Snaps to reader Deanna, who tipped me off this this house — our first time capsule of 2014. This 1972 contemporary style home is in San Antonio, Texas. It has been with the original owners since they built it — and it appears to have been impeccably maintained… clearly, it was carefully decorated, totally beloved. Deanna wrote, “This house looks like it hasn’t been touched since it was built in 1971. I love everything about it!” Me, too! This house needs an appreciative buyer, fast! Mega thanks to listing agent Diana Gonzalez and real estate marketing firm CirclePix and photographer Matthew Wingate for permission to feature the photos. Let’s take a look.
From the listing:
Park-like setting in Castle Hills! Enjoy large covered patio with mature trees in this one story 3 bedrooms/2 bathrooms home on 0.43 acres with a flex room that has a full bath that can be used an a study/office, mother in law suite or a maid’s quarters. Oversized family room with fireplace is great for family gatherings and a separate formal living allows for privacy. Close to the Medical Center, airport and shopping. Listing price is #335,000.
Above: The kitchen has laminate-covered cabinets in a bleached out wood grain — so far in all my years of blogging, I haven’t seen many (any?) quite like this. Notice the radius edge — that is a fancy touch. We get to see Brady Bunch bittersweet orange laminate counter tops…
… I spy a vintage Sub-Zero refrigerator…
… I cropped the original Hardwick Starline oven from Matthew Wingate’s lovely photo. Note, he told me he stitched together vertical shots to create the wide panoramas, that’s why you’re seeing the little alignment mis-match in this photo and in some of the other photos. Beautiful graphics on the Starline. AND: I love the placement of this bar sink — brilliant if you have the space for it!
… The pantry wall of the kitchen…
… Yes: An intercom!
… And above: Note the quilted diamond satin-finish stainless steel rangetop backsplash — nicely done, esspecially in that it is repeated in the drainboard sink, the island top, and the exhaust fan. I think that stainless steel range/oven backsplashes can be tricky to pull off successfully. You don’t want them to “scream.” This one seems to work because, overall, the kitchen is low-chroma, that is: Not a lot of strong colors — the tonality of all the features is about the same.
This house makes extensive use of laminate. It makes me wonder if the original owners were friends of Ralph Wilson, head of Wilsonart and creator of the Ralph & Sunny Wilson house o’ laminate in Temple, Texas. Matthew told me that the walls of this great room/living room are all laminate. Look at the wall on the right side of the photo — that is laminate inset and edged in radiating rectangles…
… now look to the left to see the other side of the wall: In the center of the radiating rectangles is a mirror, also edged. To the right and left of the fireplace, these are triptychs of tall narrow mirrors — again, brilliant design!
All the floors in this space and into the kitchen — look to be terrazzo to me.
Above: Heading back to the front of the house… I suspect that the purpose of these iron filigree screens is purely decorative.
To be sure, the front door is fabulous. The escutcheon (the piece behind the doorknob) appears to be original Schlage.
Above: This sitting room is beautiful. I would say that’s hand-painted grasscloth along the back wall — lovely!
Looking at this room from the vantage of the grasscloth wall…
… Matthew’s favorite feature was the swag light that looks like a fountain (I guess) and seems to have been designed right into its own bricked nook. While setting up photo permissions, I had just the best time talking to photographer Matthew Wingate about this house. Of course, he is highly visual — like us — so it sounds like he really enjoyed discovering, then photographing, the very special touches throughout this house. I am going to guess that the family selling the house also will be so happy to have these wonderful memories of their home. I’m so grateful to both Diana and Matthew for permission to archive these images here — wonderful design inspiration.
And fingers crossed: That it finds an appreciative buyer(s), who won’t change too much. This is exceptional example of beautiful early 1970s interior design and craftsmanship.
Link love:
- The listing for this time capsule 1972 house in San Antonio, Texas.
- Listing agent Diana Gonzalez.
- Matthew Wingate is an independent professional photographer for CirclePix, a real estate marketing automation company. Here’s the virtual tour they created for the house (link now gone, it seems) with Matthew’s photos.
- If you’d like to connect with photographer Matthew Wingate, his phone numbers is (406) 890-1788.
Be sure to check out the slide show — more photos — rendered big! — including of the bathrooms, more of the bedrooms, and the exterior. Tips to using the slide show: Click on any image, it will enlarge… use the arrows below the photo to move forward or back… you can start or stop at any image.
Sandra says
It must be really close to the airport. 43 acres and a custom house at that price…
Lauryn says
0.43 acres, Sandra! You missed the period (but you made me go look, because I was ready to pack it all up and move to San Antonio!). 🙂
pam kueber says
It’s 0.43 acres — I have the period in there — but I guess you are having trouble seeing it. I will add 0. to the story for further clarity
Roundhouse Sarah says
.43 acres! I had to go double check the listing. I was wondering ‘who on earth has 43 acres in San an?!’ That’s normal lot size…
Carl says
Castle Hills is about 10 minutes from the airport, actually. They have large lots, and most of the houses are from the 50s and 60s. San Antonio has a large selection of mid-century houses in original condition. We aren’t quite advanced enough here yet to have a population that appreciates the housing stock. There are some amazing examples of the period for cheap.
