A vintage wallpaper mural. Swanky pendant lights in the two-story living room. An original Geneva kitchen with vintage Sub-Zero refrigerator. This wonderful 1960 time capsule house for sale in Laramie, Wyoming was custom designed for the original owners — who have been in the house this entire time — and the TLC shows. Thanks to reader Betsy for spotting this gem. 26 more photos!
While the house looks unassuming from the exterior, once you step inside, you are sure to be wowed by the architectural details and interior design. One of the first things that you’ll notice is the fabulous, huge maritime-themed wall mural, above. (Did you know that Thibaut still makes four authentic wallpaper murals like this available today?) Positioned on a prominent wall that overlooks the main living space of the house, this colorful mural is framed by warm wood paneling and decorative railings. Thanks to listing agent Karla Spiegelberg for giving us permission to use her photos here on the blog.
From the listing:
- Price: $379,900
- Year built: 1960
- Square footage: 3,210
Description: WELL BUILT home that features 4 bedrooms, 3 1/2 baths, office with custom shelving and fireplace, living room has vaulted ceilings and fireplace, huge windows, sliding doors to spectacular back yard with built-in grill, eat-in kitchen, lower level family room with wet bar, fireplace and indoor grill. Huge laundry room with newer washer and dryer plus an attached double car garage.
THIS HOME WAS CUSTOM BUILT AND HAD ONE OWNER. The main level living room has vaulted ceilings with floor to ceiling windows, fireplace, nice dining area with glass doors leading to patio area that is very private and features a built-in barbecue grill and numerous planters. There is also a office on the main level with built-in custom shelving and a fireplace. The kitchen has a nice eat-in area with 2 large windows, Sub-Zero refrigerator, Jen-Air grill and custom built-ins. There is also a 1/2 bath on the main level along with a large laundry room with doors leading to the side yard. The upper level master suite has it’s own dressing room, double closets and a full bath. There are also 2 more bedrooms and another full bath on this level. The lower level boasts a large family room with wet bar and fridge, fireplace, built-in grill, plus another bedroom and 3/4 bath. The care taken in this home will be evident when you come take a tour.
1960 interior design features: Glamorous
There are quite a few exciting original details going on in this living room besides the wall mural — the amazing pendant light fixtures, the decorative iron railings, and exposed wood ceiling beams. The floor to ceiling brick fireplace heightens the drama of the room. Look at that huge wall of windows — complete with an amazing custom window treatment that follows the slope of the ceiling. Notice also how the brick of the fireplace continues under the walkway to form a built-in planter area.
The original details continue into the kitchen, where there is a Sub-Zero refrigerator with wood (laminate?) panel inserts, a copper range hood, soffits wallpapered with original patchwork patterned wallpaper, and pink laminate counter tops. Hey, we have a vintage advertisement for Sub-Zero with a fridge that looks just like this 1960 design. You can still get Sub-Zeros that look just like this — Pam put one in her kitchen, although it is a side-by-side and she put “appliance white” metal panels on it – available from Sub-Zero.
Photos of original time capsule homes like this can be full of unique ideas for people doing a Retro Renovation today. Above, notice the way the laminate counter top “zig zags” down from the counter top to the built-in desk area — a great custom detail to consider for your own kitchen remodel, perhaps?
The laundry room doubles as a work space — with plenty of counter space for folding laundry or working on a project. I like the peg board lined wall where tools could be arranged, as well as the extra storage space below the cabinets. Notice the cabinet built into the wall — perfect for storing cleaning supplies.
This pink and aqua bathroom may be my favorite part of the house. Pink and aqua is such a great retro color combination. The aqua sink design is a variation we see now and then — it is hudee-rimmed into the laminate countertop, with the front edge protruding. The owner even took the time to make a fabric curtain for the window in the shower — too cute. Indeed: This home appears to have been impeccably maintained.
Here’s another great original bathroom — in pink, white and brown — with a hidden surprise. When the shower curtain is closed, the bathroom looks pretty tame — but once it is open, it exposes a neopolitan ice cream tile arrangement. In any other color scheme, this might feel like too much — but since pink, white and brown all read as neutrals and only the shower wall is striped and normally behind a curtain — it doesn’t overpower the space.
