eichler in orange sneak peak: virtually untouched from 1962

Lucky, lucky me. I was invited to a "Sneak Peak" opening party for an Eichler that isn't "quite" on the market yet.

And someone else is going to get really lucky. This beautiful piece of classic Eichler real estate shows signs of being gently loved with the prior owners keeping their power tools in the garage. (Exactly where I think they should be, if you must own any at all.)

Kelly Laule, a broker with Oaktree Realtors, and the owner of EichlerSoCal,  focusing on Eichler mid-century modern architecture, invited us for a little pre-listing tour. My oh my. Still my beating heart.

I think this rare 60s or 70s Porsche 911S comes with the house. Alright, I know. But wouldn't it be cool?

Enough joshing around. Honestly, a perfect house and move-in ready. Nobody has added anything, subtracted anything or bashed anything in.  Let's start the tour.

This precious home is at 1733 North Shaffer Street in the Fairmeadow tract in Orange, California. This is one of three unique tracts of Eichler homes in Orange.

Check out those six foot over hangs. The better to cool you on a hot summer day. You can see in the tip top photo, the little pony wall which is just out of sight to the left in this picture above. The wall protects the main walkway of the house and is a nice feature for hiding crap (e.g. shoes, toys, newspapers). Always thinking, I am.

The greenery in the built-in planter is called Mother-in-Law's Tongue. Charming name huh? But it is attractive and low maintenance. We have a few around our new yard (not quite finished, pictures soon).

Perfectly appropriate atomic back plate on the front door knob.

Step into this stunning atrium.

I love pavers. Although this house is a modest 1,660 square feet of living space. The atrium is another 464  feet (18' by and 24') and is partially covered. It is enclosed by four walls/windows. This makes a wonderful outdoor living room. The home feels much larger than it is, by design. There is a nice article over at EichlerSoCal about "Atrium Living."

The atrium is an amazing feature with its stunning vaulted ceilings. The Eichler atriums are famous and partially attributed to this home's architects Anshen and Allen.

Here is a layout of the house, from what appears to be an original home brochure. (Thanks Kelly!).

Enough teasing. In you go.

Gasp. Hey you were thinking it? Right?

This home was staged by Kelly and her clever friends. Most of the furniture is for sale, incidentally.

Looking back to the front atrium door. The front door to the actual home is a slider. Oh so Southern California.

Fantastic original built-in room divider between the entry way slider and the dining area.

The kitchen is absolutely perfect. It lacks all the improvements, granite and fussy details that you see nowadays. It is very in keeping with the architect's original vision. But with modern appliances, sink and fixtures.

Great butcher block counter top. We still have one of those! They are surprisingly resilient and easy to keep clean.

Love the white Eichler globe lights throughout. Consistent and in keeping with the period.

Looking back from the kitchen, you get a view of the multi-purpose room. And the hall back to the kids' bedrooms. The master is more secluded, on the side of the house that only includes the garage.

View to the laundry room and door to side yard (plus clothesline).

Who wants this perfect period walnut built in? Raise your hands!!! I see all hands are up — as well they should be.

Let's grab a peek at the master with its perfect view out to the pool. It is 12' by 14' which isn't the traditional size of today's massive McMansion masters. My preference is for this size. And, frankly, the McMansions are rapidly losing favor.

Oh so pretty and private in its own wing of the house away from the kids.

More of Kelly's clever staging.

A master closet was a very forward thinking design feature in its day (1962). Our 1955 home does NOT have anything close to a master, and we have been fighting over the meager closet space for years.

Perfect master en suite with very modern sensibilities yet traditional Eichler design. Reminds me of choices we recently made in our remodel. The closet and bathroom photos show off the new white vinyl floors which are consistent throughout the home and cover the fabulous radiant heating.

A laundry room was included in the original plans. Our modest mid-century modern only included a washer in the kitchen (you know, women's place and all that). We had to add on the laundry at a later date.

And, the original clothesline to hang up wet towels and swimsuits.

Onto the pool. Here is a side view which most accurately depicts the raised rear wall.

Your view of the pool from the patio.

And the six foot eaves keep the home cool on a hot summer day. Orange, California  temperatures can range from the 80's to over 100° during the hottest summer months of July, August and September.

Tall bushes for privacy. This lot is huge by Southern California standards at 8,500 square feet. Check out the perfect period mosaic blue tile.

Back in we go through the slider.

Let's take a quick look at the kid's bedrooms. All three are ten by ten which is how a 1,600 square foot home can have four bedrooms. But how nice. And, I don't believe in making children all that comfortable. Or guests for that matter.

One bedroom with a view of the atrium.

A bedroom with a side yard view. Perfectly functional and move-in ready.

All the best views and space saved for the master and the rest of the house. As it should be!

One last look back at the beautiful living room. Occupied by period appropriate guests. As inspiration for decorating an Eichler very similar to this one, take a look at this month's Atomic Ranch magazine.They feature a Fairhaven Eichler restored and decorated meticulously by Brent Harris, who famously restored the Kaufmann house in Palm Springs, with his now ex-wife. I saw a view of the Kaufmann house a few weeks ago on a Palm Springs Modernism Week Walking Tour. I vow to get in it some day.

And a close up of the square block fireplace, painted white. I had a tangle on eBay trying to get a clock kind of like this one.

And out to reality through the atrium door. Love the orange. RetroRenovation gives you the perfect colors to paint an Eichler. Just in case you were thinking about it.

And one last shot of the globe lights.

Nice!

More pictures of this perfectly maintained Eichler can be seen on Kelly's site EichlerSoCal.com. The home will hit the multiple listing service this week for $715K. And, Kelly will be having Open House* on March 18, 29 and 30. Tempting, huh?

*This is NOT a sponsored blog post (except by my own crazy Eichler enthusiasm). Thanks for letting me sneak in Kelly!

Related Eichler home posts (I know, it is a sickness)

• Pristine Eichler on the Market in Orange
• Save this Eichler, Ferndale Ave., Orange, CA
• Artistic Eichler Exactingly Embellished
• An Eichler in Orange?