Oak Cliff, a neighborhood near downtown Dallas, is a combination  of lovely old homes, hip arts district, and violent crime.

A single picture inspired what was to be a very short post.

My grandparents built their Steven’s Park home in 1930. In the late 1800’s, Oak Cliff was a very elite place to live, but the early 1900’s brought change. Middle class families moved in. It was still a nice place to live with a steam railroad connecting it to downtown Dallas.

On a recent trip home to help my parents get ready to sell our family home, I discovered a photo album with this picture inside. The only images of this house that I had ever seen were an exterior rendering and a few photos that showed just a glimpse. At some point we probably took a family drive down to Oak Cliff to pass by the old house, but if so I do not remember. I thought the house had been torn down.

The facade of the house I find so inviting. I have never seen a photo taken straight on – only this architectural rendering. The symmetry makes the house elegant, yet it is still casual with its farmhouse character.

There are so many lovely details in this house. This nook charms with its wide wood paneling adorned with wood overlays in scalloped and bunting patterns. A small pendant lights the space, and the telephone is easily reached sitting on a scalloped shelf. I love seeing niches and shelves in old houses that once held the family phone. What a different world that was.

Pocket doors are available to enclose the dining room for complete privacy. The wood carries in as wainscoting and charming beams above. The detail that really sold me was the scalloping on the curtains to mimic the wood shelf. Old houses sometimes hold lovely surprises such as these. I love the attention to detail that can be found in many older homes. While new homes offer many modern conveniences, they often pale in comparison in the thoughtful details that require much labor and skill to execute.

My grandparents chose David R. Williams to design their home. He was a notable architect in the state although he did not design many homes in Dallas. His homes that still stand are bits of treasure in Texas architectural history. Reading up on him, I stumbled upon a website that pictured, much to my surprise, my grandparents’ house. It had been lovingly restored and was up for sale last summer!

When I saw this picture I did not recognize it as my grandparents’ as theirs was whitewashed brick, but the Dutch door caught my eye. Here was this Texas colonial house that has intrigued me for so long featured in a Dallas blogger’s post. I am not sure that the roof was originally metal. My father can’t remember and my grandparents are deceased. It is possible as Williams was from rural Texas and was accordingly inspired.

The details are so lovely inside. I long to walk through this house and see them in person.

Narrow french doors at the top of the stairs invite one into the private areas of the home.

In the original rendering this room was shown with lattice detail as it still is in the room directly below. What a fantastic space to have one’s desk.

Beautiful master bedroom with more wood paneling and a large fireplace. The artwork and dark pots on the mantel are nicely chosen accessories.

Because the school district was a little lacking in Oak Cliff, my grandparents chose to sell this lovely home and move to Highland Park which had and still does have fantastic schools. They bought a beautiful home there  on Stratford and then another on Glenwick Lane, when my father and uncle were college-aged. They had great architectural taste that leaves me dreaming of their wonderful homes.

Casa V can lovingly restore your home.