A local metal shop made the fab escutcheons
The mosaic tiles on the outside wall are from Home Depot
Reader Sarah is one creative woman — in fact, it seems we have a lot in common. We are both homeowners (both bought our first home at age 23), both have tackled fixer upper type houses and both of us studied art in college. One thing we don’t have in common — Sarah’s super cool house is round (I’m jealous). When she first purchased her home, the exterior was in sad shape. Sarah used her creativity and design skills along with materials that were readily available in her area and in her budget — and the results are amazing.
I’m 25 and bought the house — it was built in 1964 — when I was fresh out of college at 23. I was looking for a place to buy, but didn’t know that I would end up in my dream home. I went down …[the street]…to see a house that was for sale by owner and passed up the round house.
I tried to be interested in the house I was viewing, but broke down in the middle of the tour and said ‘what’s up with the round house down the street?!?’ They said no one had been living in it for a couple of years. I got in touch with the next door neighbor who got me in touch with the owner….
It needed A LOT of work. It was so dingy and had been redecorated in the early 90s so I had to bring it back to the 60s. There is also a problem pool in my backyard, so I negotiated and got the house for a thousand less than they had bought it in 1991.
The house was almost torn down too, before I wanted to buy it Walgreens wanted to buy the entire corner and tear everything down, but because one person wouldn’t agree the project didn’t go through (thank goodness!) the ‘we’ is me and my mom, she is the handy man of the family. We spent 3 months working on it before I moved in, and there are still plenty of projects to do! (it never ends lol)
Craziest thing…. Found another round house like mine from the same architect in Magnolia, Arkansas, last weekend and went up there to visit them! Such nice people and so cool to be in another house like mine. It was very twilight zone! They do not however have the same aesthetic as me, theirs is decorated very traditional contemporary with the beige and granite and you know…. But still very nice, very high end.
I’m sharing with you my front exterior makeover with emphasis on the door. I… have done lots of work using your site for tips along the way. The house is completely round, but still has the ranch feel. It was built in 1964 and the architect was Gilbert Spindel. The son of the architect said his father sold 25 of these house plans so there may be more of them out there! My goal is to find them all!
The front had wood siding under the porch area before. We took that down and put up concrete board and finished that off with a mosaic tile from Home Depot. I was surprised to find the tile of my dreams there, but it worked out and was a very reasonable price.
As for the door, we replaced a single door with two side lights, for double doors. The double doors were just two plain wood slabs, and we had our local glass company make the window boxes for us.
The dimensions of the windows are 5″ wide x 57″ high with a “cotswold” or “rain” texture. The glass lady tried to convince me not to pick this texture because it reminded her of a shower door, but I didn’t listen LOL. I like it, and I think it looks period.
The round escutcheon is just flat cut steel that a local metals shop cut for us then cut in half. The diameter is 22 in and we spray painted it bronze. The handles are appliance pulls that mimicked the design of the tiles. The door is either open and may swing open with the wind or is shut and locked. Not the most practical, but we must suffer for beauty, and we have learned to live with it.
The outside got a nice pressure washing and coat of paint. the paint is all Benjamin Moore. The green being Lewisville green, the beige is Barbados sand and the orange is Peach Sherbet.
The decorative concrete blocks were found in the backyard in a pile, so I used them to line my beds then repeated the diamond design on the garage doors with the same orange as the front door. I got inspired to paint my garage doors from looking at old advertisements in vintage home magazines.
The patio furniture is Homecrest found at an estate sale.
The house numbers are those plastic wall art panels that you see at every garage sale. I just painted the interior black and put my house numbers in the middle. these were all solutions because I couldnt find authentic or reproduction retro in my area or within my budget.
The house won a GE all electric award when it was built. Heated flooring, internal vacuum system, curtains opened and t.v. Swung out with the touch of a button. Of course none of those features work today! Shucks!The entire house is decorated with 50s and 60s furniture because I’m a garage sale freak! The bathrooms are original too one is terrazzo and the other is lavender!
I could talk and write about my house all day, I was an art major so this house is my ultimate masterpiece! LOL so I will end here… I hope sharing my reno tips inspires others with their home projects.
