Wow, here is the latest notable time capsule house to come my way. It’s a gorgeous 1957 ranch house in Houston, listed by agent Robert Searcy, who gave me permission to use all of these great photos by TK Images Real Estate Photography. Thanks, also, to Yasmine, who tipped me off about this house — keep those tips coming, amazing readers!!! The photos were also just loaded on the MLS, so this time capsule loveliness is hot hot hot. Here’s how Robert describes this special home in the listing:
One of Glenbrook’s most important signature homes, custom-built in 1957 for local lumber barons Joseph & Sadie Butera Montalbano. An amazing mid-century modern swankienda with lots of wow factor. Centered around a giant ROUND rotunda sunken living area with domed ceiling & round double-sided flagstone fireplace in the center. Tons of gorgeous architectural details. Flagstone walls, zoomy vintage light fixtures, ultra-swank baths, sunken tub & poured terrazzo.
In a followup email, he also told me:
Montalbano lumber is still in business. The Buteras had deli’s and grocery stores in town as well, so both names are known in Houston. According to their son Phillip, the house was designed by J.D. Dansby and cost $10,000 for the lot and $63,000 in additional construction costs at the time. The original owners kept it up until about 10 years ago, when it was sold privately to a neighbor. This is the first time it has been offered publicly for sale.
The tax rolls list it at 4,664 sq. ft. on one level. It has lots of great features like the liberal use of flagstone both in and out, a built in prayer shrine, which was a common feature in the custom Glenbrook Valley homes of the period since this was a heavily Italian-Catholic neighborhood originally. 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, inside utility, original turquoise counters in the kitchen, aquamarine tile in the master bath, waterfall cabinets with the original Lucite hardware in the hall bath. Poured terrazzo, of course the round rotunda living area with the domed ceiling and see through fireplace.
Glenbrook Valley was named a protected historic district last year. It is the largest locally designated post WWII historic district that we know of. 1250+ homes. It is Houston’s largest historic district of any kind.
“Swankienda”? I would say so. Swankienda. There. Continue for 23 more photos –>
First, I’ll give you a sneak peek at the spotlighted spaces. Above: A view to how the round living room works. That’s the entrance at about 11 o’clock. Front window at 9 o’clock, second seating area at 3 o’clock. Look at those feature divider walls — these are amazing, they all seem to be a little bit different…And, as Robert mentioned, that’s a double-sided flagstone fireplace in the center of the space. Another feature to note: The dropped ceiling above the entry way, to add intimacy and divide the space – nice.
One of two shots that we have of the kitchen. Terrazzo floors. You know I adore the wallpaper. You know I am praying that the new buyers don’t change anything. Oh, they can change out the appliance — nix the white, let’s get some vintage Caloric color (or some such) back in there, please. Pretty please.
Now here is where my jaw really drops: The blue bathroom (above) is one of the most beautiful bathrooms I have ever seen. That appears to be a sunken tub — tiled in. Yes, you can make your own tub with tile, you do not need a prefabricated bathtub. I also want to point out how the wallpaper is almost tone-on-tone with the tile. Fantastic!
Above: The blue bathroom appears to be adjacent to a dressing room with another sink. This must be the master suite.
Above: More of the dressing area. Notice the carrara marble countertops (you can replicate carrara in laminate quite easily and affordably today – I have identified three sources), and of course, that screen is just lovely. that screen.
Above: A circle tour of the living room. I already gave you the o’clocks. Just walk through with me now.
Above: We’ve made a circle (sort of) and are back at the front door.
Above: Go back to this space…see the dining room at 12 o’clock?…
Above: Here’s the dining room….
… And here’s some more.
Above: Surely, the kitchen must be adjacent.
Above: I’ll repeat the shot I featured in the sneak peek, so you don’t have to scroll back… We need to guess the coffee service pattern… Can anyone identify it from so far away? I love how, even though this was a high-falutin’ architect-designed house, it is still full of kitschy features: Blue and yellow flower power wallpaper, for example. See? See? We LOVE our ornamentation!
Above: Eat-in kitchen area, with wood paneling.
A den down the hall?
