This beautiful, well maintained, 1956 ranch home listed for sale in Dallas by retro realtor Ed Murchison won’t officially go on the market until next week — but Ed knows about our love for time capsule houses here and pitched us this story. The house looks like a real winner — so we went for it. The house has all kids of appeal, including vaulted ceilings, amazing terrazzo floors, exposed beams and floor-to-ceiling windows — lovely curb appeal, too. At just over 1,500 square feet, this home is modest in size, but this one is a classic that shows how a nice layout (and two full bathrooms) can make a house live large. Ed wants us to let everyone know, that if you are in the market for a midcentury modern house in Dallas, he is hosting the first open house this coming Sunday from 2-4 p.m. But want a sneak peek? We have it, courtesy Shoot2Sell Photography — 26 yummy photos.
Above: Who doesn’t love a good decorative breeze block wall? This one, adjacent to the carport, looks like it’s tinted concrete — or some other kind of clay? Help, readers, help! What is it. Sure is pretty.
Above: The asymmetrical design of the fireplace+paneling+wall is fantastic — inspired! Info from the listing:
- Price: $299,000
- Year built: 1956
- Square footage: 1,546
- Bedrooms: 3
- Bathrooms: 2
Beautifully maintained, perfectly presented Mid-century Modern in desirable MerrimanPark. If you have been looking for a Mid-century Modern home that has not had all of its original character stripped away…this is it. This home features beautiful terrazzo floors in the living and dining areas, vaulted ceilings, clerestory windows, exposed beams and a cozy brick fireplace. Floor-to-ceiling windows extend along the back wall of the living area linking the interior spaces to the large outdoor terrace and the low maintenance gardens beyond. The kitchen retains its Mid-century Modern charm including the corner window over the sink affording a great view while preparing meals. The generous master bedroom is large enough to handle a king-sized bed with plenty of space to spare. Both bathrooms retain their original tile in nice condition…and check out the cool mirrors in both bathrooms. Conveniently located near shopping, dining, the DART Rail station and White Rock Lake, this stylish Mid-century Modern is the perfect home to up your style!
“The perfect home to up your style”: Heck to the yeah! Above: The terrazzo flooring is stunning. The wall of windows at the end of the living room combined with the open floor plan help make this main living area feel much larger than it actually is.
Above: The all-white kitchen continues the light and airy look of the main living space, and the curved countertops and an angled kitchen sink give the space a unique flow and shape. Actually, this kitchen looks like a great kitchen for working in.
Ummmm, Ed: Pam says this whole house is looking like it’s been carefully staged — nicely so! We also suspect you’ve had the walls repainted so that prospective new owners can imagine it as their own ? We understand — all the work you’ve done really make the beautiful architecture and finishes of this home shine. Still, we kinda sorta want to know — was the place covered in old wallpaper, wall-to-wall? We’d love to get a peek o’ that!
Is that Carrara marble on the bathroom countertops? Or, is the countertop some sort of plastic wannabe? In any case — we like it.a lot. What a relatively easy bathroom to replicate the look of today — with the most abundant and affordable bathroom tile there is: White 4″ field tile — and with easy-to-care-for Carrara marble laminate.
- See our story: 12 places to find 4″ x 4″ bathroom tile.
- See our story: Four places to buy Carrara marble laminate.
Both of the home’s original bathrooms are intact — including this one: a prized Jack & Jill bathroom that also features a lovely tiled-in vintage sink in a versatile tan and white color scheme. The floor looks great, too.
What a fantastic, easy livin’ midcentury modest home — kind of perfect — don’t you think?
Link Love
- Mega thanks to retro Realtor Ed Murchison for giving us first dibs at featuring this home. Woot! We will add the listing link as soon as its up.
- Photos courtesy of Shoot2Sell Photography
Two more time capsule houses that Ed has sent us to feature on the blog:
Tips to view slide show: Click on first image… it will enlarge and you can also read my captions… move forward or back via arrows below the photo… you can start or stop at any image:
Meghan says
I notice a few people mentioned the mirror not being above the sink. I think that is actually fairly reasonable – if you are trying to put on make-up or do your hair, you won’t be dropping things in the sink.
Ed Murchison says
The off-set mirror is original. The mirror is actually opens to reveal a medicine cabinet!
dawn quiett says
Do you know who designed it? I write about mc homes. I also have a Facebook Group with 2000 members for E Dallas/NE Dallas that you can post info about this and other houses in the area.
Mary Elizabeth says
Beautiful house and very nice furnishing, staged or not. I doubt if it is fully staged, as most real estate agents don’t go to the trouble to move a baby grand piano into the living room and hang guitars on the wall. (Although everyone sings Ed’s praises as one of our favorite MCM house agents, so maybe he did do that!) I do actually know people who decorate that sparingly and keep their artwork dusted and houses picked up all the time, even when they are not selling. It’s an ideal I aspire to but will never reach. 🙂
I am amazed at how affordable the house is.
