Skip to content
Skip to footer

Insights, Musings, Reflections

Featured Douglas Newby Blog Articles
All Douglas Newby Blog Articles on Significant Homes, Neighborhoods, and the Evolution of Cities
Architecturally Significant Homes – DougNewby.com
Featured Listings
Architecture
Neighborhoods
Firm
Media on Douglas Newby & Publications
Dallas Modern Homes for Sale
Contact Douglas Newby

Search Douglas Newby Blog Articles

Search for:

Categories

Categories

Dallas Midcetury

University Park’s Best Midcentury Modern Home

Here is a small, midcentury home that lives big.

Continue Reading about University Park’s Best Midcentury Modern Home →

Filed Under: Dallas Neighborhoods Tagged With: Dallas Midcetury, Mid-Century Modern, Midcentury, Midcentury Modern University Park, Modern Architecture, University Park Real Estate

Featured Douglas Newby Blog Articles
All Douglas Newby Blog Articles on Significant Homes, Neighborhoods, and the Evolution of Cities
Architecturally Significant Homes – DougNewby.com
Featured Listings
Architecture
Neighborhoods
Firm
Media on Douglas Newby & Publications
Dallas Modern Homes for Sale
Contact Douglas Newby

Search Douglas Newby Blog Articles

Search for:

Categories

Categories

Footer

Realtor Douglas Newby

Douglas Newby understands the economic and aesthetic impact of homes and neighborhoods that make us happy better than anyone in the county. I hope you enjoy my thoughts on architecture, home, desirable sites, neighborhoods, and the evolution of cities. Ultimately what is most important is a home that make you happy. If you have an interest in buying or selling a home or questions about the evolution of Dallas, call me at 214.522.1000.

The #1 Realtor For Architecturally Significant Homes

Douglas Newby created the concept of architecturally significant homes and has registered trademark Architecturally Significant® and Architecturally Significant Homes®.

Follow or Subscribe for Insights from Dallas Real Estate Broker Douglas Newby

Douglas Newby provides insights and interprets neighborhoods, real estate, architecture, and the market, when other agents provide ubiquitous statistics.

Leave this field empty if you're human:

When one is invited to a birthday celebration for

When one is invited to a birthday celebration for maybe the most admired woman in Dallas, and the invitation says all guests must wear orange, what would you wear? I imagined, at this architecturally significant Volk Estates home, an orange velvet rope at the entry hall in the spirit of Studio 54 would allow access depending on the vibe and attire of the guest. Sure enough, those attending this well curated birthday party wore orange with verve. Artists including three internationally published photographers, several authors, a celebrity chef, sophisticated philanthropists, business titans and art patrons filled the party. Entertainment included a magnificent opera singer that preceded the guests singing Happy Birthday to the celebrant whose favorite color is orange.

An architectural observation that I often note when I am in an architecturally significant home like this one designed by architectural firm Greene, LaRoche & Dahl, one can see into five or six or in this case seven separate rooms while standing in one room of the home. Also in one room, one can see sunlight or nature illuminated in all four directions. Besides allowing sunlight to flow in from several different directions, at a party one can easily see guests one would like to say hello to several rooms away. It is worth mentioning that this estate home is very large, but since it is just one or two rooms deep, each room feels intimate and connected to nature while being part of a grand architectural gesture. There is so much to love about Dallas, but when one is surrounded by wonderful people who love Dallas, one’s affection for the city continues to grow. This is how I answered the question above. I elected to wear a Savile Row bespoke double-breasted linen jacket by tailor John Coggins, an Hermes orange tie, a pocket square also by Hermes, boutonniere by Park Cities Petals, trousers by Incotex, and orange tinted glasses selected and created by Reece Barton of Barton Perriera in the meatpacking district. *Tribute in Orange
#VolkEstates #GreeneLaRocheDahl #orange #boutonniere #DallasParty #ParkCitiesPetals @Reecebarton #SavileRow #Architect #ArchitecturallySignificant #EstateHome #Dallas

Hal Thomson, the godfather of Dallas architects, d

Hal Thomson, the godfather of Dallas architects, designed this home at 3925 Potomac Avenue for himself and his family. Soon I will be offering this home for sale. Homes that architects designed for themselves always fascinate me. Which location, neighborhood and site did they select? What style did they choose? After Hal Thomson earned his architecture degree at MIT, finished his tour of Europe and became the society architect for Dallas patrons, it is easy to understand why he selected for his own home Highland Park as the location, Mount Vernon as the neighborhood, and the second lot up the hill from Hackberry Creek on Potomac Avenue for the site. This was the perfect site for the home he designed for himself and his family as the forested hill was perfect for a New England style home that blended into the neighborhood and in the interior of the home reflected the architectural grandeur and detail of the majestic homes he designed in Highland Park. A front facade easement will maintain the architectural magnificence of this home. *Architect’s Home
#3925PotomacAvenue #ArchitecturallySignificant #Highland Park #MountVernon #Architect #Architecture #ArchitectHalThomson #HackberryCreek #DallasNeighborhood #Dallas

From the year 2023 platform of confusion, uncertai

From the year 2023 platform of confusion, uncertainty, and also some major successes, we can look forward in Dallas to many great and favorable things that will propel the city in 2024, including:

The completion of the best collection of architect-designed eclectic and modern homes in Dallas in decades.

A greater number of architect-designed historic homes preserved as both sellers and buyers have a greater interest in architecturally significant homes. Preservation deed restrictions that have successfully worked for my clients for many years will be more prevalently utilized in 2024.

