Which photo to to lead with? The front with the pink Cadillac? Or the back, with Bob’s Big Boy guarding the pool? Now those are decisions I don’t get to make every day! Thanks to our good friend Ed Murchison, midcentury modern house realtor extraordinaire, we are getting a sneak peak at the gorgeous 1954 “Smith House” in Dallas. Designed and built by Gordon Nichols, it sits on Pinocchio Street among a whole bunch of other “Disney Streets.” The Caddy is just ONE hint of the fun inside and out back: Just keep on scrolling, we have 36 fun and fabulous photos courtesy Shoot2Sell Photography.
Note to view photos: If you are on a desktop, you should be able to click on any photo and it will double in size on screen.
All about The Smith House, from the listing:
Come immerse yourself in the true Mid-century Modern vibe that is so widely sought and so difficult to find. Designed and built by the famed Gordon Nichols, the home at 11016 Pinocchio Drive known as the Smith House, is among the best of the Mid-century Modern houses in the highly desirable Disney Streets. The house was one of the featured homes during the highly successful 1954 Parade of Homes which highlighted the latest modern conveniences and building materials. [Ed tells me that more than 100,000 people visited the house during the 1954 Parade of Homes!]
Its low-slung roof and expansive horizontal feel represent the goal of many builders and architects in the postwar era to offer flexible seamless indoor and outdoor living spaces. The roughly T-shaped house set on a generous lot projects the garage out toward the street and the family bedrooms to the rear of the house. A large master bedroom suite occupies the south end while the kitchen, dining room and two spacious living areas are in the center of the house. The open concept living areas feature vaulted ceilings, exposed beams and cool MCM features such as the Nelson Bubble Lamp in the dining room. The kitchen…is just wow featuring the original cabinetry, vintage pink appliances and Formica counters. This is the real deal…no cheap builder-grade granite here. A unique design element is the brick fireplace, providing what the builder described as a “visual center” in the front entry hall.
All of the principal living spaces as well as the master bedroom and guest bedrooms all open to the covered lanai and terraced decks affording views of the refreshing pool. Once you step out to the south lawn that includes the pool area, blink your eyes and you may think you are in Palm Springs…or on the set of Mad Men! If it is a peaceful spot to enjoy your morning coffee that you seek, the north lawn features a private deck just off the dining area. In addition…there is a separate guest suite providing a perfect place for guests or a family member that desires their own private space.
With so many original features and thoughtful touches, the Smith House is a truly special and unique Mid-century Modern home. Slip on your smoking jacket, turn on the Sinatra and pour yourself a martini…your home!
Basics:
- Four bedrooms, 3.1 bathrooms
- 2,260 s.f.
- $665,000
Open house: Thursday, September 08, 2016 – 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Folks are asking about the pot rack:
It’s an Enclume Whisk (affiliate link)
This is not an original-owner house. But whoever got their hands on it most recently knew (1) WHAT TO LEAVE ALONE, and (2) how to have A Blast bringing the bones of this delicious home to life!
There is color — and fun furniture and art — everywhere!
There are original bathrooms with, I think, just a leetle sensitive updating, which I’m guessing was likely required for wear-and-tear reason…
The living room is cool and inviting…
But the horrible dilemma: Spend all your time inside — or outside???
Suddenly, I need a George Nelson Marshmallow headboard — surely a hack??? — with matching Marshmallow sofa. Surely genius!
But what I mostly now neeeeeeeeeed me is a Big Boy! Where the heck do I get one of these?
THANK YOU, Ed Murchison, for giving us a heads up on this one — it’s fabulous! And thanks, again, to Shoot2Sell for the great photos — we can only guess how much fun you had on this one!
Link love:
- Listing for this house (sold now, link gone)
- Ed Murchison’s homepage – MidcenturyModernDallasHomes.com
- Shoot2Sell photography
Martha says
Amazing house and décor. This house was featured in Atomic Ranch magazine in 2006 or 2007? Not sure exactly which issue, but I still remember all the furnishings and wonderful features!
Ken says
Holy cats! This house just screams FUN! I think these awesome owners need to invite us all to a pool party before the house sells. Is that a deconstructed Sundrella 701 patio umbrella with a mirror behind it in the master suite? LOVE IT!
Stacy says
This house is just fabulous! It makes me happy to see a house that was loved for what it was and not gutted to make it more “modern”. It seems to me that the previous owners curated the furnishings with a sense of fun , in addition to love and respect for the era in which their home came from. The pool area is just dreamy! And who doesn’t want a Big Boy?!
As for the parlor game… how about the Eames/Herman Miller- Hang it All in the foyer.
Diann says
So many interesting pieces, it’s hard to know where to start! How about the Eero Saarinen tulip table in the dining room with the Vernor Panton cone chairs that LuAnn mentioned?
Dan says
My favorite bits are that turquoise bath and the zigzag pattern around the pool. Anyone know what that black wall covering in the other bath is?
I installed that same quilted steel behind my stove – so much easier to keep that area clean. They also had the good sense to put ceiling fans throughout. Not quite of the period, but indispensible in that part of the country.
All in all, this looks a bit more like a stage set than a home to me, but maybe I’m just envious of their decorating chutzpah.
Teresa says
Where do you get the quilted steel?
Bonnie says
What a feast for the eyes! Love it! I’m going to have to look through this a few times. I think I’ll see something new and wonderful each time.
emma says
This is gorgeous— they really pulled it together with all the decorations. I think my favorite part is the listing description though— what a way to paint a picture vs. the usual ‘needs updating’ etc, etc.
Markie says
Love it! So much fun and great ideas. I think I’ll be revisiting this set of pix for ideas… already wondering if making one of those cool sofas with the extended seat is possible??? hmmmm. Thank you!
LuAnn says
I had to google the Vernor Panton cone chairs. I don’t remember seeing these before, but they are quite striking. Thanks for the fun post, Pam!
Carolyn says
Those orange chairs, the purple one and the aqua with the ottoman – I realized, looking (yet) again, that where I’d seen these was on “The Jetsons”!
LuAnn says
I thought of that too! 🙂
Robin, NV says
Holy moley! That dining room set is to die for!