Ever wonder how the modernist half lives? On Saturday, May 11, you can find out during the first Spring Modern Home Tour presented by Briggs-Freeman Sotheby’s and organized by ModMedia Inc. publisher Jeff Levine.
Curated for their architectural significance, the four homes on this self-guided tour showcase an eclectic mix of materials and concepts, but there is commonality: “They’ve got a good pedigree, they’ve got a great architect and they come across well in photos,” Levine says.
“There’s a fine line between modern and contemporary, and you find modern being a bit more minimal and simplistic with clean lines and great materials.”
Having run ModMedia for five years, Levine feels a modernist lifestyle is finally having its moment in Dallas. As a new generation can buy the look with affordable, mod-influenced furniture available everywhere from Ikea to Crate and Barrel, residents have also been purchasing 20th-century modern houses in neighborhoods like Lakewood and Oak Cliff and renovating them to their former glory.
“Modernism hasn’t event touched the tip of the iceberg of what it will be. There’s a momentum going on,” Levine says. “It’s an acquired taste, but it’s a lifestyle people embrace, and I hope we get a lot of modernistas coming through who love the concept and can see some furniture or artwork they don’t see every day.”
5544 Waneta Dr., designed by David Benners Architecture
Year built: 2010
At this new four-bedroom house in Greenway Parks, elements of the previous residence were sometimes repurposed to help weave the history of the house back into the neighborhood. Operating on a modest budget, the owners opted for a contemporary house that incorporated sustainable elements such as structural insulated panels (SIPs) on the roof.
7151 Wildgrove Ave., designed by W2 Studio
Year built: 2008
This four-bedroom, four-bath home was built as a respite in a natural setting. Two balconies provide access to nature: a second-floor terrace on the front, which is screened from the street, and a private balcony off the master suite that overlooks the pool.
Built for entertaining, the galley kitchen is bisected by a long counter outfitted with two sinks, wine refrigerator and two dishwashers. Large windows look out onto the backyard, making it a cool house for pool parties.
7125 Wildgrove Ave., designed by W2 Studio
Year built: 2008
This area used to be a pecan grove, so to preserve as many trees as possible, W2 studio designed a tall, vertical home with three beds and baths. The trees act as a visual frame around the home, and clerestory windows afford views of the tree canopy. Even some of the interior accents are made of pecan wood. A two-level fountain pond filled with water lilies accents the landscape comprising native Texas plants and grasses.
6607 Desco Dr., designed by Spun Creative Group
Year built: 2010
To blur the transition from indoor to outdoor space, this 1950s ranch was reimagined as a contemporary, four-bedroom, L-shaped house. Natural light pours in from huge picture windows and clerestory windows on three sides of the kitchen. Contemporary design elements also include exposed metal I-beams and stainless steel staircase with Lucite handrail.
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Advance tickets for the home tour are $20 each and can be purchased on the tour’s website until 6 pm, May 10. You can also purchase tickets at the door of any home on the tour for $25 each (cash or check only.) All proceeds benefit the Dallas Architecture Forum. The modern extravaganza continues next weekend, May 17-19, at the first-ever Dallas modern design expo at Victory Park.
The architects of 5544 Waneta Dr. preserved some of the former home's features so it would fit into its Greenway Parks neighborhood.
