One of my favorite MCM homes in Sacramento

... is on the market! See listing for details.

Don't miss this stunning gem tucked in Land Park and was on the Sacramento Mid-Century Modern Home Tour this last June.

According to my research for the Tour guidebook, this two bedroom, two-story, 1963 custom home was designed by Robert N. Hill of Morris Construction Company. According to city records, the home’s first residents were real estate developer Robert C. Powell and his wife, Jeanette, an award-winning interior designer. Robert C. Powell developed several communities and properties in Sacramento including Campus Commons, Governor’s Square, Gold River, and Pavilions Shopping Center. Morris Construction Company was operated by Robert S. and Steven T. Morris. Their company built many homes throughout Sacramento.

This unique home includes its original pool, dramatic floating staircase, broken slate floors and concrete masonry. There is even a little door near the bar for passing cool drinks to guests outside at the pool! The current owner recently and sensitively remodeled her home using natural and hand-crafted materials. An open floorplan and floor-to-ceiling windows provide a perfect setting to showcase modern furniture and art.

via Sutter Buttes/John DiDomenico Photography

 via Sutter Buttes/John DiDomenico Photography

More gorgeous pix of this home here (first home posted).

The home was also recently featured in a detailed article in the June issue of Inside Publications, which can be downloaded here.

When I was researching this home for the tour, I felt that there was more to know about its history. Will continue to research and post when/if I find out.

Mimomito for local and thrifty mid-century furniture finds!

Interesting furniture/homeware finds (and humor) abound from the folks over at Mimomito, an awesome newcomer to the Sacramento blog scene. The blog was started when "a group of friends in Sacramento that found out about each other’s furniture obsession and started sending craigslist links to one another – and cluttering up the walls of Facebook with ads about couches and coffee tables. We’ve honed and concentrated our powers into this blog to surface great furniture in and for the Mid-Town Sacramento community."

 via Mimomito

via Mimomito

Be sure to check out their naughty "Do Not Want" posts, hahaha!

Check out Rose and Serene's travels and finds on craigslist, local antique stores, thrifts and yard sales. Thanks to my good friend, Toni, for the tip about this fun blog!

Sorry I haven't been blogging much this month. Been busy being a mommy and wifey. And, ahem, -- planning the next Sacramento Mid-Century Modern Home Tour. Oh yeah: it's ON! More on that later.

Do you know the way to San Jose?

My friend and kindred MCM historian, Heather, is working on an incredible driving tour in San Jose that is not to be missed! The tour -- "San Jose Modern: A Driving Tour of Mid-Century Highlights" -- is sponsored by Northern California Chapter of Docomomo. According to the tour flyer, this event features:

".... a self-driving tour of mid-century roadside highlights in San Jose. Tour stops will include the Century 21 Theater (1964), Community of Christ Church (1967), San Jose Water Co. building (c. 1960), San Jose’s Center for the Performing Arts (1972), car dealerships, restaurants, antique stores and more.

Date: Saturday, October 9th

Registration Desk Open 9 AM – 12 PM
Registration Location: Starbucks Coffee, 5180 Stevens Creek Boulevard (near the former Futurama Bowl Sign)
Tour Hours 9 AM – 6 PM
• Exclusive access to select interiors
• Discounts at San Carlos Antiques Row
• Antique car show
• Mid-century window displays
RSVP to rsvp@docomomo-noca.org for more information about meeting times and places.
Tickets $25 ($20 for members)"

Here are some pix of places highlighted on the tour:

via hmdavid

via hmdavid

via hmdavid

via hmdavid

Heather recently sold many copies of her fabulous book, "Mid-Century By the Bay" here in Sacramento during the Sacramento Mid-Century Modern Home Tour. Excellent reading, I highly recommend it!

via hmdavid

Hope to see you there! Help spread the word and support our friends who work so hard to document MCM treasures.

