Now added to my list of top-10 time capsule houses of all time: This mind-blowingly exquisite 1955 midcentury modern home in Minneapolis — the William and Irma Dale/Victor House –designed by acclaimed architect Carl Graffunder for his sisterĀ and family, who were owners of a local tile shop. And their tile shop must have been something indeed, because for this home, they created some of the most beautiful tile installations I have ever seen. Tile is featured in every room — beautifully — complemented by glowing woodwork, including loads of pecky cypress. This house is going on the market today — co-listed by Scott Acker and Bruce Erickson of Coldwell Banker Burnet. It’s not even on the MLS quite yet! AND: Thanks to our wonderful friends at Spacecrafting, we have 69 photos to show you. Get ready — this one is amaaaazing!
- PHOTO VIEWING TIP: You can click on any photos in this story and they should double in size on screen. Keep clicking on the photo you have enlarged and all the photos should play like a slide show.
From the listing for this midcentury modern marvel:
The William and Irma Dale/Victor House
Significant mid-century modern jewel by acclaimed architect Carl Graffunder, designed for his sister and family – owners of a local tile shop. This case study home is a one-of-a-kind property thatās available for sale to the public for the first time in history. Exquisite period details, extraordinary tile work – including vintage mosaics and integrated shuffle board court, walls of glass, post & beam wood ceiling, cantilevered tile wrapped fireplace, hand crafted built-inās and sweeping views of Diamond Lake. Listed in the AIA Guide to the Twin Cities, this centrally located, meticulous architectural home seamlessly blends the indoors with the outdoors and offers a Zen-like lifestyle.
BEDROOMS 4 BATHROOMS 3 GARAGE STALLS 2 ACREAGE .29 BUILT 1955 FSF 3,242 DIAMOND LAKE VIEWS
The house is on the market for $719,000.
Above: I hereby predict that these kitchen photos will inspire hundreds of kitchen designs across American in months to come!
And remember: This was 1955! Such a forward thinking home!
Above: We can’t even imagine how expensive it would be to replicate a fireplace like this today.
And those ceilings! Not only beautiful, but all that tile could be quite loud — the wood everywhere else soaks up the sound. Tile: also cold. Wood: warm.
Yikes! This is a two story wall of tile flanking the staircase! Can you imagine the patience that would have been required to install this wall of tile!
Above: Here’s the staircase where that two-story wall of mosaics sits!
Above; Again, note the two-story mosaic tile wall (on the left, heading downstairs.) And YES: That is a mosaic tile shuffleboard!
Wow: We love how the accent wall of small mosaics — it reads like a headboard in this bedroom.
Yes, we’d love to see the floor plan. It looks like much of the storage is built in — lovely!Ā
This bathroom: It sure inspires me. Lookie that colorful mosaic in the loo!
Above: Okay, now we are downstairs. I’ll shut up now.
Link love:
- View the listing, co-listed by Scott Acker and Bruce Erickson of Coldwell BankerĀ Burnet here.Ā
- Thank you so much (!) Spacecrafting — photos byĀ Nathan Treanor — for the amazing photos and permission to show them. Mike and Anthony and Nathan, you rock our world!
Hey, rememberĀ this Minneapolis midcentury marvel time capsule house from a few years ago? Photos also by Spacecrafting. So far, it has been our most popular time capsule house ever! Big question: Will this tile house masterpiece beat it??
We have 69 photos in all! View the slide show:
Tips to view slide show: Click on first image… it will enlarge and you can also read my captionsā¦ click anywhere to move forward and look for previous and next buttons within photo to move back or forth… you can start or stop at any image:āØ
Karin says
Breathtaking. I didn’t know that such tile existed then. It’s exquisite, a work of art. Thanks for posting this feast for the eyes.
Melinda says
My love for this house starts with the turquoise doors and window frames and continues through the fabulous pull down lights in the living and dining rooms and keeps on going to all the beautiful blond cabinetry. If I were going to buy it, I’d ask for the furniture, too.
Laura's Last Ditch Vintage Kitchenwares says
It ought to come furnished, because it’s perfect! Also, just think, you’d never have to paint because it’s almost all wood or tile! I especially love the blue textured tile in the kitchen and dining room. I think I want this house.
Cheryl says
That’s what I was thinking. It would never need painting. Wood may require some kind of finish periodically.
Kara says
Holy shuffleboard court!
pam kueber says
yup!
Rudy says
What a beauty! So many houses that express such clean sophisticated design all over the USA. Instead of these $30 million houses I see on the news from time to time, if I had the money I’d just jet around buying all of these gems Pam brings to us! It’s painful for me that I’m not able to buy this house!!!!!!!!
pam kueber says
Yup! š
Una says
wow Wow WOW!! If you described this house to me, sight unseen, I would’ve said, “sounds kind of insane, no thanks.” But the reality is so gorgeous! So many different tiles, but all within a soft palette of blues and grays, and the 2 beautiful wood tones work together perfectly. I’m stripping my kitchen cabinets soon, and if they end up look anything like these here do, I’ll be overjoyed! Love this house!
lynda says
Hope just the right person buys this amazing home. Well done homes look great no matter how old they get. I wonder how big the tile crew was for this house!
Lindsey C says
That is quite a stunning house. I am quite sad about the kitchen though, looks like it got an *upgrade* I wonder what it looked like originally.
pam kueber says
hmmm… Seems like the most significant change to the kitchen was the countertop (I also would have loved to have seen what I presume was original tile) but I don’t think that overall the new countertop is bad…
David says
The marble countertop by the bar stools and under the pass through window to the living room is original to the home. By the sink and stove the counter was originally 4″ square pale yellow tile with white grout. Thanks so much for your interest in this very unique home!
Rebecca - Madison WI says
The blue/gray tile in the kitchen is truly timeless. I am in love with that tile!
Mod Cod Ali says
Oh, wow. The tile fireplace on the lower level complete with tile shuffleboard just has my name all over it, as does the mosaic tile behind the toilet.
My only concern would be all of that cold tile in Minnesota. I guess you could buy area rugs though….if someone wants to buy it for me, I’ll figure it out š