My Houzz: Cliff May Homeowners Lead the Way in Long Beach
Two Realtors and their renovated home set the bar for midcentury nostalgia and style in their Cliff May tract
Doug and Rochelle Kramer were ready to design their own dream midcentury house. Realtors who specialize in selling and reviving Cliff May homes in Southern California, they knew exactly what they wanted. But what they got was a bank-owned house with a swampy pool, outdated appliances and light fixtures, an army of ants and a four-sided fireplace covered in crazy materials.
After taking the time to fix up this 1953 home, the couple filled the house with midcentury gems, designing a space that leads their Cliff May tract by example and illustrates the ultimate in midcentury design and indoor-outdoor living.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Doug and Rochelle Kramer and their cat, Eddie
Location: Cliff May Rancho tract, Long Beach, California
Size: 1,950 square feet; 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, home office-study
That's interesting: This home was featured in the 2008 book Cliff May and the Modern Ranch House
After taking the time to fix up this 1953 home, the couple filled the house with midcentury gems, designing a space that leads their Cliff May tract by example and illustrates the ultimate in midcentury design and indoor-outdoor living.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Doug and Rochelle Kramer and their cat, Eddie
Location: Cliff May Rancho tract, Long Beach, California
Size: 1,950 square feet; 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, home office-study
That's interesting: This home was featured in the 2008 book Cliff May and the Modern Ranch House
A wall of windows lets natural light into the family room. The glass divider is typical of homes in this area — the hallway behind it leads to the master bedroom.
Lamps: vintage, Inretrospect; side tables: eBay; credenza: teak, vintage, eBay
Lamps: vintage, Inretrospect; side tables: eBay; credenza: teak, vintage, eBay
The Kramers' house stays true to open-concept midcentury style; the fireplace in the great room creates two different living spaces while maintaining flow. "I can see the pool, fireplace, family room, dining room and kitchen all at once, but it's not too open," Rochelle says. "There is just enough separation of space to feel defined yet still connected."
White armchairs: 1940s-inspired, Twentieth; coffee table, eBay; circle rug: Tokyo White, MAT; bench: Case Study Museum Bench, Modernica; flooring: medium brown hard maple, Lauzon
White armchairs: 1940s-inspired, Twentieth; coffee table, eBay; circle rug: Tokyo White, MAT; bench: Case Study Museum Bench, Modernica; flooring: medium brown hard maple, Lauzon
Each of the fireplace's four sides originally was covered in a different material — rock, drywall, tile and mirror. The Kramers stripped it all off and started from scratch.
Searching for a material that would balance out the smooth interior surfaces and the jagged rocks out by the pool, Doug and Rochelle decided on this limestone from Thompson Building Materials. The double-sided fireplace is now the great room's focal point.
Planter: Bullet, Hip Haven
Searching for a material that would balance out the smooth interior surfaces and the jagged rocks out by the pool, Doug and Rochelle decided on this limestone from Thompson Building Materials. The double-sided fireplace is now the great room's focal point.
Planter: Bullet, Hip Haven
The couple is a driving force in bringing this tightly knit Cliff May community together. They often host progressive dinner parties in the neighborhood. Rochelle also started a neighborhood message board that now has close to 400 members, who post about everything from lost puppies to garage sales to contractor referrals.
Embracing their love of modern style and the architectural features of their home — like the low, pitched roof and exposed beams — made the Kramers' design decisions easier. Each space makes use of a single material or color, rather than mixing different elements.
Dining table: Baron, Calligaris; dining chairs: Globus, Design Within Reach; pendant: Nelson Saucer, Modernica
Dining table: Baron, Calligaris; dining chairs: Globus, Design Within Reach; pendant: Nelson Saucer, Modernica
The Cloud Couch from Modernica anchors the main living room. The curve of the coffee table perfectly complements the lines of the sofa, topped off by a circular vase and bubble floor lamp.
The couple settled on Gingersnaps by Benjamin Moore for the living room's main wall with the help of color consultant Nancy Epstein.
Coffee table: eBay; circle rug: Tokyo White, MAT; flooring: medium brown hard maple, Lauzon; floor lamp: Cigar Lotus, Modernica; wall art: vintage, Long Beach Antique Market
The couple settled on Gingersnaps by Benjamin Moore for the living room's main wall with the help of color consultant Nancy Epstein.
Coffee table: eBay; circle rug: Tokyo White, MAT; flooring: medium brown hard maple, Lauzon; floor lamp: Cigar Lotus, Modernica; wall art: vintage, Long Beach Antique Market
A solid wall of windows and French doors runs the length of the entire home, making the interior feel like an extension of the outdoor space.
Unlike in many midcentury homes, this upgraded kitchen has ample storage and cupboard space without compromising on windows and natural light. But kitchens built in the '50s often had dual wall-mounted ovens, and this one was true to form. One oven was swapped out for a more modern appliance — a microwave.
The kitchen was the heart of every home in the 1950s. Thanks to the additions and expansions done on this house by the previous owners, the typically small galley kitchen is now more spacious.
Clean surfaces keep with the modern design of the home. The backsplash adds a touch of color against the neutral canvas of the cabinetry and countertops.
