Fuller House is the site of VIP party

Remember the A. Quincy Jones house that was in danger of being demolished? Later I updated the story to let you know that it the price had been lowered, increasing the chances that it might be saved. Finally, I was able to report that the house had been purchased by an undisclosed buyer and was slated for renovation.

I'm extremely pleased to let you know that the 14-month renovation is complete, and the home was the site last weekend of a VIP party at the end of the Fort Worth Kitchen Tour, which included the Fuller House, now owned by Mike Jones.

I recently received a comment on one of my posts about the house from the architectural consultant on the project:

...I am glad to say that the house has not only been saved but has been brought back to life once again. I have learned a great deal about this home during the restoration. We are currently giving tours of the house so our community can see this great mid century modern before it goes back into private hands.

Here are a couple of photos of the renovated kitchen. I'm sure it will make all of you very happy to see the happy ending to this story.

Renovated kitchen of the Fuller House, now owned by Mike Jones
fwtx.com

Fuller House kitchen
fwtx.com

Nick of time

In January of this year, I posted about an A. Quincy Jones house not far from my own home in Fort Worth, Texas, that was in danger of being demolished. In a subsequent update in March, I was able to report that the house had a better chance of survival, since the asking price had been lowered.

I am happy to report that the 8400-square-foot home was purchased last Friday by a Fort Worth couple who appreciates the architecture and has the resources to restore the one-of-a-kind house, built for oilman Andrew Fuller and his wife almost 60 years ago.

The property on Charron Lane in west Fort Worth had been held by a Frost Bank trust in the name of Amon Carter III, the son of former Star-Telegram publisher Amon Carter Jr. and the grandson of Fort Worth legend Amon Carter Sr., according to an article by Star-Telegram reporter Chris Vaughn, who has followed the story from the beginning.

The house was threatened with demolition earlier in the year because no one would pay the original asking price of almost $1 million, since the house had fallen into such disrepair since Carter moved out four years ago. Vaughn's story in January generated interest in the fate of the property, and the price was dropped considerably in order to make a sale.

The Fuller House had been listed as one of the city's "most endangered" properties by Historic Fort Worth, a preservation group. The sale of the house will be celebrated by local mid-century enthusiasts, as well as those around the world.

Andrew and Geraldine Fuller, who had many friends in Hollywood, commissioned A. Quincy Jones to design the house, which was completed in 1953 on 17 acres in the Ridglea neighborhood. They hired William Haines, a former actor and famous mid-century interior designer, to oversee the decor. Every room is a different geometric shape--a circle, a trapezoid, a rhombus, to name a some.

T. H. Robsjohn-Gibbings designed custom furniture to fit the gigantic rooms with 20-foot ceilings. The Fullers entertained lavishly in the home, with guests including Jimmy Stewart and Joan Crawford.

Thanks to all of you who have followed my posts about this beautiful piece of mid-century history. Many of you have commented here and elsewhere, helping to create a climate of support for the property, which made it less likely that the former owner would raze the house.

And, most of all, thanks to the buyers who saved this important landmark from the wrecking ball. I hope they will share photos of it with all of us when the restoration is complete.

Photo courtesy Historic Fort Worth

View of Fuller house from pool 

Update on the A. Quincy Jones house in Fort Worth

In a recent post, I wrote of the possible demolition of a spectacular A. Quincy Jones house in Fort Worth, Texas. The house was originally listed for $1.25 million by owner Amon Carter III, and he had turned down several offers, saying they were too far below his asking price. The prospective buyers, as well as
preservationists, had determined that repairs to the house would run from $500,000 to $1,000,000, as the owner has let the house sit unoccupied since 2008.

When I posted about the house, he had turned down an offer for $625,00 and seemed inclined to tear down the house and simply sell the land.

Today I was searching online for mid-century homes for sale in my area and ran across a new listing for the A. Quincy Jones home at 4167 Charron Lane. The asking price has been lowered to $699,000, making it far more likely that someone will buy the home and restore it to its original beauty. It's not saved from the wrecking ball yet...but with some luck and a willing buyer, perhaps it still has a chance.

Fuller House
historicfortworth.org

A. Quincy Jones home faces demolition

A recent article in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram brought to my attention a Texas home designed by A. Quincy Jones that I never knew existed. Nestled in a hilly, wooded neighborhood not far from my own Fort Worth home, the Andrew Fuller House sits vacant, waiting for the wrecking ball.

The home is owned by the grandson of former Star-Telegram publisher Amon G. Carter, Sr., for whom a high school, a museum, a sports stadium and an exhibit hall have been named. Amon Carter III has been trying to sell the house for two years but has turned down several offers he felt were too far below his asking price. Initially, the house was listed for $1.25 million, but it has been lowered to less than $1 million. His most recent offer was $625,000. Carter says the appraised value of the land is more than that. The Tarrant Appraisal District values the land at $307,910.

The trust department of Frost bank has obtained a demolition permit on Carter's behalf. Carter moved out of the house in 2008, and it has sat empty and deteriorating since then. Preservationists and prospective buyers estimate that it would cost from $500,000 to $1,000,000 to restore the home.

Andrew and Geraldine Fuller commissioned Jones in 1950 to design the 8,400 square foot house, which was completed in 1953. Cory Buckner, a Los Angeles architect who wrote a biography of Jones in 2002, was saddened by the current condition of the house and says it is quite possibly the most beautiful luxury home Jones ever designed. Each immense room is a different shape...a diamond, a circle, a trapezoid, a parallelogram. The Fullers hired William Haines as their interior designer and T. H. Robsjohn-Gibbings to create custom furniture for the home.

Historic Fort Worth, Inc., a local preservationist group, has tried to find a new owner, but so far no deal has been struck. The city council could designate the home a historic site, but it is unlikely to happen without homeowner support.

Nevertheless, a bank spokesperson says demolition isn't certain. She insists that as long as the house is still standing, there is a chance of saving it.

From star-telegram.com

The Fuller House sits at the end of a long, gated driveway.
This is the closest shot I could get from the street when I went to take a look yesterday.

Back view
historicfortworth.org

Front door
historicfortworth.org

Entrance hall
historicfortworth.org

Courtyard
historicfortworth.org