If you love a mix of rustic elements and bold pops of color — like this red tiled bathroom — then you’ll flip over this fantastic 1970s time capsule house in Norfolk, Virginia — a tip sent to us from reader Elizabeth. It’s listed for sale by Tony London/Prudential Towne Realty, with photos by Rosalind Boyle/Virtual Tidewater Photography and Virtual Tours. This swingin’ 70s pad is full to the brim with special details — exposed wooden beams everywhere, multiple spiral staircases, lava red tile in the kitchen and bathroom, shag carpet, intricately carved wooden doors and mile-high draperies.
From the listing:
Price: $295,000
Year built: 1974
Square feet: 2,657
Bedrooms: 4
Bathrooms: 3
Rustic Larchmont contemporary corner home, 10,000 square foot lot, large living room, dining room & eat-in-kitchen. Master bedroomwith attached bath. Large deck & private courtyard. New Roof. Spiral stair case in each bedroom to loft for study, office, bonus area. Close to Naval base, ODU & downtown financial district.
If you are “into” 1970s style (and we are — we love well-executed architecture and interior design from any era) — we think this is a great example. Folks in the 1970s were experimenting with rustic natural materials and doing things like converting old barns into houses. The tall ceilings and open beams here remind us of a converted barn, for sure. But this has much more finesse. Interestingly, running rustic wood planks horizontally is trendy again today. So, hey, 2013 kiddos, don’t think you invented this idea. In fact, Edith Wharton featured horizontal clapboards in the foyer of her 1903 house — The Mount in Lenox, Mass. Ain’t hardly anything that’s truly *all-new* in design — unless there is a breakthrough in technology that makes it possible.
Above: There are those mile-high 1970s draperies– they match the green shag carpet and frame the tall, skinny windows beautifully.
I love this shot looking down from the staircase. It allows you to take in all these original details at once — the staircase, windows, wood paneling, beams, chandelier, carpet, drapes. They all work together to create a striking and harmonious design.
- For more information on this property, contact Tony London by email tony@TonyLondon.com or by phone (757) 489-0101.
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:
Brian T says
Pam notes that running rustic planks horizontally is not a new idea — but how about diagonally? I owned a 1906 home whose main bathroom had been redone in the 70s or 80s, with unfinished planks from an actual barn, running diagonally on three walls and the door. The wood in this Norfolk home looks finished enough to clean, but my planks were uncleanable dust magnets. I gutted that bathroom and started from scratch.
lynda says
Lots of houses in our custom neighborhood of contemporary houses built in the mid 70’s had diagonal rough sawn cedar on walls. We replaced ours with drywall at some point.
delerium75 says
That horizontal paneling on the inside sure looks a lot like rosewood to me…think that’s just cheapy 4×8 sheets? That wood would be priceless if it’s actual boards.
Just another Pam says
I wondered the same thing but there’s little variation to the size where the old panelling had a set pattern. Wide, narrow, wide…..
What an amazing thing if they are actually rosewood planks…be still my heart.
Ada says
Ohmalord! This has so much going on that reminds me of my own house…begun around ’71 and finished 100% in ’77 (my grandparents were quite poor, but wanted the best so they took several years and finished it as they could afford it!) Since East Tennessee is a bit behind when it comes to trends, a lot of the house is quite mod ’60s-esque (and it’s ALL original–I can count the tiny ‘updates’ on one hand!), but there are some distinct similarities…the main thing is the brick and the room divider fireplace that, apart from my flagstone hearth, looks very alike! And my grandparents were very fond of green and orange! My bedroom has avocado sculpted carpet and my kitchen is Brady orange with those dark cabinets! Love this house….and mine!!
Drew R says
Wow! I live in Norfolk and may have to go find this property. It’s in a great part of the city. I also spied some white steel cabinets in the wet bar – love all kinds of repurposing!
John says
Amazing house! Id keep the green carpet if its in good shape… well who am i kidding id keep it and try to find a way to bring it back to life if it needed it. It reminds me of the sculpted avacado carpet my parents had in their bedroom when i was a child. This is such a unique property i hope it doesnt get ruined by people wanting to update it.
Robin, NV says
The exposed wood look was very big back in the 70s. It seems to me that every dentist or optemetrist office back then had either horizontal plank walls or diagonal plank walls – often mixed with those photo wall murals of waterfalls or deer standing in the woods.
