This historic Tudor manor house in Lakewood is what I refer to as a once-in-a-lifetime home. When you are lucky enough to purchase an architectural wonder like this, you don’t leave. The house has changed hands only three times since being built in 1926. It’s now for sale, and I genuinely envy the lucky person that nabs this beauty. It’s one of my all-time favorite homes.
We’re particularly lucky in Dallas to have incredible residential homes designed by notable architects, yet some still rise above the rest. This Tudor manor house is one of them. It has an unmatched pedigree.
Sir Alfred Bossom designed the house for Arthur Kramer, president of A. Harris and Company, one of the many great department stores of downtown Dallas that is now just a historical footnote. In the 1920s Lakewood was considered the countryside, which is one reason the movers and shakers of the city, such as Stanley Marcus, built homes here.
To give you a bit of background, Bossom was an English architect who came to America in 1904 to work for Carnegie Steel in Pennsylvania. He fell in love with the daughter of a New York banker and settled into the city to raise his family. Bossom gained acclaim for his efficiency in the construction of skyscrapers.
His talent brought him residential clients that could afford the best, like Ed (Ned) Green. Green was the son of the notorious Witch of Wall Street, Hetty Green. She got the moniker because she was a very successful investor. When she died in 1916, she was the richest woman in the world, and her two children inherited all that wealth.
Ned decided to hire Bossom and build his dream home. Located in Dartmouth, Massachusetts, Round Hill, a 200-room mansion, was built in 1921 for $1.5 million. It doesn’t sound like a lot for a luxury home today, but in the 1920s it was an astonishing amount of money for a home. However, it was but a drop in the bucket compared to the $75 million Ned inherited from good old mom.
The magnificent home is still intact but has been turned into a private, gated condominium community. It’s an interesting way to keep a grand house intact, and I can’t think of a better way to live if you want the glamorous drive up but an efficient, modern, easy-to-maintain home. But let’s get back to Lakewood!
It was not long before the movers and shakers of Dallas got wind of Bossom and hired him to construct the American Exchange National Bank in 1918. Then came the Magnolia Building, the Maple Terrace apartments, and an addition to the Adolphus Hotel.
As a business leader, Mr. Kramer was familiar with Bossom and knew he was the man to design his family home on 1.2 lush acres he’d purchased in Lakewood.
Remember, Bossom was known for commercial buildings. When he framed this 9,200-square-foot Tudor manor house, he used commercial methods including steel framing. That would be cost-prohibitive for residential construction today.
“The house has a full basement with wine cellar, and an attic, so it’s actually five levels,” listing agent Marilyn Hoffman said. There are 22 rooms in the home, including eight bedrooms, eight bathrooms, two powder baths, and wait for it — 35 closets! The property has gorgeous grounds, a pool, and a two-bedroom, two-bathroom guest house with a full kitchen.
If you have a large family, you’re in luck because the house is right between Lakehill Preparatory School and Lakewood Elementary.
We’re lucky to have beautifully preserved and maintained homes like this Tudor manor house at 6835 Westlake. They just don’t build the like this anymore.
Hoffman has this architectural treasure listed for $3.99 million and the owners are willing to finance.
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 and is the creator of the online course, The Beginners Guide to Buying Wholesale. Her love of dogs, international travel, champagne, historic homes, and preservation knows no bounds. Her father was a spy, so she keeps secrets very well! Find Karen at www.eubankstaging.com
