For this 1961 time capsule house, by architect John Polivka just outside Minneapolis, I’m pulling out all my favorite adjectives, this house is: Stunning, spectacular, amazing, jaw-dropping, drop-dead gorgeous. Thanks to selling agent Jacob Smith of Sotheby’s International Realty for giving us permission to feature this house, and to reader Dan, who sent us this tip! Pictures tell this story, so move along, we worked overtime this Friday night to load up a slide show 66 beautiful photos — taken by Mike McCaw of Spacecrafting — who clearly had immense fun capturing the gorgeous linearity of this house on camera.
According to the listing, this house was built in 1961. Covering just over 4,100 s.f., it has four bedrooms and fours baths. It sits on fully recreational Sweeney Lake and is just five minutes from Minneapolis. It is for sale for $1.25 million. A hefty sum, yes, but just keep lookin’ and you will understand.
Alas, we have rushed these photos to the blog so fast that we do not have information on the architect. The house seems to be a study in linearity. It also appears to have been impeccably maintained.
Update: Thanks to Retro Love Affair, who told us that the architect was John Polivka – you can read his biography here (link now gone, alas).
Take a look at a quick selection of shots, then head to the gallery below:
Note the restrained palette — a rich warm brown brown, light colored brick, black slate tile and beams:
And pay attention — the two kitchen photo aboves — that is LIGHTING underneath all those beamed panels on the ceiling. This lighting design is repeated in bathrooms and throughout the house — that is, minimal use of “ceiling fixtures”, upstairs especially. The vintage refrigerators are Revco, I’d guess — see this story.
And, oh my my, take a look at the staircase: Again, linearity is the rule of the day:
In the bathrooms, note the use of small square mosaic tiles — this is EASILY REPLICATED today!
The house is situated to enjoy the vista across Sweeney Lake:
Yes, we like to show lots of mid century modest houses here on the blog — because they are wonderful, too, and we do not want them to get lost in the shuffle of the seemingly ever-onward aspirations in our society today. That said, we ADORE a gorgeous, architect mid-century modern masterpiece as much as the next person. Golly heck, we adore this house!
Repeat of link love:
- Listing – 1961 time capsule house [link now expired]
- Thanks to agent Jacob Smith of Sotheby’s International Realty for permission
- Super thanks to Mike McCaw of Spacecrafting for the photos — he sent us all these high-resolution photos to feature!
- And thanks, Dan, for your tip. Readers, we love you! Keep those tips coming!
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:
Karen says
Any idea what the exterior paint color is? Thank you!
MARY NELSON JARVIS says
Any information about the kitchen and entry flooring?
Pam Kueber says
I would say that’s random slate, black.
Darby Johnson says
Thanks. That was very helpful. We are restoring, so we are doing research now.
Thanks for answering the mystery. Take care.
judy says
My dream house!
Darby says
Is that brick or stone? On exterior and fireplace.
Pam Kueber says
I am not sure, but it looks like stone to me.
Darby says
Thanks. I am trying to find out what kind of stone was used for a lot of mid-century fireplaces. Was limestone used? And that pink stone you see so often, do you know what that is?
Thanks again for your help.
Pam Kueber says
I don’t know… sometimes we talk about “roman brick”, which may have been a brick alternative. Talk to local masonry companies to see what they say. It may even be that stones used varied by geography, depending on what was mined in the area.
Chris says
The pink limestone often came from Tennessee. Those quarries are now closed as far as I know. Missouri limestone tends to be more white or grey depending on the finish. You can polish, bush hammer, hone, sandblast the same piece of stone and have it appear all kinds of colors.
Hugo says
Great house. Great details of authentic mid century modern. Thank You
Gordon Hodge says
Anyone know who makes those front door starburst escutcheons and where to find one? We bought a house and it is missing one just like that and have not found anything that size and shape online/ebay/craigslist/sites like this one. Most like Schlage and Kwikset are smaller and not that exact shape. Beautiful house.
Pam Kueber says
Rejuvenation https://retrorenovation.com/2011/07/02/breaking-news-5-styles-of-mid-century-modern-front-door-backplates-including-atomic-star-from-rejuvenation/
Liz says
Such an awesome home. Just a tip though. Have the carpet stretched. It will smooth it out and look brand new.
tucker strasser says
wow