Houzz Tours
My Houzz: A Midcentury Gem on a Wooded Acre in Dallas
Vintage colors and iconic furniture from the '60s pay tribute to this Texas home's postwar roots
With a passion for honoring their midcentury home's history, Mike and Jill Wood decorated it with color and furniture to fit its origins. The house, built in 1962 by Ju-Nel Homes architects Lyle Rowley and Jack Wilson — protégés of Howard Meyer and Frank Lloyd Wright — is one of about 50 that helped to break the ranch-house mold in Dallas. Open floor plans, exposed rafters, natural materials and expansive windows made for a refreshing change for postwar families, and for the Woods. Using locally sourced vintage furniture, Mike and Jill have successfully paid tribute to this home's roots.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Mike and Jill Wood and daughters Chloe (8 years old) and Devon (4)
Size: 2,400 square feet: 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
Location: Dallas
That's interesting: The previous owners had installed a pet door for Rocky, their domesticated raccoon.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Mike and Jill Wood and daughters Chloe (8 years old) and Devon (4)
Size: 2,400 square feet: 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
Location: Dallas
That's interesting: The previous owners had installed a pet door for Rocky, their domesticated raccoon.
The previous owners had tastefully updated the kitchen to flow with the home's style. The original layout and brick floors by Ju-Nel are still intact.
The couple loves their dining set and have taken great pains to restore the vintage chairs. "We originally paid $20 a chair, but they needed help," says Mike. "So we took them to an auto body shop for sanding and painting. The guy at the auto shop had never been asked to work on furniture before."
Table: Noguchi, 20cdesign; chairs: Saarinen, Collage Classics; pendant light: Time Out Graf
Table: Noguchi, 20cdesign; chairs: Saarinen, Collage Classics; pendant light: Time Out Graf
Large windows that follow the roofline afford park-like views of the backyard from the living room. Exposed wood beams flow from the living room to a covered patio.
As in other Ju-Nel homes, the floor-to-ceiling hearth is composed of Austin stone set in an irregular pattern. "It’s a cozy room considering it’s so big," says Jill.
The couple enjoys collecting midcentury pieces and employs an easy mix of stylish furniture and quirky accessories. "Our backyard is really the star of the home, with all the open windows, so we tried not to compete with that," says Jill.
Sofa: Urban Home in Dallas; coffee table: vintage Saarinen, Century Modern (now closed); glass vases: vintage, Lula B's
Sofa: Urban Home in Dallas; coffee table: vintage Saarinen, Century Modern (now closed); glass vases: vintage, Lula B's
Blue paint highlights open shelves; work by local graffiti artist Tony Bones hangs on the wall between the living area and the family room.
Much of the art and vintage furniture came from estate sales and thrift stores. "Mike likes more ultramodern, sparse decor, while I like a lot of stuff, so we compromised by using a lot of bright colors," says Jill.
Console: McCobb, Love Field Antique Mall (now closed); artwork: Paul Jablonka
Console: McCobb, Love Field Antique Mall (now closed); artwork: Paul Jablonka
Four-year-old daughter Devon digs through a toy container. The couple made sure nothing in their home was too precious. "We don’t have a show house. I can't worry about things getting dirty or broken. A home should be lived in," says Jill.
The groovy, denlike family room boasts a flat-screen TV and a turntable. Mike wired the house and backyard with a central speaker system.
Sofa: Ikea; artwork: vintage
Sofa: Ikea; artwork: vintage
The master bedroom boasts a fantastic view of the backyard. Powder blue walls, modern furniture and an Eames lounge chair create a grounded and relaxed vibe.
Bedroom set: Furniture.com
Bedroom set: Furniture.com
The couple found the iron sculpture above the bed at a thrift store. The Missoni for Target pillowcases provide a little pattern.
"Move decor around when you get bored," says Jill. "It’s cheaper than buying something new."
"Move decor around when you get bored," says Jill. "It’s cheaper than buying something new."
The couple kept the painted paneling intact in spite of a trend toward smooth walls. "The house was built in 1962, and we want to honor that era," says Jill.
A 1974 addition opened up the home and included a laundry room, an office, two bedrooms and a bathroom. "I think the new part of the house is very in line with the original," says Mike.
The couple transformed a thrifted Eames Shell Chair into a rocker for the corner of the office. They bought the artwork by Lorene Herrera at an exhibit at the Dallas Bathhouse Cultural Center.
The couple transformed a thrifted Eames Shell Chair into a rocker for the corner of the office. They bought the artwork by Lorene Herrera at an exhibit at the Dallas Bathhouse Cultural Center.
Daughter Chloe was eager to show off her well-appointed bedroom, decorated with stuffed animals and bright colors. Yellow walls and white modern furniture keep the space fresh and fun.
Jill encourages her daughters to make their own spaces. "I want the kids to have a place to be creative and play," she says.
Desk, chair: Ikea
Desk, chair: Ikea
Devon's room is full of neon color and quirky art. The low platform bed is at the perfect height for her.
The sprawling, covered deck centers around a single tree. Vintage Bertoia diamond wire chairs picked up at a local estate sale offer perfect midcentury-style patio seating.
The home sits on a wooded acre that backs up to a creek and an extended greenbelt. "The best part of our property is all the wildlife," says Jill. "We see lots of bobcats, foxes, raccoons, possums, coyotes, turtles, owls, huge hawks, possums and tons of squirrels."
When not at work, Mike plays drums in a Louisiana-style band called Johnny Tone. The band meets in Mike's backyard sound studio, which they call "Club Wood"; it's a separate soundproof structure he built as a practice room and recording studio.
The girls make good use of a tree house in the backyard. "Since we have almost an acre, landscaping the backyard is an ongoing task," Jill says. "But I love that Chloe and Devon can just go wild in their own little jungle."
The couple added a sunken stacked-stone fire pit to the property; they love to entertain here in warm weather. They also love their neighborhood and the deep-woods feel of their property, even though the home is very centrally located.
Like many Ju-Nel homes, the home has very few windows on the street facade, to ensure privacy. The low-profile home stays cool in the Texas heat under the towering trees.
Jill, Mike and Chloe pose for a family photo while Devon scampers in the backyard.
Houzz call: Share your midcentury family home with us!
Houzz call: Share your midcentury family home with us!