Countertops: Cinder, Caesarstone; backsplash: prism glass mosaic, source unknown
Clean surfaces keep with the modern design of the home. The backsplash adds a touch of color against the neutral canvas of the cabinetry and countertops.
Countertops: Cinder, Caesarstone; backsplash: prism glass mosaic, source unknown
Playful kitchen accessories are carefully curated to accent the blue backsplash and white cabinetry. The countertop stove allows for storage underneath.
Salt and pepper shakers: Birds, Jonathan Adler
Salt and pepper shakers: Birds, Jonathan Adler
The outside and indoor spaces flow perfectly together in style and design.
Planters: Bullet, Hip Haven
Planters: Bullet, Hip Haven
When the couple moved in, the pool was "a shallow swamp," according to Rochelle. The couple restored the beauty and character of the original stone surrounding what they now affectionately call the Flintstone Pool or Kramer Lagoon.
The lack of a true front door is a distinctive marker of Cliff May homes. Instead, a series of French doors surrounds the perimeter of this house, creating multiple access points for true indoor-outdoor living.
The lack of a true front door is a distinctive marker of Cliff May homes. Instead, a series of French doors surrounds the perimeter of this house, creating multiple access points for true indoor-outdoor living.
The couple struggled with finding the right exterior color but finally landed on this calm gray-blue, which complements the pool and landscape.
Rochelle's idea of gardening is using low-maintenance plants, like succulents, accompanied by pebbles, stones and a touch of grass to soften things up.
Rochelle's idea of gardening is using low-maintenance plants, like succulents, accompanied by pebbles, stones and a touch of grass to soften things up.
Located off the main courtyard and pool area, the master suite also has a solid wall of French doors.
Lamps: vintage, Deja Vu; vase on dresser: Home Goods
Lamps: vintage, Deja Vu; vase on dresser: Home Goods
Because of the expansion work, the master suite is much larger than one in a typical Cliff May home. The pitched roof and exposed white beams increase the open feeling.
Eddie, the couple's cat, makes an appearance to sunbathe. An heirloom teddy bear sits on a wing chair gifted by friends and fellow Cliff May homeowners Josh and Jen Amstone.
Curtains: Gate Jade, Robert Allen fabric; painting: vintage, Deja Vu; wall covering: Juicy Jute in Espresso, Phillip Jeffries; dressers: teak, vintage, Deja Vu; chair: Adrian Pearsall for Craft Associates
Curtains: Gate Jade, Robert Allen fabric; painting: vintage, Deja Vu; wall covering: Juicy Jute in Espresso, Phillip Jeffries; dressers: teak, vintage, Deja Vu; chair: Adrian Pearsall for Craft Associates
The master bath and large walk-in closet lie through a pair of louvered doors. Unlike many homes built at the same time, Cliff May homes included master suites with attached baths.
The television in this bedroom is hidden from the hallway. A vintage wall sconce brightens up this chocolate-colored corner of the room.
Bed frame with attached nightstands: Meubles Mobican Furniture; sconce: Anemone Wall Light, Robert Abbey
The television in this bedroom is hidden from the hallway. A vintage wall sconce brightens up this chocolate-colored corner of the room.
Bed frame with attached nightstands: Meubles Mobican Furniture; sconce: Anemone Wall Light, Robert Abbey
The master bathroom previously had all-black fixtures, and there was no shower, only a tub. The Kramers redesigned the bathroom in crisp and neutral colors, with both a shower and bathtub.
Countertop: Nougat, Caesarstone; tile: Gres Cemento, Neutra, CasaMood; cabinets: custom, Estrada's Cabinet Designs
Countertop: Nougat, Caesarstone; tile: Gres Cemento, Neutra, CasaMood; cabinets: custom, Estrada's Cabinet Designs
The pendant over the new tub helps set the mood in this relaxing bathroom. The wood front for the bathtub helps it blend seamlessly with the rest of the bathroom cabinetry.
Tub deck: Nougat, Caesarstone; tile: Firenze Nicar, Porcelanosa; light fixture: Possini Sphere Pendant, Eurostyle Lighting
Tub deck: Nougat, Caesarstone; tile: Firenze Nicar, Porcelanosa; light fixture: Possini Sphere Pendant, Eurostyle Lighting
At the back of the house, Doug's home office exudes midcentury warmth, connected to the lush greenery outside by a wall of windows. The neutral paint color and jute wall covering complement the vintage teak furniture and make the room feel masculine and cozy.
Coffee table: teak, vintage, Xcape; sofa: Room & Board; lamps: vintage, eBay; end tables: teak, vintage, Xcape
Coffee table: teak, vintage, Xcape; sofa: Room & Board; lamps: vintage, eBay; end tables: teak, vintage, Xcape
Here, Doug and Rochelle Kramer relax in their casual family room.
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See more photos of this house | Share your home with us
The neutral sofa and rug ground a Noguchi coffee table and bright orange Modernica chair.
Rug: Dubai Vanilla, MAT; sofa: custom, David Galindo; paint: Sea Pine, Benjamin Moore