The Story So Far

By tracking the renovation of his Streng Bros. Northern California home,this designer is finding a new appreciation for the work that’s gone into his MCM dream hou se.

Authentic furnishings and periodappropriate updates combine to create a dream house in this Streng Bros. home.

Wanting to live in and restore a Midcentury Modern home, Robert Maurer spent nearly three years looking for his perfect fit—a mod home in good condition with original features like a period-correct kitchen (many of the homes he viewed during his search had been updated to include traditional-style cabinetry). He found all he was looking for in this 1974 design by Carter Sparks, built by Streng Bros. Homes.

RECORDING PROGRESS

Robert purchased the Citrus Heights, California, home in the fall of 2016 and has spent the last three years not only restoring the home—which boasted an original kitchen and windows, as well as a roof and HVAC with more than 10 years of life left—but documenting every step of the process for his blog, Mid-Century Maurer (midcenturymaurer.com).

“I knew I had major plans to renovate and restore the house and that it would be an exciting and ongoing endeavor,” Robert says of the inspiration for launching the blog. “Whether the project was inspiring, informative, costly or complicated, I wanted to capture the moments that shaped my vision for the home.”

“Design in that era was all about uncomplicated, beautiful solutions that harmonize with their surrounding environment through the use of simple shapes and natural materials.”

VIBRANT UPDATES

Visitors to the blog can get the delicious details on the various interior and exterior projects Robert has completed in the home with assistance from Glen Warren, his partner in the design firm Commuter Industries. The home’s exterior was given new vibrancy with fresh paint, including the Sherwin-Williams “Obstinate Orange” that transformed the oncegray front door. A mish-mash of flooring (laminate, carpet, linoleum and tile) was taken out throughout the home, and Robert opted to use the original stained and polished concrete instead, an ideal pairing with his room’s gray-toned walls. In the living room, Robert and Glen built and installed a lauan panel wall that now feels essential to the space.

There’s also been painting and tiling. Light fixtures and hardware have been swapped out for more stylish selections. The home got new doors, countertops and appliances. Robert also converted a 6' x 5' walk-in closet into a tiki/record lounge featuring custom-built bench seating, a wall unit with record player and mini bar, and a fold-down table. “Rather than use it as a traditional storage space, I decided to convert it into a tiki/record lounge,” Robert explains. “Warm woods paired with vibrant, tropical colors and an eclectic tiki mug collection make this a great place to retreat for a cocktail and island music.”

FURNISHED WITH CARE

The work Robert and Glen have poured into the home have made it the ideal showplace for Robert’s collection of vintage furnishings and accessories. Pieces have been sourced by the long-time collector from flea markets, antiques fairs and vintage shops around the country, as well as inherited from beloved family members.

“I find myself taking the time to research and ask honest questions about the improvement of my home, which leads to long-lasting, fully realized renovations instead of a quick fix or temporary solution.”

“One of my most sentimental pieces is my grandma’s 1953 GE refrigerator,” Robert says. “It lives in the garage and acts as an entertaining/beverage fridge for get-togethers and holiday parties. I grew up with this appliance and had it shipped out from my hometown in Ohio several years ago. After all these years, it’s never been serviced yet runs like a charm. Pulling down on the chunky chrome handle to retrieve a frosty beverage brings back some great memories of my childhood in Ohio with Me-Maw.”

Work continues on the home and will be described in the blog. Still on Robert’s list are installing sliders in the master suite and office; replacing the garage door with a new flatpanel model; updating the backyard with dryscaping, a cactus garden, raised garden beds, an in-ground pool and a casita with sun deck; and renovating the clean, contemporary master bathroom to give it a modern edge.

l Photography by Chip Allen WITH ASSISTANCE FROM HIS BUSINESS PARTNER GLEN WARREN, ROBERT MAURER REFRESHED HIS HOME’S VINTAGE CURB APPEAL WITH A NEW COLOR SCHEME GIVEN TO THE SIDING, EAVES, TRIM AND DOOR. THE ONCE-GRAY DOOR NOW RADIATES ENERGY IN SHERWIN-WILLIAMS' "OBSTINATE ORANGE." OPPOSITE: THE ENTRYWAY FEATURES A PARTIAL WALL COVERED IN PLYWOOD SIDING AND A FLOATING SHELF WITH CABINET THAT ROBERT DESIGNED AND HAD CUSTOM MADE BY A LOCAL CARPENTER FOR THE HOME. THIS SPACE AND ADJOINING LIVING ROOM ARE ILLUMINATED BY THE HOME’S ORIGINAL BLOOMBERG ALUMINUM WINDOWS.

