The women of First Community Church on Gaston Avenue came calling in 1958, asking their congregation members if they’d open their home for a holiday home tour themed, “Christmas All Through the Home.” The homeowner at 6882 Avalon Ave. — this week’s Highlight Home of the Week — was happy to oblige and offer his 1950s-built contemporary home.
This wasn’t just any home for hosting punch and cookies. This was a stunning Midcentury Modern home, a future architecturally significant home, built by the burgeoning Dallas architect, E.G. Hamilton, who’d later design NorthPark Center and be known as “the man who built Dallas.”
The “Woman’s Angle” feature from Dec. 8, 1958 highlighted the traditional and modern yule decor from Lakewood’s First Community Church congregants, including this one:
“A unique decoration for a contemporary home is the suspension of vari-colored ornaments in mobile fashion from a white trellis in the E. G. Hamilton home. The wood trellis is a permanent structure in the living room above the wood-burning fireplace of rosy beige brick,” the December 1958 article read.
I only wish I had a better photo of this angular fireplace adorned with mod mercury glass ornaments hanging from overhead. Sigh. Can you imagine?!
I say all this to introduce you to this week’s Highlight Home of the Week, sponsored by Dallas mortgage banker Lisa Peters of Cardinal Financial, an architecturally significant home that we’ve previously written about here on CandysDirt.com.
Hamilton, who had moved to Dallas in 1952 to work with the esteemed architect Arch Swank, designed and built this 1,800-square-foot home as his personal residence in 1956* (according to DCAD).
Why the asterisk on 1956? I found an interesting 2015 interview with Hamilton about this home:
“When I came to Dallas, I looked for a place to live – to build a house – and I found a lot over on Avalon,” Hamilton said, as retold for the 2018 White Rock Tour of Homes. “I found out who owned it, and I made a deal with them to design a spec house in exchange for the lot. So I built this little house in ’53, and I built the spec house up the street a little bit.”
The home remained in the Hamilton family until 2016 when its new owners Graham McCall and Charles Cascio engaged the AIA award-winning architect, Joe McCall of Oglesby Greene Architects, to update the home. The seamless result honored the 1953 design with original wood paneling and interior brick accents, while respectfully re-organizing spaces to create 21st-century amenities. It was nominated for a 2018 Preservation Dallas Achievement Award.
Located on a quiet cul-de-sac in the heart of Lakewood, the home sits under a canopy of trees, including one that literally goes through the roof. The courtyard, divided into two spaces behind a gated entrance, is composed of a brick-paved entry court and a grassy outdoor living space.
“As you know, this home is truly one of a kind,” says listing agent Ali Stewart of Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate. “It has been meticulously maintained by its current owners since they purchased the home in 2021 to preserve the true essence of Hamilton’s original intent and design. Much like its renowned architect, it remains both quintessentially tied to a specific style and time. But it’s still timeless in its relevance and significance to modern living.”
A spacious living and dining area extends across the front of the residence, adorned with expansive walls of glass, elegant brickwork, and rich American walnut accents. The use of brick is a defining element in Hamilton’s design, characterized by its long, uninterrupted lines that provide a visually pleasing sense of unity. The floors feature a deep, stained oak finish, while floor-to-ceiling windows flood the high-ceilinged, beamed spaces with an abundance of natural light.
This primary living space seamlessly transitions into a generously sized secondary living area, offering picturesque views of the lushly landscaped backyard. Consistency in both material choice and spatial quality is a hallmark of the design throughout the entire home, ensuring a harmonious aesthetic flow across all of its rooms.
Positioned between the two living spaces, the kitchen preserves the home’s original walnut cabinetry while receiving a modern update through the introduction of custom-built cabinetry. It is equipped with top-of-the-line Bosch appliances, including a built-in refrigerator/freezer, dishwasher, oven, microwave, and an efficient induction cooktop with a sleek vent hood.
The primary bedroom offers a picturesque view of a fenced courtyard and features ample built-in cabinetry to accommodate clothing and luggage storage needs. The completely redesigned primary bathroom boasts a contemporary touch with double vanities and a generously sized, glass-enclosed shower for added comfort and convenience.
The second bedroom offers an abundance of space and serves a dual purpose as both a bedroom and a home office. Similarly, the third bedroom has been thoughtfully arranged as an inviting office space. Both of these bedrooms provide delightful views of the backyard through expansive walls of glass. The second bathroom in the home has undergone a complete redesign, serving as both a guest bath and the primary bath for the secondary bedrooms.
“I think the home leaves you with a sense that we are both present and past, inside and outside at exactly the same time,” Stewart says. “It’s a magical expression you can feel the moment that you walk through the door.”
Ali Stewart of Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate listed 6882 Avalon Ave. for $1.299 and it went under contract in six days. It’s currently under active option contract and is contingent. If you’re not sure what that means, give Ali a call.
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