Just another Pam says
Is it just me or do the horizontal planks look like rosewood. If so, wow.
Jeanne says
So true about people converting barns, etc. back in the 70s. Friends of mine bought an old school house (in a rural farm area) back in 1977 and converted it into their home. They still live there. It has the tall school house windows, beams and a similar spiral staircase that goes up to their luxury master bedroom suite. Over the years they’ve added more additions, many upgrades including the siding/roof – but it still has the same wallpaper (cream with rusty orange wheat pattern) in the kitchen area that she picked out in 1978! Us and other friends spent many “Big Chill” weekends there while the “men” helped with construction projects and the “women” cooked and ran into town for beer. Fond memories of the 70s. 🙂
Kelly Wittenauer says
We have a lake house for sale that was built in the mid to late 70’s. Definite similarities – rustic wood paneling, dark cabinets, spiral stairs & open loft area. Ours doesn’t have the green though, it’s all orange & harvest gold. And it’s not quite so dark inside. I agree with Janet that this one feels like being in the hold of a large historic wooden boat.
Janet in CT says
Kate, being in Norfolk, I am sure this house was built for a navy man! Note how all the horizontal wood and the oval plaque thingys are like portholes in an old wooden boat. The whole effect of open wood beams is like being in the hold of an wooden boat, so I think it was built with this in mind. Not for me with the dark kitchen but again, kind of like a ship’s galley would look.
John says
Hi Janet, I think those black plaque thingies are speakers in each room!! Very cool, I would love music in every room. I would have to strip the kitchen cabinets of the u[e*edited*] black paint.
John aka AtomicHipster
Janet in CT says
Thanks, John! I see it now but didn’t before – but I do think they picked that shape out because they look like portholes! Those cabinets are just like the ones that were in my first house, a 1958 ranch. That look was all the rage in the early seventies when dark pine became popular and was called “antiqueing”. The previous owners rubbed dark stain all over the beautiful natural birch cabinets and totally ruined them. I think many a beautiful blond or natural wooden piece of furniture or cabinets fell victim to this practice. We couldn’t correct it even with bleaching them and ended up painting them. I think they were trying for an old well worn look but the end result was not eye appealing at all.
pam kueber says
Well there you go: Yes, built to look like the inside of a wooden ship’s hold. All The More Cool!!!!
Just another Pam says
I think the house is wired for sound, that’s what the black portholes are, speakers.
It has a lot of potential now that it has a new roof and all the leaks have been fixed though the ceiling still needs to be replaced. Gallons of oil to start for the outside and then gallons of paint for the inside, those two fixes alone would make a huge change. Out with the carpets and drapes and then you could have something quite wonderful to look at. With all the decades of neglect it would be exciting to breath new life into it and it should still be under 400,000.
pam kueber says
I love the carpet and drapes! And, I don’t see any neglect… it’s just… original. And that’s AWESOME.
Robin, NV says
“Neglect” is probably a bit too strong but I would agree that it needs some TLC. The wood definitely needs a refreshing coat of oil and the ceiling looks like it has/had some issues. But I agree with Pam, those drapes are awesome! Love the pattern and grandeur of them.
I think the architecture of the house is just stunning. The interior walls remind me of half timbered houses in England. But I’m definitely seeing the nautical influences others have mentioned.
Just another Pam says
By neglect I was referring to the bulging ceiling in photo number 6, the water marks on some of the wood in the same photo and others which also indicate the roof was let go far too long so realistically I’d really want to see what happened to the attic. The exterior wood which is thirsty as all get out, just look at the front doors inside and then what’s been happening to them outside, that’s the neglect I was speaking of.
I think it’s a lovely house with tons of potential but it’s got issues that need to be addressed….it needs some love and money.
Robin, NV says
I totally agree, the house needs a tad bit of sprucing up. I was shocked to see the dry condition of the wood on the outside. It looks like what happens to wood out here in the desert when it hasn’t been treated for a few years. But that seems weird for Virginia – maybe it’s a combo of sun and sea air that’s got the wood looking so weathered?
I bet there’s a good story behind this house.
Rebecca@MidCenturyModernRemodel says
I just went back and looked at the ceiling picture. Danger Will Robinson. but I am sure it could be handled quickly.
Just another Pam says
I think it could be as well, Rebecca. My current house was a prime example, looked clean and well cared for but when a few problems showed up and the walls came down there was black mold from improper venting and one small leak the whole length of one side of the house.