When Christopher Roberts closed on 802 Brown Street in downtown Waxahachie on July 9, 2013, he celebrated both getting the keys to the historic Victorian and his birthday. As it turns out, on July 9, 1913, the second owners of this house were getting the keys to that same house, too. Talk about serendipity.
Roberts was only the third owner in more than a century of a home that sits on a large lot in a fast-growing historic downtown just 20 minutes south of Dallas. Originally built in 1895, the four-bedroom, two-full-and-two-half-bath house was somewhat of a dream for Roberts. It was a chance to take a property and pour in the love and sweat equity it was desperate for, and make it shine.
Of course, it took time and patience, but over the course of two-and-a-half years this home has gone from dated disrepair to a sunny and sweet house that is the envy of its neighbors. So, why are Christopher and Michael Roberts selling?
“It’s because of a life change,” Christopher said. His mother is a retired teacher who wants to live closer, but would like to have her own space for an art studio. So they are moving into a 1980s modern (also in Waxahachie) on even more land. “It’s been a great two-and-a-half years,” he added,”We’ve hatched chickens and we’ve hatched turkeys, we’ve eaten turkeys, too.” But it’s time to move on.
Originally, the Roberts intended to transform the more than a century-old home into a bed and breakfast, as there’s only one in the town. While they didn’t get that far, Christopher says that with the work they’ve done, a buyer could easily make it happen.
But first, let’s get a good look at this home’s epic transformation with a few “before” photos:
“So much had grown up around the house, and we spent a lot of time taking all that out so you could actually see the home,” Christopher said. “The paint was a kind of dark burgundy with white trim, and we wanted to brighten it up and make it a happy place.”
That absolutely worked, both inside and out, as now the home is absolutely stunning. They also took out the greenhouse in the backyard, and took down other structures that were in various states of decay. However, not a bit of it was wasted, as some of the lumber from the out-buildings was used in the kitchen renovation.
“The woodwork was largely intact when we bought it,” Christopher said. “They took great care of it over the years. In the 1980s, all of the home’s woodwork was disassembled, restored, and put back, piece by piece.”
It all looks amazing, too, especially the gingerbread brackets and trim in the doorways to the kitchen and parlor. The carved window and door casements are in such amazing shape, and the fireplaces have beautiful mantles. The restored hardwood floors and the stairs are just perfect, and around every corner you’ll find a new detail to awe and admire.
That chandelier in the dining room — is that not the most perfect fixture for that space? And every bit of furniture looks so wonderfully, carefully selected for this home. For me, this is a house to instantly fall in love with, to host vibrant, gregarious gatherings, and to wander and explore for ever and ever. And as Christopher described it, it does have a bit of magic about it, especially in the parlor.
“We find that people congregate in that room,” he said. “During Fourth of July, we had several people in that room. One of our City Council members was there, and they were playing dueling pianos.”
It is a home that is so well-loved in the community, that sometimes people just knock on the door. Sounds like it would make for a fabulous B&B!
“That was the direction we were headed,” Christopher said. They have to chickens, turkeys, and livestock to prove it. But their change in direction could be what changes yours, too, as it’s now on MLS through Dallas City Center Realtor Christina Bristow for $599,000. You, too, could live the dream of a large lot, with plenty of room for a garden. Just don’t plant too many tomatoes.
“When we first moved to Waxahachie, we were unfamiliar with the fertile soil down here,” Christopher said. “We planted 68 tomato plants.”
As you can imagine, by fall they were just giving tomatoes away. Sure, they canned some, had a few salads, but they learned their lesson. (We suggest diversifying with a few rows of eggplant.)
While the rooms in this home are smaller than those in its modern counterparts, they aren’t too tight. In fact, Christopher said they’ve sort of embraced it all as part of the character of the home, keeping many of the rooms in their original configuration. But it was the kitchen that needed the most help. They transformed it from a haphazard canary yellow nightmare into a sleek, transitional space that is both functional and full of class. The blue and white toile wallpaper is so perfect, and we love the stainless steel appliances, including the double ovens and gas cooktop. You could whip up omelets and crepes so easily!
This home is just so wonderful and peaceful, that I can say that without a doubt, I will take up Christopher’s invitation to stop on by and enjoy the back porch with a glass of wine. Because chances are, if you do that, you could fall in love enough to stay.
