Historic Fort Worth has awarded Professor Christine Frank’s recent restoration project, the Byrd Residence, its 2010 Residential Award recognizing excellence in the rehabilitation of historic homes. Franck’s New York-based design firm, Christine G. H. Franck, Inc., collaborated with Fort Worth homebuilder and master-craftsman Brent Hull of The Brent Hull Companies to restore the historic home to its original charm.
Built in 1938 in Fort Worth’s Colonial Addition neighborhood, the home was insensitively renovated in the 1990s. Modern additions of incorrectly proportioned columns, heavy-cast stone trim, in addition to stripping of the original whitewashing and shutters, compromised the home’s original grace.
In 2009, Franck's sensitive façade renovations included replacing the columns and cast stone trim, re-whitewashing brick, and replacing dark green shutters. An addition to the rear of the house expanded both indoor and outdoor living space without unduly increasing the size of the house visible from the street.