A Kessler gem got a new look after homeowners John Vranac and Jacob Kearns took on an extensive project to restore the Tudor Revival home to its original 1925 design.
Vranac and Kearns always admired the home when they strolled through their neighborhood, and when a “coming soon” sign was erected, they knew it was their chance to claim the classic property.
“It had great bones, and we saw the potential,” Vranac told the Dallas News. “All the charm that was original to the interior of the home had been removed over time.”
During the home tour, Vranac and Kearns saw the home was in “despair.” Still, some elements were intact and would go with the original aesthetic, like the rockwood fireplace, which previous owners had covered with laminate and brass.
While researching the home, they found several newspaper articles showing the original design. A 1925 advertisement asked readers to name the house for a $50 cash price. The winning name was “Cragmont,” and the home sold for $25,000.
Vranac and Kearns went as far as to go to New England to source period-appropriate fixtures; in addition, they found a cast-iron bathtub from a property on Swiss Avenue that was being remodeled to add to one of the bathrooms.
The listing details the home as a three-bedroom, two-and-a-half bathroom home with oversized windows in the living and dining rooms; it also has a detached garage and an outdoor living area and sits on 0.35 acres of land.
“The fairytale feel of the entire lot and the home itself just captures your heart, and it captured ours from the street,” Vranac said. “It was a pleasure to restore it back to its original glory and let it continue to stand for another 100-plus years.”
The house is on the market for $1,545,000 through Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate’s Patty Brooks. Contract negotiations are ongoing. It is located at 1214 Belleau Drive.
