Atomic Ranch Summer 2019

THE 1954 MASTERPIECE SEEN HERE IS AN EXQUISITE MID MOD DESIGN, CALLED A “VISION-AIRE HOME.” What’s a vision-aire home, you may ask? It’s the brainchild of celebrated architect Glenn Q. Johnson, who created about a dozen of the homes, then branded as “Vision-aire.” Now affectionately known as “vision-aire” homes, a few of these airy specimens remain today. You’ll know a vision-aire home by Johnson’s use of raised living areas, which allow the breeze to circulate, as well as the use of abundant windows and generous porches. Johnson also designed the St. Petersburg Beach Library and North Shore Pool, among many other commercial and residential homes in the area. Eileen Bedinghaus, a fan of midcentury design and a realtor, first came across the vision-aire style in 2001, and it was love at…

THE 1954 MASTERPIECE SEEN HERE IS AN EXQUISITE MID MOD DESIGN, CALLED A “VISION-AIRE HOME.” What’s a vision-aire home, you may ask? It’s the brainchild of celebrated architect Glenn Q. Johnson, who created about a dozen of the homes, then branded as “Vision-aire.” Now affectionately known as “vision-aire” homes, a few of these airy specimens remain today. You’ll know a vision-aire home by Johnson’s use of raised living areas, which allow the breeze to circulate, as well as the use of abundant windows and generous porches. Johnson also designed the St. Petersburg Beach Library and North Shore Pool, among many other commercial and residential homes in the area. Eileen Bedinghaus, a fan of midcentury design and a realtor, first came across the vision-aire style in 2001, and it was love…

Midcentury design is rooted in optimism. Materials were reimagined from their wartime purposes to develop stunning new creations in both architecture and furniture design. The artisans and designers we so admire were agents of change. They looked at a shifting culture and saw excitement in the new spaces created. They saw advancements in technology as opportunities to hone their craft and bring modern design to the masses. It is not always easy to look at the future with such optimism. If we are to glean anything from the great influencers of this iconic era, it should be that optimism in the face of endless change is a powerful tool. Would we be so enamored with designs roughly 70 years old if they were not crafted with the hope of tomorrow?…

Inside Scoop! Before & After Dive into the year-long renovation process with before and after photos from the house on page 38. Summer Essentials Patio furniture, travel must-haves, outdoor dining basics—our shopping guides have you covered. Inside an Eichler Want to tour more rooms from the innovative house on page 72? Explore the restored exterior, office space, bedrooms and more! What’s on Your Bookshelf? The books we can’t put down and the ones you’ll want on your coffee table. Cool Stuff…

The smooth-glide sliding cabinet doors have no bottom track, eliminating a tough-to-clean area where crumbs can gather. design MUST-HAVES: • Durable, midcentury-style cabinetry that complemented the home’s existing wood paneling. • Integrated lighting in the shelves. • More storage. REAL HOME 101 TYPE OF HOME: 1964 single-story ranch with clerestory windows BUILDER: Joseph Eichler BACKGROUND: The previous owners had replaced the original kitchen cabinetry with contemporary pieces that weren’t aging well and didn’t fit the home’s midcentury aesthetic. COLOR SCHEME: Warm wood tones and bright color pops to complement wood paneling found elsewhere in the home. INNOVATIVE IDEA: The smooth-glide sliding cabinet doors have no bottom track, eliminating a tough-to-clean area where crumbs can gather. Looking to reintroduce that “Eichler feel” into her 1964 Eichler home in Thousand Oaks, California,…

Architect Paul Rudolph served his country as a ship builder at the Brooklyn Naval Yard during World War II. Soon after the war, in his new role as an associate in Ralph Twitchell’s Sarasota, Florida, design firm, Rudolph was tasked with designing a home that would draw on knowledge he had gained at the shipyard. Built between 1948 and 1951 for a member of Twitchell’s family, the Healy Guest House is located on Siesta Key in Sarasota. It’s known among students and enthusiasts of midcentury design as “The Cocoon House.” UNEXPECTED BEGINNINGS “The roofing material—a plastic, spray-on substance called ‘Cocoon’—was the same material used by the military to store ships mothballed after the war,” explains Ellen Hanson, founder and creative director of New York City-based Ellen Hanson Designs, the firm…