James and Robi recently became the third owners of this 7,400 s.f. (woah!) ranch home near Fort Worth, Texas. As you would imagine, this was built by some folks with some dough re mi — it includes an indoor pool and a fabulous 1964 St. Charles steel kitchen has all the bells and whistles. Moreover, the kitchen is interesting, because we can see what vintage metal kitchen cabinets look like when they are finished with granite countertops — which were added by the previous owners. Robi writes:
Hi Pam,I have been enjoying the Retro Renovation site and am so happy to know that there are others who love and appreciate their postwar homes. I was extremely fortunate to purchase my dream home a few months ago, and want to share some photos. The short version of a long story: The house was built in 1949 in a small college town an hour southwest of Fort Worth, Texas. The second owner purchased it in 1954, and cared for it meticulously for 50 years. The original owners’ son bought it five years ago, but decided to downsize. Now it belongs to my partner, two cats, and me, and it’s home!
I write back right away and ask James to tell me his “Retro Renovation Story.” He replies:
My partner, Robi, and I were living in Fort Worth, in a nice early-1990s home in a great neighborhood. We both thought of it as our permanent home, and I was content to spend the rest of my days there. Several years ago, through mutual friends, we met Jim and Cissy, of Stephenville, Texas. They soon came to be our friends, too. We had admired their huge (7400 square foot) 1949 home and Robi’s half-serious comment to Cissy was, “If you ever want to sell this house, let us know.” This surprised me, because I have always liked older houses, but Robi prefers new ones. Go figure.
Through fate … the house became available this past spring, and Jim sent us a note. After much deliberation, we took the plunge and bought it, giving us a one-hour drive to work in the city, but we knew we’d have to make some sacrifices. This much said, a little history on the house.
Jim’s dad owned the feed mill in Stephenville, a town of about 15,000, and an important dairy and agricultural center in North Texas. His wife, Kathryn, wanted a stylish new home to reflect their standing in the community, and hired a noted local builder. They lived in the house for about four years, then for reasons not entirely clear (too big?) sold it to another family, who owned it for the next 50 years. They added the pool room around 1963, hiring the original builder and his crew to construct it. I am lucky to have several snapshots of the room and pool being built. Over the years, they meticulously cared for the house and yard. Jim and Cissy bought the house in 2005 from the estate.
He and Cissy redecorated a bit and made some changes, which might be cringe-inducing for dedicated midcentury-ists, including new bathrooms and updated the kitchen with the granite countertops you see in the pictures. Fortunately, we don’t mind the updates, and they left a lot of the good vintage details intact, including the magnificent circa 1964 St. Charles kitchen cabinets, Vent-a-hood, laundry room, and pool room. There are two vintage NuTone doorbells and a working NuTone Heata-venta-light. The house retains its original woodwork and moldings, and has a great, comfortable mid century feel.
The Hobart KitchenAid dishwasher was rescued (by me, the finder and fixer of things) from our local Habitat for Humanity store and restored, so it works as good as new, plus the house is home to our mostly mid-century traditional furniture and accessories and my vintage appliance collection.
Thanks again for letting me share the house on your site! Stephenville has some other cool mid-century homes, including a terrific 1961 era Eichler-style on an estate-sized lot. The original owner died this year and I’m not sure what the family has planned, but I went to the estate sale and it’s a wonderful, untouched example of uninhibited sixties modern! I will keep an eye on it and if it comes up for sale, send some pictures.
Thank you for hosting this fabulous site, which is interesting, educational, and always inspiring!
Sincerely,
James
Thank you so much for sending all these photos, Robi, and for sharing your story. What’s particularly interesting about your kitchen, is that, if you showed it to folks who weren’t into retro or mid century, I bet they’d think it was a modern “today” kitchen – what with those granite countertops and marble (?) backsplash and floor tiles. No question, those St. Charles cabinets have staying power. I recently saw my first set of vintage St. Charles cabinets “live” at the Re-Store in Springfield. Woah, those cabinets are honkin’ heavy — heavier than my Genevas, even. I am now a first-hand believer that St. Charles’ were top-of-the-line among steel kitchen cabinets. That said: I am pretty sure my Genevas will last forever, too.
