Get ready for some gorgeous aqua St. Charles kitchen cabinets and pretty pink bathrooms because today’s Time Capsule Tour — a 1954 brick ranch listed for sale by Realtor Ed Murchinson in Sulphur Springs, Texas — has original details that will wow. This architect-designed house is absolutely dreamy: We adore all the exposed brick, the cork floors laid in a herringbone pattern, the beamed ceilings, the brick fence outside — and two pink bathrooms, of course! Thanks to a tip from reader Doris and photos courtesy Shoot2Sell Photography, we can all marvel at the mid century details found in this beautiful brick ranch.
- Year built: 1954
- Price: $125,000
- Square footage: 2,823
- Bedrooms: 3
- Bathrooms: 2
Here is a custom-built Mid-century Modern gem of a home designed by Fort Worth architects Easterwood and Easterwood who also designed the First Baptist Church in downtown Sulphur Springs. A brick paver sidewalk leads to the welcoming front porch of this well-maintained one owner home.
Step into the entry with original Italian marble floors and be greeted by a bright and spacious living room that flows into an even larger family room featuring original cork floors, cozy fireplace, wood-beamed ceiling, exposed brick walls and an expansive walls of windows.
The original kitchen in a beautiful shade of turquoise retains the now sought-after St. Charles metal cabinets. Back in the day, these cabinets were generally found only in higher-end homes and were ahead of their time with features like pull out shelves and bins and velvet lined silverware drawers.
The separate cooking workstation features stainless steel counters…there is even a matching built-in desk! There is a large brick terrace just off the kitchen and family room that provides a great place to entertain or relax and look out over the generous backyard, which is surrounded by a beautiful brick wall.
The master bedroom suite features three walk-in closets and the master bath has a beautiful marble top dressing table. The other two bedrooms are large and all of the generous closets feature lighting that automatically comes on and goes off when the doors are opened and closed.
The large guest bath features the original tiles and cabinetry.. .all in perfect condition. The house also has an over sized two car carport, security system, sprinkler system and a separate concrete block storage building. The timeless design elements of this home have been lovingly retained and maintained…and recently painted inside and out, new carpet, recent high quality roof, AC compressor and more. A few finishing touches…and this is a magazine quality show house!
What a lovely house full of carefully thought-out details. For example, Pam wants prospective bathroom remodelers notice the use of 4″x4″ field tiles installed on the diagonal to create a border around the tub. This is “cheap and cheerful” way to add appeal — so clever.
Mega thanks to Realtor Ed Murchison for allowing us to feature this property and to Shoot2Sell Photography for giving us permission to feature the photos of this lovely mid century property.
Tips to view slide show: Click on first image… it will enlarge and you can also read any captions… move forward or back via arrows below the photo… you can start or stop at any image:
JKM says
Gorgeous, immaculate home! It’s not expensive because it’s in Sulphur Springs, which is a nice town but about an hour away from the farthest eastern Dallas suburbs. Not sure there are many MCM fans out there but I hope there are. I have visions of the kitchen being ripped out and hope, if it does, the cabinets will be sold instead of tossed. Sounds like the realtor knows what he’s got so let’s hope so.
Jonny says
I’m stunned by the dirt cheap asking price, even from here in Wisconsin where houses are relatively cheap. And it’s a beauty, too! I see they already repainted and carpeted some rooms, would have liked to see what it looked like before that.
Still looks like all the important stuff is unchanged though, sure do hope someone who appreciates this stuff buys this house!
And I do like the way the listing is written, to compliment all the cool stuff and not write it up as “needing” anything.
Vanessa says
It’s gorgeous! I live in Australia & I’m ready to move to Texas for a house like that lol!! Stunning. I’ve lived in houses with pink bathrooms but none of that quality & that fabulous kitchen is huge! And it’s all so cheap at $125k!
Nancy B says
Great house!!
Robin, NV says
The exterior photo made me think “isn’t she pretty in pink?” (a la the Psychedilic Furs). Love this house. Love, love, love.
Ranger Smith says
Texas seems to have a great selection is pristine mid century masterpieces. This house is definitely one of them. I’m curious as to the car port. Quite frequently, I see homes that were not obviously not intended to be “starter homes”, yet they have car ports instead of a garage. Why is that? Even if one is in a climate such a Texas where frigid temps are not an issue, wouldn’t one want a garage?
June Cahill says
Living in Tucson, we’ve got plenty of ‘upper-scale’ homes with original carports – and many of those homes STILL have carports, not garages. However, you make a good point, the weather here (75 today:) Carports where the weather is cold are very curious to me too? I think I’ll have to do a little research on that!
Kelly Wittenauer says
The carport instead of garage appears to have originated as a cost saving measure. However it seems to have really taken hold in the 50s, as cars were becoming symbols of status & style. The carport kept most of the rain, snow & sun off, while still displaying the status one had achieved via the ostentatious fins & chrome of the era.
