Realtor.com
A rare midcentury modern home that was designed by a protege of famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright has been put on the market for the first time in its 64-year history.
With incredibly unique design features, like rooms wrapped in vertical-wood paneling, parquet flooring throughout, and a floor-to-ceiling brick fireplace in the living room, the home—which was built in 1961—appears frozen in time.
And, in essence, it has been.
The dwelling has never before been on the market, having only had one owner since it was completed. Now it’s being made available for an asking price of $1.2 million.
The 2,724-square-foot property, which is set on 2.4 acres in Redlands, CA, also boasts serious design cred: It was designed by the late James De Long, a protege of Wright, who worked alongside the iconic architect as a fellow at Taliesin from 1946 to 1947 and served on its board of directors.
De Long later became the architectural editor at House Beautiful magazine—a fitting role given that the Altadena home he designed for his parents once featured on the cover—and enjoyed a prolific career designing around 100 residential properties in Southern California.
Today, two of those dwellings are among the 1,200 Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monuments: the Wolford House and Scholfield House.
For this home, which features four bedrooms and three bathrooms, Gordon Donald executed De Long’s vision as the builder. And while the property features several distinctive design elements, perhaps the most intriguing is best viewed from the sky—where the ingenious cross-shaped layout can be seen in full.
Midcentury modern elements abound throughout the home, which even features a carport, one of the most popular features of the era.
The listing makes no secret of the fact that the home is in need of some modern updates, describing it as an opportunity to “transform this historic gem,” which is hailed as a “dream retreat.”
Renovations can take on many forms, but for starters, the description suggests updating the flooring and the drapes, noting that even these simple changes will help to restore the property’s “original grandeur.”
“With strong architectural bones, the home presents a unique opportunity for restoration, with potential updates to flooring, drapes, and other elements to restore its original grandeur,” it states.
As most of the rooms are now unfurnished, the listing includes suggested “after” shots with furnishings juxtaposed, to give the buyer a sense of what it could become.
This might include placing period knickknacks on the living room’s floating shelves, and adding a dining set to the dining room, but also retaining the original kitchen cabinetry and its open layout for the ultimate aesthetic.
The home’s “strong architectural bones” include ample entertaining spaces throughout the property—from the brightly lit living room, which boasts large windows, to the outdoor area, complete with a sparkling blue pool.
“The inviting pool and deck, accessible from the foyer, primary bedroom, and hall bathroom, create a perfect setting for relaxation and entertaining,” the description notes.
As is typical of many midcentury modern properties, the home features numerous windows that help to bring the outside in. Whether it’s the living room or an office (with the original built-in desk), there’s a strong connection to the outdoors, via walls of windows and how the home is positioned on the site.
“This residence seamlessly integrates with its natural surroundings, offering inspiring views and timeless design,” the listing continues.
Located in the Inland Empire, 63 miles east of downtown Los Angeles and in San Bernardino County, Redlands is a community of around 73,000 people.