courtyard! Realtors Doug and Rochelle Kramer had started the landscaping outside, and it is still a work in progress. Josh's garden design aesthetic is drought-tolerant, low-maintenance plants with ample spacing. The couple recently created a raised planter box next to some foxtail ferns to grow their own veggies and herbs in. The couple would like to add a pool, spa and fire pit in the far corner, as well as paint the interior of the garage. They want to make the garage an extension of the home to house their workout space and laundry room. Patio set: vintage Brown-Jordan dining set, Xcape; tiki torches: Costco
BEFORE: The house had been neglected when the Kramers found it. The windows were yellow from cigarette smoke, and one window wall was even covered with boards. The Kramers spotted the potential, however, and had started the restoration process before it caught Josh's and Jen's eyes. Before Photo Details: Category:Before Photos
AFTER: A city ordinance allows owners in this tract to build 6-foot-tall solid fences all the way out to the curb. Enhancing Cliff May's concept of true indoor-outdoor living, the new redwood fence encloses the yard, creating a private outdoor space wrapping around the home. Although most of the home's reconstruction stayed true to midcentury roots, the Realtors added a low and lean modern-style fence and gate. Modern address numbers and a low-maintenance rock garden with succulents accent the front of the home. Contractor: Gilbert Scales
Inside the gate a peaceful outdoor living space begins. With five French doors around the property, there is no "proper" front door on this home. Rather, multiple entrances contribute to the unified feeling and indoor-outdoor connection. Simple modern landscaping and concrete pavers maintain a sense of order and simplicity in the outdoor space. Concrete work: Seasiders Concrete, Anaheim; landscaping: Doug and Rochelle Kramer, SoCal Modern
Many details here are in character with a Cliff May design: Board and batten siding, seen here painted a calm gray-blue color that complements the landscaping A low, pitched gable roof, keeping with the low, long feeling of these ranch homes Clerestory windows over the doors and under the roofline. These windows let abundant natural light into the home, increasing the indoor-outdoor feeling. Exposed beams, both indoor and outdoor Unique glass doors and windows with wooden cross rails Patio chairs: vintage-inspired low X-chairs, Xcape
This view of the back side of the home also illustrates the five characteristic features of a Cliff May design, which drew the couple to the home. Amazingly, all of the doors and windows in this home are original. The many windows on every side of the home connect every area of the house and yard together. Tara Bussema Interior Designers & Decorators My Houzz: A Mid-Century Marvel Revived In Long Beach Photo by Tara Bussema © 2013 Houzz Paint: Benjamin Moore Amherst Gray siding with Night Horizon on the fascia, brick fireplace and block wall.
The front privacy fence gives the homeowners ample outdoor entertaining space, allowing all of the outdoor living spaces to flow continuously. When the Kramers found this home, the backyard was an overgrown jungle of bushes and weeds. Clearing away the mess, they discovered an amazing large yucca tree that has been there for probably 60 years. It now serves as a centerpiece in the landscape. Lounge chairs, table: Alfresco Grey, Crate & Barrel
Jen and Josh curated every outdoor item. A vintage Brown Jordan chair found from local store Xcape is set against retro bullet planters filled with succulents. The pale green chair complements the pale gray-blue board and batten siding. Tara Bussema Interior Designers & Decorators My Houzz: A Mid-Century Marvel Revived In Long Beach Photo by Tara Bussema © 2013 Houzz Chair: Vintage Brown-Jordan, Xcape; bullet planters: Hip Haven; Paint: Benjamin Moore Amherst Gray
This corner is the couple's favorite spot. Sitting in this 1960s rocking chair designed by Kofod Larsen, Jen or Josh can enjoy a view of everything. According to Josh, it helps him "enjoy the fruits of our labor." This is his favorite place where he can slow down, listen to music, read, chat and think. Floor lamp: teak, 1950s, possibly Paul McCobb, Inretrospect Tara Bussema Interior Designers & Decorators My Houzz: A Mid-Century Marvel Revived In Long Beach Photo by Tara Bussema © 2013 Houzz Rocking chair: Vintage 1960s Kofod Larsen for Selig of Denmark, Xcape; floor lamp: 1950s teak floor lamp, possibly Paul McCobb, Inretrospect more Photo Details: Category:Living Room Style:Modern Location:Orange County
The great room inside welcomes in plenty of Southern California sunshine, putting the spotlight on some of the couple's vintage furniture, including a pair of original 1950s Z Chairs by Poul Jensen for Selig of Denmark, bought at Xcape. Fireplace paint: Night Horizon, Vista Paint; wall clock: Nelson clock replica, eBay; art: original midcentury abstract by Ralph Hasenbein, Inretrospect Tara Bussema Interior Designers & Decorators My Houzz: A Mid-Century Marvel Revived In Long Beach Photo by Tara Bussema © 2013 Houzz Chairs: Original '50s Z Chairs by Poul Jensen for Selig of Denmark, Xcape; cork flooring: Dorado by Celestial Cork; wall color: Velvashin, Vista Paint; fireplace paint color: Night Horizon, Vista Paint; wall clock: Nelson clock replica, Ebay; art piece: Original midcentury abstract by Hasenbein, Inretrospect; sofa: Vintage Gondola Style sofa, possibly by Adrian...
