The Palmer & Krisels in Santa Ana are a new feature to
the blog, simply because there hasn’t much for sale in there lately, until
today. Built in 1954 by Dunas, Greene & Swidler, this 1,200 square-foot
four bedroom, two bathroom home carries an asking price of $449,000. Located on
a 6,500 square-foot lot in the urban core of Santa Ana, those with a keen eye
will note that the floor plan looks familiar – it’s the same as the Plan D in
Pomona’s Valwood Estates, which was built at roughly the same time as this
property.
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| Large front yard is grassy; original clerestories are still intact on the sides of the home |
Much like most of the homes in Valwood Estates, mullioned
white vinyl replacement windows have become the dominant façade feature, with the original floor-to-ceiling windows nowhere in sight.
Sometimes homeowners get confused on how to handle a midcentury modern home
when it comes to updating or retrofits – easy solutions are never in the
bog-box do-it-yourself stores, who typically carry materials that are
accordance with newer homes.
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| Kitchen features granite countertops and raised panel cabinetry |
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| Kitchen opens directly to entry |
Entering the home through the southeastern US-style leaded
glass door, the combination kitchen, living and dining room immediately greets
guests and visitors. The kitchen has been opened to both the entry hall and living
area, which opens up the space in current manner, but comes at the sacrifice of
privacy and spatial division. The kitchen sits at the front of the home, and features
granite counter tops, raised-panel cabinetry and stainless steel appliances.
The laundry sits tucked off the kitchen, and provides an access door to the
service porch.
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| Kitchen also opens directly to living room and dining room |
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| Luckily Living and Dining Rooms still feature original cut stone fireplace, clerestories and floor-to-ceiling windows |
The living room features the original open, beamed celotex
paneled ceiling, along with the original cut stone fireplace. Luckily the
floor-to-ceiling windows are still in place in the living and dining areas,
replaced with vinyl replacements and French doors, and the original
clerestories are still in place.
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| Hall bathroom |
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| Rear corner bedroom |
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| Front bedroom |
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| Bedroom with mysterious dropped ceiling |
Both bathrooms have been updated with very simple, generic materials
that create a functional space that doesn’t acknowledge the architectural style
of the home. The bedrooms on the ends of
the home still incorporate their original clerestories and vaulted ceilings,
while one of the interior bedrooms has a dropped ceiling for an unknown reason.
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| Sideyard |
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| Backyard patio and rear of garage |
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| Backyard incorporates large shade tree blocking west-facing sun |
The backyard of the home incorporates a large uncovered
concrete patio and a large shade tree, along with a patchy lawn that is ready
for a water-conserving makeover. It’s really a blank slate ready for
personalization. The detached two-car garage sits adjacent to the home, and
keeps a tight footprint that doesn’t over interfere with the open space in the
rear yard.
There’s definitely room for the midcentury modern to be put
back into this home, and in doing so this property could really pop. If you’re
looking for a midcentury restoration/renovation opportunity in Santa Ana, look
no further.
