Houzz Tour: A Faded Midcentury Home Regains Its Glamour
A 1960s gem sparkles with mint St. Charles cabinets, zesty citrus wallpaper and a chic gold-and-black powder room
In a historic neighborhood in midtown Tucson, Arizona, a circa 1967 house had an enviable assortment of original midcentury modern-meets-Hollywood Regency details, including original steel St. Charles kitchen cabinets, a sweeping staircase and ornate brass hardware. Surely it was the belle of the block in its day. But a half-century later, some aspects of the house, including its awkwardly chopped-up floor plan and popcorn ceilings, were just plain outdated. So, together with Kathryn Prideaux of Prideaux Design and stylist Francine Smith of Hot Cool Vintage, owner Marina Yoakum set out to help her home get its glam back. Read on to see what it took.
Before: A curved staircase greets visitors when they enter through the yellow doors and turn left into the house’s south wing.
Scroll to the bottom to see the original hand-drawn floor plans as well as the preliminary floor plan for the remodel.
In 1967 the staircase must’ve impressed visitors, but this “before” photo shows that it was ready for a facelift. The treads are covered in worn carpet, the vertical metal bars have an odd faux antiqued finish and draped chains compete for attention.
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Scroll to the bottom to see the original hand-drawn floor plans as well as the preliminary floor plan for the remodel.
In 1967 the staircase must’ve impressed visitors, but this “before” photo shows that it was ready for a facelift. The treads are covered in worn carpet, the vertical metal bars have an odd faux antiqued finish and draped chains compete for attention.
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
After: After an unsuccessful attempt to remove the chains, the decision was made to paint them a simple cream that camouflages them against the white walls. The new carpeting, which continues into the upstairs bedrooms, is smoke gray with a swanky, silky sheen.
They kept the original chandelier, which has a hoist system in the primary closet that makes it accessible for cleaning. The opulent fixture is one of the Hollywood Regency-style accents found throughout the midcentury home.
The parquet floor is also original, but in some areas it required replacement due to damage and age. MW Design and Construction sanded and replaced each square as needed. “It was a labor of love,” Prideaux says.
Artwork: Sergio Bustamante aardvark, Bitossi Italian ceramics and Blenko art glass
They kept the original chandelier, which has a hoist system in the primary closet that makes it accessible for cleaning. The opulent fixture is one of the Hollywood Regency-style accents found throughout the midcentury home.
The parquet floor is also original, but in some areas it required replacement due to damage and age. MW Design and Construction sanded and replaced each square as needed. “It was a labor of love,” Prideaux says.
Artwork: Sergio Bustamante aardvark, Bitossi Italian ceramics and Blenko art glass
Before: A half bathroom just inside the home’s entrance had peeling wallpaper and some late-1960s trends that hadn’t stood the test of time, like a pink cultured marble vanity top.
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After: The little powder room got a black-and-gold Hollywood Regency-style makeover. The team repainted the cabinet but kept the same hardware, and it replaced the top with a piece of salvaged marble and a polished unlacquered brass sink.
Wallpaper: Hollywood Palm, Cole & Son
Wallpaper: Hollywood Palm, Cole & Son
Before: The kitchen underwent the most dramatic transformation. Originally, a cluster of four small rooms included this shoebox, an adjacent laundry room with a sewing machine, a breakfast area and a formal dining room.
While dark and cramped by today’s standards, the kitchen had a tremendous asset: original metal St. Charles cabinets. A status symbol in their heyday and coveted by midcentury modern design enthusiasts today, the cabinets and their fabulous minty hue were the starting point for the redesign.
While dark and cramped by today’s standards, the kitchen had a tremendous asset: original metal St. Charles cabinets. A status symbol in their heyday and coveted by midcentury modern design enthusiasts today, the cabinets and their fabulous minty hue were the starting point for the redesign.
After: The team took an inventory of all the cabinets, recording their sizes and functions. They gave those not included in the redesign, including the uppers, to a local resale shop or set them aside to repurpose them, and carefully refurbished the remainder.
Alta Constructors and Prideaux Design created the plan that removed the existing walls to create one large eat-in kitchen and dining area.
