My Houzz: History and Charm Infuse a California Hilltop Home
They've lived almost 50 years in one home, but this constantly renovating couple has design tastes that don't stand still
Terry and Sue Minshull built their home in 1964 for $19,000. It was a stretch for the young couple, who weren't sure they could keep up with the $102 monthly mortgage payments. Forty-nine years later, they're still happy with their decision. Sue says, "Sometimes I think about buying another home, but why should I when this house has always served us so well?"
The secret to their home's staying power has been constant change. "The house has changed as we have," says Sue. As they enjoyed seeing their Central California town develop over the years, the couple remodeled each room in the house four or five times and updated the kitchen and bathrooms. "We do all the demo and finishing ourselves," says Sue, "and we hire out for all the tough stuff in between." The decades of hard work have paid off, as they still enjoy every minute in their cheerful hilltop home.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Terry and Sue Minshull and their dog, Cooper
Size: 2,000 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
Location: Paso Robles, California
The secret to their home's staying power has been constant change. "The house has changed as we have," says Sue. As they enjoyed seeing their Central California town develop over the years, the couple remodeled each room in the house four or five times and updated the kitchen and bathrooms. "We do all the demo and finishing ourselves," says Sue, "and we hire out for all the tough stuff in between." The decades of hard work have paid off, as they still enjoy every minute in their cheerful hilltop home.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Terry and Sue Minshull and their dog, Cooper
Size: 2,000 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
Location: Paso Robles, California
The couple houses their firehouse collectibles in a den outfitted with display shelves, glass cases and built-ins.
Terry constructed a wall of built-in shelves that includes a desk that can be tucked away behind a rolltop cover. The white desk chair once belonged to Terry's father, who used it in his Paso Robles paint shop.
Terry constructed a wall of built-in shelves that includes a desk that can be tucked away behind a rolltop cover. The white desk chair once belonged to Terry's father, who used it in his Paso Robles paint shop.
Antique hose nozzles sit on a distressed antique footlocker, which serves as a coffee table. A miniature horse-drawn fire wagon sits atop the coffee table too. Sue, who refers lovingly to this as the toy room, says, "This is technically our third bedroom, but we've never used it as one. It's always been Terry's room."
"If you had walked into this house in 1970, you'd have seen gold shag carpeting, gold wallpaper and dark wood cabinets everywhere," says Terry. These days the couple creates a serene atmosphere with a neutral palette and comfortable furnishings. The gallery wall above the couch showcases paintings, antique mirrors and even an old Autoharp and a vintage fire extinguisher.
Sofa, matching chair: A&R Furniture (now closed)
Sofa, matching chair: A&R Furniture (now closed)
Sue's favorite part of the house is a hearth she built with her father, Elvin Casteel, a stonemason who helped lay rock for the famous Madonna Inn in nearby San Luis Obispo. They hauled 13 tons of Adelaide stone — unique to the Paso Robles area — to create the interior and exterior of the hearth.
Chair: leather, Idler's
Chair: leather, Idler's
A trio of vintage fire hose nozzles overlooks the living room from a corner of the mantel.
The dining room has seen many changes over the past decades, including new floors, a cabinet remodel and the inclusion of a bay window. Sue is known for hosting large family gatherings; the table expands to seat 10.
Chandelier: Gibson & Co; area rug: Philips Floor Coverings
Chandelier: Gibson & Co; area rug: Philips Floor Coverings
Beautiful antiques in outstanding condition are sprinkled all over the house. The Minshulls spent many years as antiques dealers and enjoyed running booths in downtown Paso Robles. A wooden hutch shares space in the dining room with an old icebox.
Wall paint: Oyster, Kelly Moore; hardwood floors: Williams House of Carpet in Atascadero, California
Wall paint: Oyster, Kelly Moore; hardwood floors: Williams House of Carpet in Atascadero, California
The kitchen remodel involved a complete overhaul. Countertops, floors, cabinet faces, faucets and fixtures were all updated. The cabinetry above the bar has glass doors on both sides for easy access from both the kitchen and the dining space.
Cabinets and trim paint: Pearl White, Kelly Moore; countertops; Brazilian granite
Cabinets and trim paint: Pearl White, Kelly Moore; countertops; Brazilian granite
The Minshulls love living in the heart of California's Central Coast wine country; Terry built a handy wine rack into the end of their kitchen bar.
Bar stools: Kohl's; floor tile: travertine, Home Depot
Bar stools: Kohl's; floor tile: travertine, Home Depot
The bright master bedroom mirrors the living room's natural palette. A black Windsor chair sits in a bay window overlooking the backyard. Above the bed hang silhouettes of the couple's two daughters and three grandchildren.
Visitors can see the exterior of the Adelaide stone hearth near the entry, where a rickety wagon holds rustic birdhouses and potted ferns.
Victorian-era wall plaques dot the exterior of the house — a reminder of a time when fire departments were privately owned and would respond only to fires in houses that were protected by insurance. Plaques were mounted on the fronts of houses as a sign of that insurance.
The Minshulls spend a lot of time in their garden, and spring always brings a profusion of blooms.
The Minshulls spend a lot of time in their garden, and spring always brings a profusion of blooms.
The back deck enjoys commanding views of Paso Robles and the Salinas River beyond.
The Minshulls have transformed the back of the property, once a steep hill of weeds, into a rock garden filled with shrubs and fruit trees. A shed keeps their gardening gear tucked away.
The Minshulls have transformed the back of the property, once a steep hill of weeds, into a rock garden filled with shrubs and fruit trees. A shed keeps their gardening gear tucked away.
In addition to serving on the Paso Robles Fire Department squad, Terry also served on the city council. When he retired from politics, the city gave him one of the downtown parking meters, which now sits on the back deck.
When the Minshulls built their home in 1964, it was the only house on the hill. But times have changed, and they now share the hillside with lots of new neighbors. "We've sat up here for the past 49 years and watched the whole town develop. We love our neighbors!" says Sue.
A long hedge of white bank rosebushes lines the side of the property.
A long hedge of white bank rosebushes lines the side of the property.
Sue has trained ivy over an arched gateway, which greets visitors as they arrive. A small potting shed is tucked behind a vintage hydrant on wheels, a gift from a friend.
Terry and Sue relax in the backyard they love and look forward to celebrating 50 years in their home in 2014.
See more photos of this home
See more photos of this home
Terry's work inspired not only their choice in real estate, but also an expansive collection of vintage fire trucks, equipment and firefighting gear. A painting of Terry's uniform hanging on the firehouse wall is framed with his badge and medals of merit.