A vintage wallpaper mural. Swanky pendant lights in the two-story living room. An original Geneva kitchen with vintage Sub-Zero refrigerator. This wonderful 1960 time capsule house for sale in Laramie, Wyoming was custom designed for the original owners — who have been in the house this entire time — and the TLC shows. Thanks to reader Betsy for spotting this gem. 26 more photos!
While the house looks unassuming from the exterior, once you step inside, you are sure to be wowed by the architectural details and interior design. One of the first things that you’ll notice is the fabulous, huge maritime-themed wall mural, above. (Did you know that Thibaut still makes four authentic wallpaper murals like this available today?) Positioned on a prominent wall that overlooks the main living space of the house, this colorful mural is framed by warm wood paneling and decorative railings. Thanks to listing agent Karla Spiegelberg for giving us permission to use her photos here on the blog.
From the listing:
- Price: $379,900
- Year built: 1960
- Square footage: 3,210
Description: WELL BUILT home that features 4 bedrooms, 3 1/2 baths, office with custom shelving and fireplace, living room has vaulted ceilings and fireplace, huge windows, sliding doors to spectacular back yard with built-in grill, eat-in kitchen, lower level family room with wet bar, fireplace and indoor grill. Huge laundry room with newer washer and dryer plus an attached double car garage.
THIS HOME WAS CUSTOM BUILT AND HAD ONE OWNER. The main level living room has vaulted ceilings with floor to ceiling windows, fireplace, nice dining area with glass doors leading to patio area that is very private and features a built-in barbecue grill and numerous planters. There is also a office on the main level with built-in custom shelving and a fireplace. The kitchen has a nice eat-in area with 2 large windows, Sub-Zero refrigerator, Jen-Air grill and custom built-ins. There is also a 1/2 bath on the main level along with a large laundry room with doors leading to the side yard. The upper level master suite has it’s own dressing room, double closets and a full bath. There are also 2 more bedrooms and another full bath on this level. The lower level boasts a large family room with wet bar and fridge, fireplace, built-in grill, plus another bedroom and 3/4 bath. The care taken in this home will be evident when you come take a tour.
1960 interior design features: Glamorous
There are quite a few exciting original details going on in this living room besides the wall mural — the amazing pendant light fixtures, the decorative iron railings, and exposed wood ceiling beams. The floor to ceiling brick fireplace heightens the drama of the room. Look at that huge wall of windows — complete with an amazing custom window treatment that follows the slope of the ceiling. Notice also how the brick of the fireplace continues under the walkway to form a built-in planter area.
The original details continue into the kitchen, where there is a Sub-Zero refrigerator with wood (laminate?) panel inserts, a copper range hood, soffits wallpapered with original patchwork patterned wallpaper, and pink laminate counter tops. Hey, we have a vintage advertisement for Sub-Zero with a fridge that looks just like this 1960 design. You can still get Sub-Zeros that look just like this — Pam put one in her kitchen, although it is a side-by-side and she put “appliance white” metal panels on it – available from Sub-Zero.
Photos of original time capsule homes like this can be full of unique ideas for people doing a Retro Renovation today. Above, notice the way the laminate counter top “zig zags” down from the counter top to the built-in desk area — a great custom detail to consider for your own kitchen remodel, perhaps?
The laundry room doubles as a work space — with plenty of counter space for folding laundry or working on a project. I like the peg board lined wall where tools could be arranged, as well as the extra storage space below the cabinets. Notice the cabinet built into the wall — perfect for storing cleaning supplies.
This pink and aqua bathroom may be my favorite part of the house. Pink and aqua is such a great retro color combination. The aqua sink design is a variation we see now and then — it is hudee-rimmed into the laminate countertop, with the front edge protruding. The owner even took the time to make a fabric curtain for the window in the shower — too cute. Indeed: This home appears to have been impeccably maintained.
Here’s another great original bathroom — in pink, white and brown — with a hidden surprise. When the shower curtain is closed, the bathroom looks pretty tame — but once it is open, it exposes a neopolitan ice cream tile arrangement. In any other color scheme, this might feel like too much — but since pink, white and brown all read as neutrals and only the shower wall is striped and normally behind a curtain — it doesn’t overpower the space.
