A 1959 home in Los Angeles that was given a stylish face-lift just scored a buyer.
The sellers are the L.A. design team of Hollis Jordyn Design, and they picked up the midcentury modern gem in Nichols Canyon in May 2022 for $2,750,000. They updated the home and listed it in November 2022 for $3,850,000. The price was reduced to $2,999,999 by May 2023, and it was sold on June 21 for $2,825,911.
The three-bedroom, three-bath home spanning 2,500 square feet was originally designed by Edward Fickett. Fickett’s notable projects include Edwards Air Force Base and Dodger Stadium (both in Southern California) and the Sands Hotel (in Las Vegas).
Dubbed the Ophelia House, it’s named after one of the designer Jordyn Blum’s children, whom she shares with Dave Grohl, lead singer of Foo Fighters.
Blum’s design firm, Hollis Jordyn Design, which she owns with Hollis LaPlante, revamped the home while adding new air conditioning, electrical, and plumbing.
“It hasn’t been on the market for over 50 years,” says listing agent Tim Gavin, of Coldwell Banker Realty. The sellers “retouched everything. They preserved what they felt was special and necessary to keep.”
This includes a stone fireplace, terrazzo flooring in the foyer, a pass-through window, wood paneling, and a cinderblock wall in the primary suite. The kitchen cabinetry was updated with new hardware.
Modernizing the home meant adding marble countertops to the kitchen as well as new windows and sliders, and updating finishes in the three baths.
“We were seeking a celebrity buyer to some degree, with either a music or entertainment background, or a successful entrepreneur or someone with a creative background,” Gavin says.
Tucked into Nichols Canyon Colony, the locale, is “very private,” Gavin adds. “You’ve got wider streets and more of a neighborhood vibe.”
An eye-popping structure in Glastonbury, CT, that appears to be floating among the trees is this week’s most popular home on Realtor.com®.
The Cedar Bridge House was designed by architect Wilfred Armster and appears to hover some 50 feet above the wooded lot, anchored to a steel support structure above the garage.
Other offerings you clicked on this week include an affordable tiny home in Colorado, a retro residence in Vermont, and the former home of the Galveston Wedding Chapel in Texas.
For a full look at this week’s 10 most popular homes, keep on scrolling.
Price: $829,000 Why it’s here: This Normandy-style Tudor features many period details: casement, boxed-out windows; stone parapet walls; exposed-beam ceilings; preserved hardwood flooring; and even a window seat.
Offering five bedrooms, this petite castle was built in the 1930s. The living room comes with a stone fireplace and built-in seating.
On the market for just 11 days, the home is already pending sale.
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Price: $210,000 Why it’s here: This adorable and affordable tiny home boasts a modern interior.
Built in 2021, this two-bedroom abode is part of a small-home community. Offering just 670 square feet of living space, the home is bright and airy and features many modern amenities. A floor-to-ceiling electric fireplace can be found in the combined living-dining area.
The first-floor primary bedroom has direct access to a patio. A spiral staircase leads to a second bedroom/loft area. The property is pending sale.
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Price: $149,000 Why it’s here: What a deal! This modestly priced farmhouse needs some TLC, but there’s a lot of charm and character.
The three-bedroom home was built in 1878. Period details include wide-plank floors and arched ceilings. Recent updates include a new metal roof and a modernized kitchen with lots of cabinet space.
The 2.6-acre lot comes with a detached barn with a workshop. The property is pending sale.
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Price: $499,000 Why it’s here: The bland exterior of this home hides a surprising log cabin interior.
The three-bedroom home was custom-built in 2015 on a 10-acre wooded parcel. The two-story living room features a floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace, and the large windows let in plenty of natural light. Out back, there’s a hot tub.
The home is pending sale.
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Price: $4,900,000 Why it’s here: This enormous, seven-bedroom estate comes with a brick-walled wine cellar, cozy bar, spa with indoor lap pool, fitness center, and home theater.
The 10,159-square-foot floor plan boasts custom millwork and six fireplaces. The wood-paneled library has a coffered ceiling, built-in bookshelves, and a fireplace with an ornate mantelpiece.
The 16-acre lot also features six garages, a carriage house with two apartments, and a tennis court.
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Price: $625,000 Why it’s here: Inspired by midcentury modern style, this home was designed by architect Charles Marks.
The home was built in 1974 on a 14-acre parcel in the Green Mountain State. The bright living room is lined with windows and built-ins, and features a fireplace. The 3,000 square feet of living space includes a dining area with a raised ceiling and sliders that open to a bluestone terrace with an in-ground pool.
The primary suite has a fireplace, built-in bed, and bathroom with cedar walls. The property is pending sale.
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Price: $510,000 Why it’s here: This large, log cabin comes with a matching, four-car garage.
The three-bedroom home features vaulted ceilings and hardwood floors. The great room boasts a floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace, and the spacious kitchen comes with a curved island with seating. Two en suite bedrooms are upstairs, and the third is located on the lower level.
The 1.4-acre lot is private and wooded.
