We always do a year-end review of posts and talk about what engaged our readers. This year for the Monday Morning Millionaire column, it was architecturally significant historic homes.
We dig into research and analytics, do a lot of speculating, and also talk about what resonated with each writer. It allows us to revisit stories and often check and see what’s transpired since we posted. How long did a home take to sell? How quickly, for how much, and, best of all, to whom did it sell? We especially like to keep tabs on the whom because we know you come to us for the dirt!
This year, it was particularly interesting to note how many of our Monday Morning Millionaire posts were successful restorations and updates of historic homes. This proves my never-ending point that if you hire an architect who understands preservation and an interior designer who knows how to update historic homes with sensitivity, you can have the best of both worlds.
Luxury and history go hand in hand.
9300 Hathaway
There is no one better suited to take on the restoration and updating of a Charles S. Dilbeck home than SHM principal David Stocker because he has two of his own. Don’t judge. When you fall in love with Dilbeck, you cannot help yourself. It’s just like falling for a Hutsell. You move from one to another, or when possible, you grab another when it hits the market!
4731 Wildwood Rd.
This Dilbeck was initially restored and updated by architect Ralph Deusing and builder Randy Clowdus then in 2021 underwent another extensive update. Philip Vanderford of Studio Thomas James and Lloyd Construction carefully brought this architecturally significant home up to today’s lifestyle.
6657 Lakewood Blvd.
Bianca Watson is devoted to historic homes and grew up with a fearless serial renovator mom. She brought in Bryan Wetz, the founder and designer of Council & Craft and now of Sabado Homes, to help reinvent her architecturally significant Dines & Kraft Mediterranean.
6711 Lakewood Blvd.
This 1930 Spanish Eclectic was not only built by the prolific Dines & Kraft team, but it was also the Albert Dines family home for many years. It has been preserved, updated, and expanded, and it gives us a much-needed dose of hope that it is indeed worthwhile to preserve our historic homes.
3801 Gillon
When it comes to Highland Park’s original homes, architect Wilson Fuqua is the go-to authority who knows the proper way to treat a historic house. The English Country home defined Highland Park. It was designed by legendary architect Hal Thompson in 1917. Fuqua broke down exactly why it’s important, and it gives us pause about what we construct today because this home lives beautifully with very few changes over its 106-year life.
Looking back over these 2023 historic luxury homes should be a lesson for us all. You can have a beautiful historic home that works for a modern lifestyle.
