The home is just stunning. I like it better than any of the Frank Loyd Wright disigns I am familiar with. I also like the before and after kitchens. The house, the train and 20 beautiful acres. Any one element would be enough to tempt me.

fabulous

Can you say PERFECTION? It was pretty great to start with but, wow! This is, by far, hands down the most fantastic home I have ever seen. Thank you for sharing it with us!

Awesome home, but I wanted to see pictures of the train too!

They win.

The rich wood tones of the original house pair beautifully with the stone, and the complex arrangement of original living spaces reveals a deft hand -- Wright's organic influence is evident. The remodel, however, introduces far too many new wood tones (ash, maple, oak) and materials (in hardware, flooring, cabinetry, and wall coverings). A designer schooled in organic architecture would have used a smaller palette to create a more integrated and harmonious environment.

This is beautiful

Another heartfelt renovation, hope they will keep us updated on the landscaping project, and what fun they have with the train!

Gorgeous place. Stone, wood, marble, great ambient light. But they should have painted the kitchen cabinets white :-7 .

Wow! This is a fantasy house come to life!

Simply beautiful! Would love to see a pic taken from the other side of that kitchen island, looking out of the fabulous windows/doors!

Stschu: you are right!

i'm from G.R. MI this is beautiful

Wow! What a find! It is especially wonderful that the new owners sense of styling matches my own because it makes this a most wonderful home. I really like the idea of the bench in the bathroom. In my opinion there should be a bench in our master bathroom. Thanks for the tour.

What a beauty !

It appears that the homeowners designed the interiors themselves with finished they loved, and may not have been "schooled in organic architecture" as noted by

...stschuh.

Oops...premature send button! Meant to say "finishes they love," and are quite happy with a little less harmony and integration, whatever that means. And I love the train!

You had me at hello.

You certainly caught my attention just with the “20 acres [and] a train.” The owners and Scott Christopher Homes/Surpass Renovations are to be commended on their renovation of this unusual “diamond in the rough.” The original home’s exterior reminded me of a freight car but the addition in the rear of the house elevated the horizontal plane to another level. I love the contrast between the stone and the wood which gives the interior such a warm earthiness with a contemporary twist. Add the windows that bring the forest into view, it is just beautiful. Think I’ll go back to look at the pictures of this renovation a number of time since there is so many details to absorb. Keep us updated with the landscaping so we can enjoy your vision as it continues to unfold.

WOW

fantastic transformation!

"Train on property," CHECK!

AWESOME remodel! I wish they sprung for real Cherner stools. Those are bad knockoffs.

So rich and warm now. I could just hang out on those stairs. Love it.

Lori_Tartaglia Volpatti......just under the last picture shown, it says "see more pictures of this house"....click on that and scroll thru to see exactly the pic you wanted to see!!

Since I love anything MCM, I love BOTH the before and after styles!! Gorgeous and well-done renovation...bravo on a beautiful home!!

This is great! It is modern yet has a warm, cozy feeling!

I like everything about this house but the kitchen. I can't tell from the description and the photos, but it appears that the ovens are fairly remote from the rest of the kitchen, as is the old Subzero refrigerator still the only frig?? It seems very spread out. Would love to see floor plans to help clarify this area's featured.

What a shame it would have been if they had not bought it...another span of time and this gem might have been lost! Even without the addition, the would have been a awesome house!

I love the "swim bath". That could cut down on messy wet bodies. The laundry room is delightful in that there are no unsightly exposed pipes to set off my phobia. I also love the pet bath separate from the main bath. This is a wonderful spacious house. In fact, it would be away too much house for me.

Stunning makeover !

What a fantastic property to work with! However, the many wood tones chosen, some of the furniture and the plum stain on the exterior makes me wince.

I agree with Grisley, absolutely stunning! From the photos shown there is nothing I would change.

lucky lucky people! Eat your heart out Frankie :-)

20 acres "in a wooded area of the city". I do not know of any city that would have 20 wooded acres except in a publicly owned park.

As a local, I am thrilled to see this property remained one home instead of becoming another subdivision full of cookie cutter homes.