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Price: $799,900 Why it’s here: This fabulous farmhouse on 6 waterfront acres overlooks the Clinch River. The spot is ideal for launching a boat, kayaking, or fishing.
The three-bedroom, 1,857-square-foot home boasts a two-story family room with a stone fireplace and a kitchen with custom cabinets. Two bedrooms are located on the main level, and the primary suite with a private balcony can be found upstairs.
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Price: $799,500 Why it’s here: Here comes the chance to live at the former site of the Galveston Wedding Chapel!
While the wedding business itself is not for sale, all of the furnishings of the turnkey place are negotiable, according to the listing.
The waterfront property offers Gulf views from the top floors. The chapel is on the main level, and two bedrooms are upstairs.
The 2,211-square-foot interior also includes a formal parlor for cocktails, an elevated area for ceremonies, and an outdoor gazebo for photos.
There are also multiple terraces and patios to take in the views.
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Price: $497,000 Why it’s here: The innovative Cedar Bridge House, designed by architect Wilfred Armster, appears to float among the trees.
Built in 1983, the two-bedroom residence has been on and off the market over the past three years, with an original list price of $530,000. As several calls to the listing agent have gone unreturned, we (and social media) are left wondering why this modern marvel hasn’t sold.
The unconventional, bridge-like design features 2,118 square feet of living space filled with skylights and windows. The stylish kitchen has granite counters, a wine cooler, and high-end stainless-steel appliances, according to the listing. The minimalist living room offers a sleek fireplace.
The primary bedroom includes access to one of two decks. A third deck boasts a hot tub and views of the 3-acre lot.
Most mornings after Stephen Garten wakes up at his home in Austin, Texas, he goes into his backyard and starts pacing, preparing himself for what’s next. “It’s brutal,” says Garten, 37, the founder and CEO of social impact company Charity Charge. “It’s a real challenge every day.”
He’s talking about lowering himself into a 66-inch-long and 24-inch-wide stainless steel tub clad in customized zebrawood and submerging himself up to his neck in water that he sets at 39 degrees Fahrenheit, with water circulating at 1,400 gallons a minute. “It’s like being in a river,” he says of the flow rate produced by this particular vessel, a Blue Cube cold plunge.
It’s an experience that Garten typically tolerates for less than two minutes at a time, once or twice a day. And it comes at a price of $19,000. Blue Cube, based in Redmond, Ore., makes cold plunge units that cost between around $18,000 and $29,000.
“Cold plunging has made a profound difference in my life,” Garten says. He says it has brought him health benefits including stress management.
Previously the domain of athletes, bathing in cold water or ice has become a mainstream wellness trend across the U.S. The practice goes by many terms, like cold plunging, ice bathing and cold-immersion therapy. Water temperature below 59 degrees Fahrenheit is generally considered cold immersion. People who swear by it say they have experienced wide-ranging health benefits, like reduced anxiety, alleviated joint and muscle pain and boosted energy and focus.
But while many people are experimenting with do-it-yourself methods—like taking cold showers or filling kiddie pools, horse troughs and unplugged chest freezers with cold water or ice—some enthusiasts have leveled-up their at-home cold plunging setups with sophisticated receptacles priced at tens of thousands of dollars and up.
Developers, meanwhile, are adding cold plunges to amenity-rich luxury complexes like 53 West 53 in New York and Cipriani Residences Miami, betting that cold immersion is here to stay.
“Ice bathing seems like a trend, but people have been doing this for thousands of years,” says Jonathan Coon, co-founder of Austin Capital Partners, which is the developer of Four Seasons Private Residences Lake Austin, 20 minutes from downtown Austin, slated to open in 2026.
In addition to 188 residential units starting at $4.1 million, the Lake Austin property on 145 acres will have 76,000 square feet of indoor wellness and sports facilities, including a 12,000-square-foot orangery, 82-foot swimming pool, sauna, steam room and, of course, cold and hot thermal baths.
Amenities covering 100,000 square feet is a key reason that Onyx W.D. Johnson and Cristian Santangelo bought a $2.2 million two-bedroom, 1,123-square-foot apartment in New York’s One Manhattan Square, an 80-story building located on the Lower East Side. Facilities include a spa with a tranquility garden, 75-foot saltwater swimming pool, hot tub, sauna, steam room and hammam with a cold plunge set between 55 and 58 degrees Fahrenheit. The couple moved into the apartment in May 2021.
Johnson and Santangelo quivered at the idea of cold plunging until they started seeing other people dipping and discussing the health benefits. “We decided to give it a try,” Johnson says.
Now cold plunging is part of their wellness regimen. Johnson, 50, who runs a management consulting firm, uses the hot pool, steam room and sauna, and then cold plunges for 45 seconds to a minute. He says this routine speeds up his training recovery time, helps him think clearer and improves his alertness and mood. Santangelo, 45, who is a management consultant, says the ritual helps him calm down and fight anxiety and stress.
Diamond Spas & Pools, based in Frederick, Colo., is a custom manufacturer of luxury pools, spas and soaking tubs for homeowners globally. The company added cold plunges to its portfolio in 2015 and saw one or two orders annually until 2019, when it experienced a sales surge. “Our cold plunge projects have increased 10 times since then,” says Mitch Martinek, the company’s design manager.
