An Iconic Lakewood Estate With a Surprising Architectural Provenance

I’m going to ruffle some feathers, so brace yourselves because this iconic Lakewood estate has been attributed to the wrong architect for at least the past seven years. And yes, I’m also guilty of repeating lore and not facts, but I’m going to set the record straight today. 

This home has been called one of the Dilbeck Triplets for years. Guess what I’ve discovered? It’s not. In fact, there are no Dilbeck Triplets. Although Charles Stevens Dilbeck was a prolific and beloved Dallas architect who even worked with George Marble for six months, evidence points to Marble as the architect of the three side-by-side French Norman homes on Lakewood Boulevard. 

We are incredibly fortunate to have the national authority on Dilbeck right here in Texas. Architect and former Dallas Parks and Recreation Director Willis Winters has spent the last 12 years learning every detail of Dilbeck’s work. In fact, the Dilbeck Architecture Conservancy just launched to provide and preserve Dilbeck’s legacy and to educate us on what is a Dilbeck structure and what is not.  Winters is also presently at work on a book about Charles Dilbeck. So, we now have an enormous wealth of information on how to figure out if a design is an actual Dilbeck.

“This one is not a Dillbeck,” Winters said.” The stone over brick on the facade and the massive chimney are not indicative of his work. It was also built by Dines and Kraft, and to my knowledge, they did not work with Dilbeck, but Marble designed many of the homes they built.”  

There are myriad other details that only someone with Winters’ thorough understanding would pick up on which are not indicative of Dilbeck’s work. This home is now attributed to George Marble, and we should start celebrating his incredible talent.

“George was a great architect,” Winters said.” He deserves to be recognized. There are multiple George Marble houses in Highland Park, like 4266 Bordeaux, that are spectacular. People just don’t know about him.”

When the home sold a few years ago, the buyer hired English Heritage Homes to create an addition to the left side, a sizable family room, and kitchen on the back of the house, and updates throughout the home. A window was installed on the left side of the facade’s chimney, which actually offers a better balance. The half-timbering effect was also added to the left and right second-floor facades. It’s a different home, but frankly, it’s more enchanting than ever.

Once the updates were finished, the owner was there for only 18 months. Clay and Karen Deniger purchased this Lakewood estate in 2017 after it had been on the market for only six days. This property has never remained on the market for very long, but even that was a record! When I interviewed the Denigers in 2017, Clay summed up the home beautifully.

“It’s big, but it lives smaller,” Clay said. “It feels intimate, and that’s a testament to the design. It’s also a great blend of indoor and outdoor living. The grounds, in general, are an oasis.”

It’s either an oasis or a resort. I can’t decide. The backyard certainly does resemble some of the best resorts. One of the many interesting things about the property is the 1,000-square-foot cabana. It was originally a log cabin and was rebuilt with stacked stone by English Heritage Homes. It’s where the original homeowner was born, and years later, it was used for neighborhood meetings and dubbed Lakewood City Hall.

It may be Memorial Day, but considering how fast this property has moved every single time it’s been on the market, I’d have Compass listing agent Nancy Johnson on speed dial. She has this iconic Lakewood estate at 6726 Lakewood Blvd. listed for $7.95 million, and yes, it’s in the existing conservation district, so it cannot be demolished, thank goodness.