I would love to color my beard Kris Kringle white and award a house to a deserving tike. Short of that, Fort Worth Friday can offer the next best thing to a Christmas gift-a 2100 square foot charmer with a choice west side location, selling below appraised value. In the heart of the Cultural District, on 1320 Madeline Place, the three-bedroom, two-bath bungalow is a true survivor, celebrating its centenary next year.
Some might find the adjacent condominium complex, stretching over two lots, a negative, but I regard it as a useful buffer to busy Camp Bowie to the south. Museums are an agreeable walk from the property. And this cutie has curb appeal in spades. Wood steps lead to a welcoming front porch varnished to a glass-like sheen.
Step inside and the soft green walls and rose tiled, gas log fireplace is as pretty as a Christmas package. The original hardwood floors have also undergone a refinish. French doors open into a separate, formal dining room.
Moving to the back of the house and you reach the kitchen through a handy, full butler’s pantry. Prospective buyers might want jazzier, newer appliances but who could find fault with the lovely painted cabinets? Ditto the nifty vintage tile floors, back splash, and counter tops.
There is even a small laundry room. The floors need replacing, but I like the checkerboard linoleum tiles available at your local big box home store for about one dollar per square foot. Actually, there is something oddly romantic about this vignette of appliances tools and tubular steel chair-like a modern day version of Chardin.
Bedrooms are spacious and the second bath is a welcome bonus for a bungalow of this date. Some of the tile work looks recent but the original slipper tub and pedestal sink remains. Notice the separate hot and cold water faucets.
The back garden wouldn’t win “Yard of the Month,” but it’s large with plenty of potential. This listing works out to be $171 per square foot, well below the $215 median price for the area. Incredibly this gem hiding in plain sight has lingered for five months on the market. Zillow puts the market temperature in the 76107 zip at a bearish cold but still anticipates values will rise by 4.3 percent. Or perhaps the lack of garage is a deal breaker for some buyers. Parking is currently in front on the circular drive. There is access from the alley to provide entrée to a future structure.
You can suss it out for yourself at a holiday season open house on Sunday, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Sandy Binner of Coldwell Banker Fort Worth is offering 1320 Madeline Place for $364,995.
Eric Prokesh is an interior designer whose work has appeared on HGTV, and in books and publications including D Home, Southern Accents, House Beautiful, and House and Garden. In January 2005, HG named Eric one of the 50 tastemakers in America and D Home has included him as one of Dallas’ Best Designers for 10 years. Having lived most of his life in Dallas, he now calls Fort Worth home and is one of our experts on beautiful Fort Worth Dirt. His own home on historic Elizabeth Boulevard has been featured in 360 West.