Pendant light: FLOS
Alta Constructors and Prideaux Design created the plan that removed the existing walls to create one large eat-in kitchen and dining area.
Pendant light: FLOS
In addition to the original St. Charles lower cabinets, the revamped kitchen has budget-friendly terrazzo-like porcelain tile floors and white quartz countertops that nod to the original 1960s style.
Houzz Tour: Opening Up a Midcentury Modern Time Capsule
Houzz Tour: Opening Up a Midcentury Modern Time Capsule
Prideaux conceptualized the citron-and-mint color palette but credits Yoakum with sourcing the twist that ties it together.
“She found that wallpaper and we were like, ‘Oh my god. Perfect!’ ” Prideaux says with a laugh.
Wallpaper: Arance, Cole & Son
“She found that wallpaper and we were like, ‘Oh my god. Perfect!’ ” Prideaux says with a laugh.
Wallpaper: Arance, Cole & Son
In lieu of the original uppers, new open white oak shelving holds Yoakum’s collection of vintage Dansk dinnerware.
Backsplash tile: Heath Ceramics
Backsplash tile: Heath Ceramics
The contractor extended the countertop all the way from the seating area of the kitchen to this built-in buffet, with little visible support — a feat at approximately 20 feet long.
The hutch-like section appears to intersect the countertop and creates a sense of separation between the kitchen and dining area without closing up the space.
The hutch-like section appears to intersect the countertop and creates a sense of separation between the kitchen and dining area without closing up the space.
After: The team stripped down the room, painted it white and replaced the mismatched parquet floor with the same inexpensive porcelain tile used elsewhere in the house. It also repurposed the original shelving but upgraded the bracket system.
Removing the heavy drapes dramatically lightened and updated the room and revealed these cool ceiling-height windows.
The budget didn’t permit replacing all of the windows and doors, but fortunately they were in great shape.
Removing the heavy drapes dramatically lightened and updated the room and revealed these cool ceiling-height windows.
The budget didn’t permit replacing all of the windows and doors, but fortunately they were in great shape.
In the adjacent bathroom, a shower (seen in the reflection here) replaced a tub. FLOS Glo-Ball sconces pop against the stacked 2-by-8-inch saddle-colored Heath tile backsplash.
Beneath them hangs a deceptively affordable off-the-shelf vanity.
Browse a curated selection of bathroom vanities in the Houzz Shop
Beneath them hangs a deceptively affordable off-the-shelf vanity.
Browse a curated selection of bathroom vanities in the Houzz Shop
After: A simpler counter with a waterfall-edge top replaced the bar’s original veneer-covered cabinets and mirrored backsplash.
The original decorative door, Curtis Jeré wall art, Bertoia bar stools and vintage barware add plenty of midcentury flavor.
Houzz Tour: Midcentury Modern Home Revived, Roots Intact
The original decorative door, Curtis Jeré wall art, Bertoia bar stools and vintage barware add plenty of midcentury flavor.
Houzz Tour: Midcentury Modern Home Revived, Roots Intact
More of Yoakum’s collection of midcentury furniture, art and decor fills the room, which now has bright white walls instead of dark paneling. And instead of a pool table, a plush vintage sofa in vibrant orange holds court.
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Shop for living room furniture on Houzz
This formal living room occupies the other half of the floor.
Among its standout pieces are a Noguchi coffee table, Lucite Pace chairs, a Verner Panton capiz shell light fixture and an artfully styled Italian brass etagere.
Prideaux is quick to credit Yoakum and Smith for such magical moments.
“[Smith] was working with this incredible inventory and created such great displays like this shelving unit,” Prideaux says. “They just nailed it.”
Wall paint: Rolling Waves, Dunn-Edwards
Among its standout pieces are a Noguchi coffee table, Lucite Pace chairs, a Verner Panton capiz shell light fixture and an artfully styled Italian brass etagere.
Prideaux is quick to credit Yoakum and Smith for such magical moments.
“[Smith] was working with this incredible inventory and created such great displays like this shelving unit,” Prideaux says. “They just nailed it.”
Wall paint: Rolling Waves, Dunn-Edwards
You can see this fanciful wallpaper featuring frolicking monkeys and juicy pomegranates peeking out in the previous photo.