Across the room a collection of cacti brings a bit of the outdoors in. The pale blue on the walls, the orange in the chairs and the live greenery accents liven up the many original wood surfaces in the home. Tara Bussema Interior Designers & Decorators My Houzz: A Mid-Century Marvel Revived In Long Beach Photo by Tara Bussema © 2013 Houzz Chairs: Original 50's Z Chairs by Poul Jensen for Selig of Denmark, Xcape; cork flooring: Dorado by Celestial Cork; wall color: Waterby, Vista Paint; wall clock: Nelson clock replica, Ebay; end table: 1960s Acclaim end table in walnut, Lane Furniture Co., Craigslist less
Like the rest of the house, the kitchen is surrounded by windows. The central island provides a practical prep area without taking wall space away from the windows. The oven and stove are incorporated into the island, with white terrazzo quartz countertops and wood cabinetry below. Pendant lamps: Orbis, Rejuvenation Lighting Tara Bussema Interior Designers & Decorators My Houzz: A Mid-Century Marvel Revived In Long Beach Photo by Tara Bussema © 2013 Houzz Kitchen countertops: White Terrazzo Quartz; kitchen pendant lamps: Orbis Pendants, Rejuvenation Lighting; dining room pendant lamp: Nelson Saucer Lamp, Modernica Paint: Waterby by Vista Paint less
Between the vintage Nelson bubble lamp, cloth wall art and '50s teak dining set, the dining room area comes together in good midcentury form. The art, found at Inretrospect, is a 1963 serigraph on cloth by David Weidman titled "Family of Birds." Pendant: George Nelson Saucer Lamp, Modernica; dining table,chairs: Inretrospect Tara Bussema Interior Designers & Decorators My Houzz: A Mid-Century Marvel Revived In Long Beach Photo by Tara Bussema © 2013 Houzz Dining room art: 1963 "Family of Birds" Serigraph on Cloth by David Weidman, Inretrospect; lamp: Nelson saucer pendant, Modernica; dining table and chairs: '50s teak dining set, Inretrospect Paint: Waterby by Vista Paint
Other than the island, the kitchen takes up only one wall. The home may have less cabinetry and storage than other houses, but Jen says they have everything they need. "We appreciate the limited storage. It keeps us living simply, with only the most essential necessities, and helps us focus on the things that matter most in life: friends, family and fellowship." Cabinetry: MEI Cabinets; backsplash: vitreous glass mosaic, Liberty by Trend, Stone & Ceramic Surfaces Tara Bussema Interior Designers & Decorators My Houzz: A Mid-Century Marvel Revived In Long Beach Photo by Tara Bussema © 2013 Houzz Kitchen countertops: White Terrazzo Quartz; cabinetry: MEI Cabinets; backsplash: Vitreous Glass Mosaic, Liberty by Trend, Stone & Ceramic Surfaces
Moving into this home, the Amstones were forced to downsize and split up their pair of wing chairs. They gave the chair's twin to the Kramers. Bed frame: Platform Bed in Natural Steel, Room & Board; bedding: Target; wall art: mixed media by Bruce Yager, eBay; dresser, nightstands: vintage, Glenn of California, Xcape; lamps: Target Tara Bussema Interior Designers & Decorators My Houzz: A Mid-Century Marvel Revived In Long Beach Photo by Tara Bussema © 2013 Houzz Bed frame: Platform Bed in Natural Steel, Room and Board; bedding: Target; wall art: Midcentury inspired mixed media by Bruce Yager, Ebay; chair: Wing Chair by Adrian Pearsall for Craft Associates, Xcape; dresser/nightstands: Vintage Glenn of California, Xcape; lamps: Target
There's still room for whimsy in this clean and minimalist space. These original vintage Bitossi ceramics were made in Italy and bought at Xcape. Tara Bussema Interior Designers & Decorators My Houzz: A Mid-Century Marvel Revived In Long Beach Photo by Tara Bussema © 2013 Houzz Photo Details: Category:Spaces Style:Modern Location:Orange County