Harry Jang, AIA, Residence (1963)

I was finally able to see this residence after admiring it from the street over the last ten years during walks with my family and dog. It's a fantastic home and is now for sale. It's located on a gentle hill in South Land Park Terrace.

I once shared a van ride to the airport with Mr. Jang's widow - she noticed my home was close to her old home and we both requested we take a little detour and drive past it. She wistfully said "My husband designed this home" as we admired it from the outside.

Built in 1963, this home takes full advantage of the hillside upon which it is built. The lower part of the home has an amazing cinder block carport, a backyard, and a separate in-law quarter (which I would use as a game room).

Inside, there are tons of original details (cabinetry hardware, hanging glass pendants, wood paneling, and built-ins) that have remained. These are exactly the sort of thing that I look for when I purchase an MCM home. I prefer original, untouched homes; when "updates" occur, these details are lost.

Harry Jang was a Sacramento architect born in nearby Courtland. He received a bachelor's degree from UC Berkeley in 1949 and became an architect in 1956. Per his obituary in the Sacramento Bee,

"One of 12 children of Louise Jo and Choy Jang, he was a 1939 graduate of Courtland High School who attended Sacramento Junior College before being drafted into the Army on the eve of World War II.

He switched to the Army Air Forces, was trained as a navigator, became a first lieutenant and was assigned to the 306th Bomb Group. As a crew member on B-17s, he survived 35 combat missions over Europe. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross. He worked as an architect for the state Department of Rehabilitation."

I would buy this home in a heartbeat if I didn't already have two local MCM homes already! Someone is going to get an awesome home. Please, oh please: don't let it be a flipper who messes it up!

For more information and pix, please see this detail report and the MLS listing.

A nice surprise

I found a really nice handmade card on my doorstep this week from the Short Center South! The Sacramento Mid-Century Modern Home Tour donated a $3,000 from this year's tour.

The Short Center South is a South Land Park neighbor and a wonderful day program that serves adults with developmental disabilities. The Center offers classes in a studio setting, taught by artists working in their own disciplines. Classes include drawing, painting, ceramics, mosaics, photography, music, dance, theatre, textiles, crafts, sign language, reading, computers, physical education/exercise and classes that further social skills and personal growth.

My kids holding the card to show how big it is!

If you haven't visited their studios and seen their artwork, check them out. You probably have already seen their work around town; they recently completed a public mural that is displayed on Franklin Boulevard. For more information about their work, see their website, Facebook and Twitter pages.

The Sacramento Mid-Century Modern Home Tour is proud to support our neighbors at the Short Center South -- many thanks to all of you who participated and contributed!

Open House Today: South Land Park Hills Eichler Home For Sale

 6457 S Land Park Dr.

Those of you looking for a MCM home in Sacramento will want to check out this 1908 square foot, 3 bedroom/2 bath Jones + Emmons Eichler Home today (8.15.10) from 1pm to 4pm.

This home has a bonus room and swimming pool. It is in the vicinity of two Eichler Homes that were in the 2010 Sacramento Mid-Century Modern Home Tour.

More from Redfin about this home here. This information was given to me because I am known for passing this sort of information along as a public service to those who are interested and love MCM design and architecture as much as I do. Be sure to check this one out -- Eichler Homes in our neighborhood have been selling quickly!

More posts to come in the near future -- I've been taking a break after the tour and have my two kids at home these days :)

A Real Honor

We had the distinct pleasure of showing the California State Historical Resources Commission some of the homes and points of interest on the Sacramento Mid-Century Modern Home Tour yesterday.

This morning, the three of us (aka Sacramento Modern) who put together the tour had the honor of receiving a resolution from the Commission during their quarterly meeting, which was held in the chambers of Sacramento's New City Hall.

Again, thank you to all who participated as a homeowner, sponsor, advertiser or volunteer for the home tour. We're proud to be highlighting and celebrating our mid-century modern treasures. We are honored to be considered a part of the larger preservation community and look forward to working further in this capacity.

