

These listings offer a rare opportunity to own a stylish piece of Dallas history at a great price.

Murchison has listed 3232 S. Ravinia Dr. in Kiestwood for $749,000 and 11038 Pinocchio Dr. in The Disney Streets for $849,000.