Unlike many homes built in the 1950s, all Cliff May homes included master suites complete with a walk-in closet and master bath. This master bath was rescued and revived by the Kramers with simple, minimalist surfaces and light colors that help the small bath feel as open and airy as possible. Backsplash: China Blend vitreous glass mosaic, Hakatai; sink: Lillången, Ikea Tara Bussema Interior Designers & Decorators My Houzz: A Mid-Century Marvel Revived In Long Beach Photo by Tara Bussema © 2013 Houzz Backsplash: China Blend vitreous glass mosaic, Hakatai; sink: Lillangen sink, Ikea
Josh and Jen are teachers and use the second bedroom as an office; it's still a work in progress. The one item they can't seem to get rid of is the bright red strawberry-shaped cookie jar. Although it doesn't fit with the couple's style, it belonged to Jen's grandpa and is high in sentimental value. Desks, shelving unit: Slim Desks and Shelf in Natural Steel, Room & Board; art: "Flowers II" and "The Girls" serigraphs by David Weidman, Inretrospect Tara Bussema Interior Designers & Decorators My Houzz: A Mid-Century Marvel Revived In Long Beach Photo by Tara Bussema © 2013 Houzz Desks and shelving unit: Slim Desks and Shelf in Natural Steel, Room and Board; art pieces: "Flowers II" and "The Girls" serigraphs by David Weidman, Inretrospect
The last of the three bedrooms in the home, and the smallest, functions as a den and guest room, with a sleeper sofa from Room & Board. The couple feels strongly about not having a TV in the great room, so this is where they retreat for movie watching and relaxing. This room is at the front of the house and is bathed in light like the rest of the home. The couple's latest splurge is this 1968 "Birds in Flight" sculpture over the TV by Curtis Jere, found at Stuff SF. The movement in the piece distracts the eye from the TV and serves as a focal point in the room. An old album cabinet serves as a console that hides electronics. Side table: Saarinen Tulip side table replica, eBay; console: vintage teak record cabinet with tambour doors, Xcape; planter: vintage, Gainey Ceramics, Xcape Tara Bussema Interior Designers & Decorators My Houzz: A Mid-Century Marvel Revived In Long Beach Photo by Tara Bussema © 2013 Houzz Sofa: Levin Sleeper Sofa, Room and Board; side table: Saarinen Tulip side table replica, Ebay; console: Vintage teak record cabinet with tambour doors, Xcape; planter: Vintage pot by Gainey Ceramics, Xcape; sculpture: 1968 "Birds in Flight" by C. Jere, Stuff
The home is the perfect retreat for Josh and Jen Amstone, shown here. The tract has brought together Cliff May enthusiasts, who connect through their love of design and investment in the neighborhood. People watch out for one another, invite one another over for cocktails and share life together. Sounds a lot like the midcentury lifestyle the Amstones were hoping for. Next: Learn more about Cliff May's California Ranch Style
Cliff May's innovative ranch home designs give him a place of honor in the residential hall of fame. He introduced comfort and convenience into postwar '50s homes, from motorized skylights and bathroom vanity cabinets to single-lever faucets and whole-house intercoms. He incorporated features of large, custom ranches into more modest and affordable ranch homes, and gave them a sense of spaciousness as well as strong connections between inside and outside. May's work incorporated environmental design before it was recognized as such, says Dan Gregory, author of Cliff May and the Modern Ranch House. Careful consideration of sun angles, wind directions, vegetation and more went into his designs — concepts that many now seem to be just revisiting. May's pioneering designs are celebrated in a new exhibit, Carefree California: Cliff May and the Romance of the Ranch House, at the University of California, Santa Barbara, through June 17, 2012. Add to ideabook by Catherine Opie by Catherine Opie Cliff May introduced a continuous, motorized skylight into the fourth home he built for himself. The skylight, which runs the full length of the roof ridge, provides generous light to the interior...
