Table of contents for Winter 2015 in Atomic Ranch

A love of historical context and a willingness to sweat the details are hallmarks of a designer mindset, and architect Steve Curry and his wife, Martha, fit that profile to a T. The results of the six-year renovation on their 1953 modernist ranch in a postwar Houston neighborhood are a sight to behold. Some 20 years ago, Steve met their home’s architect, Lars Bang, and was able to copy his construction documents, which gave the couple invaluable details about the original materials and finishes. Good Housekeeping featured the residence in the January 1954 issue’s ‘10 Best Small Houses for 1954,’ providing additional evidence on the kitchen and vintage furnishings—at least what was in place for the long-ago photo session. THE USUAL REASONS The Currys had moved into a traditional builder’s…

In the early 1950s, my father, Richard B. Isenhour, started building houses he called ‘contemporary’ in the growing town of Lexington, Ky. Even then I knew these homes were different than those where my buddies lived. Their houses, which often mimicked a Cape Cod design on the outside, were a series of rooms with doors. My dad had begun to experiment with something different: low-slope cathedral ceilings and high windows, which made the open rooms much lighter. However, I didn’t think much about it at the time. I was born in 1950 and was more interested in transistor radios, black-and-white TVs and car designs. What kid cared about houses? BASIC TRAINING In the summer of 1955, my dad had given up chemical engineering for the life of a building contractor.…

Atomic Ranch: DESIGN IDEAS FOR STYLISH RANCH HOMES Plenty of ranches from our early issues to inspire you: modern kitchens and baths, DIY landscaping and tips on pulling together a retro interior. Resources, history, decorating on a dime—it’s got it all. Michelle Gringeri-Brown & Jim Brown, hardcover, color and b&w photos, 192 pp., $40. Atomic Ranch: MIDCENTURY INTERIORS Explore eight ranch interiors in depth—from warm moderns and split-levels to tract homes and retro traditionals—in our 2012 book. The homeowners share their experiences with economical finishes and furnishings to adding on a master suite and reworking a tight floor plan. Michelle Gringeri-Brown & Jim Brown, hardcover, 200 color photos, 192 pp., $40. ORDER BOOKS, BACK ISSUES AND DIGITAL EDITIONS AT ATOMIC-RANCH.COM AND ENGAGEDMEDIAMAGS.COM.…

Through December 14 Brooklyn Isamu Noguchi at Brooklyn Botanic Garden The last days to see 15 important sculptures dating from the 1940s to the ’80s on view in the Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden and elsewhere at the botanic garden; bbg.org. February 11–21 Palm Springs Modernism Week The largest annual celebration of all things midcentury includes architecture tours, a vintage furnishings show, lectures, films, home tours, parties and more. SHOW ORGANIZERS CAN SUPPLY 2016-SPECIFIC DETAILS CLOSER TO PUBLICATION. modernismweek.com February 20–21 Cincinnati 20th Century Cincinnati Queen City Shows’ annual vintage art, furnishings and fashion show at the Sharonville Convention Center is back with 60-plus midcentury dealers; 20thcenturycincinnati.com. Through March 14, 2016 Pittsburgh Silver to Steel: The Modern Designs of Peter Muller-Munk Muller-Munk may not be a household name, but the silversmith and…

AFTER 20 YEARS OF URBAN LIVING, my husband, James Peters, and I decided to move to Bainbridge Island, a short ferry ride from downtown Seattle where midcentury homes are prevalent, coveted and seem mightily at home in the emerald environment. All it took was one home tour to make our move official, a cabin from 1960. ONE AND DONE First on our list of properties was an amazing home on almost five acres in West Port Madison. Our longer planned real estate search ended with this home. Despite the neglect, 977 days spent on the market and some wacky attempts at staging, we saw a mid-century jewel in the rough that we were itching to polish. It seemed that an exceptionally long, skinny floor plan and a dated kitchen and…

We saw this bright period kitchen on Atomic Ranch’s Facebook group and wanted to know more. Here’s the scoop on Kristine Disney’s kitchen: My home was built in 1957 by the original homeowner’s father; I purchased the house after her death in 2012. I was searching for a midcentury ranch that had not had a big-box flip. This one was in immaculate condition and exactly what I was looking for—it even has a pink bathroom! It was on the Wheat Ridge, Colo., 2020 Midcentury and Modern Home Tour in 2013. In the kitchen I didn’t have to do much beyond paint. The cabinets and laminate countertops are original, while the floors are new VCT tile from Armstrong, with flecks of orange and turquoise, just like the walls and countertop. I…

Organized Mind Dieter Rams’ 606 Universal Shelving System, designed for Vitsoe in 1960 and in production ever since, aims for simplicity and flexibility above all. Shelves, cabinets, tables and drawers affix to wall-hung tracks with a locking pin, or using compression fittings, the unit can form a freestanding room divider. Available in off-white, black, silver and beech wood, Vitsoe planners will help design the perfect custom unit to house everything from your hi-fi and vintage vinyl to the largest midcentury art book. Visit vitsoe.com/us. CLASSIC UPDATE Channeling the grass cloth wallpaper and crosshatch-patterned countertops popularized in postwar interior design, you can now order period-correct laminate at Lowe’s and kitchen and bath suppliers nationwide. Jonathan Adler has designed a collection for Formica that includes Lacquered Linen in green, orange, charcoal or…

Farmington Hills, Mich. My 1,800-square-foot house was built in 1965. It has a very open-concept floor plan with vaulted ceilings, trapezoid windows and exposed beams. I have always been into Jetsons/space-age-style furnishings in bright, eye-popping colors. In the living room are a club chair, sofa and rare end- and cocktail tables from the circa 1972 Steelcase Soft Seating Series. Their molded fiberglass bodies have clear Lucite bases that make them appear to be floating. There is also an early edition George Nelson Coconut chair and ottoman in original fabric, and a bubble mirror by Ron Fritis. Andy Schulist Raleigh, N.C. We purchased our 1962 split-level, custom-built home in 2004 from the family of the original owner. The living room, dining room and eat-in kitchen are on the mid-level, while three…

WHEN WE WALKED THROUGH THE DOOR OF A MIDCENTURY HOUSE in the Milwaukee, Wis., suburb of Fox Point, we knew right away that it would be our future home. What drew us to it so immediately were its original features; some of them intact, others—as we would discover in the ensuing months—hidden, disassembled or reused elsewhere in the home. The first clue that this would be a pattern came when we opened the entryway closet to find that a set of blueprints had been used as wallpaper. A few minutes peering at them confirmed that they were the blueprints for the house, dated 1953 and developed by architect Howard E. Schroeder for Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Bessman. When he designed our home, Schroeder was a recent graduate of the University…

Q: Would it be possible to get the brand and color of paint for the house, trim and brick on the home featured on page 25 in the Winter 2014 issue? Do you have any gray colors to recommend for a ranch-style house? We will also be painting the brick. SUSAN WILSON A: The Duarte, Calif., home owned by Allan Norfolk and Isaiah Cholico came with the concrete block already painted. Painting over original materials is a controversial topic—see this issue’s Houston story about the efforts needed to undo multiple coating layers. And know that you will have more maintenance issues than with virgin brick and be making a permanent decision that will affect future owners down the road. All that said, Allan was happy to share his color…