The trend and devastating silliness infecting cities that allow ADUs and apartments in single-family zoned neighborhoods will be thwarted in Dallas. Dallas has a strong history of supporting single-family zoned neighborhoods that Dallas residents understand contribute to the stability and vibrancy of the city. Fashionable urban policy promoted by itinerant planners and a minority of City Councilmembers will be resoundingly rejected by the homeowners in Dallas.

Dallas will double down on its historical vision of Dallas being a city for residents to enjoy and prosper. Parks, trees, safety, and wealth creation for every resident will resonate with people from other cities who will continue to move to Dallas. Dallas is now third in the country for Family Offices. One could say the smart money is on the future of Dallas.

We will fondly remember those we have lost last year and will think of them as room has been created for new friends and people we admire. May you have a year filled with the joy and contributions you make to your family, friends, neighbors and Dallas. Happy New Year! *Looking Forward

#2024 #ArchitectDesigned #ArchitecturallySignificant #HighlandPark #HighlandParkVillage #SingleFamilyZoning #Density #Architect #HistoricHomes #PreservationDeedRestrictions
#Dallas #ADUs

Cafe Pacific naturally attracts family and friends

Cafe Pacific naturally attracts family and friends to connect during the holidays. People congregate at church, sacred spaces and each other’s homes, but part of the holiday tradition is connecting with those important in our lives at Cafe Pacific. Cafe Pacific is the inspiration of Jack Knox, who curates the look, feel and staff at this iconic restaurant that provides the elegance of a special occasion and the warmth and familiarity that makes it feel like a family restaurant for all generations. In December, Cafe Pacific becomes even more alive. The entire month is filled with gift exchanges, selfies, toasts, connecting and reconnecting with friends, family and clients. Pictured is Terry Cook, an incredibly talented chef, and Dieter Krappl, the best restaurant manager in Dallas. They have made this December the best Christmas month in 45 years at Cafe Pacific. Every server, busser, hostess and assistant manager have contributed to the Cafe Pacific magic. Scroll through and you can see examples of tranquility and elegance, diligence, and even the occasional light show at Cafe Pacific, and party drinks being served. Looking forward to another year at Cafe Pacific, which represents the best of Highland Park, Highland Park Village, and the incredible people who enjoy this special place. Congratulations to Jack Knox on his great success. I am looking forward to more of Cafe Pacific triumphs in 2024. Thank you! *Holiday Connections

#CafePacific #HighlandPark #HighlandParkVillage #DallasChef #TerryCook #DieterKrappl #DallasRestaurant #HolidayRestaurant @CafePacificDallas

I love how Christmas trees express Christmas tradi

I love how Christmas trees express Christmas traditions. The lead image is of a tree in a 115-year-old historic home. The image of the second Christmas tree is in one of my favorite modern homes, designed by Wernerfield Architects. It is in Northern Hills and is the same size and distance from downtown as the first home but is only 15 years old. The third home is in the Loire Valley and several hundred years old, owned by friends I first met on a sidewalk in Northern Hills. What links these home is the art. The first image is in a room with the art of Tremont artist (artist that lived or spent time on Tremont Street) David McManaway, David Bates and John Alexander, and a piece by artist Thierry Diers acquired at a Parisian art gallery. The second image shows a painting by Tremont artist Bill Komodore. The third image of a tree is in a room with a painting also by artist Thierry Diers.

Another thought that crosses by mind when I am making this Christmas post is that even at a glance, one thinks of all of these homes as single-family homes, whether they are on a standard city lot or on a vast amount of hectares. The current crazed movement of reducing the number of single-family homes with apartments is more than just about the detriments of density. The density movement takes away individual expression homeowners convey in their homes and replaces it with generic functionality. I love good homes of all ages, styles and sizes. I enjoy homes even more they express the personality of the owner. Hoping you will continue to celebrate your aesthetic, Christmas tradition and have much holiday joy. Merry Christmas. @Christmas Tradition @ThierryDiers #TremontArtist #Christmas #ChristmasTree #MungerPlace #ModernHome #HistoricHome #LoireValley #NorthernHills #singlefamilyhomes #MerryChristmas

Most of SMU’s opponents are schools which I neve

Most of SMU’s opponents are schools which I never can remember, properly identify or that invoke the sense of a collegiate powerhouse. Ed Ruscha has a series of paintings at his MoMA Retrospective that looks like he had taken a campus tour of SMU opponents. If you scroll through, you will see the schools as I imagine them – Tech-Chem Tigers, Trade School Exterminators, Urban Tech Guardians and the Fargo Fat Boys.

I am pleased that SMU will begin playing collegiate powerhouses that will make it feel like a real football season – Stanford, Pitt, Florida State, Duke and other iconic universities. The exhibition also included magnificent paintings of Standard Oil gas stations reminiscent of Edward Hopper, other paintings that explore onomatopoeic words that add another layer with his expression of lettering and paintings using many unimaginable materials. But his greatest contribution for me was memorializing what I will always remember as the former opponents of SMU. *SMU Departs Conference
#MoMA @TheMuseumofModernArt #EdRuscha #SMU #CollegeFootball #ACC #Art #Paintings #Design #architecture

Architecturally Significant Homes® and Significant Homes® and Architecturally Significant® are registered in the US Patent and Trademark Office. Text, Images, Photography - Copyright © 1994–2024 Douglas Newby. All rights reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Douglas Newby. Douglas Newby & Associates | 25 Highland Park Village #100-592, Dallas, TX 75205 | (214) 522-1000. Text, Images, Photography - Copyright © 1994–2024 Douglas Newby. All Rights Reserved. Website design by webplant.media