Architect Hal Thomson designed and built this mediterranean style home for the Robert Penn Family in 1927. Mr. Penn was in the oil and gas business in Dallas. This beautiful home features craftsmanship throughout. Each room is rich with detail, from the hand painted tiles in the entry, ornamental carvings, hand made doors, woodwork and ornamental iron. The home also features carved caricatures of the Penn Boys on the stairway. Except for a kitchen renovation the home is largely original.
The woodworking and carvings are believed to have been executed by Swiss carver Peter Mansbendel and his staff. Mansbendel quite possibly painted the cartouche and acanthus design over the front door as well as he was also an accomplished painter. The ironwork was most likely executed by Mansbendel’s German friend and ironworker Fortunat Weigl of Austin or Dallas ironworker Henry Potter.