Family finds traditional mid-century modern home in East Memphis a great fit

Vicki Walk, her daughter, Madison, and son Thomas, lived in Midtown for more than 20 years and dearly loved the area. It offered close proximity to work, friends, and school, especially when the kids were younger and attended Grace-St. Luke's Episcopal School. 

“We lived in a house that was built in 1912 and it had so much character, but it also had a lot of upkeep due to the age and the size of the home,” explained Vicki. “It was a beautiful and special place to live, but as the children got older and our lives evolved in different ways, I yearned for a fresh start in a simpler space. We looked at homes from Downtown Memphis to Germantown, but I really wanted a central location that was familiar and a home which would be better suited to our current needs.”

Vicki has been in the financial services industry for more than 30 years and is the director of commercial real estate operations at Orion Federal Credit Union at the company’s headquarters in the former Wonder Bread factory in the Edge District. Madison is a student at the University of Memphis and lives at home with Vicki. Thomas is a student at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. The family decided that an East Memphis location made the most sense for them.

“Ideally, we wanted a one-story house that was modern yet traditional, and smaller so that it required less maintenance than our former home,” said Vicki. “However, we still wanted a home that had character and charm. We also wanted a yard for our two large dogs and a nice outdoor space.”

Lili Jones, an agent with Ware Jones Realtors, and Vicki initially connected in fall 2022 when Vicki had begun seriously considering a move. Lili happened to host an open house at a home in East Memphis that Vicki was interested in seeing.

“We met on a Sunday afternoon when I stopped by that open house,” recalled Vicki. “Afterwards we stayed in touch and after the holidays of 2022 Lili reached out to me periodically. She was so friendly and helpful, but not overbearing or pushy. She made the concept of selling my house, planning for the move, downsizing and putting all the pieces together not seem so overwhelming."

Lili and Vicki looked at more than 20 houses before finding the right home. It was a traditional, mid-century modern home (c. 1956) in the Avon Woods neighborhood of East Memphis. Vicki paid $415,000 for just more than 2,100 square feet of living space, with three bedrooms and two bathrooms.

“This home differed from our former home in that it was a one-story house with a cozier floor plan,” said Vicki. “It had a two-car garage, an updated kitchen and renovated bathrooms. And although the kitchen and bathrooms had been redone, they still maintained a traditional vibe. The galley kitchen had a beautiful marble backsplash and matching countertops. There was enough room for a small table and set of chairs. The appliances were stainless steel and included a dishwasher, large refrigerator, built-in oven and microwave, plus a gas cooktop. There was dedicated space for the washer and dryer. In addition to offering a separate den and a more formal living room, there was also a cozy room that made for a perfect reading room. And, I loved the stunning hardwood floors throughout the house.”

Vicki commented that the large covered back porch was what cinched the deal for her. And since moving in, Vicki has purchased a hot tub which has a perfect spot on that porch.

“This house had been very well cared for; however, I did have the interior painted prior to moving in,” explained Vicki. “Also, I had a new wood cap and trim fence put up, and added shutters to the back porch. In our Midtown home, we had large rooms with high ceilings. Our same furnishings look entirely different here and it has been fun to reinvent ourselves with a new and different type of space.”

Vicki continued, “I love the variety of housing styles in my neighborhood, from mid-century modern to newer ones. Our neighbors have been friendly and welcoming. We have great proximity to so many things — shopping, restaurants, the interstate, and family and friends.”

Emily Adams Keplinger is a freelance reporter who produced this feature for the Advertising Department.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: 1956 mid-century modern home in Memphis makes perfect fit for family