In the early 1940s, when legendary Dallasites William and Mabel Caruth decided to settle on a vast lot in what’s now Highland Park, the couple’s focus was establishing a place for their young family. Still standing today, the fossil stone, ranch-style abode currently houses the Needleman family of five, who find themselves living in history — literally. The children’s upstairs bedrooms were, at one time, the Caruth family’s rowdy indoor shooting range.
Was mom Meredith Needleman intimidated by the house’s pedigree when it came time to make it her own? Not at all. She enlivens the 4,900-square-foot estate with her funky touches from her home state of Louisiana and treasures from the family’s frequent tropical travels. The mom of three has transformed this two-story residence to reflect its current caretakers, including husband Josh, son Lake, 7, and daughters Lucy Ray, 5, and Eloise, 2.
With the help of Josh, who’s the vice president of sales for Dallas-based luxury linen manufacturer Peacock Alley, Needleman ties together elements of the outdoors with a simplistic and clean style that’s welcoming of kids and neighborhood pals.
The focal point for the family is the backyard — the home sits on a rare double lot, offering plenty of space (150 feet by 160 feet, to be exact) for the children’s curiosity to run wild. It’s here where the Needleman couple can sit poolside and watch the kids play from teak patio chairs or entertain friends of their own on outdoor dining furniture.
Indoors, light-filled rooms accentuate earthy décor: synthetic sisal rugs, mahogany hardwood floors and wooden furniture (including a carved headboard scored while the couple honeymooned in Bali). A zebra rug and muted cheetah-print slipper chairs pay homage to dad’s love of hunting (“If Josh had his way, there would be antlers everywhere,” Needleman laughs).
Liberal doses of white complete the airy, outdoorsy feel of the Needlemans’ hacienda. “I always use all white or neutral colors. If something gets dirty (and, trust me, it does), it’s very easily cleaned,” Needleman says, adding, “It’s a neutral palette that allows me to toss in new, colorful pillows when I get tired of something.”
A dining room and kitchen flank the downstairs living room, where mirrored accent pieces, glass canisters and stainless steel appliances provide a modern touch.
In the front entryway to the house, the Needlemans added their own touch to the home with an iron-fence-enclosed courtyard, boasting a fountain and fire pit.
Mom and dad hang their hats in a downstairs master bedroom, while the kids enjoy three bedrooms upstairs, where, ironically, men used to sharpen shooting skills. The upstairs shooting range was transformed into an open layout with three bedrooms prior to the family’s six-year residency.
Like the homeowners’ predecessors, family is of the utmost importance to the Needlemans. “Our home is ground zero for our kids and their friends because I keep an open-door policy,” she shares. “The kids go from the trampoline to pool to couch, without me having to worry about the ‘preciousness’ of anything.”
