The Architect Index: Midcentury Master Gordon Nichols

A spectacular Midcentury Modern in Midway Hills popped up on MLS recently. It was designed by architect Gordon Nichols and beautifully updated by Welch Architecture founder Cliff Welch. It made me think about the resurging interest in Midcentury Modern homes and the architects who designed them. 

Of course, I turned to Coldwell Banker’s Ed Murchison, who has been an incredible resource to CandysDirt.com. No one knows more about Midcentury Modern homes and their architects than Murchison. 

Long-time readers may recall Murchison listed a memorable Gordon Nichols home at 11016 Pinocchio that went viral.

Disney Streets Midcentury Will Have You Singing Sinatra, Polishing Martini Glasses

“It was a magnified time capsule, and it spread like wildfire,” Murchison said. “The New York Times reached out, and I got calls from London, Paris, Hong Kong, and Australia. The owner was into everything Midcentury Modern, down to clothes and cars. He had a Kips Big Boy statue by the pool from the Kips at Marsh and Forest. It was pure midcentury throughout.”

When Nichols designed and built the Pinocchio home, he told reporters it was designed for a family of five who liked to entertain informally. Nichols generally met the family he was designing for and planned accordingly for their particular lifestyle and activities. However, the Pinocchio house was a spec home for the Home Builder’s Association of Dallas County’s 1954 Parade of Homes, so he clearly pulled out all the stops.

The 1954 Parade of Homes went down in history as one of the largest, attracting over 100,000 people to see the work of 29 builders over the course of a week in September.

“It showed the hunger people had for well-designed homes,” Murchison said.  “These new homes had ensuite bathrooms. People were looking at Nichols’ work and seeing things they’d never seen before, like vaulted ceilings, walls of glass, and open concept living.”

A Beautifully Preserved Gordon Nichols Midcentury Cottage

Despite being an architect, Nichols eagerly collaborated with others. Thomas Scott Dean was a notable partner, and Nichols also worked with his wife, who was the interior designer for many projects.   

Nichols, however, was so much more than an architect. He had a degree in engineering and spent 23 years building custom homes, apartment complexes, churches, and small office buildings. 

By 1966, Nichols had combined forces with Bill Gaynier and Tom Byrne. The trio, known as GNB, helped make real estate history in the building boom after WWII. In a Dallas Morning News article, it was reported that, “Their focus was on helping investors achieve a development that is an asset to the community, and a profitable investment for themselves that serves a real and sustainable public need.”

Midcentury Modern homes rarely hit the market, often staying with families for decades due to their livability. When available, like the Rosser home that inspired this post, demand is immediate.

“The Rosser house is spectacular,” Murchison said. They enlisted Cliff Welch to do the renovation. When it comes to an architect who understands a midcentury home, he is the go-to.

Ed Murchison Just Listed an Almost Fully Intact Midcentury Modern Ranch

From an investment angle, it’s hard to beat a Midcentury Modern. Maintain them, update them sensitively, and they can often double in price in a matter of a few years.