Occasionally an exceptional listing — a perfect combination of unique, beautiful architecture, landscaping, location, and pricing — leaps out and demands your attention. And evidently many others agreed with me. Listing agent Martha Price thought the vintage, thankfully un-updated baths and the one-car garage might potentially make 2200 Winton Terrace a bit of a slow mover. Still, she priced the 1929 Spanish style house at $250 per square foot — the median per-square-foot price for Park Hill these days. The result? Only listed yesterday, it had eight near back-to-back showings and got a full price offer.
I’ve waxed lyrical about Park Hill before, one of our favorite Near Southside neighborhoods, with its unique 20s-era houses and bluff-top views. Even a cursory inspection, reveals why Winton Terrace is a winner. It was designed by the adroit and fabled Fort Worth architect Joseph Pelich, who executed plans for many bespoke residences in Fort Worth’s sexier neighborhoods, as well as high-profile public commissions like Casa Mañana — originally conceived as an open, circular, outdoor dinner theater for Billy Rose’s Fort Worth Frontier Fiesta in 1936.
Though asymmetrical, the balanced projecting and receding blocks achieve unity with many pleasing details, including virtuoso masonry, arched windows, and red tile roof. The four-bedroom, three-and-one-half-bath house sits on a near half acre beautifully manicured lot.
Inside, more arches create pleasing enfilades or lead to cozy alcoves. Ceilings are nine feet tall. Floors are original — a combination of vintage hardwoods and sought-after Batchelder tile, which can easily cost as $100 per piece.
The delight is in the details. The first-floor fireplace (there are two) is bracketed by small arched windows with window boxes below. The firebox is framed with fine Spanish tile, with Batchelder tile on the floor.
The kitchen has had a make over, though the cabinets were carefully chosen to be consistent with the house’s period. A six-burner Dacor stove is a desirable upgrade.
Small nooks and alcoves give the Winton Terrace home a feeling of romance. Notice the period brass wall sconces.
The master bedroom is spacious enough for a king size bed and a nine-by-twelve rug. Abundant and well-placed windows flood rooms with light. All of the bedrooms are on the second floor.
Please dear buyer, leave this vintage bath intact. Feel free to plumb in a shower head if you must, or repaint walls, or change out the vanity, as long as it doesn’t interfere with this glorious floor I suspect to be very rare Batchelder tile in its most Art Nouveau incarnation, probably worth north of $15,000. Your are not allowed to touch the gorgeous, vintage, long tub either. There. You’ve been told.
Private spaces. The upstairs has its own dedicated living area and another lovely tile framed fireplace.
The upstairs terrace overlooks the lovely back garden and has an uninterrupted view of downtown. By uninterrupted, I mean this in-town house appears to be placed on a wooded acreage extending as far as the city center.
Icing on the cake? There is a very civilized 1,500 bottle wine cellar below.
The garage apartment has a sitting room, full kitchen, and rather nice bedroom. It currently serves as HQ for the local volunteer police.
The terrace view. No words necessary.
Martha Price of Williams Trew is offering 220 Winton Terrace for $975,000.
Eric Prokesh is an interior designer whose work has appeared on HGTV, and in books and publications including D Home, Southern Accents, House Beautiful, and House and Garden. In January 2005, HG named Eric one of the 50 tastemakers in America and D Home has included him as one of Dallas’ Best Designers for 10 years. Having lived most of his life in Dallas, he now calls Fort Worth home and is one of our experts on beautiful Fort Worth Dirt.