Martinek attributes the uptick to several factors. Today’s homeowners want gym and spa amenities at home and on-demand, cold therapy health benefits are better known now, and there are lingering pandemic concerns over public wellness facilities.
The company’s cold plunges, which chill water to between 40 and 55 degrees Fahrenheit, are made from stainless steel or copper and can be camouflaged in tile, stone or wood. The pools can go indoors or outdoors, come in any size and can work with home automation systems. The average cold plunge costs about $45,000, with elaborate projects running closer to about $65,000.
One of the company’s more unique cold plunges had an acrylic bottom and was in a high-rise building. “It was on a deck with a fire pit below,” Martinek says. “The homeowner wanted to be able to look up through the cold plunge.”
John Thorbahn bought a four-bedroom, 5,500-square-foot single-family home in Hingham, Mass., south of Boston, in March 2020 for $1.6 million. He owns a cold plunge from Phoenix-based company Morozko Forge, founded in 2018. Morozko Forge’s entry-level unit costs $12,850; its upgraded version costs $19,900.
Morozko Forge’s ice baths make ice. While the stainless steel tub is filled with cold water, an ice slab starts building at the tank’s bottom. At about 1-inch thick, the ice detaches and floats to the water’s surface. The ice can be broken up with an implement like a rubber mallet if needed.
Thorbahn, 63, who is the managing director at consulting company NFP, ice bathes most days for two to three minutes at 33 to 34 degrees Fahrenheit. His wife, Jana Thorbahn, 59, ice bathes, too. “The older you get, the more you want to live longer,” says Thorbahn, whose home also has a gym, sauna, red light therapy room and hot tub. “You start investing in protocols to help you be healthy.”
While many cold plungers have developed their own ice bathing rituals, choosing everything from their preferred water temperatures to time limits, Dr. Susanna Søberg, a Danish Ph.D. metabolic scientist and founder of the Soeberg Institute, is one of the world’s experts on the health benefits of cold immersion, which she has been studying for nine years.
In 2021, Søberg published research on cold exposure and hot exposure, which is called “contrast therapy” if the cold and hot exposures are performed in succession. Studying Danish winter swimmers, Søberg identified that a short plunge in cold, moving water combined with sauna use shifts the body’s nervous system and creates physiological changes, like boosting metabolism, lowering inflammation and releasing neurotransmitters that improve cognitive performance and mental health. “You are activating your whole body system,” Søberg says.
In a field that hasn’t been widely studied by the medical community, Søberg has developed what she says is the only scientifically backed cold immersion protocol for reducing stress using contrast therapy and breathing: 11 total minutes of cold immersion combined with 57 total minutes of heat, across two to three days a week. The goal of her method is to expose the body to the smallest amount of healthy stress needed to reap health benefits. “Staying in cold water or heat longer may not be beneficial or necessary,” she says.
Søberg says cold immersion carries the rare risk of cold water shock that can cause confusion or fainting, but the risk increases if a person does hyperventilating breathwork before or during cold water immersion. She also says cold plunging might not be good for people with heart disease or high blood pressure. Søberg advocates for cold plunging with others, and practicing slow, nasal breathing in the water.
Contrast therapy is why Sausalito, Calif.-based company Yardzen says most of its cold plunge projects involve saunas. Yardzen is an online landscape and home-exterior design company that works with homeowners across the U.S. The company’s co-founder and CEO Allison Messner says wellness yards—encompassing everything from cold plunges to saunas to meditation spaces to forest bathing—is one of Yardzen’s top 2023 trends.
“Peak luxury is having both a cold plunge and a sauna in your yard so you can experience cold and hot therapy,” Messner says.
Tobias Lawry, 51, and his wife, Christine Lawry, 50, live in a three-bedroom 1963 Midcentury Modern house in Dana Point, Calif. They purchased it in October 2018. Between July 2021 and October 2022, they worked with architect Chris Light, designer Frank Berry and builder Crawford Custom Homes to renovate their 3,000-square-foot house to honor its original period intention while modernizing it. This included turning a bedroom into a wellness room, which opens into a backyard with a pool, sauna and Blue Cube cold plunge.
The Lawrys, who run an estate-management and concierge services company called LPM, keep their Blue Cube at 47 degrees Fahrenheit. They typically cold plunge in the evening and on weekend mornings.
Stephen Garten in Austin also has a tricked-out wellness yard: In addition to his Blue Cube, he has a barrel sauna from Almost Heaven Saunas, which are manufactured in West Virginia and start around $7,500. He also has a stock tank pool from Cowboy Pools, an Austin-based company that has pool packages starting around $2,000.
He was inspired to create a backyard oasis where he and his fiancée, Katie Snyder, can have friends over. “It’s wellness,” Garten says, “but it’s entertainment too.”
Perched among the trees, a midcentury stunner of a house recently hit the market in Danville, VA, for $369,000.
The minor architectural masterpiece caught a buyer’s eye right away, and the wood-construction home is pending sale.
