Oh beautiful for spacious 1968 time capsule house! Okay, it was built in 1956, and then the second owner redecorated in ’68, so it’s not a never-touched interior, but: When the decor is 50 years old, and it looks as gorgeous as they day the last bit of wallpaper paste dried, well, it makes my book. This house, for sale by one of our favorite mid mod mad realtors, Robert Searcy, is warm, inviting, and fabulously layered with color, pattern, materials, shapes, sheens, styles, eras… just the kind of interior I adore. I will even call this one: Timeless. The decorator knew what she was doing! And so did photographers TK Images, who captured the home for us to worship forevermore!
The curb appeal is right up there, too — so charming. 4,211 s.f., 5-6 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, $399,900. Robert Searcy loves well-designed vintage homes as much as we do, and it shows in his listing write up:
Nestled among sleepy moss draped trees, on a prominent corner in the historic district’s most coveted section, a prime example of what made Glenbrook Valley the envy of mid-century Houston & increasingly sought after today. Offered for sale for the first time in literally half a century, it presents a rare opportunity to acquire one of the historic district’s most elegant & spacious homes. Formals with lavish trim work details & expansive windows adorned w/vintage chinoiserie pattern drapes. A sumptuous den with absolutely gorgeous flagstone floors, cypress beams, rich warm ash paneling & a huge bar at one end with an alcove large enough for a frig. Sunroom, study & master down w/luxurious dressing area. Gameroom plus 4 more BRs up. Full quarters on the ground level with its own private entrance, full kitchen, living/dining combo & separate BR & bath. Perfect set up for extended family or live in nanny. Just one exit outside the loop.
Enter the foyer… with its traditional moldings and lovely green painted walls and trim. That shade of green, and warning, I’ll be saying it a lot: Timeless.
To the left is the living room, and to the right, the family room.
The living room is traditional and formal. The pinch pleats over the ruched sheers — the ‘movement’ of the shapes covering the window — just lovely! The walls are a dusty lavender — and so are the sheers. They look fantastic with that green — a wonderful color combination that you don’t see, and don’t see done well, often.
The family room is warm and woodsy, mixing rustic, personal, whimsical, nautical, mod, modern, chinoiserie, and traditional elements in the wall coverings, window coverings, furniture, accessories, collections, rugs, lighting, and more. This kind of mix makes a room timeless — that is, difficult to date (although dinner and a movie are usually a good bet.)
The walls are ash cut into planks with beaded edge. The beams are pecky cypress. The floors are flagstone. Flagstone!!!
The sectional and directors’ chairs are the most modern pieces. The (1) pattern on the sectional — I will call it octopusses (!) on paisley(!)– combined with (2) the sectional’s sensuous lines, are genius additions that add a big sexy hug to what otherwise might have been a staid, and nice, but predictable room. The graphic black lines of the barstools also adds time-shifting liveliness.
I would have a hard time ever leaving this room. No photos available of the backyard terrace. It looks nice too!
I am a wallpaper lover. I loved wallpaper before it was cool. And after. And before, still. And after, still. And before, still. And after, still. And now, still. I love wallpaper on ceilings, too. The listing says this is vintage Schumacher wallpaper “that has stood the test of time.” I wholeheartedly agree.
And note this: Robert tells me that the owner still has the leftover wallpaper! Of course! People who know their decor is spot-on happening, save the wallpaper leftovers.
Copper on red-and-black brick on a red tile vinyl floor with more wallpaper on the ceiling — oh my heart be still, all the lovely layering.
A traditional wood kitchen table with Windsor chairs, in front of an inviting lead glass bay window. Windsor chairs are so lovely. Yikes, this book all about them is 744 pages long — they are so collectible << Amazon affiliate link, I make some dough re mi if ya buy anything; it’s part of how I keep this blog boat afloat. How I make money without selling my blogger soul.
The dining room includes metallic wallpaper, including on the ceilings. Same window treatments as the living room.
The master bedroom has a palatial Hollywood Regency vibe… and oooooh, we get just a peek into the adjacent bathroom with what looks to be a black-and-white octagonal chinoiserie lattice wallpaper on the ceiling.
Another of the bathrooms — eclectic-fabulous! — here…
And, a dressing table fit for a movie star…
Please please please, I hope whoever buy this doesn’t change a thing!
Hey, what came after 1960s wallpaper? 1970s wallpaper, of course!
Link love:
Many thanks again to the wonderful:
- Robert Searcy, listing agent
- TK Images, for permission to feature these photos.
- Listing here.
Sasha Himsl says
I am dying of love for the formal living room! This house looks like it came out of the pages of a high end decor magazine, and I adore it. There is so much love and personality in every room, these people just committed themselves to opulence and I am so glad we get the chance to see it in situ!
Thank you Pam, Thank you Robert!
Mary Elizabeth says
What the photos of this house say to me is, “the Heck with open concept. Rooms have purposes.” It’s nice to have a separate dining room, living room and family room. Another thing the photos tell me: books are a part of this family’s life. Did you see the coffee table? It would take weeks and weeks to look through–never mind read–all those books. That’s what’s good about having a separate living room and family room. They can just leave the books they like out in the family room all the time. They don’t mind a little clutter in the kitchen, either. The house doesn’t seem staged for sale but staged for living.
Carol says
Just looked at Mr. Searcy’s listing and noticed something. The gabled “timberframe” over the windows has decorative brickwork. It is more noticeable in the listing photos. Oh my, I’ve never seen this before. Very nice.
Carol says
This is not exactly my style of decorating, but I have to say this is fabulous. Any style is fabulous if executed well. I think I would set up camp in the den. I hope the furniture can be purchased with the house because it works so perfectly. I would have to repaint that taupe paneling though. It’s a tad bit dreary. Not a fan of the kitchen cabinet doors since I still have to look at them when I visit Mom. The rooms are so cozy even though they are huge. Wow. Wow.
Phyllis says
A very fine example of Neo-Traditional 60’s decor with some Neo-Colonial thrown in there too. Totally my parents house , I love it.
Phil says
The wall oven is from 1958-59.
Just like this one: https://www.flickr.com/photos/33723086@N02/14568034868/in/album-72157656049334468/
Diana says
What a beautiful elegant home. Everything is just right. I hope it survives new ownership. I’m such a pessimist about these things. I especially love the dressing table. That’s not something you see very often. The price blows me away! (I’m used to California’s out of control housing prices)!
Marie Gamalski says
Pam….or anyone…that fixture in the dinette…are those wood “baubles” anyone know??? Very unique, I’ve never seen one like that…..
Marie Gamalski says
That gold foil in the DR…..drop….the….mic!
Mel says
I kind of want to plaster it all over with big signs: NOT FOR SALE TO MEMBERS OF THE GREIGE NATION. The thought of someone painting all that gorgeous paneling and remuddling the kitchen hurts my heart.