When this property was on the market, I had the opportunity to check it out. It's absolutely unique and just fantastic. It does sit on a very busy street in a less-than-desirable school district, but it sits back from the road and the trees (in the spring thru fall) provide a lot of privacy. It's unlike any other property I've seen.

While I personally prefer the original exterior before the addition, the interior is great and seems to flow well. Like someone else mentioned, there are far too many wood & metals used. A true mid-century modern would have a much more streamlined roster of materials. All that said, as long as the homeowners love it, that's all that matters.

There are no photos of the pool area, and most likely because they are still working on their landscaping, but is about 50 yards from the back door, and overlooks the valley that the train goes over. Just awesome!

Great job team! Grand Rapids needs more homeowners & professionals who can see past the grime and realize the potential of these historic homes our area has to offer. Bravo!

Having already given up a spare bedroom for my husband's trains...this would have been his ideal (except for the cold Michigan weather)!

The couples design for the stairway is awesome. The wood grain for the kitchen cabinets is bold. Can't quite tell from the picture, but it looks like they may have deliberately turned the interesting grain pattern on the right side upside down on the left. If so, in my opinion it would have looked better as "matched bookends" place side by side. The grey stain used on them doesn't quite work with the other warm colors there or in the bathroom.

I wouldn't have needed the train to convince me, one look at that house and I would have been sold.

Bravo!! Coming from GR originally I was fascinated that this place with 20 acres and a train existed. When I saw the first picture of the house, my thought was- not my style at all- but, I kept reading. I appreciate that the home owners researched and created what they wanted. I just finished my own project and know the heart and time that goes into it. The owners did a suburb job making the home theirs and I applaud them!! Thanks for preserving a part of GR, also and how cool to have a train!!

I love this home.....I think it's amazing.

I hope the homeowners can realize a profit - or perhaps I should say not incur a significant loss - considering the economy of Michigan/Grand Rapids.

I recently read an article about a property in Detroit which sold for under $1,000. The owner paid $10,000 for it several years ago. In fact, he was prepared to exchange it for an iphone 6.

Fabulous renovation-I want to own this property!

Love the pet bath in the laundry - good idea. Very unique home which I like - I look forward to seeing the pictures of pool area and landscaping - hope they keep us posted!!

Great job integrating with the original design. It was mid century modern and they kept it mid century modern except for the bathroom fixtures on the sinks/tubs. Those are too "today". If it was my house, I would NOT have lost the upper cabinet space to put in white marble in the kitchen. Nor would I have used white marble as the stove back splash. Granite yes, white marble no. I also noticed in the photo of the double ovens that they didn't use tongue and groove but used 4x8 paneling sheets. I didn't like that. The tongue and groove was too integral to the original house. I do like how they used the stone throughout, keeping that continuity. They used stone that looked like the original and continued with the stone shelves. And I applaud the fact that they didn't tear out the old indoor grill. I know it won't be used but it was part of the original house and a unique part, unique to that period. A lovey and different home.

Stunning! Just rich, handsome...elegant.....honest. Little thrown by the multi-finished woods, like some others. The ash in the kitchen particularly throws my eye off. The original wood has been treated so respectfully, just want to see something more compatible or supportive of it, elsewhere. But, wow!!! One of my faves, for sure.

Kudos to the original owner too! He started it. :-)

This home is amazing, with a perfect blend of the original and modern updates. The combination of wood and stone in the interior is beautiful. And hooray for Houzz! We just built a home last year and I used many ideas I saw on Houzz for design and decorating.

where are the pictures of the train??

Oh, my – a few of the things that I like about this one: The train, the pond, the fireplace, the rock walls with ledges for display and a water feature, the sunken family room, the wood ceilings, upper office (would have loved to see photos of the office), no TV that I can see in living room, large, light-filled kitchen with great outdoor view for the cook(s), pet shower, privacy. Just love it.

Happy to see the home was saved. I agree with some of the prior comments. The original home is so amazing and has great texture- the additional woods/marble/granite detract from the home. The bath already looks dated. Simplicity would have been a better option here. Woods that match the walls or ceiling for the kitchen- or simply going white.

Why do all modern designs involve cheap uncomfortable furniture. It is beyond me. Do they ever sit?