Robin, NV says
Speaking as both a carport owner and fan – carports do very nicely in all but the coldest temperatures. It may not keep the cold out but my car stays frost free. I can vouch for this up to -15 (the coldest I’ve seen it here). I like that a carport still allows you to see the house and not a “garage with a house attached.” Mine has storage closets at the back, so I don’t miss the storage capabilities of a garage too much.
Patty says
In today’s crime filled world, nothing says “not home” like an empty carport. We also have too many overnight car break-ins in “good” neighborhoods where people don’t bother to lock their doors or remove their electronic gadgets from their vehicles.
The world has changed and I’m grateful for my garage.
Jay says
The carport in warm climates provides for protection from sun and heat which inflicts damage on cars, total enclosure isn’t waranted. Even in the snowy northeast carports will protect from snow. I have seen a lot of subdivisions that were built without either and doesn’t make a lot of sense if you live in either a sun or snow region.
RebeccaD says
A carport is like a porch in that it is a good way to protect from the hot sun, while still allowing maximum airflow. Unless one air conditions a garage, it can become oven-like in extreme heat. Not only does it make the inside of your car hotter, but also the part of the house that the garage is attached to. At least that has been my experience, growing up in a very hot environment. Now that I’m in a colder area, I see very few car ports as they just don’t make as much sense here.
Also, perhaps the appeal of showing off the family car was seen as a plus in the 50s. 🙂
Katie says
I live in the Phoenix-metro and carports are very common here as well. A garage is mainly useful as additional storage, all you really need is to keep off the rain and shade the car in summer, and a carport does that just fine.
Ranger Smith says
Thank you all for your input! I always thought that a mid to upper range home such as this would want a “cleaner” look of having the cars out of sight and put away. I could be entirely wrong on that. The idea of cars having become more of a status symbol in the ’50’s and thus wanting to leave them visible is especially interesting.
Dee says
I live in SW Virginia and the neighborhood I grew up in was built starting around 1960. Every single home in the neighborhood has a carport. Many were enclosed and made into family rooms. Carports far outnumber the garages here and it can get pretty darn cold and snowy in the winter. But for some reason, most of the homes built in this area during the 50-60 era had carports, even the high dollar homes. Garages didn’t come until later years.
Dawn says
I would LOOOOVE to learn more about carports. I am in Central Ohio and have the only carport in my neighborhood. My home was the builders so I have to think he did it maybe as a status symbol? We also have a detached two car garage and a one car garage UNDER the carport. So maybe he just didn’t feel the need for a third garage?
We love it.
We sit out there in the summer and enjoy it as a porch. And park our cars there in the winter to protect them from the snow.
Louisa says
We grew up in the mid-century 1963 house my parents helped design. It too has a large (and beautiful ) carport with built-in closets and various exits. When they had big parties the carport was used as entertainment space. When their friend Mame came to the party they would move the piano to the carport. Great dance floor!
Patty says
Back in the day kitchens and outhouses were out back. Later carriage houses and garages were separate buildings. Probably a natural progression.
I suspect in many areas carports were a budget buy vs a garage although in some designs the carports are pretty stylized.
I’ve found my garage keeps the car cooler in the summer and way warmer in our recent frigid temps.
RebeccaD says
I wonder if some architects chose the carport in part for esthetic reasons since it is visually more open than a garage.
elle says
…wishing I lived in Texas! And if I did, I’d have a cocktail in hand, while enjoying my swanky digs.
Jay says
MCM time capsules – how do I love thee: cove lighting, cork floors, pocket doors, exposed interior brick, wall ovens, bullet lights, etc.
Nice way to start Monday!
Leisa says
This house is amazing! I just happen to be a Realtor in this town and have shown this house several times. It is honestly a step back in time. It even has the original house plans included!
I was told that a local family built it and it has remained in their family until it gets bought by some lucky new owner.
It is meticulously maintained and in need of absolutely nothing to move in. I am obsessed with it! I was so surprised when it showed up in my Facebook feed.
The price is average for our area. You can get a big bang for your buck out here in East Texas!
pam kueber says
Thanks for that info, Leisa! GORGEOUS HOUSE! We sure hope you can help find an appreciative buyer!
Jay says
That’s cool! Would love to have had a peek at floor plans. Looks like the master opens not only to the hall but the area off the kitchen/family room and might even have its own outside entrance from the carport.
Leisa Neal says
Jay, It does! It has doors to the kitchen area & the hall! The back entry door opens into the kitchen/ breakfast area with a half wall of brick separating it, so it is like a little walk way, Family room to the left, Master bedroom to the left, kitchen straight ahead. The entire back kitchen/family room portion of the back of the house is glass doors. Amazing!
The Front bedrooms are connected by a Jack & Jill bath and continues through into the hall, making a giant circle, either to the kitchen or the foyer. The halls are wide enough for Big Wheel Races:)
Jan says
Lucky you. Just make anybody who wants to make an offer promise not to change anything. 🙂
Leslie says
I’ll join in with the gang, amazing house! I’m picturing a young newlywed couple, first-time home buyer, MCM and pink bathroom lover moving in!