839 N Madison is a perfect display of a life well-lived. The home is built with a collection of great stories and it is the perfect daily reminder to live life to the fullest.

They had their eyes on the home for quite a while and purchased it before it ever went onto the market. They expected to complete a few projects prior to moving in, but their previous home sold more quickly than they expected. So, they rigged up temporary electrical and moved on in. They didn’t have a bathtub for the first week and they used a shower at their friend’s home down the street. Their oldest child came home one day and said: “It is a really great home, I’m so glad I don’t live here.”

They carefully tackled all of their projects updating the home in a way that also preserved the original beauty.

They updated the roof while keeping elements of the old tin roof:

They painstakingly preserved the original windows, There are nearly sixty of them and not a single one is exactly like the other:

The home is a true brick, in that it is constructed with a rare and sturdy double construction. The pathway on their oversized adjacent lot is comprised of bricks from the inside of this home and the owner’s childhood home down the street. The bricks are over 100 years old.

The homeowners built a she-shed with flooring salvaged from the original back porch. The shed’s walls are comprised of doors that they salvaged from other projects, friends or even the side of the road. The kitchen cabinet in the shed from their old kitchen. There is a concealed pull-out chair and telephone box from their previous home on Edgefield.

You can see pictures of the home prior to their renovation here and updated pictures of this gorgeous home here.

Oak Cliff is truly unique. We love learning more about how our clients fell in love with the neighborhood and their home. The sellers of 503 S Ravinia share their story below and come see this home for yourself this Sunday from 1-3p.

Our 20-year Impulse buy

Who buys a home on impulse? We did! In 1998, we had decided we wanted to move to Oak Cliff, but didn’t know much about it yet. We wanted to rent for a year to learn more about the area before buying our home. We previewed a potential rental on Oak Cliff Blvd. We weren’t crazy about the rental, but instantly felt at home with the vibe that emanates throughout Oak Cliff. With nothing better to do on a Saturday afternoon in November, we decided to take up the owner’s offer to meet her husband who also did all of the maintenance on the rental. He was prepping this house to sell. When we stepped onto the property, the fall trees grabbed our attention. We immediately fell in love with the big front windows, hardwood floors and charming 1940s details. We told the owners to stop all their prep work so we could take over and make it our own.  20 years later, it’s time to pass it to a new owner to love as much as we have.