When two Bud Oglesby townhomes in Turtle Creek hit the market, I was thrilled because we at Daltxrealestate.com are a bit obsessed with Oglesby. In fact, Candy thinks an Oglesby house may be considered the ultimate Dallas home. After all, they are sleek, modern, simple in form, and intelligent in function. His use of light was masterful whether the house was a multi-million-dollar estate or an urban townhome.
We are always thrilled to see Bud Oglesby projects are not only still standing in our fair city, but are also being appreciated by a whole new generation of buyers. It requires intelligence, sophistication, and an appreciation for the modernist aesthetic to understand why anything designed by The Oglesby Group is a keeper.
Although some people have not learned the lesson of preservation, so we’ve lost iconic Oglesby homes like 1003 Strait Lane. We still mourn the loss of that beauty. But, we take heart because we believe these architect-designed homes are finally being more fully appreciated.
There is a reason these townhomes have stood the test of time.
“The thing I think is always interesting about a property is when people don’t move,” Suzanne Warner, the listing agent for Unit 4 at 2808 Welborn, said. “That tells you the story. There are eight units on Welborn. It’s not often that one comes on the market. People tend to stay a very long time.”
Lloyd Scott, co-owner of the modernist mecca of furniture, Scott + Cooner, is one of the neighbors that has stayed a long time. She has been an Oglesby aficionado for years.
“I knew about the street because the townhomes were designed and built while I was living on Congress, in an Oglesby-designed apartment building,” Scott said. “I showed them to my husband and said if one comes up for sale, I want to live there.”
Talk about a great guy — Scott’s husband drove by every day. It took almost 10 years, but they nabbed one and can’t imagine moving. “The space itself is simple and beautiful,” Scott said.” I always loved the way the light comes into them, and that the outside materials carry into the inside. The sensibility is built in.”
“What a lot of people don’t realize is the townhomes on Hood, Welborn, and Fairmount were designed by Oglesby’s partner Jim Wiley,” Architect Ron Wommack said. Wommack, like many architects in Dallas, worked for Oglesby. “I always valued the unique experience I had being able to work for Bud. He was an incredible leader.”
Both the Welborn townhome and Unit J at 2711 Hood Street gives you a good grasp of the sensibility at The Oglesby Group. Good design creates a foundation that allows for the ability to layer in an individual personality.
The Welborn property is a prime example. It showcases the considerable talents of a former owner, nationally recognized interior designer Stephen Sills. We have it on good authority that the photos of this townhome cemented his reputation, and off he went to New York. It’s interesting to see an Oglesby Group design further modernized. Sills replaced original wood parquet floors with marble and ran it through to the outside patio. The original barrel-vaulted skylight design is one of the most dramatic features. They were rebuilt in 2017, on each townhome, by the same firm that built the Kimball Museum skylights.
Now, that’s preservation.
The Hood property, listed by Chris and Diana Blackmon with Compass Real Estate, is more what a midcentury enthusiast would crave. With the original floating staircase and dramatic wood panels, it has that hip, happening, 1960s look and feel. Let me know if you find the secret door panel in the study. It’s very cleverly hidden.
It’s important to recognize these townhomes, whether completely true to their origins or updated to suit personal taste, stand the test of time because they are architect-designed properties. And you can bet they would be cost prohibitive to recreate today.
Remember these Oglesby Group designs don’t come along often, and there are not that many of them left.
The Warner Group has 2808 Welborn Street, Unit 4 listed for $599,000. It is 2,000 square feet and has two bedrooms and two bathrooms.
The Blackmon Group has 2711 Hood Street, Unit J listed for $436,000. This townhome has 1,656 square feet, two bedrooms, and two bathrooms.
Karen Eubank is the owner of Eubank Staging and Design. She has been an award-winning professional home stager and writer for over 25 years. Karen teaches the popular Staging to Sell class for Realtors, and is the creator of the online course, The Beginners Guide to Buying Wholesale. Her love of dogs, international travel, great champagne, dark chocolate, Tudor and Midcentury Modern houses, and preserving the iconic homes and buildings of Dallas knows no bounds.Her father was a spy, so your secrets are safe. Find Karen at www.eubankstaging.com