Get a load of this built-in dressing room vanity — complete with flip up mirror, storage drawers and a baseboard heat source — perfect to ensure the lady of the house’s boudoir slippered toes don’t get a chill. Remember Mara’s dressing room? Here’s another example of a boudoir chair design for her.
The wood paneled office has plenty of custom shelving to hold all your books and knick-knacks. Pam wanted me to point out that the light fixture is a “modern wagon wheel light” — in this design, there is no actual wagon wheel, but the shape of the glass light covers and overall fixture shape evoke that old design, just with a modern twist. A good fit for a mid mod home on the suburban range in Laramie, Wyoming, don’t you think!
Last but certainly not least is this basement rec room and bar. The back wall shelving unit has been painted a bright and cheery deep pink and the mirror behind the bar has been treated like a window in a retro kitchen would be — by adding a decorative trim piece along the top. The bar itself has stone that matches the upstairs fireplace hearth with an added special touch — three glass block like squares with different color lights shining through. Fantastic!!!!
On the opposite side of the rec room, the wall has been painted with a coordinating checker board motif — which mirrors the bar lights — and yet another brick fireplace — complete with a built-in grill.
Mega thanks again to listing agent Karla Spiegelberg for giving us permission to use her photos and listing information.
For more information, or if you are interested in buying this house, contact:
- Karla Spiegelberg at Laramie Land Company — (307) 721-3039 or email her at karlas@wyo2u.com
- Listing information is here
To see all the photos from this listing, check our our slide show:
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:
nina462 says
ooooh! wait, go back to that laundry room. Is that DUTCH door, that I see? Oh yes, it is! Look at the lock position. OOOOH- what a treat 🙂
Zoe says
Fellow Dutch-door coveter here! I noticed that detail too. Love, love, love Dutch doors, especially the cross-buck version. Would love to find and refurbish an old one some day; I’ve priced them out and even in paint-grade poplar, they cost close to $2000 new.
Gail says
I have one in my house that we bought last summer! The house was built in 1965 and we’re only the second owners. The door is the entrance to the indoor porch that was added by the previous owner. It’s stained oak and I LOVE it! And if you like mirrors, one entire wall in my dining room is mirror floor to ceiling, corner to corner 🙂 I knew this house was ours the minute we walked in that porch!
Kersten says
Oh! Speechless. Wow. Love. Love. Love. The pencil sharpener in the laundry room is super sweet! I would use it daily!
tammyCA says
The pencil sharpener made me smile, too. I put a vintage one up in my service porch/pantry area…had one in our kitchen growing up so it is nostalgic.
And, the laundry room door is exactly like my front door now. 🙂
Scott says
Okay, when even the laundry room is fun you know you have a real gem. I love these time capsule houses, but in a way they really stress me out wondering what will happen to them. Sad to say, but from what I see locally the odds that it will fall into the right hands are not the best. It especially pains me when a house is re-destroy-modeled just to flip it when all it probably needed was the rugs shampooed and a good cleaning.
The lighted glass blocks are killer. I am so going to have to figure out a way to do that somewhere in my house!
pam kueber says
I agree: The lighted glass blocks in the built in bar are the icing on the cake knock your socks off!
Rachel says
yes, i so hope that the new owners will appreciate this house in all of it’s glory!! i understand doing a big renovation if the place is trashed and it’s necessary, but otherwise it boggles my mind why someone would buy a place if they so hate what it looks like that they can’t wait to gut it. when a home has been so well maintained i love to see it go to a new owner who appreciate it the way it is. breaks my heart to see people rip up history with glee. 🙁
Lynne says
I love seeing these time capsules. I live in a 1952 ranch that was my grandmother’s, that (thankfully) wasn’t remodeled. Its original Youngstown Diana kitchen (with inoperable Mullins Electric Sink) is intact. I wanted to make a random suggestion about donating. My vintage stove was rusting out inside and I didn’t have the thousands needed to refurbish it, so it was donated to a farm/kitchen museum here in CT where others can enjoy it. It sits alongside stoves from the 20s, 30s, and 40s.
tammyCA says
That’s an awesome idea to donate to a museum. I came across online some Mid century museum or exhibit not long ago in New Jersey. I also bet prop shops for movies/t.v. could use these things since they really don’t need for them to work.
