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Amazing 1960s “Storybook Ranch” time capsule house — 42 photos

Kate - Updated: May 29, 2021

Retro Renovation stopped publishing in 2021; these stories remain for historical information, as potential continued resources, and for archival purposes.

Mid-century-house-exteriorTour-a-Time-CapsulePam and I are over the moon about our latest time capsule house — a 1960 time capsule Storybook Ranch house in Dedham, Mass. — thanks to reader Jason on our Facebook Page for this awesome tip! Yes, we call this style “Storybook Ranch” or “Cinderella Ranch” — we adore them. But what’s extra special about this one is that it’s on the East Coast, which we think is pretty rare; we tend to think Cindy’s were mostly a west coast phenom, although Pam spotted this one in Pittsfield, Mass.  Back to today’s time capsule, just by looking at the front of the house, you can guess that the inside is also going to be something special. And yes, it does not disappoint — let’s step inside and take the tour — 42 photos in all!

hidden-mid-century-house-landscapingThe rounded decorative shrubs mimic the round stones that make up the edge of the property and act as friendly guardians over this lovely house.

mid-century-house-with-zeroscapingAfter moving past the wall of greenery, it is as if we are transported into a magical mid century land. Look at the cheery aqua awnings and shutters complete with decorative cut outs of horse drawn carriages that dress up the neutral stone facade.

mid-century-landscaping-and-front-porch

From the listing:

Come see this 8 Room/2 bath custom Ranch where Mad Men meets Greenlodge! Inlaid slate and marble floors with radiant heat. Vermont Quartz fireplace and accent walls in living and family rooms. Stained glass windows, beamed ceilings in huge great room. Oversize lot designed for entertaining. Updated windows, 3 zone heat and 200 amp electric 1 car garage. New roof.

  • Price: $349,900
  • Year built: 1960
  • Square feet: 2,354
  • Bedrooms: 3
  • Bathrooms: 2

I should note that I spoke with the listing agent — Diane Capodilupo from ReMax Real Estate — who told us that this house received a tremendous response, and that there is already a buyer lined up. Thanks, Diane, for giving us permission to add these delicious photos to our archive of time capsule houses.

Mid-century-stone-porch-with-decorative-cement-blockA gorgeous front porch — stone wall, decorative concrete block, colorful hanging light, charming entry door with rounded windows and stained glass side panel. It appears that the floor of the front porch is random pattern slate. We also want the cast iron bench, please!

Mid-century-retro-stone-alcove-wallThe random slate floor continues to the entryway and through the house. We wonder whether beautiful stone wall with niche and built-in ledges was designed to hold religious items. Remember this time capsule (also a romantic revival “storybook” style) —  that’s what its niches were for.

Mid-century-living-room-with-slate-floor-and-stone-wallsThere is so much texture, natural materials and interest in the living room — the generous size and high ceilings give it a very grand feeling. Is that wood wall… pieced together in squares? It look like it! Pam interjects here: I love lOvE LOVE this house!!!!

mid-century-retro-living-room-and-entry-wayAnother great aspect of this room’s design — that fabulous picture window — framed with smaller rectangles to make an interesting geometric pattern that repeats the shapes of the stone and slate throughout the room.

retro-mid-century-living-room-stone-wallmid-century-retro-living-room-stone-wall-and-picture-windowmid-century-stone-wall-vaulted-ceiling-wall-muralPam noticed the gorgeous monochromatic landscape wall mural in the dining room right away.

mid-century-dining-room-with-wall-muralYou can still get authentic wallpaper murals like this — very old skool designs — from Thibaut today. One of the Thibaut designs — might be this one. What do you think?

mid-century-marble-floor-dining-roommid-century-marble-floored-dining-roomThere are so many wonderful details in this house — such as the scalloped trim over the doorways. In the dining room, it is marble to match the floors and other trim.

mid-century-kitchen-with-slate-floorHowever, on the kitchen side — the trim matches the wooden cabinets. Do I spy a vintage built in microwave?

Mid-century-kitchen-vintage-chrome-microwaveOther details in this terrific vintage kitchen — yellow laminate counter tops, avocado green sink, scalloped open shelving, a pass through and more of the random slate flooring that meanders through the house.

mid-century-retro-stone-fireplace-with-slate-floor

Yes, you can still get random color slate today, too.

mid-century-retro-wood-walls-and-random-slate-floorThe skylight in this den is amazing — large enough to let in oodles of natural light and even framed in the same wood paneling that is on the walls in the room.

built-in-wood-and-marble-desk-mid-centuryThe built in desk and adjacent laundry room.

Mid-century-midieval-room-vaulted-ceilingsOkay, so now here’s the really good part: A gothic, story book sitting room. Assuming the carpet is not smelly, would you keep it? Pam says she would.

madonna inn
See our two stories on the bedrooms at the Madonna Inn.

