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:
Anastasia says
ok, I know, 2nd comment from me but here goes……………. I see a door on one of the additional bathrooms (specifically I see the hinges in the very extreme corner of the shot) & for the other bathroom, it leads FROM the bedroom (so there are at least 2 suites, probably more)
The colors start to jump out at you the more you look at these pictures, at first it seems very monochromatic but after a while you see VERY subtle blues & peach & the stainless seems to have been planned into the kitchen. (Some of the newer designers should take notes)
There is a piano and an organ & the piano is playing itself! (The keys, I swear, are in different positions in those shots)
Even though there is TONS of space, the city transit meets at the end of the street & there is a major hospital next door, lol! Which works for me! Wonder if everything conveys? See you all there when I win the lottery!
Drew says
Wow! This personifies the term ‘MCM porn’. This made my day. Thanks!
kellilee says
To die for. A true midcentury. The wood alone, so beautiful, the straight lines, the view. Would love to know about the architect if you find more. So pristine, hard to imagine living beings, let alone children or dogs, ever tread the hallways. Perfect.
Michael says
Definitely a beautiful home. I bet under that berber carpet on the stairs lies in wait some nice wooden stair treads waiting to see the light of day again. There is a sofa that needs to be sent back to the 80’s. thank you for sharing
Angela says
Those front doors with starburst hardware are stunning!!!! This house is a work of art. Great find!!
Veronica says
You can find similar atomic-style door (and doorbell!) hardware at Restoration Hardware. We have them on our 1961 ranch. If you can’t own a $1.25M home… 🙂
pam kueber says
Yes — I wrote about these immediately when they were introduced: See Exterior/Landscaping & Accessories category: https://retrorenovation.com/category/exterior-design/mailboxes-house-numbers-other-accessories/
Jenny A. says
My jaw dropped with the first picture and I still haven’t picked it up off the floor. This is my favorite time capsule ever and embodies every mid-mod fantasy I’ve ever had. This truly is a spectacular house.
jeanne says
Perfection! If I win the mega millions, it’s mine. 😉 Bold move using grass cloth in the bathroom. And yes, I’d like a little more privacy for the toilet, but I can make concessions.
gsciencechick says
Every space is perfect–even the garage and the laundry room. Incredible water views from the rooms.
Gail DeVore says
OK, lovely house, but, hasn’t anyone noticed the toilet issue? I certainly would have wanted the toilet tucked into it’s own vented space in that lovely huge bathroom. Then I realized the bathroom is totally open to the bedroom! Look at the unrestricted view between the bed and the toilet!
Olivia says
I would want a private toilet, too. And I couldn’t even see the doors on the other bathrooms. I wonder if they are pocket doors?
But, I love everything else about this house. I really hope whoever buys it appreciates it and doesn’t do a gut remodel.
Christa says
I think the toilet has a little bit of wall to conceal it, but the wide angle photo is making it look foreshortened. Same with the hallway at the back near the kitchen – it’s the photo.
Rosemary Stevens says
What a treasure! As I looked at the photos, I thought, “needs a pop of orange here and there.” Then when I think of the house as a whole entity, I’m not sure. I love it as is!