Thanks to reader Beth, who spotted this wonderful 1956 split level time capsule house for sale in Newton, Mass. (listing now gone) and posted the tip over on our Retro Renovation Facebook page.
The listing agent Eric Glassoff confirms that indeed, this house has been with just one owner, for whom it was custom built. Looking at the interior design, I think that there was some redecoration in the late 1960s or early 1970s — all that lovely chinoiserie and meta
llic wallpaper. I could be wrong, though — this could just be a very fashion forward 1956 house. Thanks to agent Eric Glassoff for permission to showcase this listing and to photographer David Ward of the The Creative Ward for permission to feature his photos here.
A split level house is considered a variation on the ranch house. I tend to associate split level houses with the 1960s and 1970s. But, yes, they were around in 1956 — this one proves it.
This is a very handsome house — great curb appeal. I love all the stone retaining walls and the mature shrubbery.
Let’s head into the living room — simply stunning.
The sofa is amazing, and the fireplace wall is spectacular… I love how the chunky pendant lights accentuate the fireplace…
…and my goodness, what is the espaliered tree thingie? Woah. In a good way.
This lamp is terrific. Golly, so many adjectives that all basically say, “Wow!” Much of furniture design, I’d call chinoiserie — a style I associate with the 1960s. Furniture like this — with its original lacquer finish — is pretty collectible, I’d say. Chinoiserie is also a style I’d call “timeless,” because you see it used in so many eras.
The wallpaper mural also speaks to the Orient. *Adore*.
A very pretty chandelier. Toleware, I’d say… almost a “birdcage chandelier,” but not quite.
Hold on to your eyeballs, here’s the kitchen. The cabinets look to be laminate veneer. All the appliances — they must be original, though, don’t you think? This photo makes me think — original kitchen. Patrick, can you date the appliances??
Foil wallpaper to coordinate. Yum. Yum. Yum.
I zoomed in to try and capture the pink foil wallpaper loveliness.
More pink. This color scheme makes me think this room’s decor is original to 1956 — which was right at the height of pink-love.
The upholstered … headboard, I guess we need to call it… is amazing!
Above: Pink and black bathroom — with metallic wallpaper on the walls — and ceiling above. I also spy with my little eye, wallpaper on the base cabinet doors. Wicked crazy awesome!
In the way downstairs of the split level (behind the garage part), the party is ready to start.
The fireplace is very peppy. Those wall clocks made to look like wristwatches are wonderful.
Above: This is a cool idea, a glass block bar, note how it’s set on two courses of bricks.
The back of the bar is mirrored — look closely, and you will see the mirror is three pieces. The pieces are set between Knape & Vogt (or KV style) modular shelving standards. This makes it easy to add glass shelves for the booze. What a terrific idea.
What do you think readers:
Is the entire a house a time capsule?
Or was some of it (at least) redecorated in the 1960s?
Want to buy this 1956 time capsule house?
- The listing agent is Eric Glassoff — his cell phone is 617) 233-6210, and his email is eglassoff@comcast.net
- Eric’s website is: BostonRealEstateExperts.com
- The listing was here, but now gone.
Slide show of the house photos, even larger:
Tips to using the slide show: Click on any thumbnail to enlarge it… Use the arrows below each enlarged image to move forward or back… you can start the slide show from any thumbnail:
Keep those time capsule tips coming readers! xoxo
Janet in CT says
Pam, I am fairly certain those pink wall ovens are original; for four or five years in the late fifties, GE didn’t change them other than maybe the knobs or clock face. Without the model number, there is no way to tell for sure what year. I can’t see if it is the original cooktop but they may have replaced that and left the controls in the front of the cabinet next to the wall oven. The dishwasher is definitely newer as in seventies/eighties. There are alot of those wall ovens showing up on craigslist in all different colors from the light brown to pink to yellow to mint green, and stainless too. They rarely break except for the clock and I think they are a timeless simple look; I don’t know why anyone would yank one out. This house is amazing! There is one just like it, same paint color and all, about ten miles away from here. I remember being amazed by it when I was a kid as we drove by it on our way to church every Sunday, and that was just looking at the outside! It was so different from all the other houses back then and really stood out way up on the side of a mountain.
Dan says
Janet, I have a set of stainless wall ovens from the 50’s, and I am constantly amazed by how accurately they hold a temperature, and how the doors stay relatively cool to the touch, even when they are both cranked up.
My mother, on the other hand, has a 90’s freestanding range, and that thing is a terror. Temps vary wildly, and it gets HOT.
Sadly, many of these ovens end up in the recycling because people don’t understand the timed baking mechanism, and they think the oven is dead, when all it needs is a turn of a dial.
Chris Shaffer says
Sad to see the Realtor listing it as “needs updating.”
Robin, NV says
“Needs updating” is like a siren call to me – it means it will be full of retro/vintage goodness. On the other hand, “tastefully updated” is an immediate turn off because it means the house has been greiged into boredom with box store fixtures.
tammyCA says
As I look closer at the bar I noticed the pretty blue bottle…I wonder if this is the same one that the “I dream of Jeannie” used for her bottle. I remember the producer saying they used a regular liquor bottle at the time.
nina462 says
Yes – that’s a blue liquor bottle. I have one myself, I just looked to see what brand, but the bottom just says “liquor bottle”. I do, however see lots of them for sale at antique fairs – reasonably priced too.
Katie B. says
That upholstered headboard is almost exactly what I am planning for our master bedroom, except on a smaller scale. It’s cool to know they actually did that then. The pink is awesome, but my husband would hate it. 🙂 I would get those twin pink ovens anyway!
tammyCA says
It definitely looks like a decorator did the house back then. It seems 1960s but then again many “sharp styles” were earlier than I thought when I look at vintage home magazines. The metallic wallpaper throws me off…I only remember it being big in the ’70s.
The laminate veneer in the kitchen seems odd but then again if it was a “new thing” in the ’50s then it makes sense.
Chinoserie wouldn’t be my style, but I’d sure keep some of the cool vintage elements, like the wall screen & the ste down living room/dining room layout is nice.
Gracie says
Someone grab that penguin decanter for me!!!
Gracie says
I mean old crow decanter! Love it!
Tut says
Holy crap! I’d totally live there. The living room is the best; the divider thingy at the left of the top photo and the tree on the fireplace. And that headboard – she wasn’t content with any old store-bought headboard. “Upholster my wall,” she said.
But man, the wallpaper in the kitchen is a bit too much to comprehend. It can’t make it any easier to eat in there.
The basement is so cool, but that TV has no right being there.
Teresa B. says
Not for me. Can’t stand pink, and white in any house is a smudge factory waiting to happen. Just my opinion of course as I’m sure many will like all the pink and soft whites.
amy pie says
Golly! I’m decorating my 1960 traditional ranch living room and master bedroom in what I call Vintage Chinese Hollywood Glam and I sure would love a few pieces from that living room, especially those andirons! Also, the pink upholstered headboard/wall is pretty fabulous and is giving me ideas.
Susan says
You need to shop in my spare room. Military family … three tours in Japan.
Heidi says
Pam–this begs the question–do you do estate sale alerts???
pam kueber says
I’m not sure what you are asking, Heidi…?
Heidi says
Hey Pam, I guess I am asking–do you ever get a line on estate sales etc that may contain mid mod treasures? Is there a way to know if a house like this is having an estate sale?