It surrounds the original fireplace, which needed only a set of brass andirons and a coat of black paint on the mantel to look fabulous. Here you can see the new cream-colored carpet, which has a subtle silkiness.
Wallpaper: Frutto Proibito, Fornasetti collection, Cole & Son
It surrounds the original fireplace, which needed only a set of brass andirons and a coat of black paint on the mantel to look fabulous. Here you can see the new cream-colored carpet, which has a subtle silkiness.
Wallpaper: Frutto Proibito, Fornasetti collection, Cole & Son
After: In this case, the verdict was to keep the idea of the mural but replace it with something bolder: a panoramic jungle wallpaper that looks like a mural.
“You wanna honor the design vision and, in particular, this client really likes that awesome character and all of those quirky midcentury things,” Prideaux says of making those tough decisions. “She would’ve kept probably more than I kept, but I think she’s super happy.”
Wallpaper: Les Paysages Lointains, Ananbo
“You wanna honor the design vision and, in particular, this client really likes that awesome character and all of those quirky midcentury things,” Prideaux says of making those tough decisions. “She would’ve kept probably more than I kept, but I think she’s super happy.”
Wallpaper: Les Paysages Lointains, Ananbo
After: Reconfiguring the upstairs layout doubled the bathroom’s size. A Caesarstone-topped double vanity now offers plenty of storage and counter space. The same Glo-Ball sconces used in the den’s bathroom illuminate a salmon Heath tile that picks up a touch of pink in the bedroom wallpaper.
The homeowners can now luxuriate in a freestanding acrylic soaking tub instead of the dinky original.
Down the hall, in one of the boys’ rooms, one of the St. Charles cabinets got a coat of charcoal paint and was repurposed as a desk.
The three boys — a teenager and tween twins — share this peppy green-and-white bathroom.
The tile is yet again from Heath Ceramics, which was founded in 1948 in Sausalito, California, just outside San Francisco.
A longtime Bay Area resident, Yoakum was and still is a huge Heath fan, Prideaux says. “She lived near the factory, so she actually sourced a ton of this in the factory closeout section. She would text me, ‘I found this color green and this color green.’ I was like, OK, get all that green that you can get for the boys’ bathroom.”
A longtime Bay Area resident, Yoakum was and still is a huge Heath fan, Prideaux says. “She lived near the factory, so she actually sourced a ton of this in the factory closeout section. She would text me, ‘I found this color green and this color green.’ I was like, OK, get all that green that you can get for the boys’ bathroom.”
Meanwhile, this little vignette in the bathroom is the handiwork of Yoakum and Smith.
“If I could emphasize one thing,” Prideaux says, it’s that it “was a long process and a very team-effort process, which was fun. Everybody really got the vision.”
“If I could emphasize one thing,” Prideaux says, it’s that it “was a long process and a very team-effort process, which was fun. Everybody really got the vision.”
The preliminary floor plan for the downstairs south wing
The original hand-drawn floor plan
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House at a Glance
Who lives here: Marina Yoakum, husband David,
son Max (age 16) and
twin sons Chase and Grant (age 12)
Location: El Encanto neighborhood of Tucson, Arizona
Size: Five bedrooms, 4½ bathrooms
Architectural design: Prideaux Design and Alta Constructors
Interior design: Prideaux Design and Marina Yoakum
Interior styling: Hot Cool Vintage
Interior general contractor and custom cabinetry design and fabrication: MW Design and Construction
After stints living in Shanghai and San Francisco, Yoakum and her family were looking forward to finally getting settled in Tucson.
They’d purchased and begun redesigning the two-story home several years earlier, but professional opportunities delayed their move. In the meantime, their original design-build firm, Alta Constructors, relocated. With Yoakum taking the helm and leading the design efforts, she reassembled the team. Kathryn Prideaux of Prideaux Design and Yoakum’s friend Francine Smith, a stylist and owner of Hot Cool Vintage, were still on board, and MW Design and Construction had stepped in as the contractor. So the family moved into a rental nearby, and the team got to work bringing the midcentury home into the 21st century.
Front door paint: Tuscan Sun, Dunn-Edwards
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