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Mid-Century David Braden Home On OOCCL Fall Tour

David Braden, a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects, was one of a whole generation of gifted architects in Dallas during the middle part of the last century, gifted enough so that George Dahl chose his firm into which to merge his own when he was ready to step back from running his own firm.  Although much of Braden’s work has been non-residential, you will have the opportunity to tour Braden’s very own house during this year’s Old Oak Cliff Conservation League Fall Home Tour, October 10 and 11.  It is said that the cantilevered deck was one of the first in Dallas–caught on pretty well, I’d say.

Green Labron Ctd.

I had the chance to take a tour of the Green Labron home in June and if you are looking for a few good “green” ideas then this stop on the AIA Dallas house tour is definitely worth your time. While these guys shot for the moon (LEED Platinum certification) when it comes to reducing their carbon footprint, you don’t have to spend as much green to help the environment. Simple things like installing energy star appliances, dual flush toilets and tankless water heaters will make your home more engery efficient. If you don’t have a programmable thermostat that allows you to set different temperatures during the day and at night (or while on vacation) then I recommend getting one — it’s an easy DIY project that will only cost you around $75. I just installed one in my 1970s circa home and my wife no longer complains about waking up to a cold house in the morning. If you need more inspiration, head on over to the Green Labron website.

Also, if you’re curious to read about a teeny, tiny struggle they had with the city of Dallas then click here. But keep it on the DL, because more than a few people are unhappy I wrote that article.

Now THIS Is A House Tour!

Photo by Charles D. Smith AIA

This year’s AIA Dallas house tour, November 7-8, has some truly extraordinary houses designed by some of the very best local architects.  One of the houses, on Labron, we wrote about here many moons ago.  Designed by Kelly Mitchell and Sean Garman, two of the most fun folks around as well as really good architects, it’ll be well worth the price of admission on its own.  And I want to see the rest, so see you there.

Dallas Real Estate Love In The L-Streets: Here’s Why Lakewood/Lake Highlands Rocks

Traditional or mid-century modern? I don’t know, but she has hardwoods, a renovated kitchen with light wood cabinets, 2370 square feet, four bedrooms, 2 baths, a wall of glass facing the creekview, and will only set you back $279,900! Check out 10836 Colbert Way in the uber hot L Streets — this home would be perfect for a first time home buyer looking to cash in on that $8000 tax credit and may be eligible for FHA financing. That plus the agent, Ed Murchison, is one of my faves in Dallas.

To get a better taste of Lake Highlands, check out this article I wrote for D Home: Neighborhood Spotlight: Lake Highlands

Open House Porn: It Was A Beautiful Weekend For Falling In Love With A Home…

Sorry! I lied. Except for the wonderful evenings, it was not a good weekend for any weekend fun or romance, well not ’till Sunday anyhow! If you are looking for a new home  –or not,  you just like to hope and dream like me — here are a few highlights from “Emily’s Weekend’s Open House Smorgasboard”:

3704 Stratford Avenue:

This home is right up my alley. I am a recently transplanted Highland Parker, originally from New York, and this reminds me of the homes I grew up around. It is tucked away from the street behind a natural setting of trees and bushes. Everything is kept simple yet beautiful, from the architecture to the interior decoration. Even the pool area. If you are a person that likes to be close to your favorite restaurants, friends, the grocery store, and so on, but when you are home you like to feel a million miles away, this is the home for you.

3512 Euclid Avenue:

Mi piacerebbe visitare l'Italia un giorno di questi! Translation: I would like to visit Italy one day. For now, I will just visit this Tuscan style home right in the heart of the Park cities, and you can come too! Between 3:00 and 5:30 on Sunday, August 2nd, Briggs Freeman has the pleasure of giving an open house for potential buyers and real estate lovers (or real estate voyeurs). I hate to pick favorites... but this is my favorite. You have to see this one yourself so put on your Sunday best, grab your umbrella, and get on over to Euclid Avenue. Faccia come se fósse a casa sua (Translation: Make yourself at home). Better yet, don't just make yourself at home, make it your home!

3524 Wentwood:

This traditional University Park home has three of my favorite things: hardwood floors, saltwater pool, and a large second floor deck. I would happily give my left kidney to live in this home. Unfortunately, I think the cost runs more around two kidneys, a liver, and a leg, but it's worth it!

Dallas Real Estate Open Houses: Check Out These Babes

This one is $3,295,000 at 5551 Edlen and a total bargain in the honeypot of Old Preston Hollow on those 3/4 acre lots. Go here, then meander over to the Creeks of Preston Hollow — one of the few times the gates will be open so you can peek inside. Here’s what’s open from Briggs Freeman, though I’m dissappointed that mega manse on Preston Road – the one the guy bought for his fiance for about ten million, then she said she didn’t want it — is not one of them. Darn it.

Portrait of the Artist At Home:Pamela Nelson’s Commode

In case you decide to get creative this weekend.

Getting Your Home ready To Sell: Live Eye Candy — Swans!

June, the biggest month of the year for brides and home sales, is here. Every agent will be back in town selling.  Or at Neimans’ sales, spending. (Ebby Halliday promises a real “barnburner” of a month,  stay tuned for deets.)  If you’re selling, you know what you have to do –clean, pare down, stage. You might also want to try some live eye candy, especially if you live near water. Our staff photographer snapped these beautiful Black Swans a few weeks ago. They belong to the flock of Braden Power, who owns one of the most delectable listings in Dallas at 3816 Turtle Creek Boulevard. (This video  was shot when the house was listed for $13 million with Eleanor Mowery Sheets. It’s now reduced to $9.8 million and listed with the fabulous Doris Jacobs, Allie Beth Allman.) Could ornamental swans enhance your property value? Most definitely. Knox Swan & Dog sells and ships swans humanely throughout the U.S. , Delta being the preferred airline carrier because, as a company official told me, sometimes the Post Office (which charges $360 to ship a pair of birds) is idiotic enough to leave the poor creatures sweltering on a hot dock. The Mute Swan, immortalized by Tchaikovsky,  is the company’s most popular and economical bird.  You can buy a pair of healthy Mute Swans for $600 that are guaranteed to breed. Some folks buy or rent them for weddings. The lovely creatures pictured here are Black Swans from Australia, slightly more costly: $800 for a one year old pair (Will they breed? Is he really into her as a life-mate?). $1500 for proven breeders — Black Swans who do not, apparently, need Viagra. Swans are generally faithful to each other and mate for life.   Clutches (litters) average five eggs but can be as many as ten.  So say you shell out $600 for a pair of Mute Swans, plus $250 air freight, you could end up with two or three clutches a year — 18 baby birds! But then you have tend them, and I’d hate to think of what might happen if they met up with a Dallas coyote. Still, what better way to make a buyer fall in love with your manse than to have graceful swans in full view.

Dallas Home Tour: Hollywood Heights Coming Up

I know it is not even Valentine’s Day, but get out your April calendars and write on April 25 and 26 in a big sharpie: Hollywood Heights Home Tour!

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