Queen of Fifty Cents says
I’m wondering if that cabinet door in the laundry room might be for a laundry chute. I know some houses of this period still had them. I certainly wish we had one in our current MCM house! We did live in one older house that had a laundry chute. Our cat loved to sleep in the basket at the bottom of the chute, and we often found him struggling out from under sheets and clothes we’d just tossed down.
Betsy says
Yes, the cabinet on the right is the laundry chute. It connects to a little hatch in the closet in the master bedroom dressing area. It is delightful and charming…b
pam kueber says
Thanks again for your awesome tip, Betsy!
Robin, NV says
Oh my gosh, a Neopolitan bathroom? Totally awesome. Also love the rec room and bar – those colored glass blocks are too much! The laundry/workroom is something some of us have been pining for on previous posts. Slanted ceilings, awesome fireplaces, fab bathrooms – I could totally see myself living in this house.
I have a terrible feeling someone will buy it and gut it though. This sort of workaday MCM just doesn’t seem to inspire the same sort of reverence as high end MCM. But I hope I’m wrong.
lynda says
Above real estate link not working. This one works:
http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/1315-La-Prele-St_Laramie_WY_82070_M88099-21416
Always fun to look at these old beauties!
pam kueber says
Thank you! Fixed!
RetroGal says
This Time Capsule Homes always make my day! Especially love the basement bar and the built-in vanity! And everything is in such great shape! You can tell that it was loved… and cleaned… a lot! 🙂
Betsy says
The 3 little shapes at the bottom of the bar mirror are actually little ceramic fairies sitting on little leaves. And yes, they are blue, red and green – just like the bar lights. Oh the many wonders that are in this house…b
Becky from Iowa says
Oh, I’m experiencing BAD FLASHBACKS to last summer, when a Craigslist entry introduced me to a couple who were cheerfully, enthusiastically, and ignorantly DISMANTLING a similar house here in NW Iowa. ;-( It had pink and aqua bathrooms–now smashed, demolished…I have a few of the fixtures–a St. Charles kitchen in PALE PURPLE, with a huge stainless steel stove vent (all gone, now), Mondrian-style pocket doors–ripped out and sold–a 12’x12′ lucite room divider full of pressed ferns, flowers, and butterflies (gone!), a freestanding planter near the front door (he bragged on how much muscle it took to demolish, the fool!), solid birch sliding doors and cabinets and entire wall units–ripped out and tossed in the dumpster–and great, period light fixtures (I begged him to save me a few of those!). TRY as I might, I could not argue any sense into that couple. They destroyed that house with glee and impunity. Nothing’s left but the slanting ceiling, the beams (from which they stripped the special, wormwood paneling), and the large windows. AND the front door with a beautiful side panel of thick, wavy glass. An architectural tragedy. 🙁 IF ONLY we’d seen the “For Sale” sign before they did.
tammyCA says
I don’t get why people have to “gleefully demolish” what is no doubt in very good condition (things were built better back then, made to last or at least had skilled repairmen to fix, while today’s stuff is crappily made so you throw away & buy more!).
I understand personal taste, but there should be some elements of a time capsule house worth preserving or at least respectfully donating.
All of these time capsules always make me wonder. The people that built this home in 1960 obviously put a lot of effort into it and were progressive, so what made them stick with the same decor for 53 years? Did they never get tired of it? Did they blow all their money on it at the time? Or did they think of the future and know “what is old is new again?”
I wonder what the next generation is going to say in 10-20 yrs.. “ugh, this granite & cherry wood cabinetry is sooo dated…gotta get rid of it.” Just as the now generation looks down their nose at formica counters & pink ovens (obviously not speaking of all young homebuyers, but mostly that is what I see on “house hunters” t.v.).
pam kueber says
I have thought about this a lot. I think a real key is: They didn’t move.