Get a load of this built-in dressing room vanity — complete with flip up mirror, storage drawers and a baseboard heat source — perfect to ensure the lady of the house’s boudoir slippered toes don’t get a chill. Remember Mara’s dressing room? Here’s another example of a boudoir chair design for her.
The wood paneled office has plenty of custom shelving to hold all your books and knick-knacks. Pam wanted me to point out that the light fixture is a “modern wagon wheel light” — in this design, there is no actual wagon wheel, but the shape of the glass light covers and overall fixture shape evoke that old design, just with a modern twist. A good fit for a mid mod home on the suburban range in Laramie, Wyoming, don’t you think!
Last but certainly not least is this basement rec room and bar. The back wall shelving unit has been painted a bright and cheery deep pink and the mirror behind the bar has been treated like a window in a retro kitchen would be — by adding a decorative trim piece along the top. The bar itself has stone that matches the upstairs fireplace hearth with an added special touch — three glass block like squares with different color lights shining through. Fantastic!!!!
On the opposite side of the rec room, the wall has been painted with a coordinating checker board motif — which mirrors the bar lights — and yet another brick fireplace — complete with a built-in grill.
Mega thanks again to listing agent Karla Spiegelberg for giving us permission to use her photos and listing information.
For more information, or if you are interested in buying this house, contact:
- Karla Spiegelberg at Laramie Land Company — (307) 721-3039 or email her at karlas@wyo2u.com
- Listing information is here
To see all the photos from this listing, check our our slide show:
Tips to view slide show: Click on first image… it will enlarge and you can also read my captions… move forward or back via arrows below the photo… you can start or stop at any image:
Heidi E. says
Don’t think I could deal with the pink and brown kitchen, but the iron staircase and that brick stuff in the second picture, and that lovely little bar are so wonderful!
Andrea says
I live just a few blocks from this house and pass it often on my morning walks. I had no idea from the outside what a gem it is. It’s a little too intensely retro for me to actually live in, although the basement bar is awesome. I certainly hope someone who appreciates the mid-century vibe buys it and loves it just as it is.
Toni P says
I can’t help but wonder why so many people buy a house and then take it all apart and try to make it something it isn’t. Why not just buy the right house in the first place?
None of my moves was planned in the sense that I wanted bigger or better. Divorce, a fire, a delapidated trailer, a nice little starter house (built 1936) my children and I called home for over 30 years and now a farm house and enough land to have all my pets right here with me. I have finally arrived. And this 1880 house is the era I am most comfortable in. I do lust after the 1940/50 kitchen but I love my remodeled old kitchen, too. All the walls are still in place. No granite in my house. No stainless. No fake hardwood. I do have a rather large amount of inlaid from 1985 that is showing some wear. I wish I could buy a new piece to replace it.
Michelle Evans says
I whole-heartedly agree! It’s mostly these millenia and 90’s babies that want to gut a whole already beautiful home that the owner put so much of themselves in.
thatmidcenturyfella says
When I see homes like these, all I can dream about is decorating them for Christmas. Is that weird? (If it is, who cares!)
Hope says
Amazing! This brought a tear to my eye! Thank you for taking notice of this home that has brought me so much joy and so many memories throughout my life! It is so wonderful to know that my Great Grandparents built and designed a home that they were proud to live in for so many years and that other people do enjoy all the PINK!! My Great Grandmother’s style is definattly highlighted in this house along with my Great Grandfather’s craftmanship and construction know-how! He built this house along with our family owned construction company (In business from 1918 – present) to their personal specifications. They were truly entertainers! Thank you also to Karla for taking such amazing pictures!!! They really do this house justice!! The next owners will be lucky to call this house “home”!
pam kueber says
Oh my, it’s so wonderful to hear from you, Hope! It’s such an honor to archive these photos year. What a spectacular house!
kimberj says
I think your Grandparents had amazing taste. I think the woman who built our home did too for the times. Too bad it wasn’t maintained as beautifully as they did!