In some historic neighborhoods, the interiors of Craftsman, Prairie, and Tudor homes can be a mixed bag. Many of the structures in the Kings Highway Conservation District in North Oak Cliff were built between 1910 and 1930, and though many of them have been remodeled and updated, it’s rare to find a property that takes what we love about historic homes and legitimately makes it better. But that’s what the most recent owners of this Kings Highway Craftsman have done.
“It’s a rare occasion to come across a home that has been so well cared for and so tastefully updated,” listing agent Ann Andrews of the O’Brien Property Group at Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate put it.
She’s not wrong.
Tastefully Updated Historic Oak Cliff Home
Andrews, who has her Historic House Specialist certification, said that many of the updates done to the Craftsman cottage at 610 N. Windomere were completed by the previous owners and her sellers.
“They wanted to keep the character and charm that Oak Cliff is known for while making tasteful updates to the home,” Andrews said. “They made some bold color choices that really paid off.”
The bold choices that she refers to include the beautiful black cabinets in the kitchen. You can’t tell me you’re not tired of white-on-white kitchens, especially if you like to cook. The hardware in the room mimics the brass found throughout, as several doors in the Kings Highway Craftsman have the original brass door plates and knobs.
“It works so well and it looks beautiful,” Andrews said. “You have the exposed brick in there with the original fireplace of the home when it was built in 1922.”
The home has three bedrooms and two baths over 1,814 square feet. This Kings Highway Craftsman makes the most of that floor plan with a mudroom stocked with storage and key updates that include the principal suite.
According to Andrews, the sellers reconfigured the primary en-suite bath. With dark-stained cabinetry, white tile, and beautiful brass fixtures and hardware, they paid a fabulous homage to the home’s historic aesthetic. “They did such a good job of marrying the history and character of the home with their updates,” she said.
Another bold, eye-catching room is the guest bedroom. The walls, which are painted a rich Hunter Green, are soothing. You might think that such a dark color on all the walls would make it feel small. Not so, says Andrews.
“There are so many windows in that room that it gives a great juxtaposition — dark, cozy walls with plenty of natural light coming in,” she said.
The home has had quite a lot of traffic, though there might be one market that would appreciate this property more than others. Considering that this Kings Highway Craftsman is right next door to the acclaimed Oak Cliff gastropub Nova, any buyer who would rather keep that beautiful kitchen clean and order the smoked salmon potato skins or the shrimp and grits when the mood suits them should be first in line with their final and best when the time comes.
Kings Highway: From Temporary to Contemporary
As Heritage Oak Cliff points out, Kings Highway was never intended to be a permanent neighborhood, as the area was supposed to be temporary housing for those waiting for their homes in Winnetka Heights to be finished.
In the 19th century, this area was home to cotton fields. The development of the Winnetka Heights subdivision around 1910 marked the beginnings of Kings Highway. It started with the construction of numerous apartment buildings for the residents awaiting completion of their new homes in Winnetka Heights. Platted as Oak Cliff Annex, the area was designed along the unique diagonal thoroughfare of Kings Highway. During its existence, the trolley stopped at the eastern entrance, where a brick archway once stood, marking the gateway to the neighborhood.
The development did not cease when Winnetka Heights was finished. Many of the original 1910 apartments remain, but it is the diversity of the area that is so appealing. While much of the neighborhood has a 1920s middle class feel with single family Craftsman bungalows, Kings Highway is lined with examples of Tudor, late Queen Anne, Neoclassical and Prairie-style homes. Many of the smaller houses have been restored, as have many of the larger two story homes. However, there are still homes that await creative hands to bring them back to their original splendor. The Kings Highway Conservation District is the second of its kind in Texas and the first in Dallas. A group of residents banded together in the mid-1980s to save this historic neighborhood. The Conservation District was created, and a specific city-enforceable ordinance was written by the neighborhood to direct such topics as zoning, setback, renovation, and general appearance of the exteriors. Conservation Districts are not a strict as Historical Districts.
Heritage Oak Cliff
The Kings Highway Craftsman at 610 N. Windomere is listed by Ann Andrews of the O’Brien Property Group at Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate for $559,000.
