If you love a mix of rustic elements and bold pops of color — like this red tiled bathroom — then you’ll flip over this fantastic 1970s time capsule house in Norfolk, Virginia — a tip sent to us from reader Elizabeth. It’s listed for sale by Tony London/Prudential Towne Realty, with photos by Rosalind Boyle/Virtual Tidewater Photography and Virtual Tours. This swingin’ 70s pad is full to the brim with special details — exposed wooden beams everywhere, multiple spiral staircases, lava red tile in the kitchen and bathroom, shag carpet, intricately carved wooden doors and mile-high draperies.
From the listing:
Price: $295,000
Year built: 1974
Square feet: 2,657
Bedrooms: 4
Bathrooms: 3
Rustic Larchmont contemporary corner home, 10,000 square foot lot, large living room, dining room & eat-in-kitchen. Master bedroomwith attached bath. Large deck & private courtyard. New Roof. Spiral stair case in each bedroom to loft for study, office, bonus area. Close to Naval base, ODU & downtown financial district.
If you are “into” 1970s style (and we are — we love well-executed architecture and interior design from any era) — we think this is a great example. Folks in the 1970s were experimenting with rustic natural materials and doing things like converting old barns into houses. The tall ceilings and open beams here remind us of a converted barn, for sure. But this has much more finesse. Interestingly, running rustic wood planks horizontally is trendy again today. So, hey, 2013 kiddos, don’t think you invented this idea. In fact, Edith Wharton featured horizontal clapboards in the foyer of her 1903 house — The Mount in Lenox, Mass. Ain’t hardly anything that’s truly *all-new* in design — unless there is a breakthrough in technology that makes it possible.
Above: There are those mile-high 1970s draperies– they match the green shag carpet and frame the tall, skinny windows beautifully.
I love this shot looking down from the staircase. It allows you to take in all these original details at once — the staircase, windows, wood paneling, beams, chandelier, carpet, drapes. They all work together to create a striking and harmonious design.
- For more information on this property, contact Tony London by email tony@TonyLondon.com or by phone (757) 489-0101.
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:
LauraL says
I didn’t notice the ceiling issues in picture number six because I was too busy admiring that chandelier! Wow. I like a lot of the details, like the tall windows and spiral staircases, but couldn’t see myself living with the wood/tile bathrooms. I like my turquoise tile and plaster very much, thank you.
The house looks like it has been vacant for a while, from the water damage to the neglected looking yard. I hope the right buyer comes along makes it shipshape, and throws an awesome housewarming party!
Terri Polick says
The house is a diamond in the rough. It need some TLC, but I’m sure it could look great again if it goes to the right buyers.
Bob Connor says
As a guy my take on the sinks is this. I may not be right but maybe the man who lived there worked on cars and motorcycles and when doing a “valve job” you can get grease all the way up your arms. I find many oval sinks are too small to contain all of a “mans mess” when he is washing up his hands and arms. Also, when we wash our faces and we do splash a bit. Meanwhile, with the spray, that sink is a handy place to spray off auto parts, etc. Oh, maybe I am being bad for suggesting that!
Rebecca@MidCenturyModernRemodel says
Okay, my favorite feature… well everything. DUH. But if I had to pick … I would say the front doors. Freaking awesome. Everything.
robin says
Check out the 70’s kitchen in this one:
http://weknowphilly.com/listing/186-maiden-st/
Janet in CT says
I actually LOVE this kitchen! To be truthful, any house so carefully kept up and that is neat and clean will appeal to me! The black and white bathroom looks like a more recent update but is beautiful too! Less is more!
Rita@thissortaoldlife says
Pam, this is awesome! Just last week I was looking at some 70s photos that had been posted elsewhere, and it really bugged me that so many commenters expressed that everything from the 70s is, by definition, awful. I’m with you: There’s good and bad design from every era. This house, it’s definitely good. I’d live there in a minute and not change a thing.
Gloria Manucia says
Auugh, I would kill for this house, just the way it is!
Patsy says
This house looks FUN! I’m wondering about the sinks shown in two of the bathrooms. They have oddly-shaped basins with spray nozzles on the shallow end. What do you suppose was the intent? I was imagining bending over the sink to wash my hair there (which I occasionally do when I don’t want to jump in the shower). Your thoughts?
Robin, NV says
This is going to sound kind of weird but do you think the blue and tan sinks could be used as baby baths? Look how long they are and how they slope. I could totally see a mom using the sprayer while the kid lies in the sink. That’s what my mom did but in the kitchen sink. But a bathroom sink designed as a baby bath? That seems a little farfetched. I suppose you could use the sprayer for spot cleaning clothes.
pam kueber says
Robin, those are Man’s Lavs. I’ve seen them made by Kohler; they may still make them, I haven’t checked lately. I showed them here a few years ago: https://retrorenovation.com/2010/03/14/re-store-habitat-for-humanity-charlotte-n-c-mom-and-i-go-shopping/
Robin, NV says
Wow, well I guess I couldn’t have been more wrong. Learned something new today!
Stacy in AL says
Robin, I looked at the photos with my husband and he said the same thing about the sinks- those must be baby baths! But I’m stumped on the sprayer and slope, too…
Dana says
I don’t understand what a man lav is, could you explain? We had one of these in the 1950’s house we bought and everyone thought it was for bathing babies. Why else would there be a slope on only one side and a hand sprayer? I don’t see how that could be helpful shaving or washing your hair….
pam kueber says
I’m not sure either — I am presuming, for washing hair in the sink. Maybe from back in the days when people did not necessarily bathe every day. There also was a women’s lav (for “lavatory”). Here’s what the Man’s Lav looks like today: http://www.homedepot.com/p/t/100080496?productId=100080496&storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&ci_sku=100080496&cm_mmc=shopping-_-googleads-_-pla-_-100080496&ci_gpa=pla#.UagRFUCDx8E
Janet in CT says
I think it has something to do with shaving. My husband always runs his razor under water and taps it on the side of the sink. It is probably not a good idea to dip it in standing water since it is possible to have blood in it from a cut, dirt, etc, not to mention hair. In a regular sink, you can’t run the water over it and rinse it and tap it at the same time except at the bottom by the drain which again could be dirty. GUYS – INPUT please? That was always my take on it but not sure.
Robin, NV says
I agree with Janet and Pam. When my husband trims his mustache, hair gets all over the bathroom counter and sink. The sprayer could be used to quickly wash it down the drain. You could probably use it to get shaving foam off the sink and clean the razor too. But as Bob says (see below), it could also be used to wash your forearms after working on cars or whatever.
Kate says
My husband does the same thing when he trims his goatee — which he usually decides to do the evening after I have just cleaned the bathroom! I mentioned it to him and he has since been much better at cleaning up his man mess…hehehe I’m not sure I would want him cleaning it up with a sprayer, since he gets water everywhere when he uses the one in at the kitchen sink. Silly husbands! 🙂
Jay says
Very interesting! Reminds me of a barn conversion I once saw, minus the spiral staircase. I drive past a house that resembles this ones exterior, up for sale over one year, and wonder about its interior. It’s weatherbeaten and sits on 16 acres now being marketed as having development possibilities.
As others have noted, I certainly wouldn’t mind having some sculpted avocado green carpet myself.
Carole says
That open area with the spiral staircase reminds me of the house I used to baby sit in. The entire upstairs was a party room with bar.
I like this place. It really doesn’t scream 1970s to me.