Our first time capsule house of 2017 — and it is spectacular! This 1959 midcentury home — the Kaufman Estate in Kitchener, Ontario, was designed by famed Canadian architect Eberhard Zeidler. Zeidler was steeped in modern design theory via his education at Bauhaus University. After emigrating to Canada, he did mostly commercial work — including Ontario Place, Eaton Centre, and many more landmark sites — so it’s fantastic to see one of his rare residential works — in time capsule state, no less. Many thanks to listing broker Troy Dale Schmidt for his permission to feature this house… to Ray Jameson of Impact Listings for permission to feature the awesome photos… and mega-love to reader Melanie, who sent the tip this morning. Once I saw this house, I jumped — it’s amazing!
Tip to view photos: On a desktop computer, after the page fully loads,
click on any image, and it will double in size up on screen. Click ESC or off the photo to return to the story.
About the house, from the listing:
Nestled in the heart of Old Westmount on a mature 1.56 acre private treed lot showcases this custom built home designed by renown architect Eb Zeidler. Modern and functional open concept home with large main rooms. Towering walls of geometric windows and high ceilings throughout this 6,000 sqft home are offset by sun filled cozy spaces and warm wood. Every detail and feature of this home was carefully designed; there is a great functional use of space with narrow hallways opening up into bright spacious rooms in a home made for entertaining. The second floor includes 6 generous sized bedrooms and 6 bathrooms. Oversized 3 car heated garage with storage room and plenty of parking space.
Specs:
- Designed by Eberhard Zeidler — one of only 20 residential commissions
- Constructed from 1956-1959, completed in 1959
- Six bedrooms
- Six bathrooms
- 1.56 acres, including lovely landscaping
- Three-car heated garage
- Listing price: $2,750,000 CDN
About the Kaufman family, from a brochure sent to me:
The Kaufman family are a historically significant family in Kitchener Waterloo Region. The Kaufman Rubber Company and later the Kaufman Footwear Limited helped shaped the industrial and public development of the region, dating back to the early 1900’s. The fond memories of growing up in the Kaufman Estate are bountiful, but the time has come to sell the home, in the hopes that a new family can reinvigorate this home with life and cherished memories of their own
I spoke to Troy Schmidt on the phone today, and he told me that the house is in impeccable shape. All the appliances in the kitchen gleam like the day they were put in. There has been some decorative updating — the kitchen floor, the wallpaper and some other decor, including some furnishings, throughout the house may be been refreshed over all these 57 years.
I also communicated with photographer Ray Jameson. I am always interested to hear what the photographers — highly visual by nature — have to say about the opportunity to take photos in these time capsule homes. Ray wrote to me:
This house was without a doubt one of the most unique and authentic homes that I have had the privilege of capturing. Many older homes that I am asked to photograph have undergone some degree of renovation or “modernization”, but this dwelling was all original. No matter where inside, it truly felt as though you had stepped back in time.
The foyer: Oh my word! Zeidler is known for favoring towering walls of window juxtaposed with cozy spaces.
You can still get a Sub-Zero refrigerator like this today — it’s an absolute classic.
Very cool how they put the cooktop in a center island set into a stainless steel countertop.
The wood throughout the house — gleaming. Gorgeous. Can anyone identify the brand of the dishwasher?
Of course, I’m always entranced by original bathrooms. And see: Even the ritziest of mansions had a pink bathroom back in the day. This one: Again, what is there to say, but gorgeous!
This is a big house — and the gardens and grounds looks lovely, too. So there are lots more photos in the gallery, below. Dive in! Adore!
Many thanks to Troy Dale Schmidt for permission to feature this listing and these gorgeous photographs. To be sure, we hope this home finds an appreciative buyer!
Link love:
- Listing information for the Kaufman Estate
- Listing broker Troy Dale Schmidt
- And thanks again to Ray Jameson of Impact Listings for permission to feature the photos.
Photo gallery — 48 photos:
Tips to view Gallery: Click on any photo and it will enlarge on screen; use the forward or back arrows to progress; you can start or stop anywhere in the slide show.
Brooke says
This place is really nice. The woodwork (the wood paneling in the foyer, and the room with wood ceilings and beam) but a lot of the flooring and wallpaper has to go. I think minimum updates to those items would make this place stunning.
pam kueber says
I LOVE the wallpaper!
Brooke says
lol 🙂 I do like the foyer wallpaper and maybe the kitchen wallpaper but I’m not a fan of the others (especially the wallpaper at the top of that all marble bathroom)
Robin, WA says
Holy moly! This is one of the best time capsules we’ve seen. I love how many of these “grand” houses still retain a few homey touches. The kitchen is so welcoming – you can just imagine chocolate chip cookies baking in there. The pink bathroom is just darling. But then you get gob-smacked with that amazing spiral staircase. Outstanding.
Oh and the plaid bedroom is the bee’s knees. Yowza!
Jay says
Yowza! You got me with the opening picture of the grand stair hall. I wondered how long we would be into the new year before you presented us with a spectacular time capsule. Those bathrooms! The window treatments! Nice to see the home still furnished, even the vacuum in the bedroom is of the era.
Lynne says
That’s quite a house! However….to me, the inside doesn’t “match” the outside. When I saw the first exterior pictures, I had a totally different idea of what the inside would look like. Kind of like going into a cute little Cape Cod and finding the whole thing done in Chinese Modern.