Built in 1959 and designed by legendary Greensboro, NC, architect Edward Loewenstein, the property last changed hands in 2021 for $225,000.
Loewenstein enjoyed a successful career focused on modernist construction, including around 500 homes—50 of which are considered midcentury modern. While Loewenstein’s impact on architecture is his most visible contribution to the contemporary landscape, he was uniquely significant for another more important reason.
Loewenstein was one of the first white architects in North Carolina to hire Black architects in the early 1950s, according to the website NC Modernist. He also served on Gov. Terry Sanford’s North Carolina Commission on Civil Rights.
This 1,519-square-foot, two-bedroom, two-bath home is set on .77 acres. Natural light and beautiful views of the surrounding woodland landscape define and warm the home’s interior. The house is anchored by a spacious living room with a working fireplace and 180-degree, floor-to-ceiling windows. Cork flooring runs throughout, and a deck overlooks the picturesque property.
While appliances and finishes have been modernized, the home’s original details remain intact.
This Danville dwelling has architectural significance and a rich local history. The place was originally built as the family home of Dan River Mills chemist Joanne Spangler, according to the listing, and is a quick drive from the Caesars Virginia casino.
The home serves up a rare combination of fine design and getaway appeal, all within minutes of abundant entertainment and dining options. This house “presents a rare opportunity to own one of the region’s last remaining midcentury modern homes,” the listing notes.
This 1975 design, inspired by midcentury modern architect John Lautner, is flawless. And the home’s workmanship and materials, which include premium wood, glass, and stone, are impeccable.
The list price for this slice of paradise is $4,995,000; but if you’d rather try before you buy, you can lease the three-bedroom, 3.5-bath, 3,000 square-foot home for $17,500 a month.
And the location, nestled in its own private Bel Air canyon off Beverly Glen, is surprisingly convenient.
The home last sold in 2021 for $3,175,000.
Its extensive glass walls, skylights, and cantilevered bedroom wings set it apart from all others.
“This home has this charming feel to it, with incredible energy,” says Daniel Milstein, who is listing the property with Aaron Kirman, both of AKG | Christie’s International Real Estate. “If you want to live in a private nature oasis, yet close to the sights and sounds, this is it. The incredible architecture is breathtaking and works perfectly in this unique, abundant space.”
The impressive, wood-clad entry leads to an airy, two-story great room, illuminated by skylights and crowned by the second-floor gallery.
The lovely dining area is adjacent to an upgraded chef’s kitchen, where more windows flood the space with natural light.
Up the winding, modern staircase, there’s a glittering master suite with spa amenities. Further up, there is a third-floor landing with a guest suite and private deck.
Multiple decks, balconies, dining areas, and terraces beautifully mesh together this hillside home with its grassy yard and outdoor spaces.
And while many of its virtues are apparent to the naked eye, the house has a whole slate of hidden, high-tech features— a smart home system, automated lighting, a built-in sound system, and automatic blinds, which are essential in a home with this many windows.
In the charming Sonoma County town of Sebastopol, roughly 50 miles north of San Francisco, amidst picturesque landscapes, rolling hills, vineyards, and apple orchards, sits an enchanting two-parcel, 8.82-acre property with a very unique claim to fame.
The larger parcel, spanning 7.32 acres, was once owned by Charles M. Schulz, the creator of the beloved comic strip Peanuts, and still houses the cartoonist’s former studio, which has been carefully preserved — and turned into an inviting one-bedroom home.
It’s now being brought to market for the very first time in 47 years. Asking $3,950,000, the former studio and the land that surrounds it is listed with Mark Stevens and Gail Gijzen, affiliated with the Sebastopol office of Coldwell Banker Realty.
Schulz had the studio built in 1966 and used it as a creative space where he penned the adventures of beloved characters like Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the rest of the “Peanuts” gang. His house at the time sat on an adjacent lot that was part of the same property, which was later broken down into several lots due to its massive size.
“The main house where the Schulz family lived was initially part of the same property as the art studio,” says one of the property’s current owners, Eric Rogers, whose grandparents bought the property 47 years ago.
His father, Timothy Rogers, chimes in to provide a little more background on just how massive the Schulz estate was back in the day: “Schulz’s property encompassed roughly 27 acres with the main house, the grandmother’s house and other structures including a large pond, baseball field, miniature golf course, large swimming pool and an enclosed entertainment pavilion.”
“The studio was the last structure built at the western end of the property, isolated on a dead-end road with surrounding vineyards and apple orchards and a tight-knit group of neighbors.”
Charles Schulz’s art studio lives on as a one-bedroom home
The midcentury modern home was built by Steele & Van Dyk, the same architecture firm that built the Redwood Empire Ice Arena (more commonly known as “Snoopy’s Home Ice,” now part of the Charles M. Schulz Museum in Santa Rosa, CA) where Schulz held annual hockey tournaments and hosted tennis exhibitions.
“My grandparents, Don & Helen Rogers, bought the property in 1976,” Eric Rogers tells us.
