Realtor.com
A fabulous 1960s house in Southern California has popped up on the market for the first time. Bonus points: It was built by an apprentice to Frank Lloyd Wright.
The standout design, constructed in 1961, offers up an unusual folded-style roof. The splashy pad is about 2 miles from the coast in Del Mar, CA, a beach town in San Diego County.
It’s available for $6,995,000.
‘Unheard of for San Diego’
“What makes the house so unique is just the architectural style,” says Andrew Appleby, who is listing the property with Scott Appleby and Kerry Appleby-Payne, all of Willis Allen Real Estate. “It’s a true midcentury modern. That folded-plate roof is like something you just do not see, and it’s really unheard of for San Diego.”
The roofline is unique.
Preview First
The spaces seamlessly blend indoors and outdoors.
Preview First
Telltale midcentury modern details include built-ins and glass walls.
Preview First
San Diego master architect Frederick Liebhardt designed the house for businessman Charles Dupont.
The current sellers bought the place directly from Dupont and have lived there for 58 years.
“When you walk into the home, it doesn’t feel like a dated and older home,” Andrew Appleby says. “Everything is in fabulous shape and good condition, and it evokes a feeling of a life well lived.”
Original interiors
The six-bedroom, seven-bath layout totals 4,686 square feet and includes many original features, such as an 18-foot bookshelf covering one wall, plus foot pedals that operate many of the home’s faucets.
And perhaps most importantly, a slew of glass walls bring the property’s stunning surroundings into clear focus.
“There are probably at least 15 to 20 aspects of the home that just take your breath away,” Appleby notes. “You walk directly in, and the living room is just massive, and you see these views out to the mountains.”
The kitchen could stand to be updated.
Preview First
There are six bedrooms, and this one has a fireplace, built-ins, and outdoor access.
Preview First
Look down: Foot pedals control the faucets.
Preview First
While the home has been nicely maintained, Appleby says a buyer might want to make some updates, including a kitchen renovation.
“It’s not a home that everyone can see themselves living in, but every single person has been just taken aback by the attention to detail and thought that went into the house,” he reports.
The retro-style pool house was added in the 1970s.
Preview First
Local instructors currently use the tennis court for lessons.
Preview First
Rad pool pad and private grounds
The architect returned to design the 1,100-square-foot pool house in the 1970s.
“I think what really catches people’s eyes is the pool house, which is an orange and yellow room that overlooks the tennis court,” Appleby says. “That’s kind of got more of a ’70s flair, but it’s just crazy. It’s like straight out of a time capsule.”
The grounds offer another selling point: 3.1 private acres.
“You feel you’re kind of like in a park because it’s three or four times bigger than all the other properties that are around it,” he says. “You cannot see it from the street, and nobody really knows it’s there. Then you pull down the driveway, and you see this large home with a very unique architectural style.”
The angled ceiling is a unique element.
Preview First
Wood paneling and walls are another architectural feature.
Preview First
Appleby acknowledges the large piece of land is desirable, and it’s not beyond the realm of possibility that someone will buy the home, tear it down, and rebuild.
People ‘appreciate the style’
“I think what we’ve seen, and we’ve been pleasantly surprised by, is that most people really appreciate the style of the home and the way that it is,” Appleby says. “We’ve heard from a lot of people that they would keep many aspects the same because you just don’t see anything like it.”
And that’s something the seller wants.
“She definitely hopes nobody tears it down,” Appleby says. “That’s her concern.”
In addition to sellers, who have lived in the home for over five decades, the place has had some longtime caretakers: the housecleaner has been with the family for 47 years—as has the gardener, who is in his 80s and rides his bike to work every day.
“They all feel like this house is a such a big part of their lives,” Appleby says.
The post Raise the Roof! Sensational Midcentury Stunner in SoCal Makes Market Debut at $6.9M appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.