May built five homes for himself and used each as a laboratory to explore ideas and tinker with gadgets. He also, of course, used these homes as sales tools. In fact, May's wife never knew when a visitor was likely to stop by, so the home had to always be in tip-top condition (this was the 1950s, after all). The fourth house was 1,600 square feet. Besides the skylight, May's innovations in this house included movable walls that allowed the space to be reconfigured at will. May and his architect partner, Chris Choate, designed 6-foot-high cupboards on casters that could be moved around to form the desired spaces.
A shallow-pitched gable roof forms a spacious and comfortable living room, while the white walls and ceiling make for a luminous interior. Many of the 950- to 1,200-square-foot ranches May built at Lakewood Rancho Estates have been restored and brought up to current codes so they can be enjoyed by a new generation of residents.
This sketch shows all of the elements of a Cliff May ranch: The courtyard enables each room to have access to a private outdoor space. The low-pitched gable roofs rest gently on the walls. The porte-cochere entry recognizes the importance of the car. The low garden walls define outdoor living spaces for rooms that might not have access to the courtyard.
Cliff May's floor plans are real lessons in design, even though he was self-taught and not a trained architect. The open planning, marriage of inside and outside spaces and movement throughout the home are all orchestrated with great skill. It's as if Frank Lloyd Wright or Mies van der Rohe had relocated to Southern California and become relaxed and laid back in the process.
The House That Dreams Built: Mock-Up for Cliff May Homes Brochure (circa 1954) » Affordable and easily financed, Cliff May ranches embodied the lifestyle and amenities that the expanding middle class yearned for.
From small and affordable to large, sprawling and custom, both ends of the architectural spectrum were handled deftly by May. His ability to respond to the site and create a home both comfortable and livable, whether modest or lavish, is what makes his work relevant for us today. More on Carefree California: Cliff May and the Romance of the Ranch House
Double-wide entry doors. "This is going to be good," I thought to myself as I approached the double-wide front door with a fun color painted on the outside. It greeted guests with a "Hey, I'm hip" attitude.
entry water feature. I looked around after I rang the doorbell and noticed an original water feature just to the side of the front door. The water feature was low and geometric and reminded me of The Rat Pack in the '60s.
Terrazzo floors. Once I was welcomed inside, I stepped onto the most beautiful white terrazzo floors. Oh, just pinch me! The terrazzo floors ran through the large entry and the main hallways of the U-shaped house
Wood-panel accent wall. Just beyond the entry, there was one wall of vertical-grain wood paneling in the living room. The wood was a natural balance to the tall ceilings and oversize windows that revealed an incredible hilltop view.
Vintage pendants. In the living room in a corner were these kooky pendant lights. I imagined a game table where guys with cigars would sit and play poker while listening to Marvin Gaye.
Sixties wallpaper. On an accent wall in the living room was a kitchy wallpaper in a fun color. The pattern was faded but unmistakably 1960s
Oversize windows. The living room was oversize and acted as living room and family room. The high ceilings were pitched out toward the view. The ceiling extended beyond the sliders and continued outside, which made the gables appear endless.