Do not like the ash wood. The kitchen layout would not work for me. Too much of everything. Too much stone, too much wood, too many steps. Not sure if this house can grow old with them. Hope they have good knees. Like they say "less is more".

Too, too. Before version was much better.

Small quibble with terminology, a train is a locomotive with rolling stock that has a destination. What they have on their property would be better described as a railroad.

Beautiful home! The homeowners did a wonderful job of making it their own space that they would enjoy living in and I congratulate them.

They certainly did their homework. They should be very proud of themselves for creating such a beautiful home.

How about some pictures of the train?

Way cool house and I love the train. Does anyone know a source for the wooden bar chairs?

The dog (and boot) shower makes me covetous. The house is beautiful and the new owners have wonderful taste. There are always a few things you would change if it was yours but vive le difference! If it was my house up for comment, there would be a lot more negatives than for this one. Great job!

I have never seen a home on Houzz that I like better than this one. Beautiful and in my home town!

I have to presume that the alterations and additions cost a darn sight more than the original $750 000 for the house! I find it huge and impressive - but don't see more than 2 bedrooms; we're not told how large the family is of the new owners.

It has to cost a fortune to heat that house. The one thing I don't like AT ALL is the owners' decision to have no curtains or blinds. I'm one who likes to be cosy and snug when the weather outside is absolutely foul, which I'm sure it is, there, in winter.

this is the equivalent of finding a Ferrari hidden in a barn. What a great deal for the owners. Gorgeous! How in the world did this sit unnoticed for 20 years?

beautiful except for the plum outside

Not really, there is always someone that loves it, and some that don't. Most people on here keep strong negative comments to themselves, so it does look like a love fest.

I can't say I love the house, but I would like to see more of the model railroad.

Love the staircase. It really is the focal point of the house.

LOVE the plum outside, and everything except the exterior "metal wrap!" Wonderful transformation...what are they doing/have they done with the train? It was the train "lead in," that captured my attention!

Looks great, however the new kitchen is a functional train wreck! I guess it's the price you pay to live in art.

Gorgeous!

Wow, this is the opposite of grim! That great room is breathtaking, I love the wood and stone together. And the train fulfills is a dream I've had ever since I saw the show "Silver Spoons" when I was a kid — remember how Ricky Schroeder had that awesome train that went all through the mansion?

The first interior shots of the great room took my breath away. This space, and the office and den were designed by a master. You look at the proportions, the intersecting planes and the materials used and the way they harmonize and you feel a euphoria...a euphoria that rejects thoughts of any changes. Thank you, homeowners for keeping this part of the house intact, with just repairs and minor updates using materials found on the property. I wish I could say the same for the rest of the remodel. Don't get me wrong. The owners have excellent taste, ... but it is not art at the level of a trained architect who specializes in mcm restorations and understands the imbalance that even a few less than optimal choices can make.
That said...there are some important priorities here. As a preservationist, I applaud them for their choice to try to preserve the house. There are too many beautiful houses falling to the wrecking ball to make way for the new subdivisions. I hope they will have many years of joy, warmth and happiness for the effort and love they have put into it.

Gosh! You get the best of worlds, a beautiful country setting in the city. Great find. Those would ceilings are just beautiful, as the whole house is. Enjoy your life there.

What a fantastic renovation. It's great to see a sense of style and taste that works off the existing bones of a structure. They did a meticulous job of making the most of what was there.

Thank goodness for people who don't think they have to slavishly copy everything about a style or period of architecture in order to retain the spirit and beauty of a unique original. This is a stunning home. I applaud the creativity and style infused by the owners while appreciating the quality of the original house. Live long and prosper...thanks for inviting us in!

A truly heartfelt renovation as someone else said, but I agree a bit too many and too much of many elements. The addition is great for living but overwhelms the original structure, to the point that it is now more of a new construction than a renovation. I do hope they enjoy it for many years and hope especially that the economy doesn't hurt them given the area this house appears to be in. Despite these discussion comments I like it very much.

like it

I really cant find the words to describe this beautiful home and land. I love it all. The step shelves with water feature, stairs, wood/metal throughout. Thank you for sharing!

