Did you know Dallas is a hotbed of Midcentury Modern houses? You just have to know where to look.
Most of us are familiar with the Disney Streets and its 1950s gems, but other pockets require a depth of neighborhood knowledge only Realtors and preservationists have. One of the best-kept secrets is the Sylvania Dells enclave nestled in the larger neighborhood of Highland Meadows in Northwest Dallas. The cool factor here is off the charts.
What is a Midcentury Modern?
The term Midcentury Modern was coined by a writer, of course. Cara Greenberg was the first person to define the style and name it. It used to just be called ‘50s stuff.
I’ve been an observer of the MCM phenomenon since my book Mid-Century Modern: Furniture of the 1950s came out in 1984, giving what was then an unnamed style a descriptive label that stuck.
Cara Greenberg for 1st Dibs
Midcentury Style
Midcentury homes were popularized in America beginning in 1945, hit their peak about 10 years later, and ebbed by 1969. The style is generally characterized by a wide and low footprint, clean lines, large open-plan interiors, and floor-to-ceiling windows that allow the outdoors to become a part of the living experience.
But that doesn’t mean Midcentury Modern architecture didn’t get funky!
Some of the designs were very edgy and futuristic, like The Elrod House in Palm Springs, designed by John Lautner in 1968. It was used in the 1971 James Bond film “Diamonds Are Forever.” Lautner’s 1949 Schaffer House in Los Angeles was used in the 2009 film “A Single Man,” and his 1963 design of the Sheats Goldstein Residence was used in “The Big Lebowski.” And, of course, who can forget the Ben Rose House in Highland Park, Chicago, used as a location in the 1986 classic “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”? There is no doubt that films increased our awareness of and longing for these uber-cool digs.
Dallas Midcentury Architects Were Some of The Best
While we know most of the big national architects designing Midcentury Modern homes — household names such as Mies van der Rohe, Frank Lloyd Wright, Phillip Johnson, and Richard Neutra — Dallas has had its share of talented architects, including Scott Lyons, E.G. Hamilton, Arch Swank, O’Neill Ford, Gordon Nichols, and Thomas Scott Dean.
You will find Midcentury Modern homes sprinkled all over Dallas, from Midway Hollow, Lake Highlands, and Lakewood to Lochwood, Eastwood, and Keistwood. But having an enclave of them is something very special.
Coldwell Banker’s Ed Murchison is one of our go-to authorities on Midcentury Modern, and he has what seems to be a well-founded theory on Sylvania Dells.
John Travis Jr.’s father owned the property at Northwest Highway and Plano Road. He was an architect and built himself a house on Langdale Circle, backing up to Dixon Branch Creek. I have always assumed he must have reached out to his architect friends and told them to come and build homes here because there are so many. One of the most notable is the John Bartell house with a triangular-shaped roof. There are at least three Ju-Nel houses and others that could be, but Ju-Nels don’t have the documentation, all in this little enclave.
Ed Murchison
So you can see why it’s quite a big deal for one of these Midcentury Moderns to hit the market. We have it on good authority that this home was built by the owner for his family in 1964 on just over an acre. Dixon Branch Creek runs down two sides of the property, making it incredibly private.
Over the years, the 4,047-square-foot, five-bedroom, four-bathroom home has been carefully restored and beautifully updated. Extensive work was put into the grounds, creating a complete outdoor living experience that would impress even those original 1950s architects. The addition of a pool, a fireplace, an outdoor kitchen, an area to watch TV, a putting green, and even a custom cornhole area makes this the ultimate family home.
Where else in the city can you have complete privacy and let your kids roam remarkable wooded grounds? It really is a family paradise, and don’t be surprised if a film company comes knocking on your door!
Lee Lamont of eXp Realty has this cool Midcentury Modern at 10741 Eden Roc Dr. listed for $1.395 million.
