This Kessler Park Prairie is an excellent example of how Oak Cliff is becoming a mecca for beautifully designed homes. When you combine the topography, the historic homes, and the fact that Oak Cliff has become one of the coolest areas of Dallas, it’s no wonder it attracts architects, artists, and interior designers.
I was not the least bit surprised to find that this home belonged to one of our favorite designers and his partner: Philip Thomas Vanderford and William Chase Devasier. Vanderford is the owner and lead designer of Studio Philip Thomas, and Devasier has the superhuman task of managing the team, which, of course, he does without breaking a sweat.
Finding this home was complete happenstance.
“We were having brunch with friends on a perfect fall day and drove by this house,” Vanderford said. “I grew up in a house built in the same era, and it resonated with me. The simplicity of character just feels like home to me.”
They were sold and not the least bit daunted that the historic home needed to be saved from some questionable renovations. Fortunately, the Kessler Park Prairie never suffered through one of those bad additions, so even though it went through some evolutions, it was clear to Vanderford and Devasier that the original character could be recovered and, with design ingenuity, taken to an entirely new level.
The original porch had been enclosed at some point, which meant there were awkward windows in the dining room. So it was opened up and turned into a sunroom to make sense of the space. It turned out to be Vanderford and Devasier’s favorite spot.
“It has Bahama shutters, and you look out to the massive live oak trees and the pool,” Vanderford said. “It’s very warm and inviting.”
With 3,400 square feet, three bedrooms, two-and-a-half bathrooms, and a full guest quarters over the garage to work with, Vanderford decided to create a study in neutrals. He uses a lot of saturated color with clients, and when you are looking at color all day, you want a change at home.
“There is nothing basic about the neutrals I’ve used,” he said. “There are bronzes, silver metallic, blacks, and lacquer. I wanted to make it feel rich, textured, and layered but rely on neutrality.”
There was one bump in the design road when Vanderford decided to use the fabrics left over from his Kips Bay Decorator Show House project in Palm Beach. “It was deep, rich, burgundy, and pink, and it was a lesson in that you can love it, but it might not be the cozy bedroom you need!”
And after all, what is a designer’s own home but a laboratory for experimentation? Bringing a historic Kessler Park Prairie into this era is not for the faint of heart, and it does require a designer’s eye to get it right.
Of course, you will be pleased to know that the things that don’t require a designer’s eye have also been done to the house to ensure it endures another 100 years. The roof, gutters, windows, and HVAC systems are all new. There is a whole-house water filtration system, a UV light air purifier, micro-filter ventilation, and a new sump pump.
Like any designer, once you finish a project, you start looking for the next one, even when it’s your own home. “At the end of the day, I love to create,” Vanderford said.
This is an incredible opportunity to snag an absolutely gorgeous, completely move-in-ready home in Kessler Park.