Ed Murchison says
Thanks for the kind words Mary Elizabeth. I do frequently stage my listings when needed. I keep a stock of vintage MCM furniture to give my listings the period look that makes them look their best. I have a very tasteful client on this home that loves and understands MCM. I did not have to change a thing on this one!
Mary Elizabeth says
Very clever idea, to keep a stock of furniture that complements the MCM houses you sell. But the baby grand was an indication of the personality and taste of the owners.
Cynthia says
Waaaahhh! (fake crying sound) I want this house! Starting with the pierced decorative concrete block carport wall. Yes, dye (in the form of powder) was often mixed in to create subtle color swirls or mottling in formed concrete blocks or paving stones, in that era. Typical colors were terracotta or green. Terrazzo floor looks wonderful, I wonder if the hardwood in the kitchen is covering terrazzo? And if the carpeted bedrooms are terrazzo beneath? Also love the bathrooms, and the pull down light in the dining area. Kitchen layout looks very easy to work in. This house, though not large, does have great features!
pam kueber says
Thanks, Cynthia, for the info on adding colored powdered dye to concrete — these sure look like they have terracotta coloring to me.
Cysco says
This is an up and coming area of town. I imagine the house will sell in one day. MCM homes in this area don’t last more than a day or two. This area north and the area east of White Rock Lake are two of the hottest areas for real estate in Dallas. Still affordable and there are some real MCM gems to be had.
Cysco says
Oh, and when I say cool MCM homes. I mean it. Here’s one of my favorites that Ed sold a couple years ago that’s pretty close to this current listing.
http://www.midcenturymoderndallashomes.com/IDXDetail.aspx?mlsnum=634431355060293428_69899&city=Dallas&address=8931-Capri-Court&page=1&mlstableid=UPLOAD&sp=y&segmentid=2760051&uid=69899&htmlfile=791329.html
linda h says
Isn’t it about time for the White Rock Lake home tour?
Janet says
I found similar curtains to the ones in the office at JC Penney’s. Search for Studio Standard Squares Grommet Top Curtain Panels (in black). They are currently on clearance. P.S. Pam – I love, love, love Retro Renovation. Thanks for inspiring me to save my pink bathroom, and my yellow bathroom, and my wood paneling.
pam kueber says
Thank you for the love love love, Janet! xoxo back at ya! And yay for your for saving the pink and the yellow and the wood! WOOT!
Paula Webb says
I don’t suppose anyone knows where they got the drapes in the office? I really like them.
pam kueber says
Ed Murchison — if you’re following this thread, can you help with this question?
Ed Murchison says
I am not sure about the study…but I do know the ones in the master came from Target. I thought they were custom at first. You never know what good…and affordable design you will find at Target!!!
virginia says
LOVE the tan and white bathroom and many of the window treatments. Whoever staged the house did a terrific job — the house’s bones are nicely on display. The place doesn’t look cold or tacky — just right. If it were mine, I would definitely warm up the kitchen but I understand the clean palette thing. The outside also very nice.
Enjoying the seeming return of wall-to-wall carpeting in bedrooms. Takes more work of course to keep clean and maintain but I do like wall to wall in sleeping areas. Both for warmth and comfort and noise reduction.
pam kueber says
I love wall-to-wall carpet in bedrooms. So comfy. Carpeting can really expand a space in a family room or living room, too — you can literally plop down comfortably anywhere! Our basement family room would be WAY too cold if we didn’t have wall to wall with thick padding.
dkzody says
This is definitely my kind of style. The backyard is giving me lots of ideas for our overgrown backyard with clay soil that won’t grow grass.
pam kueber says
Yes, I agree — the landscaping is very nicely done too!
Gabrielle says
I love it when you post time capsule homes. It makes me happy! 🙂 I love terrazzo floors. The one thing I would change would be those modern ceiling fans. I’d have to put something more time period accurate in their place.
Cynthia says
Back in those days, hard-wired paddle-style ceiling fans were not often used in residences. Instead, there were box-style or round floor fans, round table fans, big round fans on tall stands, or even round fans mounted to walls or at corners, higher off the floor. The old electric fans had metal cages around them, were portable (except those installed on the wall) and often oscillated. The housings and blades were metal. A paddle fan in the ceiling would have seemed too commercial or industrial, or old-fashioned/Victorian, or very exotic, although they did exist.
Gabrielle says
I’ve never been a big fan of ceiling fans. I also like a lot of the retro light fixtures better. As far as fans go, I’d would probably buy some of those old fashioned metal fans. Thanks Cynthia! 🙂