“My grandfather was intrigued when he saw an ad in the paper about a property belonging to a famous celebrity for sale in Sebastopol. Out of curiosity, he made an 80-mile trip from where they lived and discovered it was owned by Charles Schulz. The original property was divided into three sections: the main house, recreational area, and art studio. My grandparents ended up buying the art studio parcel which included the golf course.”
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The original 7+ acre property has been in their family ever since, and there have been many discussions over the years about whether or not to enlarge the existing structure. But in the end, their love for the history behind the studio surpassed any desire to change the home.
Instead, they made minor enhancements meant to make the small house more livable.
Changes to the home include the addition of a stove/oven and custom-matched cabinetry in the kitchen on the opposite wall of the sink, Velux skylights installed in the kitchen, living room, bathrooms, and bedroom. All windows and sliding exterior doors were replaced with double-pane insulated glass but the Rogers made sure not to alter the nature of the design and had them all custom-made to match the unique originals.
In what was the original art studio space, some of the shelves and drawers were removed to accommodate a recessed king-size bed.
The end result is an inviting one-bedroom home with one full bath and a powder room, a stone fireplace, and 1,176 square feet of living space. Since the owners weren’t living on the property, they turned it into a licensed vacation rental for a few years.
“We started renting out the property in April 2016 and have had a growing number of people stay year after year. We ended up booking more people than we imagined — mostly couples looking for a romantic getaway to the wine country,” Eric says. “We stopped renting in 2022.”
While they always wanted to enjoy the property as it was originally designed, the family has long considered building an additional structure. They purchased an adjoining lot that can be developed but decided to keep it as an open space instead, and they’re now including that vacant parcel of land (spanning 1.5 acres) in the sale.
The 8.82-acre property is now hitting the market for $3.95M
While Charles M. Schulz’s former studio may be the centerpiece, the entire property is a semi-secluded paradise.
“The grounds are a combination of a four-hole golf course, Redwoods groves, walking trails surrounded by numerous rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias, dogwoods, numerous varieties of ferns, fruit trees and a vast variety of flowers,” Timothy Rogers tells us.
“After I retired as a helicopter pilot over two decades ago, I have developed and taken care of the landscaping as a labor of love. I will miss all those moments of sheer beauty that I have experienced at the passing of each season and sharing all that time with the wildlife that has shared it with me.”
And Timothy’s labor of love is showcased throughout the sprawling property, whose beautifully landscaped grounds are accented by walking trails with wood-carved benches and statues.
There’s also a massive deck (approximately 1,340 square feet) and a 4-hole, par-3 golf course that dates back to Schulz’s ownership — one that the Rogers family has revamped after it was left in disrepair.
It wasn’t uncommon for them to find golf balls owned by Schulz’s many famous friends. They found golf balls with names like Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, and Robert Mitchum inscribed on them, hinting at the many star-studded charity tournaments that once took place on the property.
The Peanuts creator’s ties to his former art studio haven’t been fully severed over the years. Schulz’s two sons would occasionally stop by to visit and reminisce.
“The sons have come by the property at different times to take trips down memory lane. It sounded like the childhood we all dream of — living on a large property amongst beautiful redwoods and surrounded by animals and livestock,” Eric shares.
“They would tell hilarious stories about driving their dirt bikes up and down the property and riding horses. It is rumored that the family hosted charity events on the golf course that drew in celebrity friends. Their love and effort went into building this amazing and magical place that we got to share as a family for decades.”
Now, it’s time for a new family to create memories here.
After 47 years and three generations of ownership, Eric and Timothy Rogers are selling the property for $3,950,000, and have enlisted the help of Mark Stevens and Gail Gijzen, affiliated with the Sebastopol office of Coldwell Banker Realty, to find the right buyer.
“We have built memories here that we’ll cherish forever. It is the perfect place to find serenity without being too far from civilization,” Eric tells us. “But the time has come for someone new to find a home here. We know they’ll love it as much as we have, and hopefully, continue the legacy that was left to us by the Schulz family when they created this loving place that we were fortunate to help build upon.“
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Suzanne Cotton is a collector at heart and has been since childhood. As a custom dress designer and chair of the Columbus College of Art & Design Fashion Department, Cotton’s eye for style is impeccable. She’s a regular at antique shows and tag sales, and takes annual road trips to Vermont to visit antique shops along the way. Her Facebook Marketplace searches are endless, and she’s a top contributor to the Facebook Maximalist Design and Décor group.
Her collections are varied, ranging from travel hankies and tea towels to punk rock memorabilia, vintage buttons and fezzes. So when she stepped inside her 1963 1,800-square-foot Westgate house for the first time, she knew she had found the venue to showcase her lifelong curations of beloved belongings.
westgateneighbors.org
Cotton was looking for a new place to call home after 14 years in a Hidden Lake condo at the Quarry, which she shared with her late husband. “I’d driven through [Westgate] a few times, liked the homes, and the price was right,” Cotton says. “I really wanted a house that I could make my own, put work into, and get everything fixed up just the way I wanted it. The affordability of the neighborhood made that very doable for me.”
