I considered it might be my wishful thinking that historic homes like this Turtle Creek mansion seem to be gaining interest in Dallas. However, Allie Beth Allman’s Jeanne Milligan confirmed my hopes.
“We have had a lot of younger people coming to see historic homes,” she said. “They are architecture buffs and interested in preservation. It’s exciting to see.”
I’m thrilled to bits because it means more of the classic, traditional homes that made Dallas a beautiful city will be preserved. Maybe it’s because we have an influx of relocations from the East Coast, where historic homes are revered. Or perhaps it’s that, in general, more and more people finally understand the allure of a traditional home that has character and has truly stood the test of time.
This Turtle Creek mansion was designed by architect Henry (better known as Hal) Bowers Thomson in 1923. It has only had three owners in over a century. Having few owners is the best testament to how well a home lives. The most recent owner, acclaimed interior designer Josie McCarthy, lived here for 46 years. When someone who spends a lifetime creating beautiful rooms chooses a historic Hal Thomson, well, that also tells you it’s a great home.
Thomson was the go-to architect for wealthy families in Dallas during the 1920s. You can find many of his most significant designs on Swiss Avenue, which was the preferred location for homes of high-society families back then. One of the most recognizable is the historic French Eclectic Aldredge House at 5500 Swiss Ave. Many are concentrated in Highland Park, and then there is this stunner at 4115 Turtle Creek, tucked behind a private wall on a heavily treed 0.76 acres.
There was no better steward of this home than McCarthy. Who is better suited to ensure a classic historic home works well for a modern family than an interior designer? McCarthy collaborated on her Turtle Creek mansion with her friend and mentor Albert Hadley, the legendary American designer whose clients included Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, director Mike Nichols and his wife broadcaster Diane Sawyer, and the Getty families.
“The basis of any great room is that it wears well over time.”
Josie McCarthy
Working together, they updated and reimagined the interiors of the 4,180-square-foot Turtle Creek mansion. Artist Robert Jackson hand-stained the entry floor, a sunny extension to the living room was added, and the second-floor private quarters were reconfigured. McCarthy’s mastery of proportion and scale and her brilliant use of color led to the creation of rooms that were both elegant and comfortable. This is demonstrated nowhere better than in the home she lived in for over four decades.
Landscape architects at Armstrong-Berger designed the grounds, creating extraordinary privacy. Known throughout America for their outdoor rooms, they have created timeless features here with natural stone terraces, privacy hedges, and a classic pool that beautifully complements Thomson’s architectural brilliance.
If you are late to the party, I’m betting Milligan can find you the perfect classic historic home because they are, indeed, hot again!…