Transom windows. The next room was a dining area. There was a wall that separated it from the kitchen. The wall had transom windows at the top, which let beautiful light into the kitchen. The low and long windows added to the modern aesthetic
Retro tile. Just as I was thinking about all the great midcentury details, I turned the corner of the main hall and discovered '60s-inspired tile in a small powder room. "That's definitely staying," I thought. The colors were blue and green and so charming. What a blast! Turns out the little "fixer" just needed some fresh paint and new furniture. Wow, do I love my job!
elz worked with David Roberts of Stabilised Earth. The house is built primarily out of limestone, a material used in most homes in the Fleurieu Peninsula, where the home is located. The earth came from the Rapid Bay quarry, about 20 kilometers away. "I chose to not use the earth from my own land, as it is quite dark reddish in color and would have been too visually heavy," says Pelz. The area has harsh weather conditions, so Pelz wanted to eliminate the need to paint external surfaces. The veranda posts are untreated aluminium. Pelz prioritized environmentally sustainable elements to keep maintenance and utility costs as low as possible. Her home has no air conditioning and is heated naturally using locally sourced wood.
Pelz says that watching birds splash in the pond, or having a gin and tonic or two while watching the sun set is her favorite thing to do on the front veranda. A rammed-earth wall at left here meets one made of limestone. The deck is made of plantation pine.
The kitchen is light filled and cozy; it has rammed-earth walls and a corrugated Lysaght Mini Orb ceiling light. The floor is concrete. Storage is provided by a salvaged country kitchen cabinet, topped with a collection of star sculptures, one of many around the home. Pelz says, "The one thing I would change if I built again: I'd make the kitchen bigger. I entertain quite a lot, and it's a bit squeezy when I have more than six people for lunch or dinner." Sink: Villeroy & Boch; red star: Industria
The house design is essentially one open-plan kitchen, living room and dining room with a bedroom and bathroom attached. Pelz says, "Spatially the open living space works well for me. I love the simplicity of the space — the high textured walls and the large windows open to the sea views provide a sense of inside-outside. When the weather permits, I have all the windows wide open." Timber in the house is mainly plantation pine. The wooden horse sculpture is by Jason Monet, grandnephew of impressionist painter Claude Monet.
One of Pelz's favorite places to be is sitting in front of the fire reading and listening to music. Bristle the dog likes it here too. "The house has a sense of serenity," she says, "but also one of coziness when the open fire is burning and the storms of winter are howling outside." The low jarrah table by the couch, custom Douglas fir shelves at the end of the room, geometric chair and tripod stool are by South Australia furniture designer Justin Hermes.
Pelz has been collecting art for more than 40 years, and the collection is very eclectic. She says, "Choosing artworks is a very personal thing. I usually look for a sense of soul ... something that speaks to me, strikes a chord. I love paintings that have a strong painterly textural quality. I also like humor and quirkiness in art —particularly in sculpture." She found an old pallet that had an interesting texture and hung fish collected from her travels over the years. There are fish from the Aolian Islands, the Aegean Islands, Spain, Norway and Australia's own Port Lincoln and Kangaroo Island.
The bedroom also has a corrugated Lysaght Mini Orb ceiling light, exposed beams, rammed-earth walls and some beautifully textured second-hand furniture finds. An old wooden printer's drawer is used to display a collection, and two small landscape paintings by artist Morgan Allender. The painting above the sofa is by Pelz. She says, "The bedroom has a very calm, serene feeling and also catches the rising sun in the mornings — a lovely way to wake up." Couch: Freedom Furniture; gallery wall artwork: Rita Hall, Stephanie Crase, Sue Michael, Seth Barker and a Picasso print
The back of the house overlooks a deep valley, relatively protected from the weather and populated with the local river redgum trees (Eucalyptus camaldulensis). Pictured here Morag ab Cruachan MacLadanae, one of a group of roaming Highland cattle. Pelz also has two llamas.
