Pam and I were thrilled when reader Joan tipped us off to this gorgeous 1957 mid century home in St. Louis Park, Minnesota. Featured for sale by Edina Realty, this original-owner home appears to have a strong Asian influence — with warm walnut paneling on the walls and ceilings… shoji screens and chinoiserie lighting. And: Peek at that front door. This house is detailed to the nines. There’s also a vintage St. Charles kitchen with original Thermador appliances. We’d love to know more about the architect. This home also has had 15 minutes of Hollywood fame — read on for the details and for 17 lovely photos of this time capsule house.
The house is sited on on a spacious, wooded lot set into a hillside. This allows the garage to be tucked under the main part of the house — making it much less obtrusive. The driveway is edged with a stone wall — adding to the mid century curb appeal — as well as holding back the hill. Pam came up with the term “unassuming” to describe the exterior. Very nice — but not much indication of the fabulosity going on inside. We find this to be true with many mid century modest houses.
Around the back, we can see the lower level is exposed — creating a walk-out basement with room for many windows to bring in natural light.
Above the walk-out basement, a long deck with angled railing stretches half the length of the back of the house — the perfect place to sit and take in the view. This angled railing style was used pretty commonly on mid century ranch houses, we think — although we *think* we tend to see thicker rails.
Just beyond the wooded yard sits a golf course. Wow — nice view indeed!
The the walnut wood paneling on the walls and ceilings looks to be of spectacular quality — and makes the home feel so inviting.
And, of course the shoji screens — fantastic! We’re not sure we see these too often in midcentury houses so far inland.
The stone (slate?) flooring in the entry way is just beautiful — and it complements the walnut paneling so well. Also of particular interest is the railing around the stairs to the basement — with rails that look to match those outside — and with an overall design that also elegantly mirrors the lines on the shoji doors. And: Note the ceiling fixtures — they appear to be chinoiserie, also reflecting the oriental inspirations throughout this house.
The main living area features breathtaking high walnut ceilings, large open expanses of space, oodles of light pouring in from the walls of windows, a view of the wooded lot — all coming together to create mid century at its best. Again, we see attention to detail that is extraordinary — see the wood soffits/beams with hidden up lighting?
Even though they have books and decorative pieces on them — these lovely built in shelves still look streamlined and minimalistic. The medium tone of the walnut wood shelves — and the fact that they match the walls — seems to camouflage the items that are arranged on them. Magic de-cluttering perhaps?
The home has several fireplaces — the one above is even set up to use for cooking.
But why would you want to cook in the fireplace when you could do your cooking in this wonderful St. Charles metal kitchen? Two built-in ovens! Thermador?
I spy several pull out cutting boards, a corner sink, an extra long range hood that stretches the entire length of the sitting area, and a set of warming drawers!
Here are some shots of the light-filled lower level — complete with turquoise pinch pleat draperies. (Note how they extend just below the sash/trim — this is one of the classic ways “to do” pinch pleats. The brick fireplace that stretches the entire length of one side of the room must be a favorite place to gather on chilly evenings
It looks like a lighter wood was chosen for the lower level paneling — oak perhaps? Could those large floor tiles be terrazzo? Hopefully whoever buys this home will be able to keep the curved sofa — it fits so nicely into this space.
Alas — we asked, but no photos of the bathrooms were taken. There are two full baths, two 3/4 baths (does that mean with just showers, not tubs?) and a half bath. Usually, we have found that when there are no bathroom photos, it’s because they are “dated” — and you know that for us, that is a Good Thing!
The listing mentions that this home was recently featured in the film “Thin Ice.” After watching the trailer, I saw a few glimpses of what could be the shoji screens in the upper level of the house. What an interesting bit of history on this beautiful home.
From the listing:
Original owner, mid-century modern home situated on Minneapolis Golf Course. Fab, retro thru-out. St. Charles kit, walnut paneling, shoji doors, amazing work, classic modern details… Fantastic views, quiet setting.
- Price: $569,000
- Lot size: 1 Acre
- Year built: 1957
- Square Footage (approx): 2,655 Sq. Ft. Above Ground\1,966 Sq. Ft. Below Ground
- Appliances: Range, Cooktop, Wall Oven, Indoor Grill, Exhaust Fan/Hood, Dishwasher, Refrigerator, Washer, Dryer, Water Softener – Owned, Disposal
- Flooring: Tile
- Cooling: Central Air
- Heating: Gas Heat, Forced Air
- Basement: Walkout, Full
- Fireplaces: 3, Living Room, Family Room, Amusement Room, Wood Burning
- Beds: 7
- Baths: 2 Full/2 Three-Qtr/1 Half
- Additional Interior Features: Natural Woodwork, Sauna, Vaulted Ceiling(s), Security System, Main Floor Bedroom, 3 BR on One Level, 4 BR on One Level
- Additional Room Information
- Family Room: Main Level, Lower Level
- Laundry: Main Floor Laundry
- Bath Description: Main Floor Full Bath, Main Floor 3/4 Bath, Main Floor 1/2 Bath, Private Master, 3/4 Master
- The home sits on the edge of a golf course
For further information contact: Sheri Fine at Edina Realty
(612) 720-2442
Special thanks goes out to listing agent Sheri Fine from Edina Realty for allowing us to feature this home and to Kyle Chiodo from 20/20 Home Photography for allowing us to use his beautiful photos in this story.
