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    Rochester Steven’s 1957 Alcoa Aluminum house

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    After we looked at the Alcoa Aluminum time capsule home in Minnesota a few weeks ago, we heard from Steven in Rochester, New York, who owns another of these houses.

    He’s decorated just beautifully! The more I look at his interiors – the more I appreciate every detail and the mix of colors and textures. Swoon…

    And, Steven has some original sales material and has posted it, along with 50 photos of his gorgeous home, on Flickr.

    He says that in total – there were 23 of these “demonstration homes” built around the country – and there’s a list in the brochure.

    Steven says about the house:

    This house is located in Brighton which is a suburb of Rochester, NY. It was designed by architect Charles Goodman and it is 1 of 23 homes that were built for Alcoa Aluminum’s “Care-free Home” demonstration project.

    It was built in 1957 by Fred P. DeBlase.

    We moved into the house in June/07 and have spent the last six months working on the inside and outside. The house is not in its completely original state. Over the years the two bathrooms and the kitchen were remodeled. We intend to redo all of them more to period in the near future.

    The original national sales brochure was handed down with the house and I have scanned and posted it too. On page 15 there is a listing of the locations of the 23 homes that were built.

    And be sure to click here to see all 59 photos in Steven’s Flickr photostream!

    Thank you so much for sharing, Steven!

    Be-Safe-graphic2.3

    COMMENTS WILL RE-OPEN on MONDAY, DECEMBER 2.  For the first time in, like, 13 years, I am taking a real vacation from the blog, to spend un-distracted time with family. As part of this, Commenting on the blog is paused. Meanwhile, please enjoy reading all the many stories in our archives -- and come back Monday, Dec. 2 when I will launch our annual giveaway of a vintage ornament wreath made by Georgia Peachez -- and when comments will reopen so you can enter to win! HAVE A HAPPY THANKSGIVING, EVERYONE!


    Comments

    1. Fabulous house! We just picked up a pair of Emerson-Pryne outdoor lights called Space Shape that were made in conjunction with Alcoa Aluminum. However, one of the globes is broken. Since the globe stem is threaded where it screws into the aluminum base, we are lost for where we might have one made. Any ideas?

      • Heidi, can you send me a pic, I’m ever so curious….retrorenovation at gmail dot com, thanks.

    2. Hello –

      My wife and I live in the Alcoa house in Westwood Hills in Maryville, TN. We have been there for 9 years. Unfortunately, much had been done to the house before we bought that was miles away from the original look and feel. We have really enjoyed seeing all of the photos of the homes that have been renovated to reflect the architecture and period. Hopefully, some day we can move in that direction as well. If anyone reads this post and is renovating and has tips or tricks, let us know.

      Barry

      • Great to see another Alcoa House owner surface!!!!! This is a great place to see tips and tricks for renovating. I would enjoy seeIng any pics that you would like to share.

        Steve

    3. Any pictures? We are about to renovate our house in MA, perhaps you contacted us a few years back? Nice forum to reunite these houses listed in the original brochure.

    4. What an astonishing place! I’d be very, very grateful to Steven & Michael if they would let me know the name of the auto-body shop where they had their steel cabinets refinished. I’m in Brighton, fellas, and need some neighborly steering toward the right people to work on the Youngstown steel cabinets I recently acquired. – Sara [ edited by pam – pam sent an email to steven to make the connection ]

    7. Hi, I’m so excited to see such interest in the Alcoa Care-Free Home(s)! I’d like to request a copy of the original brochure in .pdf – is it possible that someone could email it to Pam and she forward on to me? Thank you so much for your help.

      • I do have a pdf of the brochure but it it too large to send in an email. I could send a cd to you if you provide me with your contact info. If you want go to my flickr site and send me a email though there. Pam has put a link to my site in this post.

    8. I am selling my alcoa kitchen in Ohio. Does anyone know someone remodling their alcoa home that could use extra cabnets?

    9. Hello,
      My husband and I own a Fred DeBlase home in Brighton and would love to see the “23 homes” in the brochure. Our house was built in 1948 I think and it is also in Brighton…
      Thank you,
      Fran & Paul Toporek

      • Fran & Paul
        Send me a message through my flickr site that is linked above and let’s arrange a visit!!!!

    Comments re-open Dec. 2

    Again (see message above), if you want to make a comment, come back on Dec. 2 when comments will re-open after I take a short break.


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