History and Innovation Tell a Perfect Story in This M Streets Tudor

Dallas’ M Streets are known and beloved both for their charming historic homes and their proximity to the popular restaurants, music, and nightlife of Lower Greenville and Knox/Henderson. If you’re new to the area, “The M Streets,” is what locals call the area, because — you’ll never guess — there are a number of streets that start with “M” in a row: McCommas, Monticello, Merrimac, Mercedes. The neighborhoods are actually called Greenland Hills, Vickery Place (both Conservation Districts), and Lower Greenville.

In the mid 1920s when many of these homes were built, Greenville Avenue was one of the most important thoroughfares in Dallas. It was the main connector from downtown to “North Dallas,” and the only way to get to Richardson, Plano, and on to Oklahoma. The entertainment district known as Lower Greenville has been famous as a place to gather since at least the 1930s.

When a home becomes available in the M Streets, you can expect there to be some excitement, especially when it’s as pristine as this week’s  Highlight Home of The Week sponsored by Senior Loan Officer Lisa Peters of First Horizon.

Thoughtful Updates

This 1926 Tudor is a three bedroom, three and a half bath stunner at 5831 Monticello Avenue. There’s something about these great historic homes that make you want to know their story, isn’t there? Listing agent Tricia Weiner with the Chris Hickman Group at Ebby Halliday told me the owner is her best friend’s daughter and her husband.

“This was their first home together, and they did a lot to it.” They really did – thoroughly modern and thoughtful updates that every homeowner would want, but — and this is key — they did it while preserving the character and charm of the original home.

The Benefits of a Tudor

From the street, there’s already a lot to love: the lovely painted brick against that stunning slate blue door, the steeply gabled roof, the arched leaded glass windows. And you can just see the the gated driveway to the two-car garage that Weiner says is to-die-for. Upon entering the home, you immediately take in the pay off for that steep roof you can never get up on: cathedral ceilings.

“There is so much beautiful light inside the house,” Weiner said.”From the leaded glass, and the plantation shutters, and the cathedral ceilings – it’s so serene and peaceful.”

Attention to Detail

The owners updated the kitchen and took out a wall last year, and the results are phenomenal. The floor plan flows beautifully assisted by gorgeous hardwoods throughout. And the kitchen is just dreamy. I love this kitchen. I love that they used the same slate blue for the island as the door. But mostly I love that this kitchen is so custom. From the millwork to the drawers absolutely everywhere, you can tell that this was a highly planned job and an extremely functional design. “Everything has its place,” Weiner said.

And it’s not just the kitchen. Weiner says there are little organizational surprises all over the house. For example, they made a custom cabinet for the fuse box.

The primary bedroom is on the main floor and the primary bath was also recently redone with all of the luxe accoutrements you could wish for, including French doors to the back patio where you can enjoy morning coffee after a luxurious shower.

Upstairs, you find two more bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a bonus room that could be used for an office or study. Off one of the bedrooms is the sweetest balcony that stretches across the whole floor, overlooking the large backyard. The owners have three small children, so they outfitted the bonus room as a third bedroom to accommodate their growing family, and it’s adorable.

Telling Your Own Story

Outside, it’s easy to picture family barbecues, or sipping tea on the porch while the kids play in the yard in this picturesque scene. Grow your own veggies in the greenhouse at the back of the yard (which conveys). Maybe hearken back to a simpler time, when Greenville Avenue was new. The house at 5831 Monticello Avenue was part of someone’s story then, and it will be part of a new story now.

That’s the wonderful thing about historic homes.

Tricia Weiner of The Chris Hickman Group at Ebby Halliday Realtors has 5831 Monticello Avenue listed for $1.249 million.