One of the neighborhood events is the Westgate Home and Garden Tour, which will feature Cotton’s home as one of its seven stops on Saturday, June 10. Committee member Kate Futty, who has lived in Westgate for close to 30 years, adores Cotton’s home. “When I’m in there, it feels like I’m in a genie’s bottle. A lot of people try to do midcentury modern, but they’re missing the mark. Suzanne is hitting the nail on the head.” And Futty admires Cotton’s skill in incorporating her collections into her design. “She just knew that this was her style. What she wanted to fill her childhood bedroom with has blossomed to her entire house,” Futty says.
Before moving into her home in August 2018, Cotton completed a five-month, DIY remodel. Making the place her own was no small feat, as every room had wallpaper and she changed the flooring in the majority of the house.
The kitchen required the most work, with a wall removal, doubling of countertop space, removal of a second entrance to a restroom, and the addition of a bar and floating shelves. For the kitchen, she worked with Justin Collamore from Collamore Built. But she remained in charge of the project, selecting the lights, quartz countertops and matching backsplash, and even the perfect kitchen door handles from Etsy. Collamore helped her source her Wellborn cabinets, and they worked on the layout together.
“She was more involved than most [clients] because she had a specific vision for what she wanted. Because she’s in the design profession, it was fun to work with her because we speak the same design language. She was able to make some choices that others may shy away from without that vision,” Collamore says.
Cotton’s style can be best described as maximalist, with attention to detail and a love for colors that pop. Space is important to her. “I love to be able to see all four corners of a room,” she says. “I like to see under my furniture.” The living room, with its granite fireplace, was the starting point for her remodel. She used that and a set of green chairs to inspire a cohesive color palette that works throughout her home, with shades of blues, greens and turquoises taking center stage. Downstairs, she opted for a navy palette that gives the area a more intimate and relaxed feel.
Cotton’s midcentury swung glass collection is the visual focal point of the living room (and perhaps the entire home). The collection—composed mostly of Viking, Smith and Empoli—envelops the fireplace, bringing the room to life. Cotton prefers the multicolor, clear glass that was sold in midrange department stores like Sears during the 1960s and ’70s, but also values her Italian Empoli pieces. Her love for this type of glass began in her teenage years and only has grown stronger over time. She continues to search out pieces in thrift shops and antique shows.
“I don’t mind [having] a lot of something,” Cotton says. “Like the glass. I love the fact that it’s a ton of glass.” As such, the living room is her favorite in the house.
Seeing her items displayed throughout her home has reenergized Cotton’s passion for collecting. “It’s made me start collecting stuff again. For years, I didn’t. But I really enjoy it now. I love being surrounded by things I love. It just has to be done in a way that’s thoughtful. I don’t just buy anything. If I see something, I really think about it: Will it fit? Is there a space for it? Will it add to my collection?”
This story is from the June 2023 issue of Columbus Monthly.
We never tire of looking at magnificent midcentury modern homes—and we’re not alone. They’ve been favored on architectural popularity lists for well over 75 years!
Midcentury modern design began in the mid-1940s, right after World War II. Soldiers were coming home, starting families, and setting off the baby boom—and they needed new homes quickly and inexpensively.
The experimental technologies and materials—steel, aluminum, tempered glass, stucco, and plywood—developed during the war and beyond were quickly applied to residential structures to meet the needs of the growing U.S. population.
The style had staying power—and spread across the U.S. You might think the epicenter of the midcentury modern movement would be in swanky Palm Springs, CA, where the design was energetically embraced. Or perhaps in the Midwest, where architectural icon Frank Lloyd Wright helped originate the movement.
But a simple search on Realtor.com® reveals that original midcentury modern homes can be found throughout the country.
The prices are as varied as the locations. We found prime and well-preserved examples ranging from $2.6 million to $249,500.
If open floor plans, floor-to-ceiling windows, sleek spaces, and a cool-cat vibe are on your list of must-haves, take a look.
Price: $1,995,000 Handsome in Hollywood: Brimming with original features, this 1960-built home is nestled in the hills of Beachwood Canyon, close to the Hollywood sign and the Lake Hollywood Reservoir. Celebrity-filled hiking trails await right outside the door.
This one is a three-bedroom, two-bath, 1,502-square-foot beauty with walls of glass, transom and picture windows, sliding glass doors, and balconies.
Original features include glass-block walls, a concrete-block fireplace, beamed ceilings, and brick planters. This hillside home is already pending sale.
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Price: $2,600,000 Pretty and petite: Beautifully restored and located in the popular Sun Terrace neighborhood, this two-bedroom, two-bath, 1,338-square-foot home proves that good things really do come in small packages.
Every square inch of this “atomic ranch” has been stylishly renovated. For example, custom floors were poured to match the original terrazzo. We’re also crazy about those primary-colored floor tiles.
Other exquisitely updated features include a sparkling kitchen with high-end appliances, and a high-impact roof and windows. The house is further equipped with smart technology.
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Price: $535,000 Boise beauty: Built in 1961, the two-story home has been updated with modern features like a state-of-the-art kitchen.
The three-bedroom, two-bath abode, with 2,028 square feet of interior space, has been updated from floor to ceiling. Plus, the home’s 9,583-square-foot lot includes a hot tub, storage shed, and chicken coop.
