Mockingbird Park Midcentury Ranch Has All the Right Vibes, Like Palm Springs in Dallas

When we talk about curb appeal, it’s hard to beat Mother Nature. “The trees in front are spectacular,” Graham McCall said. They are what immediately drew McCall and partner Charles Casio to their Mockingbird Park midcentury ranch. Casio thought the house looked like Palm Springs in Dallas, and it was a case of love at first sight.

“I knew the second we walked in that this was the perfect home for us,” he said.

Entering through a lovely walled courtyard, you can see the distinctive octagonal dining room before stepping into the expansive living room. With vaulted, beamed ceilings, a dramatic fireplace, and light flowing in from three directions, it’s a lovely gathering space.

Although the midcentury ranch had great bones and had been updated, it was giving a more traditional vibe. Casio and McCall added the right elements to make it feel more pronounced and succeeded beautifully.

“We updated the floors, painted everything white, and brightened it up,” Casio said.

You won’t ever forget the wet bar. Casio and McCall installed an arresting Kelly Wearstler wallpaper that acts as a dramatic lead-in to the light-filled octagonal dining room, with an 18-foot-tall vaulted conical ceiling, built-in display cabinets, and views to the courtyard.

“It’s like stepping into a garden to eat dinner,” Casio said.

The kitchen had been redone with rift-cut white oak cabinets, but Casio and McCall elevated the space with new countertops, backsplash, cabinet hardware, and lighting. They also reconfigured a horizontal island to create an elongated peninsula that made much more sense for the space.

The primary suite was another selling point for the couple.

“It’s the best primary suite in the world,” Casio said. “There is room for a sitting area and office space, and it overlooks the pool. It’s the coolest vista I’ve ever seen in a home.”

The couple updated the bathrooms, installing a custom walnut double vanity, a wet room with a soaking tub and dual shower heads, and three solar tubes in the primary bath to bring in light (but not heat). They also created an enviable custom-designed closet.

The amazing kidney-shaped pool was yet another draw for Casio and McCall. “The sculpture was already there when we bought the house, and we think it may have been a fountain,” McCall said. They did a lot of work in the backyard, replacing the red decking and adding turf, landscape, and patio areas.

While the couple has loved their home and entertaining in it, their focus has recently shifted with the arrival of their adorable baby girl, now 6 months old. That’s why this rare opportunity is available in a neighborhood where homes seldom come to market.

“We love the neighborhood,” McCall said. “In terms of location and convenience, it’s accessible to so many things. We have wonderful neighbors and a good sense of community.”

Dave Perry-Miller’s Garrett Holloway has this Mockingbird Park midcentury ranch at 5343 Southern Ave. available for $2.15 million.

Open House: Saturday, August 29, and Sunday, August 30, 1-3 p.m.