From the curb, 5943 Bryan Pkwy. has a classic charm that radiates from the trees, flower boxes, bay windows, and a gabled roof. It’s the sort of house you’d see in Better Homes and Gardens or on the beach in Cape Cod. “To me, it’s got that old school, all-American dream feel to it,” listing agent Travis Plumb says.
But when you walk inside, “it’s kind of like a hidden surprise.” Originally built in 1921, the home got a major facelift in the early 2000s when its then-owner extended the house backwards and up to a second story. The result is a bright and airy home, with higher ceilings and a more dramatic foyer than you’d expect in a 101-year-old building. “You just wouldn’t expect this house to just open up so much and so beautifully with those huge, tall, vaulted ceilings,” Plumb says.
Everything about this house feels new. And while many of the amenities are still relatively new, the current owners also have put another $75,000 worth of updates into house over the past year, Plumb says. They’ve replaced the back windows, painted, put in new gutters and a French drain, and more.
They spent around $14,000 upgrading the kitchen into a modern and light space. “It’s just a really nice, beautiful open-concept kitchen that’s been updated,” Plumb says. There’s new lighting, appliances, hardware, herringbone tile backsplash, and marble counters—all on top of a fresh paint job. The kitchen looks into the living room, so you can watch TV or chat with guests as you cook.
The downstairs would have been the original single-story home from the 1920s. There are hardwood floors throughout, two smaller bedrooms, a jack-and-jill bathroom, and a front-facing dining room with tray ceilings and its own bay window.
While the downstairs is lovely, the upstairs primary suite “is just magical in itself,” Plumb says. “That’s really what I think sets off the entire house.” The space features a high tray ceiling and almost floor-to-ceiling panel windows “that just really bring the nature of outside inside without having to be in the Texas heat.”
The owners also spent some serious money—$35,000, if you have to ask—on updating the primary bathroom. It includes $8,000-worth of marble. There are new sinks, lighting, a toilet, faucets, and shower, which features both rain and wall-mounted shower heads. “I love the new design: really light colors, bright, happy feeling,” Plumb says. “The mood is better.”
One of the sweetest features of the home is its deep backyard. The neighborhood’s quiet, so “you can hear a lot of the birds chirping and you got squirrels running around,” Plumb says. “It’s a cool little setting in the backyard.” There are plenty of trees, including fruit-bearing peach and walnut trees, plus a large patio and pergola. The shed could be converted into a workshop and there’s room to build a carport, if desired.
The best part, though, is the home’s location. The house is just a couple of blocks from Swiss Avenue—soaking in all the neighborhood’s prestige—but it’s not actually part of the Swiss Avenue Historic District.
Meaning, no HOA fees and “it’s a lot easier to do things to the property and get things passed.” Plumb says. Plus, the house is just a short Uber or bike ride away from downtown, Uptown, West Village, and more. “Everything badass about Dallas—this place is like five minutes, 10 minutes away.”
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