Reviving a Park Cities Grande Dame

When an older home is extensively remodeled in the ultra-valuable Park Cities, the purpose and ultimate hope is to keep the integrity of the original structure but add the things that families are looking for now—bigger kitchens and more casual living areas. Says Robby Skinner, president of Sleepy Hollow Homes and member of the Park Cities Historic and Preservation Society, “We are committed to preserving the fabric of the community by keeping these old homes and making them livable for modern standards so that they will stand the test of time and hopefully not be torn down by a next owner.” Which is exactly the case of the Potter home in Volk Estates.

Gigi Potter grew up there from her early teenage years and recalls neighbors living with them in times of need along with both sets of grandparents; it was paramount to preserve the home where she had built such fond memories while continuing to create new ones. She enlisted the considerable talents of architect Wilson Fuqua to draw new architectural plans, builder Robby Skinner to lead the construction, and Paul Fields of Lambert’s Landscape to make sure the new gardens would complement the style of the home.

The home on Turtle Creek was originally built in 1939 by Womack and Cozzo, with an addition by architect Overton Shelmire completed in 1960; the property was acquired by the Potter family in 1972. Other than a swimming pool and driveway, the house remained the same as its 1970s incarnation until the recent remodel. The most substantial change is the orientation of the home on the lot. “When this house was first built, Lovers Lane was a dirt road. In fact, most of the property was surrounded by pastures,” says Robby Skinner, “so the orientation really didn’t matter.” Gigi remembers that there were a couple of stop signs on Lovers Lane.

Architect Wilson Fuqua directed the Potter remodel with a respect for the house and how it related to the property. By reversing the driveway side, he was able to create a family room and large kitchen that opened up to a long porch and an expansive yard. “After changing the front door location [which was hard to find], I felt like the house was too low on the property. We added the sunken garden in the front to make the house seem taller. Kind of like wearing high heels or standing with shorter people.” Fuqua is one of the preeminent architects of Park Cities and Preston Hollow historical home remodels. He’s a preservationist at heart with special interest in architectural history; his careful respect for the homes and their environment reflects that. “On any project, remodel or new construction, it’s important to remember that there is no great architecture without a great patron. Gigi Potter was a great patron in wanting to keep and improve the character of her home.”

Paul Fields, president of Lambert’s Landscape, worked closely with Fuqua and Skinner to create a more open and inviting space. “By moving the pool and relocating the driveway, we could, in effect, keep the people on one side and the cars on another. We took out a small, closed Japanese garden to create a classic garden and pool space.” The owner wanted a Southern plant palette to complement the home – hydrangeas, boxwood, and azaleas. The outcome is a project that seamlessly integrates new areas with the old.

There is a personal and poignant twist to this story—the Lamberts and the Potters happen to be great friends. In fact, Lambert’s employee Junior Mora is celebrating his 50th year with the company and remembers when he used to drive around Mr. Potter and Mr. Lambert in one of Potter’s many classic cars— maybe Hugh Hefner’s Lincoln or a 1959 white Cadillac convertible.

One can’t mention azaleas without mentioning Lambert’s. Joe Lambert planted the first azaleas in Dallas in 1933 as a request from a Lakewood resident who had seen the showy blooms in Portland, Oregon. “The next year, the azaleas bloomed so extravagantly that police had to direct traffic in front of the house!” says Paul Fields. The continuation of the azalea story is abundantly and beautifully evident each spring as Turtle Creek and other Dallas streets are lined in a pink profusion of blooms.

As Lambert’s celebrates their centennial anniversary this year, there is no way to discuss Park Cities preservation without talking about the vast influence Lambert’s has made in shaping and preserving the look of some of the most beautiful and most valuable neighborhoods in Dallas— beyond just azaleas. At one time, half the homes in Park Cities were painted Lambert green. Legend has it that Mr. Lambert and his daughters took different paint cans and mixed the color in the backyard to create a hue that would complement the gardens. There are still quite a few examples of Lambert green in Dallas. The most interesting and certainly the most dramatic way that Joe Lambert shaped Dallas, however, was by saving Turtle Creek. At one time, the Highland Park city planners had decided to fill in the messy creek that ran through the city and create a park on top of the land. Lambert’s and a group of concerned citizens mounted a campaign to save and beautify Turtle Creek.

If Joe Lambert helped shape the look and charm of the lawns and parks of the Park Cities, Henry Potter was his counterpart in building and architecture. He started Potter Metal Works in 1922 with iron lanterns and expanded the collection from there. He was responsible for all the decorative ironwork in Highland Park Village, which creates the charming Mediterranean look that is timeless even today. His artistry is also still evident in some of the grand old churches like Highland Park United Methodist on Mockingbird Lane and Highland Park Presbyterian on University Drive.

Both of these visionaries helped create the Park Cities of today. It is so fitting that Gigi Potter is restoring her family home and keeping much of the ironwork originally created by Henry Potter, and Paul Fields is continuing Joe Lambert’s lasting legacy in University Park.

BY PEGGY LEVINSON

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHN SMITH