We have a real estate trifecta for you today. It has a historic pedigree, excellent location, and flawless updates. This Dilbeck, midcentury modern home has been updated by Bodron + Fruit, one of the best architecture and design firms in the country. It’s located at 4605 Watauga in Bluffview on over an acre of land, and as listing agent Julie Boren, with Dave Perry-Miller, told us, “It’s only three minutes from Love Field— and that’s if you hit every red light!”
In 1954, Charles Dilbeck was commissioned to build this 5,499-square-foot home. Remember, this was long before spec homes became a thing. Clients that could build a home had to have serious taste, and deep pockets.
Dilbeck is often remembered for his whimsical and eccentric homes, but he’s also credited with being the father of the Texas ranch house. Those particular style elements come through in this home’s enormous fireplaces and soaring windows.
It’s one thing to purchase an architecturally significant home. It’s another to update it — properly. It takes appreciation for the original aesthetic and restraint when you start updating one of these homes for modern family use. So it’s exciting when a firm sympathetic to the original architecture becomes involved. Bodron + Fruit is well known for honoring the existing design while creating a consistent vision that brings a home into the 21st century.
The main home has four bedrooms, four bathrooms and a powder bath. “The master bedroom is like a treehouse,” Boren said. “There is a huge Japanese maple outside that is just beautiful.”
It’s interesting that even back in the ‘50s, architects were cognizant of the fact parents wanted to be in their own wing, with kids far, far away. Some things never change. The smart updates included architectural nightlights down the hallway so when a kiddo does need to get to mom and dad, they are not going to be stumbling around in the dark. The house updates were well- thought-out from a family perspective.
Not only did Bodron + Fruit update, they created a brand new pool cabana that was designed so seamlessly it looks as if it were part of the original home. It’s a wonderful addition that can be used for extra entertainment space as well extended-stay guests.
The location, of course, is fantastic. Bluffview is one of those neighborhoods that has easy access to everything, but a distinctive feature of this home is the actual setting. When you have over an acre to landscape and privacy is paramount, you turn to the best.
“Chip Clint of Clint Horticulture worked closely with Bodron +Fruit to decide where every stone and every wall of evergreens would go,” Boren said. The result is incredible privacy, peace and quiet.
“It’s an oasis in the middle of the city,” Boren said. “You do not even feel like you’re in Dallas when you are on the property.”
It’s not just our daltxrealestate.com staff that thinks this is a fantastic home. Architectural Digest featured the $3.95 million property on their website. With two design-minded, journalistic heavy hitters loving this home, we don’t expect it to be on the market much longer.