Patty says
Nothing says “no soliciting” like that lovely screen.
John says
How gorgeous this house is! It must have been a blast to live in. From the pictures it has such a warm vibe to it. Love it. Perfect place to have a 70s party!! AND looks like it would be perfect for a movie set. I really think the people who choose movie locations should read this blog to utilize these time capsule houses.
Jan Schochet says
Those cabinets are clearly Merillat’s Northport. I know this because I have the Northport oak and almond laminate ones original to 1988, and am trying to figure out how to make them look less almond (more white–I might be able to change out the doors with new oak/white ones).
These ones look wonderful though! (hmmm. maybe ?)
Here’s the link to this cabinet:
http://www.merillat.com/our-products/product-types/cabinetry/essentials/northport/laminate/square/index.html#natural
pam kueber says
Nice, but I don’t think so — looks to me like the cabinets in the time capsule house have a real radius edge — a postformed edge — the laminate wraps ’round in a circle like quarter-round. But yes, same idea.
lynda says
I agree, Pam. I would bet they are custom cabinets. The oak color seems to be a little blondish, or limed. In 1972 there were just not that many stock cabinets to be purchased. Amazing they are in such good shape without chips. It would be interesting to know about the family. I think an architect or designer was involved in most aspects of this house.
Lynda says
I had Quinco Kitchens cabinets that are very similar. I wonder if they are Quinco.
Robin, NV says
Pam – you mentioned the intercom but not the pencil sharpener next to it. 🙂
What an amazing house. My appreciation for 70s decor continues to grow. It just goes to show that quality craftmanship and materials always stand the test of time. That kitchen is just amazing. The swing doors in the bathroom sent me back in time to 1976 – we had swing doors in our bathroom too (albeit louvered ones).
pam kueber says
Haha, yes, I need to start being more attuned to pencil sharpeners — a goal to make a slide show in 2014! 🙂
pam kueber says
“Saloon doors”.
We had them in our 1912 house — leading from the kitchen to the dining room. Not sure if they were original, or added later. They were a pain. As I recall, we kept them propped open 100% of the time. Cool, though!
Robin, NV says
Our house, built in 1975, had saloon doors between the kitchen and the dining room. As a kid, I thought they were so cool.
Janice says
Our 1954 ranch also had these swinging doors in the master bathroom separating the vanity area from the toilet/shower area. Although my grandkids thought it was the most thing ever to go through and under the doors, we removed them. The doors really closed off the bathroom and Pam is right, they’re kind of a pain to maneuver around
Absolutely lovely house inside and out! That house not offered a ton of storage, it was upscale style all the way! Thanks for sharing!
Jay says
Have them as well in my dining entry to kitchen. I suspect they were installed in the 70s, curved area at top has open area with little spindles, lower half is inset panels. I too keep them propped open but can’t bring myself to remove them.
lynda says
Very fancy house for 1972! Very nicely designed inside and out. The covered patio is lovely.
Christa C says
Just a note on the water or rain lamp from the last picture. It is a “Shower lite” generically called rain lamps…made by a subsidiary of same company that made Lava lites, in Chicago . There were a couple versions of figures…and it has a reservoir at the bottom that has a clear oil in it. The oil is pumped up and in drops runs down a plastic string. They were big in the 70’s and part of the 80’s . Fun stuff!
Anastasia says
We had a macrame Christmas tree with bubbling oil lamps on them. Old, weird, but cool part of growing up. That sucker lasted well into the 90’s. Have to ask my mom what happened to that tree………I suspect the answer is a hurricane.
Charlotte says
We had one of those lamps in the late ’70s or early ’80s. I loved that thing.
I also like the little area for sitting and talking on the phone. There’s something you won’t see in new construction!
Mollye says
Yes the rain lamp also came in a standing alone version – big and small. I still see these sometimes in Atlanta in antique stores.
Jenny A. says
As always, this is the perfect way to start a Monday 😉 What a gorgeous home. That kitchen is perfect to me.
Joan says
I know that lamp. When I was a teenager they were for sale in many upscale department stores. It is a type of oil that makes droplets that run down the supporting rods. Very attractive.
Patty says
My aunt had one of those lamps. It was one of those things you either loved or hated. No one in the family called dibs on it when she died.
Ann B says
I remember seeing these lamps… they were quite the rage at the time. Can’t remember quite how they worked. Somehow, the oil got back to the top again.
I’m wondering…is that brick nook a continuation of something outside? Seeing the patio made me wonder.
Chris says
When I was a kid, there was no Target or anyplace like it. If you wanted a lamp, you had to go to a lighting specialty store. The place nearest us had some of these lamps and I LOVED THEM WITH ALL MY HEART! There’s a part of me that still sort of appreciates the fabulous-ness and wants one to this day!!!!! LOVE!
Jane says
Me too! I had friends that had one in the super awesome house their architect dad designed in 1974. I was obsessed.
Chris says
Friends with a house designed by the architect Dad???? OMG was it Mike Brady????? LOL!
Catherine says
I was wondering when the Bradys were going to show up in this house!
Diane from PA says
Hard to believe this was constructed in ’72–so many of the features are from earlier eras- although they did have it built to their liking—kudos–what a treasure.