5280mod

For Sale – Eugene Sternberg’s Home

If you look under the white and beige paint, Laura Ashley fabrics, and traditional furniture, there is a gorgeous mid-century modern home.

Sternberg designed this home for his family in the early 60′s and lived here until he retired and moved to Evergreen in 1980. It has 4500+ square feet with a full walkout basement, 5 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, 2 car garage, and lots of outdoor living space. Sternberg was also responsible for the site planning of the subdivision, so it’s no surprise the house sits on a large lot and backs to open space. It could be yours for somewhere around $1.5M.

Please note that we work ONLY for buyers and this is an example of the homes we locate for our clients.* All of the properties featured on the site are either For Sale by Owner, or listed by other brokers.

Contact us when you are ready to utilize our unique expertise!

720.279.4884
shannon@5280mod.com

 

*Clients have signed an exclusive buyer agent agreement.

Listing Brokerage: The Kentwood Company.

Tags: Arapahoe Acres, architect, Eugene Sternberg, historic modern, homes for sale, midcentury modern

For Sale: Aaron Green Designed Home in Hilltop

While Realtors frequently and inaccurately tout their listings as “Frank Lloyd Wright inspired”…this home is probably the closest to a Frank Lloyd Wright designed residence you will find in Denver. Unfortunately, it is also another example of what NOT to do to a mid-century modern classic.

The architect, Aaron Green, was an apprentice in the Taliesin Fellowship and continued working with Wright as his West Coast Representative, participating in over 40 projects until Wright’s death in 1959.

Green designed this long, low brick home in Hilltop in 1955. The “L” shape is oriented to the South with walls of glass to let in light and frame what must have been amazing mountain views. The wide eaves were originally designed to allow the winter sun in for passive solar heating, but protect the house from the summer sun. Now there is a large aviary attached to the home and occupying most of the courtyard…blocking the light and obscuring the artful original roofline.

(click photo above for slideshow)

Brick walls and floors  flow from interior to exterior…minimally interrupted by glass.  Sadly, the leaded glass in the bedroom windows were replaced with beige vinyl windows. Portions of the masonry have been covered in a thick layer of dark purple paint and the mahogany doors covered in various laminates.

As with many historic modern homes, this home is need of a remuddle undo. The good news is much of the original materials are still in place and I believe the original blueprints are available. As many historic mid-century modern homes have been lost in the Hilltop neighborhood, the more valuable a restored gem like this one could become.

 3bd/3ba/ 4400+ sq. ft.

Asking Price: $799,000

Listing Brokerage: Cygnus Real Estate

 

Here’s another slideshow I found on YouTube made when the home was still occupied.

Please contact me if you have an interest in this home, or are looking for an historic modern home in the Denver/Boulder area. 

shannon@5280mod.com

720.279.4884

Tags: Aaron Green, architect, architecture, Denver, Frank Lloyd Wright, Hilltop, mid-century, usonian

Cool Find: The Sorensen House

SORRY…the new owners have asked me to take down my interior pics. I convinced the family of the original owner not to “update” the house. Happily the new owners let me know they’ve been in contact with Jim Ream and ” are in the process of restoring the home back to its original grandeur.” PHEW!

Some of my favorite MCM homes were created in the 60′s. The Sorensen House is a great example of 1960′s mid-century modern architecture.

It recently came on the market…for the first time ever…and was under contract in less than 3 days. This one owner home in Applewood (Wheat Ridge) was in virtually original condition. I didn’t expect the home to be for sale long, so I did my best to capture what I could in pictures and video. I apologize for the amateur quality rush job.

The house was designed by Architect James Ream with the help of George Hoover. While Ream only practiced in Denver from 1959 to 1965, he left us with some outstanding residential and commercial buildings. Ream and Hoover both trained/worked with William Muchow…notably Ream as lead designer for the now lost Currigan Hall and Hoover as lead designer for the Denver Center for Performing Arts.

There is a deck at each corner of the house. By using strategically placed benches and planters, the architect was able to avoid railings. The windows were measured to the owner’s eyeline providing views, light and privacy negating the need for drapes or blinds. This was one of the earliest homes built on the plateau, it had amazing 360 degree views.

While globe lights are common, I have never seen them incorporated with the skylights and other ceiling recesses as they are here. The sliding glass doors are designed to disappear inside the wall when opened.

You may be surprised to know that this 4 bd/3.5 ba home with in ground pool sold for a mere $395K.

Tags: 60's, Applewood, architect, George Hoover, homes for sale, James Ream, midcentury modern, retro bathroom, Wheat Ridge