When this gorgeous French Eclectic Tudor at 6640 Avalon hit my inbox, I was sure it was a new build. The lines are much cleaner than you see on homes from the 1920’s, and it’s absolutely pristine. Then I looked closer. Those windows are original and you don’t see façade embellishments like these on new builds. My curiosity was piqued and I began to dig in and research.
This is actually an original 1926 house built by George E. Dolph as his personal home. Dolph also constructed Munger Place Baptist Church. A little over a year ago, the house was purchased by two very smart investors, Steven Riskey and Bart Fassino. They brought in a dream team — builders, Parc Chateau Homes, designer Leslie Pemberton, one of our favorite architects, Eddie Maestri — and got to work.
Nine and half months of magic later, this 4,010-square-foot,beauty was unveiled. “We completely gutted and reframed to meet code,” Fassino said. “The entire home has been totally upgraded. The original metal windows on the front of the home were restored and we installed energy efficient Jeld-wen windows throughout the remainder of the house and guest quarters.” Yes, guest quarters. It just gets better and better.
The home has four bedrooms and four-and-a-half bathrooms. It also has something rare in Dallas — a 706-square-foot basement that has been completely transformed with a game room, wet bar, full bathroom, and bedroom.
While the original brick was given a fresh modern look with white paint, one of the notable exterior features remained untouched.“We left the slate on the hall stairway section over the porte cochere,” Maestri said. “You don’t see this a lot in Lakewood. It’s a more modern quality. A lot of new homes incorporate metal on the façade and this slate addition is an example of someone trying to create a modern look back in the ‘20s.”
“The front and side doors, entry tile, Batchelder fireplace, and staircase have all been restored,” Fassino said. “I wanted to incorporate a few modern finishes to complement the historic touches, so you’ll see modern fixtures and tile throughout. We also added a standing-seam metal roof to the garage and remodeled it with a guest suite, kitchen nook, and patio.”
The dining room and living room were kept to the original size. Openings to the stair hallway and the kitchen were widened. ”We add the enclosed sunroom off the dining room and added the porch off of the kitchen with a gas fireplace,”Fassino said.
Success in renovating an older home comes from knowing how to open up closed-off spaces to create a sense of connection while maintaining the original character and charm. Masetri is a master at this. “The kitchen was an area where we wanted to pay homage to an older layout with cabinetry and a breakfast nook,” he said. It’s a totally modern space with professional Wolf and Sub Zero appliances and soapstone countertops, yet the cabinetry and farmhouse sink impart a traditional feel. The bay window breakfast nook brings more attention to the backyard, and created a focal point for the back of the house.
A covered porch with a gas fireplace is located just off the kitchen. It’s a great spot to look out over the gorgeous backyard. If you want to add a pool, it’s going to be easy, as the yard was designed with all utilities below grade.
The master suite on the second floor was created by incorporating a smaller bedroom into the space. Ceilings were vaulted and beamed to create a sense of spaciousness without impinging on the intimacy of the room. That’s a British Victoria + Albert volcanic limestone freestanding tub in the master bathroom along with Ann Sacks tile. Calgon, take me away!
Those guest quarters I mentioned earlier are 350 square feet of perfection that include a bedroom, bathroom, and wet bar.
Tyler Johnson with Gilchrist & Company Real Estate has this lovely listed for $1.95 million. It’s not often you find an original Lakewood Tudor that has been so flawlessly renovated.