Carter Sparks + Streng Bros. Homes = "Solution for contemporary living in the Sacramento Valley"

Streng Bros. Homes brochure, circa 1976

I was finally able to view and scan a primary source from 1976 regarding where Streng Bros. Homes were located in the Sacramento Valley. I've posted about this before, but wanted to share this brochure because it has shows specific home plans and specific neighborhoods. Absent in this group are the Streng Bros. Homes in Elk Grove and Natomas.

The homes listed in the brochure were designed by Carter Sparks, who stated:

"These homes express my solution for contemporary living in the Sacramento Valley. I have included broad overhanging eaves for shade, and open planning to create an easy flow between interior and exterior spaces. The use of natural materials unifies the homes with their surroundings. When these elements are combined, they form a pleasant blend of function and beauty that results in a better home in which to live."

According to the brochure, Streng Bros. Homes were built in the following locations:

Sacramento, North Area: Autumn Hill, Barrett Hills, Bellwood Heights, Clearfield, Cordova Meadows Estates, Crestridge Estates, Del Dayo Estates, Del Norte Oaks, Eastridge, Glen Oaks, Greenridge Heights, Homewood, Northridge Oaks, Oak Creek Estates, Overbrook, River College Square, Riverside Bluffs, Shelfield Estates, Shelfield Oaks, Sierra Oaks, Sierra Oaks Vista, Walnut View Estates, Wildflower, Whitney Woods, Wilhaggin.

Sacramento, South Area: Lake Greenhaven Shores, South Land Park Hills, South Land Park Riviera, Greenhaven '70, Riverside Estates, Noonan South Land Park Terrace, South Land Park Village.

Folsom Lake Area: Lake Natoma Heights, Lakewood, Hidden Valley, Lakeview Estates, Valley Pines, Arden Bluff.

Davis: Willowbank, Oakside, Elmwood, Westwood, Norwood, University Farms, Andersen Place, El Macero C.C. Estates.

Woodland: Walnut Manor, Gibson Estates.

Winters 

Hope this helps in your searches for these wonderful homes. See my previous post for additional details and suggestions.

We now return to our regularly scheduled programming

Ever feel like this?

I have to say, that home tour wore me out a bit. Been getting lots of inquiries about Sacramento Modern (SacMod), our new non-profit dedicated to promoting, preserving, and protecting modern art, architecture and design in the Sacramento region. We're also quite busy preparing to meet with some state preservationists this coming week. Despite the fatigue, still thinking up new ways to entertain and educate people around here. This is the best non-paying job EVER!

And now, back to more *stuff*:

Original letter to new Eichler Home owners in Sacramento

Say hello to a letter personally signed by Joseph Eichler to the Michaels family when they purchased their Sacramento Eichler Home. You may recall they also shared a huge brochure with us recently.

I think my favorite part is the page with the signature - because on the back of it Mrs. Michaels scribbled some notes to herself about babysitters and replacement glass. As a mom I can appreciate this.

See the other pages in that Flickr set for the rest of the letter, which speaks to the level of pride and concern Joseph Eichler had in his product. The letter accompanied other materials and manuals that helped Eichler Home owners care for their investment. These items came in a vinyl trifold case -- see another example here, from a previous post.

Happy weekend everyone!

2nd set of official photos: 2010 Sacramento Mid-Century Modern Home Tour

Here is the second set of official photos from the 2010 Sacramento Mid-Century Modern Home Tour taken by our friend Toni Okamoto.

We again thank all who participated, especially the homeowners, sponsors, advertisers, and volunteers. If you would like to participate by showing your home, being a sponsor or advertiser, volunteering -- or nominating a neighborhood, building, structure, or otherwise sharing relevant information and history regarding the Sacramento region's MCM art, architecture and design treasures -- please drop us a line at sacramentomodern (at) comcast (dot) net.