Reader Amanda over on our Facebook page reminded us that these rooms look like some of the bedrooms at the Madonna Inn. Yes! We meant to add that. We have to stories, get your eyeballs ready:

Mid-century-midieval-roomMid-century-midieval-room-with-wall-mount-fireplaceEven the built in cabinet and doorways are dog eared. The wall mounted fireplace — complete with a crest of armor — finishes off the room nicely. This is one stylin’ house!

grey-wood-panelled-walls-shag-carpet-retroThe window seat in this room is such a great detail — it allows for all the built in storage space on either side and below — as well as what must be a wonderful place to keep house plants or get a view of the landscaping outside.

grey-paneling-in-mid-century-houseLove the scallop trim.

black-and-green-marble-mid-century-bathroomHere is another bathroom — made up of the same greenish marble and slate flooring that is found in other parts of the house. The angled vanity maximizes every bit of space.

mid-century-bedroom-with-intercomMetallic wallpaper? We think so — it is hard to get metallics to photograph. Also, we spy an intercom system box on the wall.

mid-century-master-bedroom-with-mini-wall-muralHere in the master bedroom — there is another wall paper mural. The bed looks lovely, wish we could see more of the headboard.

mid-century-master-bedroomMore metallic wallpaper in the attached master bathroom?

mid-century-pink-and-black-bathroom-retroLove it! Go big, or go home.

mid-century-retro-black-and-pink-bathroomNotice how the small sink vanity is covered in laminate.

mid-century-retro-master-bath-laminate-vanityThere is also a second sink for the lady of the house and her Stuff.

retro-bedroommid-century-ranch-house-exteriorOutside in the back of the house, the same carefully planned landscaping is present.

Mid-century-house-back-yardLandscaping-mid-century-patioCharming curved walkways and patios fill the space and provide places to stop, relax and take in the garden.

mid-century-built-in-outdoor-BBQ

The barbecue is fantastic.

mid-century-house-landscaping-formalmid-century-shed-that-matches-houseWhat I assume is a potting shed seems built-in to the hedge and is even sided and painted to match the main house.

mid-century-yard-with-wellEvery self-respecting Storybook Ranch needs a wishing well.

outdoor-bbq-mid-century-retroretro-backyard-landscapingretro-patio-with-shed-and-gateWhat a fabulous mid century time capsule house — every square inch of the inside and outside have been thoughtfully designed and appear to have been impeccably maintained. Let’s hope the new owners appreciate the charming mid century character and attention to detail that is very much alive and well in this gem of a time capsule house.

Special thanks to photographer Demetri Papoulidis from Demetri Productions, LLC (link now gone) for allowing us to use his beautiful photos of this property.

Want to see more stories about Storybook Ranch houses:

To see the photos from this house tour twice as large, view our slide show below.

Tips to view slide show: Click on first image… it will enlarge and you can also read my captions… move forward or back via arrows below the photo… you can start or stop at any image:


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73 comments

Comments

  3. Chris says

    Wow! Sooo, many details for the eye to take in!! So many textures, patterns . . never a dull moment yet, it all flows together! Love the detailing of the paneling, the window seats and trim work; really gives it character. The carpet speaks for itself. I would keep it too!

  4. Sherree says

    I LOVE the 1962 part.The newer part (early 70’s?), not so much. I am guessing that is when the kitchen was updated, too. The yard is amazing. I hope whoever the buyer is appreciates what they have!

    • Rick S says

      I think Sherree is right about a possible update to the kitchen mid to late 70’s. The cabinets have that 70’s colonial vibe and the Amerock Carriage House hardware is easy to date. My house c1978 has the switchplate and outlet covers and cabinet hardware in this pattern. I feel the homeowners may have made some updates over the years but were very careful to stay true to the house and use the best materials in the process.

      Beautiful.
      rick

  6. Mark says

    Nice home, but not a true “Cinderella”. They came out of SoCal by a designer/developer named Jean (Jene) Valjean Vandruff, who along w/ his brother Shannon, came up w/ the “Cinderella” tract home idea after building a few one-off custom “Storybook Ranches” in the Los Angeles metro area. They built a few of the original Cinderellas, but the demand was so high that they “franchised” out the designs to local hungry developers all over the western U.S. I live in one of the first of these “franchised” tracts, built, 200+ homes constructed between 1956 & 1958 (mine was the 8th home built in ’56) in L.A. Based on their success, the “Storybook Ranch” movement spread like wildfire, w/ architects & developers nationwide trying to mirror the frenzy. BTW, Mr J V Vandruff is alive & well at the ripe young age of 90 or 91… 😉

      • Mark says

        Pam,
        Mr Vandruff coined the term “Cinderella”. His company was called Cinderella Homes, I’m assuming he got a license on the name. Our tract was called “Cinderella Estates”, another around the corner from me (different builder) was “Cinderella Square”. The “Storybook Ranch” style preceded them, but they took it a step further from custom homes to tract homes & started the trend. So only a Vandruff-designed home is a true “Cinderella”… I guess the catchy name just stuck to anything “Storybook”… 🙂

      • Mark says

        Ana,
        I’ve been in touch w/ him several times — He has an autobiographical website. He basically recalls mostly what can be found there. If you search online, you’re bound to find it. Very interesting fellow — lived a “full life” if you know what I mean. I’m in process of a period restoration on our Cinderella… 😉

  7. Casey says

    I found this house on RedFin right after it was posted… if only we were closer to buying, we’d be the ones with the offer lined up. What a fun place – though I would update some of the features, its charm is unmistakable!

  8. KMP Modern says

    Wow! What a stunner. I really love the huge grounds too but those rounded shrubs. Every attention to detail has been made here, and it’s so well kept! The listing price seems like a bargain especially for all the stone and marble. I love the original carpets, and the purple wallpaper in the bathroom! Thanks for sharing!

  9. Adrian says

    I have 750 SQ feet of the exact same red shag carpet saved from my mother’s old family home. I couldn’t part with it and the new owners didn’t want it. 😉

  10. Allen says

    WOW what a great house! There are two Storybook ranches that I know of where I live in Tennessee. Perhaps they are not rare on the east coast but rather they have yet to be rediscovered on the east coast. East Coasters keep your eyes peeled!