Snaps to reader Deanna, who tipped me off this this house — our first time capsule of 2014. This 1972 contemporary style home is in San Antonio, Texas. It has been with the original owners since they built it — and it appears to have been impeccably maintained… clearly, it was carefully decorated, totally beloved. Deanna wrote, “This house looks like it hasn’t been touched since it was built in 1971. I love everything about it!” Me, too! This house needs an appreciative buyer, fast! Mega thanks to listing agent Diana Gonzalez and real estate marketing firm CirclePix and photographer Matthew Wingate for permission to feature the photos. Let’s take a look.
From the listing:
Park-like setting in Castle Hills! Enjoy large covered patio with mature trees in this one story 3 bedrooms/2 bathrooms home on 0.43 acres with a flex room that has a full bath that can be used an a study/office, mother in law suite or a maid’s quarters. Oversized family room with fireplace is great for family gatherings and a separate formal living allows for privacy. Close to the Medical Center, airport and shopping. Listing price is #335,000.
Above: The kitchen has laminate-covered cabinets in a bleached out wood grain — so far in all my years of blogging, I haven’t seen many (any?) quite like this. Notice the radius edge — that is a fancy touch. We get to see Brady Bunch bittersweet orange laminate counter tops…
… I spy a vintage Sub-Zero refrigerator…
… I cropped the original Hardwick Starline oven from Matthew Wingate’s lovely photo. Note, he told me he stitched together vertical shots to create the wide panoramas, that’s why you’re seeing the little alignment mis-match in this photo and in some of the other photos. Beautiful graphics on the Starline. AND: I love the placement of this bar sink — brilliant if you have the space for it!
… The pantry wall of the kitchen…
… And above: Note the quilted diamond satin-finish stainless steel rangetop backsplash — nicely done, esspecially in that it is repeated in the drainboard sink, the island top, and the exhaust fan. I think that stainless steel range/oven backsplashes can be tricky to pull off successfully. You don’t want them to “scream.” This one seems to work because, overall, the kitchen is low-chroma, that is: Not a lot of strong colors — the tonality of all the features is about the same.
This house makes extensive use of laminate. It makes me wonder if the original owners were friends of Ralph Wilson, head of Wilsonart and creator of the Ralph & Sunny Wilson house o’ laminate in Temple, Texas. Matthew told me that the walls of this great room/living room are all laminate. Look at the wall on the right side of the photo — that is laminate inset and edged in radiating rectangles…
… now look to the left to see the other side of the wall: In the center of the radiating rectangles is a mirror, also edged. To the right and left of the fireplace, these are triptychs of tall narrow mirrors — again, brilliant design!
All the floors in this space and into the kitchen — look to be terrazzo to me.
Above: Heading back to the front of the house… I suspect that the purpose of these iron filigree screens is purely decorative.
To be sure, the front door is fabulous. The escutcheon (the piece behind the doorknob) appears to be original Schlage.
Above: This sitting room is beautiful. I would say that’s hand-painted grasscloth along the back wall — lovely!
Looking at this room from the vantage of the grasscloth wall…
… Matthew’s favorite feature was the swag light that looks like a fountain (I guess) and seems to have been designed right into its own bricked nook. While setting up photo permissions, I had just the best time talking to photographer Matthew Wingate about this house. Of course, he is highly visual — like us — so it sounds like he really enjoyed discovering, then photographing, the very special touches throughout this house. I am going to guess that the family selling the house also will be so happy to have these wonderful memories of their home. I’m so grateful to both Diana and Matthew for permission to archive these images here — wonderful design inspiration.
And fingers crossed: That it finds an appreciative buyer(s), who won’t change too much. This is exceptional example of beautiful early 1970s interior design and craftsmanship.
Link love:
- The listing for this time capsule 1972 house in San Antonio, Texas.
- Listing agent Diana Gonzalez.
