This year, for the 40th anniversary of the Lakewood Home Festival, the tour features six homes that exemplify not only varied styles of architecture and decor but also the highlight of our neighborhood — its beautiful landscape. Each home brings the outside in, “drawing attention to the mature trees, rolling hills and creek views that have made this neighborhood a sought-after oasis,” according to the Lakewood Early Childhood PTA, which hosts the annual festival.
Lakewood Home Festival weekend is Nov. 11-13, with the auction party (Hollywood-themed “Lights, Camera, Lakewood”) on Friday night, Nov. 11; the home tour 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 12-13; and the candlelight tour Saturday, Nov. 12, 7-9 p.m. Tickets can be purchased on the LECPTA website, where more information on the weekend’s activities also is available.
Here are sneak peeks of the six homes, photographed by Jenifer McNeil Baker:
6521 Bob O Link Dr.
This vintage Dutch Colonial home was built in 1941 on an oversized lot. The homeowners’ 2015 renovation includes period detailing and the interior, designed solely by the homeowner, combines classic traditional pieces with French country flair along with transitional accents. The second-floor balcony overlooks a beautifully landscaped front yard (pictured at top of story), and in the back yard, an outdoor living area overlooks the pool.
7208 Dominique Dr.
Inspired by the southern estates in East Texas, this “luxe farmhouse” was built on a double lot in 2016, blending contemporary, transitional, classic and rustic designs. The wraparound porch gives a nod to a simpler time while the floor-to-ceiling windows add to the bright, contemporary interior. Every detail of the home is custom designed, and the carriage house also is a “must see.”
6935 Lakeshore Dr.
Atop a rolling hill in the heart of Lakewood, this classic Dutch Colonial Revival was built in 1927 by famed Lakewood developer Lee Kraft of Dines and Kraft — who developed the Lakewood and Skillman Oram shopping centers — as his personal family home. The current homeowners completed a full remodel, renovation and addition in 2014. The home is an example of preservation and adaptation for modern living.
8 Nonesuch Rd.
This traditional, two-story home was built in 1997 on an acre of land that once belonged to retail icon Stanley Marcus of Neiman-Marcus. The current homeowners completed a major renovation in 2014 to fit the needs of their large, fun-loving family. The floor-to-ceiling steel doors at the rear of the home frame the backyard oasis with its naturally landscaped pool and deluxe outdoor living space.
6723 Sunnyland Ln.
This urban contemporary home was built in 2016 on a cul-de-sac lot overlooking White Rock Creek. The interior is inspired by British designer Timothy Oulton and incorporates dark accents, crystal chandeliers, and polished concrete-and-walnut floors. The walls of glass and the multitude of windows bring the outside in and create a sort of modern Swiss Family Robinson “tree house.”
3201 Wendover Rd.
This iconic early Texas modern home was built by O’Neil Ford and Arch B. Swank in 1939 for Juanita and Alfred Bromberg, who lived there for 60 years. The unimposing, sleek-lined, modern home is nestled in the trees and sits on 10 acres of prime Lakewood real estate. After acquiring it in 1999, the homeowners went to great lengths to preserve and return Lakewood’s famed “hidden jewel” to its former glory. The home, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, is rich in character and full of history.