When people move into a house that is “new” to them, they change things to their taste. Then, they tend to live with them a long long time – because they like it, because it’s expensive, and because it’s a hassle.
So, first, it’s America’s mobility that causes the demolitions. After that, it’s mostly “want”, not “need.” Although in the “new real” that attitude has changed a lot, because you can no longer use your home equity (if you have any) like an ATM machine to finance expensive renovations.
Jay says
Don’t know if it’s accurate but I recall reading somewhere that on average, Americans move every seven years. What’s up with that?
Geesh! Who can be bothered. I guess people are always looking for something bigger and newer.
What’s interesting is that all of the time capsule homes always have a feature that seems unique to that house.
I’m a sucker for indoor built-in stone and brick planters.
pam kueber says
I don’t think people can depend on jobs keeping them in one place for very long anymore. I don’t think it’s necessarily by choice.
Tracie@MiddleClassModern says
I think Time Capsules come about not only because of people who don’t move, but also just the general personality of the owners. Both of my grandparents bought new build homes in the early sixties. One grandmother redecorated every six or seven years, ripped out her original kitchen and bathrooms in the late eighties…
The other grandmother spent five or six years “getting it right” and then basically left it alone. She re-did my dad’s bedroom as a guest room after he moved out, and replaced her den furniture a couple of times as it wore out, but other than her house looked the same when she sold it in 2002 as it did when she moved in in 1962. It was a beautiful example of mid-century colonial style, and I wish I had better pictures!
Wendy M. says
We bought from original owners who custom built the house. Their son lives in the house behind us, so I’ve been able to have lengthy conversations about the house. He said that his mom chose everything in the house; in her opinion, she got it exactly right- so why in the world would she change anything?! She taught home design at the university, so I’m sure she knew about all the trends as they changed, but what she had done in this home really resonated with her.
Robin, NV says
I wonder if in 40-50 years the granite counters and cherry cabinets will be cool and retro? For me, the mid century modest look is appealing because it’s what my grandparents had in their homes. It feels homey. But maybe my nieces and nephews will have the same feeling of nostalgia for my mom’s granite and cherry kitchen? I’m having a hard time picturing that. Her kitchen seems so dreary and unapproachable to me. It’s not the sort of place you can imagine making a mess and having fun.
pam kueber says
I think that, yes, we have warm fuzzies for grandma’s kitchen. Assuming it was a happy place…. My question is, though: Will the cabinets hold up for 50 years?
tammyCA says
Sometimes, I think by the time we get around to changing the ’80s light oak cabinets in my kitchen they will be back in style again! Ha, probably not these.
But, yeah people don’t stay in one place like they used to. I remember all our relatives living in the same houses, never moving to “bigger/better” until they died or retired. And, same with jobs…now, it is apparently a bad thing to stay at one job or company. I like roots.
Eric says
You answered your own question: People gleefully demolish because
TV instructs them to do so. There will never be any television programs promoting authentic preservation because such a program would attract fewer advertisers. Demolishing and replacing keeps the economy sort
of sluggishly moving; conservation would bring it to a grinding halt. Pam is correct in that American mobility is part of the problem, but television programming/advertising is what drives and influences “taste” and “wants”. Many magazines, too.
Zoe says
Oh, sad. I know the feeling of watching older homes being sold, wistfully hoping that nothing “bad” happens to them…
When (if) we sell our current, almost-one-owner 1945 ranch house (bought by my parents in 1952, acquired by me in 2009), I am seriously considering requiring the buyers to sign a contract stating that they will not gut or knock down the house for at least 10 years. I don’t think I could stand the thought of someone “gleefully demolishing” the house that my parents so lovingly built, added onto, and maintained.
Gail says
Do you have children or any other family members who would be happy to have it? Try to keep it in the family if you can. I watch those renovation shows all the time and I know EXACTLY how you feel! 🙁