Charles S. Dilbeck, Dallas Architect

Past Dallas and Texas Architect

Charles Dilbeck was born in 1907 in Fort Smith, Arkansas. At an early age he worked in Tulsa creating and adapting plans for builders and developers. His experience as a lumberyard architect contributed to his use and prominent displays of rough and refined woods and handcrafted details. Usually referred to as a romantic and eccentric architect, he took credit for designing the first Texas ranch house.

While Texas homes are usually attributed to David Williams and O’Neil Ford, Dilbeck was simultaneously designing these homes with fireplaces in the screened-in porches, hand-carved mantles, hammered metal work, herringbone patterned plank ceilings, oversized fireplaces and floor plans to capture the southeastern breezes in the summer. Part of his genius was to create comparable volumes regardless of the space of the room. As a result, small rooms would have soaring ceilings while large rooms could afford more traditional ceiling heights. Dilbeck has captured the imagination of Dallas with his prolific work that includes dozens of small idiosyncratic houses to large estate homes that personify his design and characteristic.

Find a Charles S. Dilbeck Architect Designed Home for Sale

Douglas Newby specializes in selling architect designed homes off-market that are not in MLS. Retain Douglas Newby to help you purchase a Charles S. Dilbeck designed home off-market. Also Contact Douglas Newby to represent you for purchasing a Charles S. Dilbeck designed home that is in MLS.


Example of Homes Architect Charles S. Dilbeck Designed

410 North Montreal Avenue, Dallas, Texas

This Charles Dilbeck designed home has been meticulously renovated and restored honoring the detail and charm of the architect.


6843 Lorna Lane, Dallas, Texas

Luther Sadler designed this home in 1936 in a more streamlined style with its smooth stucco wall surface, its balcony with an emphasis on the horizontal piping for its balustrades and curved corner.


University Park Home on .25 Acres

3819 McFarlin Boulevard, Dallas, Texas

Charles Dilbeck Designed Residence

Charles Dilbeck was a prolific architect, much loved and currently featured at the Meadows Museum’s architecture exhibit Crafting Traditions. This four-bedroom Dilbeck home across the street from Williams Park was designed in 1934 next to another architectural masterpiece, the home designed by David Williams for the mayor of University Park in 1932. Having the best work of Charles Dilbeck and David Williams side by side allows these architectural landmarks to define this period of Dallas and the architectural legacy of each other. Charles Dilbeck introduced indigenous Texas design and materials to Dallas architecture, the same years as David Williams.

Charles Dilbeck has often been characterized as Dallas’ most beloved architect for his design that combines an eccentric interpretation of European eclecticism with the artisanship, honest materials, and straight forward design of Texas modern. This University Park home captures these Dilbeck qualities and expresses them in a profound and compelling way. The entry hall is gracious. The formal rooms are spacious. The large kitchen with a fireplace opens to an expansive informal room lined with windows overlooking the garden.


5310 Park Lane, Dallas, Texas

This is one of the largest homes that Dilbeck originally designed. The other large homes for the most part have been torn down as they were built on several acres lots that have now been replaced by huge estate houses.


4200 Shenandoah Street, Dallas, Texas

This is considered the best home of the famous Dilbeck houses known as the four sisters that occupy the four corners of Shenandoah and Douglas in University Park. Here you see the oversized fireplace, rough hewn woodwork and beamed ceilings.


4144 Shenandoah Street, Dallas, Texas

Designed by Charles Dilbeck in 1934, this eclectic Normandy style 3,400 square foot stone cottage has become the best-known and most loved Dilbeck designed home in Dallas. Dilbeck captured in this home the European charm and Texas idiosyncrasy for which he is famous.


3920 Gillon Avenue, Dallas, Texas


5007 Deloache Avenue, Dallas, Texas


6122 Deloache Avenue, Dallas, Texas


5500 Chatham Hill Road, Dallas, Texas


5030 Shadywood Lane, Dallas, Texas


2237 West Jefferson Boulevard, Dallas, Texas


4085 Bryn Mawr Drive, Dallas, Texas


5110 Milam Street, Dallas, Texas


1134 Lausanne Avenue, Dallas, Texas


4101 Stanhope Street, Dallas, Texas


805 Shady Lane, Dallas, Texas


5203 Pershing Street, Dallas, Texas


5103 Pershing Street, Dallas, Texas


4100 University Boulevard, Dallas, Texas


6820 Avalon Avenue, Dallas, Texas


5521 Waneta Drive, Dallas, Texas


4221 Potomac Avenue, Dallas, Texas

4221 Potomac Avenue, Highland Park, Dallas, Texas

Homes for Sale in MLS Designed by Charles S. Dilbeck

There are currently 3 Charles S. Dilbeck designed homes in MLS offered for sale.

Acres1.12Sqft.3,790Bed4Bath4Year1955
Acres0.19Sqft.2,245Bed3Bath3Year1926Lot Size60x135
Acres0.14Sqft.1,448Bed2Bath2Year1940

Homes Sold in MLS by Architect Charles S. Dilbeck

See 30 recent examples of homes designed by Charles S. Dilbeck sold in MLS.

Acres0.73Sqft.5,187Bed5Bath5Year1930
Acres0.23Sqft.1,664Bed4Bath4Year1940
Acres0.16Sqft.2,695Bed4Bath4Year1935Lot Size50x135
Acres0.16Sqft.1,903Bed3Bath3Year1941Lot Size50x135
Acres0.85Sqft.1,747Bed3Bath3Year1949Lot Size134x320
Acres0.2Sqft.1,504Bed2Bath2Year1940Lot Size63x189x29x185
Acres0.4Sqft.3,858Bed3Bath3Year1936Lot Size125 x 140
Acres0.32Sqft.4,542Bed4Bath4Year1934Lot Size87 x 169
Acres0.28Sqft.4,802Bed4Bath4Year1934Lot Size80x152
Acres1.7Sqft.7,435Bed5Bath5Year1936