The ONE thing that would drive me totally insane is that the kitchen sink has you standing staring into a wooden cabinet. Why not looking out the window??
Janet in ME says
This house is fantastic! Some of my favorite things – the intercom system over the desk in the kitchen, the barbecue and copper hood, the beautiful big solid doors and woodwork, the staircase and those windows next to it. BUT did anyone really LIVE in it? The kitchen appliances look like they were rarely used, as if it was very seldom that anyone cooked there. And the upholstery is so nice for its age too. I would think it was a time capsule except for the new TV. That laundry set is old Maytag, but they used the same style for many years. That surprised me – fancy everything but a very basic washer and dryer. What a perfect place, if money is no object! Thanks for posting this – the brilliant orange plaid bedroom brought a grin to my face this morning.
Jay says
Do you remember the Lonely Maytag Repairman commercials? Back in the day these machines were built for longevity and were probably some of the best residential laundry equipment available. The only reason to replace them now would be to gain energy efficiency. What amazed me was the size of the laundry room and its huge window.
pam kueber says
The only way to know if you’d gain energy efficiency would be to put a meter on them.
And, if you did decide to buy new: You would need to calculate how long it would take to recoup your energy savings. Including planning to buy new again in — how many years?
Rick G says
Exactly Pam – I don’t buy into this brainwashing propaganda, that everything new is so much better & much more efficient. I do think the real truth is that there is much more profit to be had by the shareholders by pushing the new garbage. …. taste, style & good taste in design rarely enter into the equation. I’ll stick to the real vintage items & take my chances, as long as my electrician says their safe & running good ……. if perhaps the odd thing may cost more to run; oh well ….. it’s a sacrifice I’m willing to take !!!
Jay says
I am not an engineer but as I had to replace the old washer then dryer I acquired from my parents, well I only have the water and electric bills to go by. Washer – efficiency in the amount of water used, if you are able to choose the water level in relation to the size of the load. Dryers – less electricity or gas required to complete the drying cycle. Moisture sensors now determine dryness and help to shorten the cycle run time. But most importantly if the old appliances are working fine why toss them; I only replaced mine when they had stopped working.
Dan says
Reminds me of a house from one of those 50’s “women’s” movies, usually showing a maribou and mink bedecked Lana Turner being very unhappy in glamorous surroundings. No one really understood her.
The wallpaper and furniture appear 80’s era, but the important stuff is all there. Considering the scale of this house, the dining room is surprisingly underwhelming.
The kitchen is killer – love the lower sliding cabinet doors, and looks like there is one of those countertop builtin in mixer/ blender things. Again, though, after you take the turkey out of one of those marvelous wall ovens, where do you put it?
pam kueber says
Agreed: “The important stuff is all there.”
And I love the wallpaper!
ag says
Is this truly original?
I have worked with Mr Zeidler, and been in his home.
I can envision what I surmise are mid century modern bones buried behind the furniture, carpet, wallpaper & fixtures – I have a hard time believing this represents original, or at least architect’s intent… The entry foyer in minimalist modernist vernacular and hardwood would to me indeed be spectacular…
How much of this represents client-occupant intervention…?
pam kueber says
I agree there likely were decorating changes over time (decorating does not appear, in some cases, to all be circa 1959) and decorating was done by the family… but, the bones of the house all seem original to me — including that foyer, the kitchen, the bathrooms, etc.
Jay says
Regardless of who initiated or when the decorating was done, I don’t think the house screams mid century modern from a design aspect. To me it reads contemporary 50s/60s design and the interiors fit very well.
pam kueber says
Okay. So I am now sure exactly how/when/where the line gets blurred. How about just: Midcentury. I am changing the lead sentence.
ineffablespace says
I dunno, I think there were a lot of houses that started out with a purely mid-century modern- contemporary architecture that as brand new houses were decorated De Novo in elaborate “Regency” fashion. (Much as today, people prefer the floorplan of a contemporary house and decorate it in a purely traditional transitional style. The difference today is they tack on all the traditional architectural elements to the interior as well).
This internet-famous house in Palm Springs is a contemporary box on the exterior, and in its interior volumes.
http://www.estately.com/listings/info/2055-south-joshua-tree-place–2
pam kueber says
Hey, I think I was first on the interwebs with that story! https://retrorenovation.com/2016/02/19/palm-springs-time-capsule-home-in-technicolor/
Debbie in Portland says
I so love seeing these houses. Custom-built by and for a generation that was satisfied with what they had, and didn’t feel the need to “upgrade” or redecorate every few years. So much craftsmanship and pride in ownership here.
Do you suppose that’s the original washer & dryer?
pam kueber says
I am not an expert on washers and dryers and their dates but golly, they sure look old to me!
Suzy B says
I have been a long time follower of your website and I live in Kitchener Ont so I am excited to see a feature from my hometown! This house is amazing! I might just have to take a deive past this weekend 🙂
Melanie K says
Hi Pam
I’m so glad you got this house up so quickly. It is absolutely stunning! We live just a couple of blocks away from it and as much as it looks amazing from the front yard with such a massive property right in the middle of the city, the windows in the back are out of this world! I have been going through the photos over and over since it listed. SOoOo dreamy!
I’m guessing they won’t have an open house, but if they do, I’ll be the first one in line! Gawd, I just love that staircase!
All the best!
Melanie
pam kueber says
Thanks again for the tip, Melanie! If there’s an estate sale, let me know!