The home is located in a quiet neighborhood near downtown Boise, so there are plenty of shops and restaurants nearby. It’s also close to the interstate and the airport, just in case you ever need to get away from this pretty little piece of paradise.
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Price: $335,000 Kansas cocoon: If you’re the type who likes to keep the neighbors guessing—this could be the time capsule for you! All the big windows are in the back, and that 1966-era, stone-front exterior allows for plenty of privacy.
The interior space measures 1,949 square feet, and there are three bedrooms and two baths. Downstairs, you’ll find a playroom and storage area, a two-car garage, and an additional storage shed.
The listing indicates that “lots of possibilities await,” so it may need a little work.
The 0.42-acre lot is located on a cul-de-sac, not far from Garden City shopping. The nearest big city is Wichita. You’d have all the advantages of small-town living while enjoying a big-time, sophisticated home.
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Price: $1,900,000 Old yet new: While the architecture was inspired by seminal home designers Frank Lloyd Wright and Richard Neutra, this spacious home has had all of its mechanical systems updated. It’s a miraculous feat of blending midcentury modern style with 21st-century convenience.
This five-bedroom, seven-bath, 6,716-square-foot home sits on a 2.7-acre hilltop lot. It features sweeping views of the the surrounding countryside via floor-to-ceiling windows. Its finer features include all walls with cross-bracing to hold firm in a storm, exterior fir wood siding, and marble walls and chimneys.
Built in 1960, and fabulously maintained and updated, the property comes with additional living quarters that could be used as a short-term rental, according to the listing.
And there’s more good news: Most of the midcentury modern furniture can stay in the home, for the right price.
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Price: $1,725,000 Perfection in Princeton: This immaculately restored and updated home features a garage that has been converted into a light-filled office space. The property also comes with a beautiful apartment with a separate driveway and patio.
The five-bedroom, 4.5-bath dwelling sits on a leafy, 3-acre lot close to downtown Princeton. Originally built in 1955, it has period features like an open floor plan, beamed ceilings, large expanses of glass windows and doors, and a fireplace.
Bonus: Your kids can walk to an excellent school via a footpath from the backyard.
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Price: $249,500 Well-rounded: The least expensive home on our list, this circular brick house has four bedrooms, 2.5 baths, and tons of style.
That sturdy construction could be responsible for its holding strong since it was built in 1964, since hurricanes have been known to pummel the region. Residents stay toasty and safe in its curvaceous sunken living room with a full masonry fireplace. The open kitchen with a spacious dining nook is another of the 3,046-square-foot residence’s highlights.
Louisiana might not be the first place you’d think to look for such a Space Age abode, yet here it sits, right in the middle of Louisiana’s fifth largest city. The low price and retro style attracted a buyer, and the property is now pending sale.
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Price: $2,200,000 Unquestionably unique: This midcentury modern design will absolutely take your breath away with its soaring ceilings, redwood-and-stone finishes, and towering windows overlooking picturesque Margaret’s Falls.
Built in 1961 by award-winning architect John Michael, who was inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright, it has six bedrooms and five baths in a roomy 5,453 square feet of space. The fenced, hilltop lot is spacious as well, measuring almost 5 acres of landscaping near the house, as well as private woods.
Highlights include a stacked-stone, double-sided fireplace, original stone floors, and clever built-ins.
The oh, so familiar residence that served as the exterior for sitcom stalwart “The Brady Bunch” is this week’s most popular home on Realtor.com®.
Located in the L.A. suburb of Studio City, the five-bedroom home appears almost exactly as you might remember it from the show, thanks to HGTV. The network purchased the place in 2018 and had its stars transform the interior and exterior to create a near-exact replica of the house on the iconic show that ran from 1969 to 1974.
Other homes you clicked on this week include a Nantucket-inspired home in Connecticut, an entire island in North Carolina, and a cheap antique in Illinois that includes houseguests. (Yes, you read that correctly.)
For a full look at this week’s 10 most popular homes, keep on scrolling.
Price: $360,000 Why it’s here: This adorable Cape Cod cottage is decked out in classic beach style and is being offered completely furnished.
From the salmon-colored door to the seafoam-green kitchen cabinets, the cool coastal vibe is apparent the moment you enter the two-bedroom unit.
Offering just 560 square feet of living space, the seasonal cottage sits in the community of Salt Air Village. The recently updated interior also offers new appliances and a tankless water heater.
A monthly homeowners association fee includes activities as well as beach access. The little place is pending sale.
Price: $1,260,000 Why it’s here: This sprawling six-bedroom home offers stylish single-level living.
The 4,500-square-foot interior reflects the midcentury modern style. Built in 1975, the home boasts a kitchen with a marble island and breakfast bar. There’s also a living room with a brick fireplace, built-in shelves, and walls of windows. The primary suite comes with a vaulted ceiling and a walk-in shower.
The 3-acre property includes a bonus space with a bathroom and a built-in dog bath out back.
Price: $500,000 Why it’s here: “This MCM home could be a great rehab or tear down,” the listing states. Naturally, we wanted a peek inside.
