When Realtors Laura Ladner and Susanne Burt asked me to write a Tarrant County Tuesday of their new listing on Simondale Drive in Fort Worth, after looking at the photos of the home I thought, “Wait a second, I’ve already written about this home!”
Nope.
In 2017 Tarrant County Tuesday featured an enchanting home designed by architect Charles Dilbeck at 5001 Westridge Avenue in Fort Worth. That home immediately came to mind when viewing today’s Tarrant County Tuesday home at 2920 Simondale Drive. Sure enough, both homes were designed by Dilbeck — and it shows.
Charles Stevens Dilbeck
The well-known Dallas architect, Charles Dilbeck, is a fan favorite of daltxrealestate.com if you’ve been paying attention over the years. If you search his name on the site you’ll find more than 20 pages of stories featuring his homes and inspirations.
Using elements of different periods and styles, Dilbeck designed hundreds of homes in the 1930s and 40s. Many of his homes are made from reclaimed or salvaged brick and wood and feature elements such as asymmetrical facades, turrets (ones that fit into the style, not those found in North Fort Worth’s expensive neighborhoods that look ridiculous), and dovecotes.
Dilbeck has quite a following in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. In fact, the region’s historians very truly wrote the book on the famous architect. When we featured a Dilbeck home in 2017, a number of people called us and asked for tours. Obviously, the unique style and design resonates with many people in the area.
Simondale Drive
Running through Bellaire Estates, Tanglewood, the TCU area — whatever you want to call it — is Simondale Drive. It is one of the more known streets in Fort Worth. When someone says they live on Simondale there is automatically an understanding that the home is going to be quite nice and the homesite is going to be extraordinary as well.
The trees are mature and often create a canopy from one side of the road to the other. Simondale also sits elevated to adjacent streets giving it views galore as well as large (sometimes enchanted) areas in the back of homes to explore.
One feature of Simondale Drive is the diverse array of homes that can be seen. Next to a Dilbeck might be a Colonial home or a French-inspired chateau. Over the years people have torn down homes on Simondale and built new homes — many do a great job of fitting into the neighborhood as well.
2920 Simondale Drive
Located at 2920 Simondale Drive is the Dilbeck home built in 1937. The home is 4,129 square feet with beautiful rooms where the craftsmanship and delicate design are evident.
Every room in the home feels inspired by an old fairy tale. You almost expect three blind mice, a grandma-gown-wearing wolf, a snoozing beauty, and two lost children to be found in any of the spaces. This home, both inside and outside, is truly an enchanting masterpiece.
Certainly, there have been modifications and improvements since the days of Dilbeck. The kitchen has been updated with marble counters and backsplash along with a farm sink and of course a double oven … just the right size for mean witches to be thrown into!
Another post-Dilbeck addition would be the pool. It fits perfectly with the home and surrounding landscape. Because the homesite slopes in the back, the pool is built into a retaining wall and gives a negative edge feel, and is protected with privacy trees.
They’re not making any new Dilbeck homes that’s for sure. When one hits the market you need to act quickly because the troves of admirers across the Metroplex are always eager to scoop one up.
The always stylish and dynamic duo of Laura Ladner and Suzanne Burt of Burt Ladner Real Estate have listed this masterpiece designed by Charles S. Dilbeck at 2920 Simondale Drive for $3.985 million.
