Dallas has its fair share of homes built by renowned architects. Some of the most sought after are those built in the 1950s and 1960s, a time when the design envelope was being pushed in every medium. Our Monday Morning Millionaire is an architecturally significant midcentury modern at 7115 Brookshire Circle in Hillcrest Havens, and it has an interesting pedigree.
Lyle Rowley, best known for his partnership with Jack Wilson in Ju-Nel Homes Inc., built this contemporary stunner in 1966. It’s one of the last residential projects Rowley built on his own before heading off to work for the military. Both Rowley and Wilson were inspired by Howard Meyer and Frank Lloyd Wright, and that influence is evident in this home and in the almost 50 houses they constructed together around East Dallas in a period of only five years.
The Brookshire home was a custom build for Morris Newberger and his wife Janet. You had to be a pretty cool customer in those days to hire an edgy architect and build something truly out of the ordinary. Remember: this was when most people were living in traditional ranch and colonial homes. Newberger owned Dallas Scrap Bailing Corporation, and the couple were extremely involved in the community, so no doubt this house was created as a reflection of their lifestyle and quite the party scene!
The home is a modified A-frame design and the immediate impact as you enter are the impressive floor-to-ceiling glass walls on the front and rear facades. Then there are the planked cathedral ceilings, the battened walls, interior brick walls, skylights — the house ticks every box on the list of midcentury modern “must-haves.”
The great thing about homes built in this era is they reflect exactly what today’s builders are creating. Midcentury modern home design initiated the open floor plan concept, the use of abundant natural light, and sustainable materials. These homes were green before green was a “thing.”
Fortunately, the appropriate updates have been made to this home. We all love midcentury design, but the kitchens and bathrooms of that era don’t generally stand the test of time. These have been renovated beautifully without losing the overall midcentury feel, but adhering to what a modern family wants.
The present owner, Julie Lloyd, has put her own beautiful mark on the home. Her eclectic design enhances the space without making it feel like you’ve stepped into a Mad Men set. It’s a trick to create balance when it comes to honoring the design without being engulfed by it. Of course, it helps when your profession is interior design — Lloyd is a principal with Tompkins Lloyd Interiors.
So what could be better that an architecturally significant home? This one sits on an enormous waterfront lot. Gazing beyond the 12-foot-deep swimming pool there are serene views of the lake — complete with its own fountain. There’s also a greenhouse next to the pool for all of you with a Neil Sperry thumb.
David Bush is listing this 4,301-square-foot, four-bedroom, four-bathroom, one-half-bath Texas regional midcentury modern for $2.35 million. It’s also one of the jewels in the crown of the Preservation Dallas 2016 Fall Architectural Tour on October 29.