This three-bedroom home offers a classic midcentury style. The photos show a wall of windows in the living room as well as wood-paneled walls and ceilings, so the bones appear to be salvageable.
The residence sits on 1.4 acres and is pending sale.
Price: $684,900 Why it’s here: This luxury, Nantucket-inspired home is offered at a reasonable price.
Built in 1977, the exquisitely designed, 3,745-square-foot home boasts high ceilings, three fireplaces, shadowbox accents, bullnose arches, and many built-ins. A foyer clad in travertine features marble medallion inlay. The two-story great room comes with a cherry inlay floor plus a floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace. The chef’s kitchen comes with radiant floor heating, high-end appliances, and an oversized center island. The two-car carriage house provides extra storage space.
The wraparound porch with mahogany flooring and the private back deck are ideal spaces to soak in views of the 1.95-acre lot.
Price: $199,000 Why it’s here: This ultra-affordable antique needs some TLC, but it does come with many period details.
The cute three-bedroom home offers 1,141 square feet of living space. A glass-enclosed sunroom opens to the spacious living room with the original wood flooring and a brick fireplace. The dining room has a built-in cabinet, and the primary bedroom comes with two closets plus sliders that open to the back deck.
Price: $480,000 Why it’s here: This historic gem has been thoughtfully modernized.
Built in 1910, it boasts historic details, including seven fireplaces, stained-glass windows, and exquisite moldings. Restored hardwood flooring runs throughout the four-bedroom home, and there’s new plumbing and electrical.
There are two bedrooms on each floor, and the kitchen and two bathrooms were recently updated.
Price: $2,400,000 Why it’s here: If you’ve ever dreamed of owning your own island, here is your chance.
The 4-acre Waterway Island comes with an updated, 4,534-square-foot home, saltwater pool, kayak launch, and private beach.
The five-bedroom residence includes a chef’s kitchen and a living room surrounded by windows. The primary suite is on the third level and comes with access to a private deck.
Price: $130,000 Why it’s here: The enormous mansion comes with an affordable price tag—and tenants.
According to the listing, the antique is being sold as is and is “occupied.” Adding to the mystery, there are no interior photographs.
Originally built for local developer Charles Powers in 1910, the five-bedroom estate features “three full stories of grandeur.” The home sits on a corner lot of 1.3 acres.
Price: $199,000 Why it’s here: Attention, entrepreneurs! This historic building offers an opportunity to operate a restaurant, café, or retail business in the space.
Previously operating as a restaurant, the 1,825 square feet of space has been completely remodeled, though some historic touches remain. The industrial-style interior boasts beamed ceilings, concrete floors, and exposed brick walls. The covered back patio offers a nice spot for dining al fresco.
According to the listing, all of the furnishings are available for purchase.
Price: $5,500,000 Why it’s here: Here’s your chance to tell your own story in “The Brady Bunch” home. The exterior of this midcentury home was featured in the popular 1970s family show that became a cult favorite.
While the interiors of the beloved home of Carol and Mike’s blended family were originally shot on a soundstage, the interiors of this home were fashioned after the home we saw on TV.
That’s all thanks to HGTV. After purchasing the home in 2018, the network taped an entire series about the home’s interior makeover. From Alice’s kitchen with its burnt orange Formica countertops to the infamous sliders that open to the backyard where Peter hit Marcia in the nose with a football, the interior is decked out in groovy ’70s style.
“Curated furnishings and accessories are included in the sale,” the listing notes. However, “fireplaces and some appliances/fixtures are decorative only.”
Calling all fans of Ramona Quimby, Henry Huggins, and Ralph S. Mouse—we have a midcentury modern dream home for you.
That’s right. The house where Beverly Cleary (your favorite childhood author and ours) raised her family is for sale at 1091 Creston Road in Berkeley, CA.
The four-bedroom home is listed for $1,849,000.
More than 91 million copies of Cleary’s books have been sold. She died in 2021 at the age of 104.
“The Clearys were the first owners of the home and lived there from 1956 until 1968,” says listing agent John Seravic. “My clients, the Zinn family, bought it from them and are the current owners.”
The home was designed for the Clearys by modernist architect Roger Lee.
The 2,056-square-foot house sits in one of Berkeley’s most coveted neighborhoods, just minutes from downtown.
Aside from its claim to literary fame, the home offers plenty of natural light and gorgeous vistas of the San Francisco Bay Area.
“There are amazing views from just about every part of the property,” says Seravic. “The lot size is enormous and mostly flat—something that’s rare in the hills.”
The level property makes for a truly functional backyard space, with room for the perfect al fresco dining experience right outside the kitchen door. In addition to its modern appliances, the open-concept cook space retains many of its original details, including the boomerang, Formica counters; chrome cabinet pulls; and gray-stained, redwood walls.
“It’s a time capsule to a bygone era,” says Seravic.
Another fun fact? The heights of both the Cleary and Zinn children remain marked in the main-bedroom door jamb. And there’s even been a recent addition.
“Marianne Cleary [Beverly’s daughter] happened to see the house on the market and came by the open house—so we updated her height on the jamb,” Seravic reports.