Come on in, plan on staying a while. This 1962 time capsule house recently listed for sale in Mendota Heights, Minn. (metro St. Paul), is one eye-popping wonder. 57 photos available: Yes, just when you think, “Oh my gosh, this is the best room EVER”, you flip to the next slide and it’s immediately clear, golly no, “THIS is the best room ever!” Dear readers, you are just THE BEST community ever for continuing to send these time capsule tips. For this one, thanks go to reader Norma Desmond, who surely was joking when she submitted it with the caveat, “Not sure if this is up your alley or not….” Was she talking to moi? The blogger among all bloggers on a mission to convince the world that wallpaper is not The Devil… and that Big Bold Colors are not his evil handmaidens? “Up my alley?” I am all over every delicious bite. . 22 photos follow — along with a secret link to 57 big photos — all shown with permission listing agents, Tom and Henry Edelstein and with a big hug of a credit to phographer Ben Colvin of Spacecrafting. They know they have one absolutely fabulous home on their hands — and would love to sell it to an adoring fan.
The listing description is short and sweet, considering that the photos tell a thousand+ words:
ONE OF A KIND MASTERPIECE IN MAGICAL MENDOTA HEIGHTS, EXQUISITE CUSTOM TOUCHES THROUGHOUT. VAULTED MAIN FLOOR FAMILY ROOM, HIDDEN WET BAR. FORMAL DINING ROOM, SPARKLING SUNROOM, SUNNY KITCHEN. LUXURIOUS OWNER’S SUITE+2 BATHS. 1/2ACRE WITH POND, WATERFALL
Digging in, I see:
- Four bedrooms
- Two full and four partial baths
- 4,473 square feet (including 750 of finished basement)
- Listed for $600,000
Speaking with agent Henry Edelstein, I learned that this home has been with a single owner since it was built in 1962.
He also told me that originally, the interiors were done by Ted Hanson, a prominent interior designer in the St. Paul area. A number of architectural features in the house came out of prominent St. Paul area buildings, including the old Ryan Hotel and the Brown and Bigelow Estate, Henry said. And, he acknowledges that some of the rooms have been redecorated since 1962. I am not an expert — but I am feeling a lot of Postmodern / Memphis design influence in the redecorating. And, that kitchen: late ’70s or early ’80s? In either case, nicely done.
On with the show.
Living room:
Note that Henry says that in real life, the room is red — not lipstick coral pink.
Dining room:
The dining room is my favorite room in the house. But, you know I’m on a wallpaper binge right now.
Kitchen:
Den:
Bedrooms and bathrooms:
Bet those bedrooms and bathrooms made your eyes pop out of your heads!
Basement with bar:
Exterior:
What do you think, dear readers:
Would you? Could you?
Link love:
- Homepage with all listings for Team Edelstein. Phone: (651) 695-4300. THANK YOU, Team Edelstein!
- Fabulous photos by Ben Colvin of Spacecrafting.
And a slide show:
Laura's Last Ditch--Vintage Kitchenwares says
It’s VERY fun to see, but not so very restful. The black bathroom is my favorite, I think!
Panzyzz says
Over the top! Not a fan….. When I got to the exterior pix I thought “…..such a beautiful house, no one would ever guess what was inside!”
Douglas Camin @ House on Rynkus Hill says
Wow!
The chairs in the basement bar area are Jens Risom office chairs. I have a pair in my house that came from one of our local IBM facilities (after IBM moved out.) They’re very well built. Pretty sure they were part of a custom order for IBM campus furniture. A lot of the furniture in use (like the kitchen chairs) is relatively modern commercial grade items as well.
These owners are (or were) some pretty eclectic folks but they definitely had a unifying design theme that makes sense. It does look like a lot of the spaces were updated over the years…new can lighting, additional\modern furniture, some newer wallpapers.
What a great find.
Angela says
I’m happy that this house exists in the world.
Jen says
All that and then…BANG! A dog in a cowboy hat!
pam kueber says
🙂
Kersten says
There’s very little I’d change in this house (maybe change out some of the mirrors) but little else. It makes me very happy looking at the pics, and that’s why I wouldn’t change much. I imagine I’d spend most days giggling from room to room (respectfully and with a bounce in my step.)
I, like others, would love to know more about the bold and brave owners. It’s much too expensive and larger than I need, but this is one of the areas we are currently looking to buy. Finding a house that hasn’t undergone a bad menards make over is proving to be very challenging.
pam kueber says
“…A bad Menard’s makeover…” my favorite quip o’ the week… excpet for maybe “All that and then… BANG! A dog in a cowboy hat!”
And it’s only Monday.
What? I thought you found you a time capsule?
Kersten says
Well, Pam, we are still looking… It is a tricky and a bit frustrating to find granite in almost every kitchen we enter (and then 20 grand is tacked on the price tag.) I did find THE house, but it isn’t on the market. Been looking for months now. Oh, the horrid “updating” I’ve seen…sigh. My letter writing campaign is about to begin.
Meribeth says
LOL… What amazing decor! Personally, not my cup of tea; however, I would get a great kick out of staying at a friend’s house or hotel that was decorated like some of those rooms! Cool pics!
Bobbie says
I MUST know where that brightly colored geometric wallpaper in the bathroom is from. I’m obsessed.
Diane in CO says
I’m with you, that is just fabulous.
Julie G. says
WOW!!! Hope it isn’t “modernized” by the new owners.
tsm says
I love the house! I live in Minnesota and Mendota Heights is a very nice neighborhood. We live in a similar neighborhood close by with lots of sprawling 50 estate ramblers. What we’re seeing way too much in our neighborhood is people tearing down the beautiful houses and replacing them with the Mcmansions. It’s unreal because people will pay full market for the house and the property and then tear the house down. Mendota Heights is a very upscale old established neighborhood and I think a lot of this is happening there as well. I worry someday all this mid-centry historical architecture will be lost.