Above: A family bath? Notice, it’s classic Mamie Pink tile back there in the toilet and bathing area, even though the wood vanity, stone wall, and countertop are all quite swanky. I’d love to get a closer look at the wallpaper in way back — metallic maybe? This family had it goin’ on!
Above: A bedroom… I’m thinking that none, or little, of the furniture in this house is from the original. That the house was empty and this furniture is staging to get prospective buyers in the mid mod mad mood. Wouldn’t we love to see photos of the house when it was first decorated.
Above: The master bedroom. INotice, the walls have wood trim on them — painted out. And that upholstered window cornice: Divine.
Ta da.
Links:
- 1957 ranch house time capsule house in Houston, listing agent is Robert Searcy — but link seems to be broken, house sold? — so click here to ->contact Robert Searcy direct
- Thanks again to Robert and to TK Images Real Estate Photography for permission to feature these photos here on Retro Renovation.
Carole says
I just noticed that it’s part of a historic district. More ranch style homes need to be considered historic enough to save (and list). I think that day is coming, but there are still a lot of people out there who consider ranch homes tear downs, with a few minor exceptions.
Carole says
Me again. I’m so sorry……lol The list price is absolutely freakin’ believable to me – $299,900? Maybe in TX that’s considered high, but in Oregon that price would now be considered a definite steal, especially for that amount of square footage!!
Peter says
I can’t believe the price. Yep, that’s about what a garage costs here in San Diego. Hmmm….
Just another Pam says
Well, blush, I started at the bottom but said the same thing, Peter. The price really does look like someone missed the 1 in front of what’s published.
Tina says
Same here in Northern Virginia. That’s the price of a 2BR condo around here.
And what a gorgeous home!
Stacey says
No, that’s not high for Texas. $299k for that house is a bargain by Texas standards. Put that same house in many areas of Dallas and you could easily double the asking price.
Carole says
Years ago we looked at a ranch house that had that curvature to it. At the time I kept thinking how difficult it would be to decorate. lol Not as difficult as the round house we toured, but that’s another story.
Gorgeous place. And look at the size of those bathrooms! I can only dream of something like that. Drool.
Wendy M. says
Gasp! I don’t know what to say, other than thank you for sharing these pictures! It’s wonderful to see houses that have been so lovingly preserved and that have so much character and life in them. I echo the sentiment that the home deserves to have a new owner that really appreciates all it has to offer AS IS. Here’s to hoping one of your readers can snap it up!
Janice says
OMG how fabulous!!! The new owners won’t change a thing because the new owner will be me! **sigh** Just kidding. I wish.
Liz says
This house is amazing. I love, love, love the bathroom. Robert Searcy is also the best agent in Houston for mid-century moderns (I worked with him twice when I lived there).
Eartha Kitsch says
That house is off the charts! And can I get a whoot! whoot! for the stone part in the bathroom? Ah-mazing, this place. If there is any justice in the universe, the new owner will love every bit of it and not change a thing.
Katie says
Beautiful! completely and totally amazing! It makes me wish I lived in Houston, and had the money to buy this place and fix it up right. I agree that its staged, some of the furniture looks vintage, but the leather sofa, the bedspread, picture and a couple of the occasional tables are all IKEA.
Laura's Last Ditch--Vintage Kitchenwares says
Wow! I love, love, love the bathroom, h*** [h-word edited out by pam] the white appliances, and think the dining room / living room railing is quite the thing. I’d really love to see this decked out in marvelous furnishings.
And now I’m mad at my parents for removing the turquoise counters in their home in the late ’70s.
Rhea says
W. O. W. this is in my neighborhood! I may have to “be in the market” an take a personal looksie! Leaves my circa 1965, 34 unit apartment building with a lot to be desired 🙂
Yasmine says
Love it! I posted this on RR a few days ago when I first saw it. Tried to convince hubby that we need to buy it, but he didn’t go for it 🙂
pam kueber says
THANK YOU, Yasmine. I was in such a rush to get this up, I was JUST NOW going through my emails so that I could add a thank you to the tipster. THANK YOU!!!! The reason I did not post it sooner — was that these new photos were in the works, Robert told me. xoxoxo!