Wilson Avenue Dreamin'

Old Fig Garden is a menagerie of eclectic, historic homes representing many diverse styles. From the American Foursquare to the Spanish Eclectic or the French Norman, these unique vintage homes offer a reflection into the time they were each built, many dating back to the early 1900s. One such home, designed by the much sought-after architects Orville Taylor and Dennis Wheeler, is located on the northern end of Wilson Avenue, where deep red roses line the yard and tempt the passers-by to slow down and take a second peek.   

Owner and local lawyer, Bob Mallek, has lived in the home for over 15 years, and the pride and meticulous care he has put into it is living proof of the area’s rich sense of culture and appreciation. Built in 1940, this English-inspired, Lutyens-style home has an Arts and Crafts feel, with it’s bricked chimney and informal floor plan that opens to the gardens overflowing with roses and crepe myrtles.

Mallek has made few changes, yet his ability and dedication to stick with the original theme of the home and his passion for “all things English” has allowed the true integrity of the space to remain intact. One necessary change was the updating of the master bath. “I think the goal was to bring some consistency with the Arts and Crafts style evidenced elsewhere in the house,” mentioned Mallek. “The bathroom was almost French provincial before the remodel and didn’t fit with the rest of the house.” He worked with Stephanie Catron at Interior Intervention by Catron Design Group to ensure that the work reflected the true style of the home. “I think the most important aspect of the remodel of the master bath was the selection of finishes – granite, arts and craft cabinetry and the medicine cabinet mirrors which were all made to order under Stephanie’s supervision,” added Mallek. The hardwood floors were also special ordered to match the existing, original hardwood floors throughout the home.

The home boasts a collection of artwork from many of Mallek’s favorite places, including Mendocino, Carmel, Davis, Normandy and Cambridge. In the stately and serene dining room two copies of the Burne-Jones designed William Morris tapestries adorn the walls and add to the artwork that is tastefully hung and delicately placed throughout the various rooms. Also collected are pieces of art from some of Fresno’s finest establishments, including the recently closed Ripe Tomato and Roy Harland’s Fig Garden Village restaurant from 20 years ago.

Amy Bartel, a local landscaper whose hands have touched many of Old Fig’s glorious gardens, took on the expansive 9/10 acre (known to many as the “Fig Garden Acre”) and mimicked the famous English horticulturalist Gertrude Jekyll with its overflowing gardens, exemplified brick paths, formal bedding schemes, and the clean lines of flowers and shrubbery.  “The patio was rectangular and there was nothing at the door. You just kind of came out on these little steps,” started Mallek. The goal was to take the eye as far as one could see, and they accomplished this with ease. From the ten-foot koi pond to the hidden basketball court, the backyard is an entertainer’s delight.

Mallek, a partner with Dietrich, Glasrud, Mallek and Aune, recently moved to a new office space in Fig Garden Financial Center. Interior Intervention also assisted with the transition. “Stephanie was again responsive and thorough in helping us transition easily to a new-looking professional space that satisfied all of our requirements. We immediately felt at home even though we had been in the other space for almost 30 years,” mentioned Mallek. “ I think what I enjoyed most about working with Stephanie and Gary (Stephanie’s father and owner of Catron Construction) was the attention to detail and the responsiveness to what the goal was, both on the move and the bathroom remodel. They each were able to interpret the goal and implement it well with finishes and hardware that was very satisfying and fit the image we had.”

Old Fig may not be for everyone. But for those who live to make the old a little more alive, these tree-lined streets frequented by bike riders, stroller-pushers and more joggers than you could ever imagine are a quiet place of refuge. Homes similar to Bob Mallek’s may be spread throughout these deodor-lined streets where the leaves look a little brighter and the holiday cheer sings a little louder, but the charm of the Old World is somehow preserved and treasured in this pristinely decorated Wilson Avenue home.

Sarah has written for many publications, including a finance column in The Fresno Magazine from 2003-2014 (Mind over Money) and a restaurant review column entitled Dining Divas from 2014 - 2017 (Fig Garden Magazine, Bluffs View Magazine). She was also the Associate Publisher of three magazines with Best Version Media (Fig Garden Magazine, Copper North Magazine, and Bluffs View Magazine) and her monthly column in Copper North Magazine, also entitled Mind over Money, offered tips and suggestions about the local home mortgage lending market. Her most recent endeavor, Editor-in-Chief for Poggioreale in America, Inc (a non-profit that helps connect descendants from Sicily in America) allows her to expand her creative juices for a very worthy cause.