Sarah has made some great design choices. The use of a neutral dark tile around the front door creates contrast from the lighter brick facade — which when combined with the orange door — creates an inviting focal point and directs visitors to the entry. Her use of repetition — the starbursts on the garage doors, diamond shaped address plaques and decorative blocks as well as the rounded metal on the front doors which echo the shape of the house — help to make the overall design feel cohesive. What a fabulous house!
Sarah, the creativity and resourcefulness you put forth in your exterior restoration job is impressive. Kudos to you (and helper Mom) for a job well done. You’ve shown all of us that if you have a vision, a little ingenuity and some creativity that you can successfully restore a home on a budget.
Kay D says
There are at least three of these homes in NW Oklahoma. One belongs to the parents of a friend of ours in Fairview. Last I knew, their home was nearly original. Woodward and Mooreland are the other locations.
Roundhouse Sarah says
Thanks Kay D!! I was able to find the 3 you mentioned. They all appear to be Spindels. I also found a fourth one in Swanee! You’ve single handedly increased the count from 8 to 12, mega thanks!!!
Kay D says
Sarah,
Glad to help. If I get near Shawnee, I will have to take a look. The one in Mooreland does not appear to have the clerestory window/level like the others. The brick also seems a later style. Do you when the last plan was sold?
Roundhouse Sarah says
Yeah the one in Moreland is the only one that google earth won’t show a ground view of. So perhaps it’s not a Spindel since it doesn’t have the clerestory windows. The other 3 however seem to be spot on. I don’t know when the last plan was sold but the plans were made in 1957 and I know of one house that was built as late as 1970.
Roundhouse Sarah says
I’ve got confirmation that the one in Shawnee is a Spindel. The man in Fairfeild said his is not. Can’t figure out house number for woodward.
Kay D says
Try 1601 Broadmoor, Woodward OK. It may be a “knock off” too if the one in Fairview is not a Spindel. You are mighty quick in your research!
Kay D says
Sarah, I was able to get a couple of pics of the Woodward home. If you would like me to send them to you, e-mail me, bkdow@netzero.com.
Janice says
I remember touring a mid-century round house in Fairmont, West Virginia, when I was a college student (1973).
rebecca says
There are 2 in Durham nc on duke street. Thought this might be one of them at first.
Great job!
Roundhouse Sarah says
They are round and cute but unfortunately not Geodesicas
Glenna Cable Brown says
I remember going in a round house as a model when I was a kid. The house is in Kettering, Ohio. I think it’s on Park Lane, off Wilmington Pike.
Kate says
It’s still there! It’s on Parklawn. I gaze at it every time I drive by!
Roundhouse Sarah says
Thanks for the tip! It is indeed a geodesica! Spoke with the owners, they were very happy to hear from me
Zack says
Hi Sarah
I have had the pleasure of working on a house like yours. It is located in the mountains of North Carolina. I ran across your house while doing some research on it. Just thought you might want to know there is another one by Mr Spindel.
Zack
Sarah g says
Hi zack
Please have Chip contact me at sag5710atyahoodotcom
Gail says
Hello-
I’m stealing the house number idea. I was hoping you could tell me if the plaques were covered with anything to protected them from the elements. Plus, did you just glue the number over the uneven picture or did you somehow shave off the emblem before adding the numbers. Thanks for your help.
Karen says
Hello, Google helped me confirm the colors. They are actually Lewiville Green and Peach Sorbet ! 🙂
Karen says
I love it! The colors are perfect and are just what I am looking for…but, I just searched the Benjamin Moore website and neither Lewisville Green or Peach Sherbert was found. Can we confirm the names exactly?
Thank you!
Drew Edward Hunter says
What a stunning, dramatic and creative transformation! And how wonderful to see another “Geodesica” round house by Gilbert Spindel! I bought mine in Jacksonville, Florida from the original owners in mid-2002. It was built in 1959 and was the featured “exhibit house” on that fall’s Parade of Homes. By all accounts it was a sensation in its time — and, based upon the reactions and comments of folks who see it and visit inside, it still is! And it’s so fascinating that you have discovered two more versions. I think we’re now officially on a round house treasure hunt — where are the others, I wonder?
Ali says
Love your house. I’m house hunting and would love something like this! With your house numbers, did you remove the middle design to put the numbers on, or did you just put them over the top? Its a fantastic idea.
Sarah g says
Those plastic plaques were made in a variety of different ways. The ones I had, simply had a flat image of flowers in the middle so I just painted black over them.