This remodeled contemporary split level in Virginia illustrates the opportunity for vaulted ceilings on the main level. This theme is repeatedly frequently in California suburbs on modern and Mediterranean-style homes, in which you enter a foyer, find a living area to one side and find a center stairway ascending, with the vaulted ceiling to the upper level.
his style developed primarily out of the Case Study House program begun in 1945 in Southern California, and out of mid-20th-century developments built by Joseph Eichler. Case Study architects embraced the modern movement, in which all precedents were eschewed in favor of minimalism and efficiency, akin to International style. Eichler employed several architectural firms to design wood post and beam structures that allowed the placement of large expanses of floor-to-ceiling windows, open floor plans and seamless relationships with the outdoors. In the 1950s and 1960s, the Alexander Construction Company filled Palm Springs with sexy and unique modern-style vacation homes that established a flourishing and trendy desert oasis. Though there were several different roof forms used in contemporary styles, this house shows the common very low-sloped gable version. Note the mixture of materials: vertical groove wood siding, wood posts and beams, linear expanses of glass and concrete block walls (stacked), assimilated in a Mondrian-like composition.
Indicative of this style is structural transparency, as can be seen in this Eichler-built home. Exposed rafters support a gabled roof, on which the tongue and groove roof decking becomes a key architectural element in the expression of its style. Further, beams supporting the flat roof portion extend from inside to out, detailed here with clerestory windows placed between them
Contemporary Shed Sea Ranch, California, is the birthplace of shed-style dwellings. In the mid-1960s the MLTW partnership, which included noted architects Charles Moore and William Turnbull, Jr., designed a series of condominiums and houses for an isolated Northern California coastal development. Responding to a regional aesthetic of large wooden barns with wood-shingled roofs, the architects cleverly borrowed indigenous cues to mold their creations. The resulting architecture defined a particular type of modern design that departed from the rectilinear — and often cold — International style, offering a warmer and subtler modern theme. This newer house in Sea Ranch follows all of the characteristics originally established. This style can be found across North America, mostly in architect-designed custom homes built in the late 1960s through about the mid-1970s.
This newer house in Sea Ranch follows all of the characteristics originally established. This style can be found across North America, mostly in architect-designed custom homes built in the late 1960s through about the mid-1970s.
he easily identifiable shed style is evident in this North Carolina house. The combination of several shed forms and other flat-roof portions is typical. Picture windows have been placed to frame exterior views, and clerestories bring in daylight at vaulted ceilings. Add to ideabook by Elliott + Elliott Architecture This house illustrates the shed style’s suitability to a variety of settings and climates. Note the shingled siding on this example, which nicely echoes the common materials of the region and pleasantly differentiates the house from its California cousins. What's next: The effects of conservation and market conditions. Trends in home design began to shift around 1975, after the price of energy ballooned. The preference for modern architecture diminished, and more traditional styles began to dominate vernacular building. California adopted strict energy codes in 1978, which foreshadowed the preference or necessity of such codes for the rest of the country. Most home building for the past 30 years has produced some form of previously established style. It is the exception that architects create an entirely new vocabulary for a client; they are more frequently limited b...
1. Open shelves. Bulk storage of dry ingredients like flour and sugar is easily accessed from convenient open shelves.
lucile's kitchen in queens
lucille's lavish bathroom
lucille's practical master bathroom in queens
master bedroom: lucile
here's louis giving lessons on his front steps and lucile's kitchen in queens
louis and lucile's garden in queens
louis' den in queens
sitting room in queens==armstrong
unassuming house in queens: louis & lucile armstrong
louis on his steps in queens
Who lives here: Josh and Jen Amstone, high school special education teachers Location: Cliff May Rancho tract, Long Beach, California Size: 1,130 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms That's interesting: Cliff May built a handful of models in this tract and made each one unique in its orientation on the lot and the location of the garage. Add to ideabook by Tara Bussema by Tara Bussema The open floor plan and abundance of windows make the 1,130-square-foot living area feel spacious. The Amstones are inspired by the notion that things were simpler in the '50s and '60s. To them, life back then was slower and more balanced; communities were tighter; family and friends were the priority. Embracing the decor and architecture of the era, they hope a less-is-more mindset radiates through their home. In decorating their great room, they wanted to create an inviting space where friends and family can gather. Flooring: Dorado by Celestial Cork; wall paint: Waterby, Vista Paint; sofa: vintage gondola style possibly by Adrian Pearsall, Xcape; coffee table: vintage Acclaim table in Walnut, Lane Furniture Company, Craigslist; bar stools: 1960s Erik Buck for O.D. Mobler Denmark, Xcape
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