Eichler Homes in Sacramento: materials

Showing posts with label materials. Show all posts

The Big Daddy of all Eichler Home brochures

I just about flipped my wig when friends and Eichler Home owners Michael and Clyde called to tell me they were given the original marketing and homeowner materials from an original Sacramento Eichler Home owners' family. Due to the family's kindness and generosity, we can share and enjoy this piece of history. To date, from all of my research over the last two years, I have yet to see this elsewhere.

The original family owned two Sacramento Eichler Homes! When a home across the street from them became available, they moved in. The materials I've scanned and posted were from their original purchase.

First up -- a 66 page brochure which appears to have been developed for the Bay Area. It describes at length the design principles behind the making of Eichler Homes, as well as the details regarding the building of the homes from the ground up. It also includes what goes on in the planning of an Eichler Home neighborhood, the specific materials used, the companies involved, and available services and resources.

What a gem! Many thanks again to Michael and Clyde for passing this on to me for sharing -- and to the Michaels family for preserving and giving the materials to Michael and Clyde.

Stay tuned for additional posts regarding the rest of the materials.

Blast from the past -- 1958 + 1961 Eichler Ads: Cabot's Ranch House Hues

Last night I was talking with other Sacramento Eichler Home owners and the subject regarding original exterior and interior stain colors was discussed. That reminded me there is an interest among Eichler Home owners in knowing more about the products that were originally used on their homes. In this spirit, I'd like to share the following vintage ads I found:

From House + Home, March 1958, Page 7.

Cabot's Stains were a semi-solid, oil-based product used on Eichler Home exteriors. They are still manufactured today in many colors.

From House + Home, March 1958, Page 7.

"Cabot's Ranch House Hues - endorsements from leading builders such as Mr. Eichler are your assurance that with any Cabot product you get the finest quality, greatest economy, and longest life.

Cabot's Ranch House Hues
* cost only 1/2 as much as paint
* won't crack, peel or blister
* are easy to apply and maintain
* give years of protection
* can be used on all types of wood -- siding, shingles and trim
* need no thinning -- no priming
* need no sanding -- no scraping

Choose from 18 modern colors -- many exclusive with Cabot including Alcazar Brown, Mariposa Redwood, Mimosa Yellow, Spruce Blue."

From House + Home, February 1961, Page 151

The Eichler Home in the advertisement above is a rare custom home in San Mateo and was designed by Pietro Belluschi, AIA. For more information regarding this home, please visit a great article written by Meredith L. Clausen for CA-Modern by the Eichler Network.

For more information regarding paint colors for your Eichler Home, including reconstructed color palette charts, please read Tanja Kern's well-researched article for for CA-Modern by the Eichler Network.

Original Eichler Home cabinets, anyone?

While I'm working on intensive research and other Big Plans, thought I'd pass along these beauties (click on pix for direct links) -- reportedly straight from the "Original Model home" here in South Land Park Hills.

Per Schiff's Estate Sales in Sacramento, "These are original Eichler Kitchen Cabinets. They came out of the Original Model Home for Eichler in South Land Park, CA. There is an 18" built in cutting board and an opening of 26 13/16" for a sink. The counter top is formica. Measures: Bottom Cabinet 36 1/2" tall, 25" deep, 95 1/2" wide. Upper Cabinet 24" tall, 13 3/4 deep, 87" wide."

The matching tall cabinet/storage pantry from the same home is also for sale and measures: 80" tall, 13 5/16" deep, 45" wide.

I really love the multi-tone colors and that these are the real thing! Anyone looking to undo a bad remodel or re-authenticate their Eichler Home kitchen?

I found Waldo!

In my quest for grasscloth to refresh our original closet doors, Waldo Bowers came through with four sample books that they kindly let me take home and study. While I could have purchased grasscloth online, I wanted to see the color and texture firsthand as well as patronize a local retailer. I had tried hunting it down at several local stores here in Sacramento, even a store that specializes in environmentally friendly products. Then I remembered Waldo Bowers, an old-school floor and wall coverings specialty store.

I wound up choosing from Pacific Designs International's Han Ban Do IX book, Pattern HBD 9045. This grasscloth is handcrafted out of tightweave all-natural jute fibers and is environmentally friendly.

The above is the final result of my quest, expertly installed by John DiDomenico (see more regarding John here).

Speaking of which, Waldo Bowers carries several environmentally friendly products that would look great in any Eichler or mid-century modern home: Marmoleum, Ionique, bamboo, cork and natural wood floors. They also have an impressive variety of vinyl composition tile from several manufacturers.

The official store entrance is on the 24th Street side, but in case you get lost, the regulars at The Jointed Cue pool hall next door on the Fruitridge side will set you straight!

Solvent + static electricity = Eichler fire?

While this did not happen in Sacramento I feel it is a significant and important issue and thus have decided to post.

My heart goes out to the worker who was burned and to the family who lost their Eichler home in Palo Alto on December 16, 2008.

A worker was using solvent on the walls and the spark was reportedly caused by rubbing. The solvent also acted as an accelerator for the flames. So terrible and sad!

I was informed by a neighbor here in the South Land Park Hills tract that at one point there was once an Eichler on our street that has since been replaced by a conventional home. Reportedly, it burned down in just 20 minutes!

More on the Palo Alto fire here. I will be following this story and issue; will post if further details follow.