You had me at breeze blocks. A lattice of white brick that lends design and mystique to a Midcentury Modern home. This week’s Inwood Home of the Week sponsored by Inwood National Bank is a 1964 beauty, listed by Clifton Kessler of Allie Beth Allman and Associates, that shows off some glorious breeze blocks. That’s the difference maker in this completely renovated Midcentury home on San Leandro Drive, located in the ever-popular Forest Hills neighborhood near White Rock Lake.
Breeze blocks were once a staple of Midcentury Modern homes — a smart fix for filtering sunlight through those signature oversized windows or providing a breeze for an intimate outdoor patio. You saw them everywhere in the swinging sixties of Southern California, so incorporating them into your Texas modern home was like saying “I’ll see your sprawling ranch style and raise you a Palm Springs.”
When they started falling out of favor in the 1970s (or so Atomic Ranch magazine tells me), I wonder if the owners of this 1966-built home had second thoughts… Toyed with the idea of taking them down. I’m so glad they didn’t because this simple grid of gray-white brick is like a sign saying “Hey, I’m a real midcentury (-ish) home. I’m not a 2022 transitional.”
This 2,598-square-foot home with four bedrooms and three baths almost became a 2022 transitional though. Set upon an expansive third-of-an-acre lot with tree-top views, the home was being sold “as is” in September 2021 for $749,500.
“The owner got some really attractive offers from developers,” listing agent Clifton Kessler tells us. And actually, the owner was the broker selling the home and it had been his family home since at least the seventies. When Kessler and a team of golf buddies who call their LLC Dos Hombres Investments came along, the owner/broker was ready.
“He sold it to us and we agreed not to tear it down,” Kessler says.
The result is gorgeous. Vaulted cross-beamed ceilings crown the front living space that’s light, bright, and open. The kitchen flows into the living room with new red oak wood floors, custom-built cabinets, premium quartz countertops, and stainless steel appliances including a Viking gas range and wine fridge.
From the living space enter onto the back patio with a picturesque backyard, wrought iron railing, custom wood ceiling, and remote-operated metal gate.
Clifton’s wife Paige, who is an interior designer, said she can envision a couple of couches, a built-in grill, the chef’s kiss — a pair of egg swings to compliment this midcentury look.
The primary bedroom has an ensuite bath with double vanities, a walk-in shower, custom tile, and quartz counters. An upstairs game room can double as a spacious mother-in-law suite with an ensuite bath.
“It’s like a treehouse room, up above everything,” Kessler says.
Speaking of trees, this ice storm that coated tree limbs with ice made it a little dicey for Kessler to show the home that just went on the market days ago.
“We’ve gotten so much interest in the five days it’s been on the market, but we couldn’t do showings in the ice storm,” Kessler says. “We’re just now starting showings and people are really lining up.”
Clifton Kessler of Allie Beth Allman and Associates has listed 8320 San Leandro Drive for $999,500. He’s hosting an open house from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 5.
This listing is sponsored by Inwood National Bank. Get started on your home loan for 8320 San Leandro Drive by reaching out to them today.
