This Fully Restored Kings Highway Craftsman Comes Move-In Ready
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It’s always a delight to see a historic home like this Kings Highway Craftsman get a new lease on life. The reason we still have charming original architecture in Dallas is largely due to the introduction of conservation districts. When neighbors became alarmed at encroaching development and started to see lovely, affordable homes bite the dust in favor of big white boxes, they sought this recourse. Conservation districts have more leniency than historic districts, but homes are still protected, and a neighborhood’s character remains intact.
Kings Highway became a conservation district in 1988. It was the first one formed in Dallas and the second in the state. It’s also notable that this part of the neighborhood is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Although you will find Tudor, Neoclassical Revival, and Prairie styles, the Craftsman bungalow is the dominant architectural style found here. It was also the most popular style in America in the 1910s and 1920s. It made sense then and still does now because of the simple fact that the design inside and out is highly livable. From the wide and welcoming front porch that serves as a perfect spot for morning coffee and afternoon cocktails to the functional built-ins, the style is truly timeless. There is also the important aspect of the layout. Craftsman bungalows are highly adaptable to the open floor plan remodels that suit modern family living.
No one is better at bringing historic buildings back to life in this neighborhood than architect Rick Garza, principal of the RPGA Design Group, because he lives in the neighborhood and understands its character. He took this 1914 Kings Highway Craftsman to the studs and, in bringing it back, restored reclaimed oak floors and put a Level 5 finish on the walls. While keeping the formals in place, he opened up the home so the family room, kitchen, and breakfast area would easily flow into one another.
“Rick owned the home for eight years,” Dave Perry-Miller Realtor Melissa O’Brien said. “He puts lots of love, care, and thought into his projects. No one else does what he does. It’s modern enough but still has a warmth and a cozy feel.”
With 2,102 square feet, three bedrooms, and two bathrooms, it’s what I like to call “right-sized” for a family or empty nesters. This is definitely not a case of charm only. The updates include all new electrical and plumbing, a new main sewer line, a dual-zone energy-efficient HVAC system, blown-in insulation, energy-efficient windows and doors, a new roof, and ZIP sheathing under the siding. It’s clear this bungalow is as pretty beneath the surface as it is on top of it.
The backyard features a surprise: enclosed by an eight-foot-tall privacy fence, there’s a two-car cabana-style carport with alley access that easily doubles as a party venue.
Craftsmanship, character, history, and modern upgrades — this is a true find. Don’t be surprised if someone beats you to a contract on this gem.