- Matthew Wingate is an independent professional photographer for CirclePix, a real estate marketing automation company. Here’s the virtual tour they created for the house (link now gone, it seems) with Matthew’s photos.
- If you’d like to connect with photographer Matthew Wingate, his phone numbers is (406) 890-1788.
Be sure to check out the slide show — more photos — rendered big! — including of the bathrooms, more of the bedrooms, and the exterior. Tips to using the slide show: Click on any image, it will enlarge… use the arrows below the photo to move forward or back… you can start or stop at any image.
JKM says
What a lovely home! It looks to be in perfect condition and spotlessly clean. Wow! I looked at the google street view online and the neighborhood is very nice, too. My first instinct when looking at the photos, however, was that it was from the early ’60s, not ’70s – mainly because of the intercom. Oh well, fantastic regardless! The homes immediately next-door and across the street are fabulous MCM contemporaries as well. San Antonio is a lovely city, too.
Mary Elizabeth says
What I like best about this kitchen and other midcentury kitchens (besides the orange counters, of course) is the little study/phone nook where you could sit and pay your bills, call up the repair man, etc. The slimline wall phone is great. For today’s living, you could use that nook for a laptop. You can order groceries, pay bills on line, or search for recipes right there in the kitchen, next to the pantry and refrigerator/freezer. But the recipes you’d be searching for would be for foods for your Hawaiian luau or Tiki themed party on the fab covered patio–coconut daiquiris, spam and pineapple skewers, pu-pu platters, etc. OK, so you see I’ve already moved in in my imagination.
Jonny says
Love the intercom and the control panel for the oven.
RebeccaD says
Not that I know anything about San Antonio real estate, but I’m guessing the price is going to weed out anyone looking at this house as a “gut job” — and anyone except us retro-freaks is going to see this house as needing major cosmetic rehab, what with all the laminate. That should make it much more likely that the buyer will be someone who appreciates the house (at least I can hope).
Anne-Marie says
I love this house. I feel so comfortable with 70’s style done right. it is such a happy blend of earthy and modern. This house makes my heart sing. Thanks for sharing it with us!!
Laurie V says
Man, that house is off the hook!
Paula Webb says
I am green with envy over those original window coverings. I have 2 14′ windows I am trying to cover without having to sell a kidney!
pam kueber says
Yes – the window treatments are fantastic!
Delaine Zody says
I hear you on the windows. OUr 70s house had double traverse rods in the living room window. After the drapes literally fell apart I could not afford to have two sets of drapes made. Conjured up my own traverse set but would really love to have pinch-pleat drapes again.
As for this kitchen and others of its era, including my own, why do they no longer make kitchens with wall ovens and cooktops? I hate the all in one stoves going into today’s kitchens. I love my wall oven. So much easier to use than having to bend over a hot oven and lift out heavy turkeys, etc.
Paula Webb says
I know one issue with wall ovens is that the sizes tend to be all over the place and so replacing them can be difficult sometimes. Our wall oven is from 1957 and every holiday I say a little prayer that this is not the year it give out.
Jay says
Me too! My 57 oven is a mess but still works but how much longer I wonder. Still holds the correct temperature.
Lynne says
If I remember correctly, those drippy fountain lamps were filled with mineral oil. The oil was pumped thru with a pump similar to that in a fish tank. The oil ran down “dripped” along a clear string. Almost like a very sturdy fishing line. They clogged up a lot and were very difficult to keep clean because dust collected on that mineral oil like a magnate.
Lauryn says
I literally let out a little yell when I saw that intercom! And I am not normally a fan of the 70s, but this house shows that every decade has its fabulousness. This house is just gorgeous … please, please, please let the buyer be someone who appreciates how incredible it is. Thanks, Pam, for giving us more real estate porn to salivate over. Time capsules just might be becoming my favorite aspect of your website!!
Michael says
“Impeccable” is right! Also “pristine”, “tasteful” and so inviting and “liveable”. Would love to walk through this one…