WOW!!!!! this place if a piece of heaven, for sure. Lovely, lovely.!!!!

Awesome!

While I am no MCM fan, this is a pretty darn impressive makeover and I applaud all those who undertook the job. The cedar tongue and groove ceilings are marvelous.

Absolutely incredible! Would love to see what takes place with the landscape.

Hey we have the same stone/brickwork in our home! Corner fireplace and all....
I'm the sort who tends to like original features and my idea of remodeling/updating is far more conservative with an eye to preserving what I can. I won't buy it if I want to rip it all up. Having said that, I think the homeowner did a good job here. I like the cabinets in the kitchen; they do complement the other finishes. The bath however looks as though it belongs in another home. But it's a rare individual who remodels with the intention of keeping an original look. Overall this is a really great home find and I'm glad they kept so much intact. It works.

Wow, it's so nice to see homeowners buying a property and respecting the architectural and historical integrity, and not slapping a coat of paint on the wood, or ripping everything out. I think they did a pretty good job, with the professionals, of updating without ruining the MCM feel of the home. Maybe it's not "textbook," but still pretty darn impressive.

What an amazing transformation! Sears architects always does amazing work!! If you go to their website at sears architects.com, you can see more of their projects! You won't be disappointed!

I went to Searsarchitects.com, and they did not have any pics of this place. Their entire portfolio was very staid traditional work.

Joanorchid just click on the architects name in one of the pictures.

Kudos to the owners for taking on this project, and doing as well with it as they did. However I think the project would have been more successful with the insights of perhaps an architect from LA who may have already rehab'd some of that city's great mid-century homes. The improved outcome would have been worth an extra $20k just for some design insights.

We looked at this house and decided the location, land particulars, and asking price could not justify the cost of a rehab, so we passed. But I like some of what they did, including converting the old kitchen into a larger dining space with a wet bar. The concept of a garage and a proper master suite were big misses in the original design, in part due to the way homes were imagined in 1957. The original kitchen was below average for a modern open plan, and the materials, despite aging well, were not very nice to start with. But the new kitchen - with all that contrasting wood - is a mistake. It should have been a different material, especially since the new wood floors clash as well. Too much wood, and 3 types that don't match in the same room. The new stone work doesn't look consistent with the original, and the builder - a specialist in traditional homes - just couldn't resist those giant wide plank moldings that already look dated, and are totally out of place in this one. I think they also didn't quite realize that the original part of the house had almost NO interior doors - the layout cleverly avoided them. Not so the new part. Lots of other choices that may be appropriate in a new cookie-cutter home don't work well here. That metal siding is another mistake. It kind of, sort of works as a new element, but it makes the addition clearly an addition - one that doesn't flow out of the old as nicely as it could. The two-tone staircase introduces two more clashing wood finishes, not to mention the new ceiling wood doesn't match the old.

It's not terrible, but the architect's skill that is evident in the original section is lacking in the new. And we never thought the original section was that all that breathtaking anyway. The original section still looks very 1957, and it now it looks like it has an addition circa 2013. I would have made a lot of different choices that are at this point quite expensive to rectify.

What a challenge! My heart beats for Mid century modern!! I do understand the sensitivity of renovating such a project, without loosing the essence of the generation of the home. Too often we see an insensitive renovation that strips out the details that make it unique. Because these homes have the floor to ceiling windows, the accentuated horizontal lines (like the exterior roof lines), large ceiling beams, wood ceilings...it does tempt the renovation to be made more mordern! High gloss cabinetry, painted ceilings, too much solid surfaces would have really hurt the beauty of this home!

I am so happy that the integrity of the style of the home was respected! MCM rules!

Stunning! Warm, comfortable, livable, design heaven! I love it -- and don't tell my brother about the train! What a find! It's a lifetime house with character!

dphil66. My feeling also. You know, they might have decided to clearly differentiate the addition from the original, they way I have seen Frank Gehry do in some of his older remodels, and that would have been fascinating also. As I stated, the buyers have excellent taste, but an architect would have helped this project.

They had an architect.

I am a retired Interior designer. Function was left out of this plan. They should have hired a bath & kitchen designer, as well as have someone coordinate the woods used. Please, you don't really like the bathroom?
They went overboard with the stone.

