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.
RosemaryMartin says
I am so grateful that Pam features these time capsule houses even though I use up a box of tissues wiping drool each time. 😉
I grew up in a house with a deep sunken in living room, so I adore the concept. The turquoise kitchen, the bathrooms, oh and let’s not forget the dressing room, are all stunning.
I’m the only one, though, that is itching to rip out all that carpet and replace it with hardwood?
Thanks for post, Pam.
Rebecca says
wow oh wow oh wow. The colors, the stone, the tile, that bathroom. The price. My favorite really is the fireplace in the middle of the circle room. Someone had their thinking caps on when they put that together. Wonder if it was owner architect collaboration? Cool idea.
MidModBeachGal says
That house is so delicious that I want to devour it. Seriously…It’s good that I live nowhere near it or else I might just have to go in and lick the countertops. And the fire place. And perhaps bite right in to those screens. Yummy.
hannah says
Oh contraire! To a few posters here, I TOTALLY ‘get’ the room divider in the living room and I LOVE IT. It’s one of my favorite things about the house. If you imagine it with the original furniture that must’ve fill those spaces I’ll bet there was quite the ‘conversation’ areas designated by room layout. Also, imagine a bar on one side and the entertaining section on the other. I think it must’ve been grand when fully furnished. Just imagine the parties that went on in that room!
Also to die for is that one bathroom with the dark wood and stone wall. And, not to forget the truly lovely kitchen. <3
paul says
Lovely! I wouldn’t change a thing!
Rosemary says
With 20% down for 30 years, the payments might be $1200 for the morgage at the current crazy low rates but I don’t know what Houston taxes or insurance would add to the cost. That’s a crazy low amount for such a perfect house like this one.
Holley says
Absolutely Stunning!! So close but yet so far..if only I could get my hubby to go for mid century awesomeness!!
TappanTrailerTami says
Robert, thank you for listing and recognizing all the great details in this house! Pam, thanks for posting it.
Swankienda is my new favorite word too!
The price is great….here in Silicon Valley (like Peter’s comment about San Diego), $300k will buy you a shack on a lot, or a garage in a nicer neighborhood.
Brian T says
My favorite aspects: the gloriously happy kitchen wallpaper, the lacy window treatment in the round room’s picture window, and the approach to the dining area from the round room (I’d probably swoon over any house that deserves the phrase “the approach to the dining area”).
Dislikes: The iron bars on the front door and windows give me the willies. There must be a less grim way to deter crime.
I would have thought that “round sunken living room” would guarantee I’d love it, but the central screen wall makes it seem like the room is ashamed of being round and open. (Also, I half expect to see high chairs stored behind the screen, like at a restaurant.)
I dote on all the kitschy period detail, and that leads me to suggest that the stager replace the Audrey Hepburn print. Everything else looks so authentic, but then the Audrey image looks ironic and “off.” (I’m imagining a film’s naive young assistant, tasked with providing ’50s detail, who comes up with Mamie Eisenhower wearing a poodle skirt.) You don’t have to INVOKE the ’60s when you have so much genuine ’60s happening everywhere you look.
jane says
I have Blue Heaven and the coffee pot is Blue, but the cups do look like it. I was going to guess North star.
Love love love this house.