I don’t want to be gratuitous but dammit, this week’s High Caliber Home of the Week is sexy. I don’t know why I’m inclined to cuss when I see a truly outstanding listing, especially an architecturally-significant midcentury modern. Perhaps it’s because I don’t own it — but maybe you can.
Welcome to 6882 Avalon Avenue in Lakewood, listed by David Griffin of David Griffin and Company Realtors. “Rarely does a home come on the market with the architectural provenance of this home,” Griffin says. And this home has serious provenance.
The 1,804-square-foot home was designed by iconic Dallas architect E.G. Hamilton. In fact, this was the very first home that Hamilton designed, and where he lived with his family. It was here that Hamilton met with Stanley Marcus and Ray Nasher to drink martinis and plan for an audacious shopping center that would be the largest climate-controlled retail establishment in the world — NorthPark Center. The 1965-built mall received both the Texas Society of Architects’ annual Design Award and the 25-year Design Award in 2007 for the original design.
The home remained in the Hamilton family until 2016. After the Hamilton family sold it, the new owners engaged the AIA award-winning architect, Joe McCall of Oglesby Greene Architects, to update the home, focusing on re-imagining the kitchen and baths. The seamless result honors the original design while respectfully re-organizing spaces to create 21st-century amenities. The outstanding home was nominated for a 2018 Preservation Dallas Achievement Award.
Located on a quiet cul-de-sac in the heart of Lakewood, the home sits under a canopy of trees. Extremely private, the home is separated from the street by a fenced courtyard. The courtyard, divided into two spaces behind a gated entrance, is composed of a brick-paved entry court and outdoor living space.
The floor plan is masterful with no wasted space. “Rooms flow organically from one to the next creating marvelous opportunities outdoor/indoor living,” Griffin says.
A generous living and dining room stretches across the front of the home, accented by walls of glass; brick; and American walnut. Hamilton’s use of brick is a hallmark of his design, as are the long continuous planes that create eye-pleasing continuity. Floors are dark stained oak. Floor-to-ceiling windows bathe the beamed, high ceilinged spaces in natural light.
The main living areas segues into a large secondary living space that overlooks the lushly planted backyard. This spacious living space has the same material palate and spatial quality as the main living area, as is consistent with all of the rooms in the home.
The kitchen is located between the two living areas and retains much of the home’s original walnut cabinetry but is modernized with new custom-built cabinetry; Bosch appliances including a built-in refrigerator/freezer; dishwasher; oven and microwave; and an induction cooktop and vent-hood.
The primary bedroom views a fenced courtyard and has extensive built-in cabinetry for clothing and luggage storage. The completely re-designed primary bath has double vanities and a large glass enclosed shower.
The second bedroom is especially spacious and is currently furnished as both a bedroom and home office. The third bedroom is also currently set up as an inviting office space. Both of these bedrooms view the backyard through walls of glass. The home’s second bath is completely redesigned and serves a guest bath as well as the bath for the secondary bedrooms.
This home is one of those rare “perfect” designs done by an architect, early in his career, who went on to leave a significant legacy as one of Dallas’ finest 20th-century modernists. It is unquestionably hard to find a home of this architectural significance so lovingly maintained and updated, and even more so, in the heart of one of Dallas’ most renowned neighborhoods.
David Griffin of David Griffin and Company has listed 6882 Avalon Avenue for $829,500. Reach out to David at [email protected] to get a jump on a showing and give Lisa Peters of Caliber Home Loans a shout to make this MCM your own.