Wonderful home! I went to college in GRapids and have NO idea where this could be. Article said they are also doing landscaping themselves, can't wait to see, need an update when finished. And, to think they got most of their ideas from Houzz . . .

@LauraOffice - the home is located on Breton Road, between 32nd St. and 44th St. It sits on the east side of the road and is hidden quite well most of the year by trees. Once the leave drop, however, you may be able to get a peek!

So nice Autumn But !!!!!!not Mother in world sory

Love it! One of my favorites ever on Houzz! But what is that huge device in the laundry room. Never saw a washer that big?

Ran out of mony when they wanted a bed frame. Must have been thinking of putting up mosquito netting during those Michigan summers where the state bird is a mosquito. Beautiful home and property.

Fantastic!

terrific! Enjoy enjoy and then enjoy some more.

Breathtaking. The owners clearly love nature, and their home reflects this deep recognition of wild landscapes. They might be interested in the book "The Living Landscape" or "Bringing Nature Home" to design even more of their space for the needs of the wildlife around their home, and help the ecosystem with native plantings. How about garden rooms outside for one of their next projects?

I grew up with MCM and hated it. My husband is a train enthusiast. If we could have afforded this property, he would have loved a geodesic dome and I would have wanted something Victorian. - but it would mostly be all about the railroad.. All you MCM lovers would have been very disappointed in us. Lots of different tastes on Houzz - always a good read. Thanks

Enjoyed this, especially the collaboration..they included Houzz! I have loved trains on properties since I was a small child and used to see one at a property nearby. Good save owners!

Beautiful home, and like some others, I love the train!

But let's face it, how many Americans (Yes Americans) can really afford a home as this!?? Very very few! So, nice home, count your blessings!

mid century modern, metal on the outside, an abundance of woods and stone on the inside. the blending of old and new-I think they did a stupendous job of adding new to old and using their insights and ideas. I would have done the kitchen differently myself -don't care for the marble or cabinet color. But I LOVE that fact that whey went with what they wanted and weren't cowed by designers and contractors. Or others telling them that bench doesn't belong or you are going to regret the trough sink..I think the house is so stunning because it represents their likes. Would have loved to have seen the views from the balcony outside the master suite, and more photos of their yard and barn.I hope you do an update of the pool and grounds and train at a later date. They have created a striking and beautiful home that i would love to live in. rich in views, texture, color and comfort. Great job!

I had to watch it three or four times, I just couldn't get enough. A beautiful home!

The kitchen looked way better before! Took an antique with the lovely honey colored wood and ruined it by adding the fake looking grey wood cabinets, same with the bathroom. Some things are meant to be preserved and retrofitted with modern updates like new appliances and countertops. Shame to see the original woodworking replaced. Some of the house is beautiful, poor kitchen and bath.

Here's a dog lover question. How did you stop your hunting breed from chasing all those beautiful deer away? We just bought a cabin up north Wisconsin and would hate to fence in a yard! But, every time one of my labs sees one of those majestic animals stroll through the yard it's going to be a problem.

Bravo! Like most contemporary homes, the inside is the best part.. I lived in a mid century home on a lake. It was my dream home and always will be. What did you name your home? I always name my homes unless they are already named.

The general consensus is that the house is in deed beautiful with the MCM influence respected. However, most people forget the word "Modern" in Mid century modern. Modern usually means CURRENT, that implies you can grow and not live in a museum space, frozen in time. Bigger bedrooms, larger baths and anything else that you might need can be accommodated in a new "current" improvement remodel. I agree with Dana Veach's comment that having a home with a particular style to it doesn't mean, " they have to slavishly copy everything about a style or period of architecture in order to retain the spirit and beauty of a unique original. This is a stunning home. I applaud the creativity and style infused." I feel that, they put in a "modern kitchen", a "current" kitchen. The new trend for these slab panelled door kitchens are, No upper cabinets and large expanses of hard materials (like quartz,etc.). Plus, in other areas they weren't forced to throw out everything they previously owned but tried to incorporate it. So yes, they did good on this project.