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Hayley Kenney says
Drooling all over my key board! Let me add those cabinet features to my wish list!
Guy H. says
Wonderful cabinets and I love the pool!
Is that pool room completely enclosed?
James Lehr says
Yes, completely enclosed all the way around. We really need to find a good climate control/dehumidification system. Indoor pools are RARE in these parts, so there aren’t many HVAC contractors who know what to do.
Guy H. says
I am going to save these photos, James. If I ever decide to install an indoor pool, I would want it to look like that!
It’s a great look and I like the way the ceiling lights are.
Have fun and good luck finding a HVAC contractor!
Jane (aka Elvis) says
What a gorgeous home and kitchen! I’d love to see more interiors with James and Robi’s mid-century furniture in them.
I have a “custom” detail in my kitchen cabinets like the one in James’s: the pull-out, lift-up shelf they appear to have a bread machine on. I use it for my bread machine, too!
Enjoy your wonderful home, guys!
Annie B. says
I’m eatin’ my heart out! What a dream home. Congratulations and many years of happiness in all that Mid Century splendor.
Natalie @ Chadwell Chronicles says
Yay! Texans! =) Those cabinets are beautiful! Love to see more of the house!
DebDeluxe says
Wow! What a great home. 🙂
Colvin says
Unbelievable what a beautiful home indeed you both have. Congrats to you I know you will enjoy for many years to come.
Pam was too kind and posted on her site my pink and grey master bathroom on the blog Save the Pink Bathrooms.
Thank you for sharing the wonderful pictures of your home.
Colvin
gab18481 says
Wow. Those cabinets are fantastic. I love the spice cabinet and all the other built-in extras. Thanks for sharing!
MbS says
me tooooo on the double mint double mint spice cabsss
Jonathan says
I had to laugh when I saw the four Mrs. Dash containers in your spice rack. I just never expected to see four different kinds of Mrs. Dash in a kitchen cabinet.
James says
LOL, Robi bought those Mrs. Dash a LONG time ago and I don’t think we ever used them. Finally threw them out this Thanksgiving when I noticed they had expired in ’08. Vintage is great, but not for spices.
Lori Charbonnet says
James and Robi – Your home is amazing! I can’t believe the condition it is in. I live in Granbury and have just opened an Antique store. We also do parties and home, re-design. We are next door to Witherspoon’s Antiques in the green cottage. Please, come visit with more Pics! Gretchen and I would love to see them. What type of furniture do you have?
James Lehr says
Hi Lori,
Thanks for your comments. Robi and I are frequently in Granbury at Tarleton’s Langdon Center and one of my long-time friends owns the Pan Handle. Is your shop the really cute cottage to the right of Witherspoons? I will make a point to stop in and visit the next time I am in town.
-James
Lori Charbonnet says
Hi James, Yes, our shop is the cute cottage by Witherspoon’s. We are open Thursday through Sunday. This cottage also serves as our office. Gretchen and I “revamp” homes and offices. We would love to meet you. I must say again how I love your home!
Gavin Hastings says
James and Robi – Your KILLIN” me !!!!
It’s the details that count:
I am filled with envy over your Pacific-Cloth lined silver drawers, the pressure cooker, the electric saucepan, and what I think may be a Sunbeam Egg Cooker! Can we see some more?
I wish you both years of joy and congratulations on the “new” home.
James Lehr says
Hi Gavin,
Thanks for the comments. Yes, that’s a genuine Sunbeam egg cooker on the turn-arounder. Lots of other vintage Sunbeam, too. Will try to get some more pics soon. We are getting ready for Christmas tour of homes and waiting on some drapes for the formal rooms and bedrooms. Hope to get them back and installed soon. Stay tuned!