Thursday, August 29, 2013

cliff may 1954 rancho-style mid-century in long beach - #2

Okay, I can't hold out. You really need to see the second Cliff May I toured last Saturday. The first one was exquisite, honestly perfect in every way. This little beauty is an equally special treasure.

Cliff May Ranch Long Beach, CA 1954

It does give out a bit of that mid-century tiki bar party vibe. For sure.

Let's start, as per usual, at the front.

Cliff May Ranch Long Beach, CA 1954

Not much, right? Mid-Century moderns FREQUENTLY have crappy curb appeal. It is totally by design. They save all the design for the owners . . . not so much for the neighbors.

Who doesn't love a pumpkin slat gate?

Cliff May Ranch Long Beach, CA 1954


Hello gorgeous.

Cliff May Ranch Long Beach, CA 1954


Sitting room facing the pool.

Cliff May Ranch Long Beach, CA 1954

Cliff May Ranch Long Beach, CA 1954

I love Zillow. There is so much of the story revealed online. You get the basics: 4 bedroom, 3 bath, 2,007 square feet. Built in 1954. Current price is $749,000.

This listing's Zillow page is like a neat little summary of what happened in Southern California real estate history during the past decade.

Cliff May Ranch Long Beach, CA 1954

Allow me my fictitious speculation and no offense or insult intended to any of the above parties involved with this house:
The market in Southern California languished through 1997. It started rising in the early 2000's with the dot.com boom/bust. The home's owners sold right at the upswing in 2002 for $375.  By 2005, real estate was going crazy and people seriously extended themselves into homes that perhaps they couldn't afford with loans they shouldn't have been able to get The home was sold at an inflated price of $700K in 2005. The new homeowners hung on for dear life through the recession. At some point, they lost their jobs or they just felt the house would never sell for more than they paid for it, and they stopped making payments (maybe 2011). The long, slow, tedious foreclosure process took place and finally completed in 2013. By the time the house was foreclosed on it had fallen into rack and ruin. A clever investment company came along, and bought the house for cash Jun-2013 @$591K, pumped in some basic improvements and FLIPPED it in Aug-2013. Potential $100K in profit or something like that during our current mini-boom cycle.
I wonder how close I am? Was that really boring? But these are the things I think about.

Pretty little entry vignette. Touch of the industrial chic decorating we see so much of now-a-days.


Cliff May Ranch Long Beach, CA 1954


A Noguchi coffee table. I comment on these everytime I SEE THEM NOW. I just can't help myself.

Cliff May Ranch Long Beach, CA 1954

Love the big ball white lights. I am going to add a few of these to our house.

Cliff May Ranch Long Beach, CA 1954

Nice living area with fireplace.

Cliff May Ranch Long Beach, CA 1954

Another shot of the coffee table. Humor me.

Cliff May Ranch Long Beach, CA 1954


The dining area from the kitchen. WHY oh WHY did I not take a better picture of that awesome front door you can see on the right? Darn it.

Cliff May Ranch Long Beach, CA 1954


Okay now the kitchen. I was amused because some homeowners were commenting to the real estate agent about the tiny kitchen. Ha ha. Come over to my house. The real estate agent, Rochelle Kramer, I later learned lives in Cliff May somewhat nearby, so she totally understands the kitchen. But she was patient, and nodded in agreement that it needed some work.

Of course, I am a fan. Big gourmet kitchens are over-rated IMHO.

Ya got yer open shelving for dishes.


Cliff May Ranch Long Beach, CA 1954


Ya got yer breastfed bar with sink.

Cliff May Ranch Long Beach, CA 1954

Ya got yer major appliances.

Cliff May Ranch Long Beach, CA 1954

What's the problem? Oh, good shot of the floor here. I think it is stone. Marble. My gosh I was running through this one fast!

From the RanchoStyle website:
The Long Beach Cliff May Ranchos were built in the early 1950s and reflect the modernist influences of the time with open floor plans, exposed post-and-beam ceilings, clerestory windows and floor to ceiling glass. There are approximately 700 homes in the Ranchos, located in East Long Beach, near El Dorado Park. 
Here is the master. Really nice and open with the beautiful windows.

Cliff May Ranch Long Beach, CA 1954

Very chic bathroom.

Cliff May Ranch Long Beach, CA 1954


Love love love the windows in this home.

Cliff May Ranch Long Beach, CA 1954


Another cool bedroom with a fantastic patio view.

Cliff May Ranch Long Beach, CA 1954

Cliff May Ranch Long Beach, CA 1954

Are you ready for the fabulous Flintstones pool?

Cliff May Ranch Long Beach, CA 1954


Awesome, right?

Cliff May Ranch Long Beach, CA 1954

The rock is incredible. The real estate agent said there are a number of houses in this area with rock pools and walls like this.

Cliff May Ranch Long Beach, CA 1954

Very pretty atrium patio. I do so love pavers and grass.

Cliff May Ranch Long Beach, CA 1954


Here is a bit of original fifties Americana. I believe this is an intercom and music system. Who doesn't need a an intercom in a one-story home with windows open in every room?


And a closeup of the wall. I adore chunky rock walls.


All this home needs is a tiki bar and a hot summer night. Which, I might add, we are finally having our first tonight. Weird weather for Southern California.

I found this Open House via RanchoStyle.com who was also showing the property. The listing is held by Francoise Pichon.

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9 comments:

  1. Liked your one-paragraph summary of the real estate market in So. Ca. Pretty much says it all--and now it's climbing back up. Tell me, oh seer, are we in for another bubble?

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    1. Did you like that? I think we are bubbling. There is well turned out 1800 sq foot home selling in our housing tract for crazy money. If the person who buys it really can't afford it, they are in for a rude surprise if they need to resell it within the next 5 years.

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  2. That rock pool is to die for. Things like that don't exist in these parts...

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    1. It was nice and hot that day. Ya kinda wanted to dangle your feet in.

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  3. This is an amazing house Rebecca. I am totally with you on the kitchen. Cannot see one issue with it - AT ALL. It was plenty big enough and I love the breakfast bar area. I am also a fan of the big white ball lights, and rock walls/fireplaces etc. Great home tour. x

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    1. Agreed Donna. You can get a lot done in an efficient galley kitchen.

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  4. Once again you've done a great job capturing the important details of the house. This property was staged for the sale. The furnishings, although spare, compliment the spirit of the house. There were two major remodels of this home that was originally 1245 square feet. The first was in the 1960s which converted half of the garage to living space and connected the detached garage to the house. The second major remodel was in the 1980s which added two bedrooms and a bathroom to the rear of the house. The net result was 2007 square feet, quite large for a Cliff May Rancho but executed in a very sensitive way. Thanks Rebecca for your wonderful photos and musings on this home! I have a few more Flintstones pools to show you.

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    1. It looked really good. Somebody is going to be very, very lucky. Super large mid-century modern!

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  5. No storage at all on those bathrooms. That kitchen island is weirdly shaped near the hallway.

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