Beautiful stunning home. I love it and the layout and quietness, peacefulness and just over all relaxing look. hardwood floors great and the decor. I couldn't imagine

Beautiful home, but the remodel feels out of tune with the inspired original. The metal exterior is abrasive in such a natural setting. Stone would have sit nicely in the landscape. The interior wood choices feel a bit awkward too.

And here i thought the change in texture from wood to metal made a nice update, echoing as it did the horizontal lines of the siding and the balcony cable. You can have too much of a good thing. Personally i think more stone would have made the house look heavy and give the impression it was sinking into the ground. I think the metal will reflect the seasons and possibly loose some of its shinny newness after a season or so and look even better. But hey, not my house and i love what they did with it.

to tbohn, consider taking your dog to a good responsible trainer dogs can be taught NOT to chase deer, just like hounds can be taught to hunt rabbits, or coons. then you take a class in how to work with your dog. You will both get a lot out of it. Just like labs can be taught to retrieve and pointers to point it will just take a bit of time. But if you leave your dogs out alone a lot consider putting in an invisible fence in a area close to the house. Wouldn't have to be huge and it would be under ground so wouldn't disturb your views.

Love this. What a amazing gift to be so connected to nature. And I also loved that they found original materials in the landfill that htey incorporated into the renovation.

It is a very beautiful home. I would had used more original mid century modern furniture throughout the home. A lot of mid century furniture was built in Michigan. Loved to had seen an Eames office chair. In the bedroom I think they put in crown molding that does not go with the design of the home, crown mounding was not used in mid century designs other than that I would loved to own this house. Michigan has some very cold winters so I wonder how hard it is to heat the home. The train is very unique and cool and the stone they found looked great.

Very. Very. Cool. One of the best remodels I've seen on houzz.

Anybody know what they did to make those cedar ceilings shine like that? I've just purchased a home with a lot of interior cedar that I was going to remove. Maybe not now if I can make them look this great.

exquisite kudos to the designer high-end wood beautiful windows ho train what more could you want

They are living in paradise

Way too much house for me, but I love the ash color. I am not a fan at all of wood walls or ceilings. I think it is just my allergies that are talking. But I love MCM. Great property and location as well.

Perfection! I would live there in a heartbeat and not change a thing!

Thank you to the homeowners for opening up their hearth, home & hearts to let us in and see such a beautiful home. I always feel a little sad when people leave strong negative comments when you obviously thought through each and every detail with great deliberation (just how much thought you put into your M.B. windows tells me how much care you put into ALL the details). I loved every part of the home from the get-go & hope you continue to post and share any updates--especially the ongoing landscaping :). Living in Michigan (grew up in Kazoo & now live near Saginaw) it's hard to see some of these old homes go and get torn down because honestly, it is easier on the budget with all the updates that have to be done to make it livable to our current times. Thank you for honoring the past and literally investing so much to bring an old gem into the 21st century with class, charm & character! Kudos for sure!!!!

A W E S O M E ! ! ! !

That is a lucky house - it found new owners with a vision and the funds to do the renovation! Great!

Love this video! What a beautiful home.

A few clarifications. 1) There are no crown moldings in the house. What may appear to be crown moldings are, in fact, the same backlit coves as in the original portion of the house. 2) No original woodwork was replaced. 3) The dogs are wimps. After chasing the deer a few feet, the deer just return to taunt the dogs.

I love, love, love this home! I think it is gorgeous throughout and a great blend of the original and the new. Looking out through the doors and windows into a beautiful woodland is my idea of heaven! And since when are homeowners required to "restore" their house to someone else's idea of historical accuracy? I love everything they did, from the cheeky metal and plum exterior, the gorgeous kitchen, the mix of old and new furniture, and mostly the heartfelt comments by the homeowners. Bravo!

I absolutely love everything about this warm, inviting home; as well as the breathtaking property. The party house...can I come!!!

Lovely!

i admit that i am a bit of a train freak so i fell in love with the train

very beautiful home

Wow!

Could you see yourself living here? Could this be Florida living? (For those living here).

I can't wait to have my dream house

Drapery panels

Love it!

A beautiful home!

Absolutely amazing! Dream home for sure!!