Bill Tourot says
That kitchen IS TO DIE FOR
Marta says
I love that it’s so well set up, but plain. You could give it so much personal pizazz with a textiles and kitchen paraphernalia without having to ‘undo’ someone else’s style.
Kathy C says
Maybe it’s just me, but I’d rather see more views of the bathrooms and maybe just one view of the golf course in the online pictures! I always wish the listings would include pictures of the bathrooms but they usually don’t unless they are totally remodeled/spa type baths.
This house is spectacular. You could drive past it every day and think nothing of the exterior. I love the color matched basketball hoop!
Janice says
Color matched so well I didn’t even notice it! I had to go back and find it – good eye Kathy!
pam kueber says
We mention this in the story: We asked if there were bathroom photos, they said “no”. Agreed: If they DON’T show the bathrooms, it usually means they are original. Which WE like!
Marta says
Wouldn’t it be great if one of the Michigan RR fans went to see it and took some bathroom and bedroom pics?
Zoe says
I would love to, except that the house is in Minnesota, not Michigan! (Michigan and Minnesota are like identical twins who dress differently; people are constantly confusing us for one another!)
Michael says
OMG this one is a STUNNER! I even love the wall-to-wall carpeting in the living room; such a plush contrast to all the wood and glass. The kitchen is to-die-for. Thanks for sharing!
Janice says
Lovely, lovely home and a lot bigger on the inside than what it appears on the outside. Would love to have seen those bathrooms! That kitchen is spectacular!
Robin, NV says
It’s the TARDIS! Sorry, your comment made me think of Dr. Who.
The house is like an unassuming jewelry box that you open up to find incredible treasures. It’s so lovely and formal yet inviting and cozy. Someone really had a great interior design aesthetic. So timeless.
Marta says
Robin, that’s the perfect way to refer to this house, as the Tardis! I was thinking Snoopy’s dog house, but Tardis is much better. Seven bedrooms! My goodness!
Robin, NV says
Glad to see someone got the reference.
Robin, NV says
Or how about Jeannie’s bottle, from I Dream of Jeannie? That’s a more contemporary reference, although Snoopy and Dr. Who both go back a long ways.
Marta says
But Jeannie only had that one room, lol.
BlueJay says
Dr. Who premiered in 1963, so the reference is completely valid! 😀
Laura's Last Ditch--Vintage Kitchenwares says
Gorgeous! It’s funny, someone above mentioned the front door as being the best thing, but I didn’t remember seeing a photo of it. Then I looked again, and there was a photo with the front door barely visible. Someone has a good eye. That door is fantastic!
Sarah g (roundhouse) says
There is a house in my town that has almost the exact same entrance/living space as this house! Amazing door that leads to entry with stone flooring that faces living divided by shoji screens! Even the living is wood paneled as well. The current owners are not keeping the house up and we have asked to buy it from them and they seemed interested in the offer….. Maybe it’s time to revisit that house…
Marta says
What a truly wonderful home. I love everything about it. The countertops look new, so I’m wondering what was beneath that long vent hood originally. The siting one this one is just perfect, too, and all the light.
Yes, 3/4 bath traditionally means toilet, sink, and shower. The term seems to have gone out of fashion in recent years, as I mostly see such setups referred to as full baths. I don’t like it. Give me back the 3/4 description, please. It’s more accurate. 🙂
Ana says
It’s hard to pick my favorite thing, but it might be the front door.
Also Pam, 3/4 baths are with a toilet, sink and shower. I used to live in a 1 3/4 bath ranch. (But if a home has a lone bathroom with a shower instead of a tub, I’ve never seen that referred to as a 3/4 bath. ???)
Coopercapers says
3/4 bath is a regional term. It means bath with a shower stall instead of a tub, so if 1-3/4 baths in the local Minnesota jargon, that means one bath has a tub and the other a shower stall. Just an easy way of explaining without saying so much. Everybody there knows what it means. I live in Florida now and would see for sale signs here stating: 3-2-2 with no idea what that was—turns out that code meant 3 bedrooms, 2 baths and 2 stall garage. Learn something new every day.
MikeD says
love the wood ceiling
MbS says
Me too. So warm and not at all close. I also love these words:
Chinoiserie – zhin-waz-are-ree
and, the related one of
Japonaiserie — zhaw-p?h-ne-za-?ree
I have to practice those words before I say them. Thanks, PK, for the chance to say them today.
pam kueber says
Yes, I love the word Chinoiserie, too. I didn’t know about Japonaiserie — so thank you, MbS, right back! 🙂
John says
Hi Pam,
This home truly says TIMELESS to me and the “unassuming” description for the exterior is spot on!! I wouldn’t change a thing if I were buying it.
John