Gaston Avenue is lined with homes that have stood resolute for decades. Their façades blur together as you drive past, and 4802 Gaston blends right in, an innocuous Craftsman tucked behind trees. But this 1918 build is a hidden gem. In October 2019, the residence became The Gaston, a five-bedroom bed-and-breakfast.
The Gaston is owned and operated by the Gibson family. Siblings Mike and Liz Gibson aren’t Dallas natives; both moved here in the last decade and put down roots in East Dallas. The two operate New View Roofing; its headquarters is directly next to The Gaston in another historic residence. When the home that is now The Gaston hit the market a few years ago, the family decided to invest in another piece of the neighborhood’s past.
The Gaston property was in fairly good condition when the Gibsons purchased it. To modernize the design and update the floor plan, the family took on a six-figure renovation. The upstairs now has five guest bedrooms and private baths, while the ground floor houses a dining room, sunroom, and a cocktail lounge.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by The Gaston Dallas (@thegastondallas) on
The Gaston’s interior design has an understated elegance that celebrates the B&B’s heritage. Though there are contemporary touches, the finishes are classic: charcoal crown molding, glass doorknobs, wallpaper in moody blues and grays, and espresso-tinted exposed beams. Walls are decorated with black-and-white framed photos, maps of Dallas, and vintage posters, and bookshelves hold locally sourced antique books and trinkets.
Liz Gibson designed The Gaston–both interior and exterior. (Her only experience was renovating the roofing company’s headquarters next door.) To create the Dallas-centric design, Liz frequented estate sales, local shops, and Orr-Reed Wrecking Co., an architectural salvage yard. Orr-Reed’s owner took an interest in the project and helped source pieces for Liz, like the Egyptian French doors in The Gaston’s dining room.
All five guest suites have distinct Dallas themes: the Dealey Room’s elegant feel honors JFK’s classic style, while the modern-industrial Varco room is a nod to an oil and gas giant. The Dentzel Room honors the company that built the old-fashioned carousel at the State Fair of Texas; there’s a porch swing crafted from an old carousel seat on its private balcony. The Eastham Room (which centers around Bonnie and Clyde) boasts an original clawfoot tub and salvaged stained-glass windows.
“We love our city, and we want [The Gaston] to reflect that,” says Mike Gibson. “We give people an opportunity to explore all that Dallas has to offer.”
View this post on InstagramA post shared by The Gaston Dallas (@thegastondallas) on
Mike and Liz’s mother, Maureene Gibson, is a co-owner of The Gaston. She handles day-to-day operations, like checking in guests, tailoring local recommendations to their interests, and setting up their Continental breakfast spread each morning. Though the Gibsons don’t stay on property at night, they all live a few minutes away.
History-loving locals flock to The Gaston for low-key staycations, says Mike, but the B&B also hosts out-of-town guests and even international visitors. Guests can rent a single room (rates range from $150-$250/night) or the entire house ($850-$1,200/night). Families often book the whole property, as do groups of coworkers who visit Dallas for conferences.
The Gaston can also be rented as an event venue. The inside and outside spaces can accommodate small private events, like wedding showers, baby showers, or private dinner parties. Weddings with intimate guest lists are also welcome–The Gaston has five on the books for 2020.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by The Gaston Dallas (@thegastondallas) on
“This is something a little different,” says Mike Gibson of the B&B’s event spaces. “It gives you some Dallas flavor.”
The Gaston also hosts its own events open to the public, from cooking classes with local chefs to multiple course dinners and wine pairings. Later in March, The Gaston will host a St. Patrick’s Day brunch–the B&B is walking distance from the Greenville parade. Murder mystery dinners, speakeasy-style cocktail parties, and other concepts are in the works, too.
Take a peek inside the bed-and-breakfast with our photo gallery.
