Atomic Ranch Fall 2015

Scrolling through recent postings on our Atomic Ranch Facebook groups, I was struck by the enthusiasm and support readers bring to a wide variety of topics. • How can I rearrange my living room furnishings, and what size rug would tie it together? • Does anyone recognize this lamp? • I’m repainting my house; what color should the trim be? What about the door? • Here’s a great midcentury property for sale near me; please share this with your contacts so we can save it! While there is a component of pseudo-advertisers using the platform to reach our 10,000-plus online members, plainly some people have the time and appetite for giving advice, most of it positive-ish. It really is a big club, and you’re a member even if you never…

Having been an AR magazine subscriber since 2008, your quarterly magazine has inspired us to take our 1951 ranch back in time, with a few modern amenities. We look forward to reading about the latest featured homes, ogling the photos and reviewing the advertisements. We can’t say enough about Practical Props in North Hollywood; it was a must-stop when arriving in LAX on our way to Palm Springs, where we stayed at the Orbit In. Oh my, midcentury heaven! If you should ever find yourself in Boise, we welcome you to visit us. Thanks for one of the best magazines! Mark & Sarai Paljetak Regarding the letter in your Spring 2015 issue concerning the Laurent House in Rockford, Ill., it is, indeed, the only home that Frank Lloyd Wright designed…

I’m 15 years old and a big fan of the magazine. I have always been interested in art, and about a year ago I became hooked on midcentury modern design. At first I was obsessed in particular with the works of Charles and Ray Eames. Since then I have been researching and scouting for MCM design and furniture, and I stumbled upon your magazine. I think my personal style is a mix of midcentury modern and ‘today’ modern; I thought you might like to see some pictures of my space that I designed. In the corner next to the bed there is a small reading nook that consists of two floating IKEA shelf units, an old trunk that was used by my father, a George Nelson Ball Clock replica and…

Arapahoe Acres, a 124-home development in Englewood, Colo., was designed and built by Edward Hawkins and Eugene Sternberg between 1949 and 1957. Its architecture reflects the International and Usonian styles, and in 1998 it became the first postwar subdivision to be listed on the National Register. The vision of Arapahoe Acres was to attract a diverse community of varying family sizes and economic status. Houses range in size from 800 square feet to 2,300 and, though all share a midcentury modern aesthetic, no home is exactly alike. The streets follow the grade of the land, winding and curving. Much of the landscaping has a strong Japanese influence, and many of the shrubs and trees are carefully sculpted to complement the austere nature of the architecture. I purchased my 1951 house…

Plantation, Fla. H. Miller and Sons built our Asian-inspired ‘Contempra’ model ranch in 1970. We bought it because of its MCM traits: an open floor plan, sliding walls of glass, sunken living room and a garden courtyard entrance. We replaced the roof and are pleased with the new charcoal mansard shingles. The kitchen still has its white Formica countertops and backsplash, and the cabinets are a matte black laminate, which we think looks very current. The light is amazing and every room is open to the outdoors and/or the screened lanai and pool. A wonderful way to enjoy our south Florida weather and wildlife 365 days a year! Brooke Anderson & Paul Gierse Kansas City, Mo. After years of searching and waiting, we were lucky to find this beautiful 1961…

A humble 1970s cabin on the ’Sconsin side of the St. Croix River dividing Minnesota from Wisconsin sits some 30 minutes from the Twin Cities. Owned by a family of four for several decades, the ranch house had two bedrooms and a bath in the daylight basement, another bedroom and bath upstairs, along with a small living room and a claustrophobic kitchen that measured less than six feet wide. Recreation and relaxing happened on the deck and in the gorgeous wooded property, but meals were eaten on the floor by the coffee table or outdoors on the screened porch. Luxe digs these were not. “The house belongs to former clients and good friends of mine,” says designer David Heide. “We lived there ourselves one winter when we were remodeling our…