TOP LEFT: HOMEOWNER ROBERT INSTALLED THE LAUAN PANELING IN THE LIVING ROOM WITH ASSISTANCE FROM HIS BUSINESS PARTNER GLEN. TOP RIGHT: ROBERT CREATED A DIGITAL FLOORPLAN COMPLETE WITH FULL MEASUREMENTS OF EACH ROOM AND EACH PIECE OF FURNITURE TO ASSIST IN THE PROCESS OF SELECTING AND PLACING FURNITURE IN HIS HOME. “IT IS SOMETHING I STILL USE BEFORE ACQUIRING NEW PIECES,” HE SAYS. “BEING ABLE TO VIRTUALLY TEST AND MOVE A PIECE OF FURNITURE IS A FAR LESS DISRUPTIVE PROCESS THAN PHYSICALLY MOVING [AND STILL] ENSURES A PROPER FIT.”

THE 1960S WALNUT AND ROSEWOOD STANLEY CREDENZA IN THE DINING ROOM IS ROBERT’S FAVORITE PIECE IN THE HOME BECAUSE “IT BOASTS PRECISION DESIGN, TOPQUALITY MATERIALS, AND A WEALTH OF STORAGE FOR HOSTING AND SERVING,” HE SAYS.

THE KITCHEN WAS A MAJOR SELLING POINT TO ROBERT, WHOSE HOME-BUYING WISH LIST INCLUDED A MIDCENTURY HOME WITH AN ORIGINAL KITCHEN. AFTER VIEWING A NUMBER OF LISTINGS FEATURING KITCHENS WITH UPDATED CABINETRY, THE ORIGINAL-THOUGHPAINTED CABINETRY IN THIS KITCHEN MET HIS REQUIREMENTS.

TOP: THE HOME’S GRAYTONED WALLS AND POLISHED CONCRETE FLOORS PROVIDE AN IDEAL BACKDROP FOR ROBERT MAURER’S COLLECTION OF VINTAGE FURNISHINGS AND ACCESSORIES, LIKE THE 1964 NATIONAL VENDORS CANDY MACHINE DISPLAYED—AND USED— IN THE OFFICE.

RIGHT: THE HOME BOASTS ITS ORIGINAL BASALITE BRICK FIREPLACE. WITH JUST A LITTLE BIT OF CLEAN-UP, THE FIREPLACE NOW TAKES ON A STARRING ROLE IN THE LIVING ROOM.

TOP: THE CALM OF THE MASTER BEDROOM IS GIVEN A PLAYFUL JOLT WITH A BOLD CUSTOM RUG BY FLOR. THE ROOM IS OUTFITTED WITH VINTAGE BROYHILL BRASILIA FURNISHINGS. OPPOSITE: ROBERT WAS THRILLED TO DISCOVER THIS HOME RETAINED ITS ORIGINAL BLOOMBERG ALUMINUM WINDOWS AND SLIDERS. “I AM GRATEFUL THESE QUALITY DOORS AND WINDOWS HAVE REMAINED IN PLACE FOR OVER 45 YEARS, AND I INTEND TO PRESERVE THEM FOR YEARS TO COME,” HE SAYS.

THE OUTDOOR SPACE AT ROBERT’S HOME EXEMPLIFIES WHAT ATTRACTS HIM TO MCM STYLE. “DESIGN IN THAT ERA WAS ALL ABOUT UNCOMPLICATED, BEAUTIFUL SOLUTIONS THAT HARMONIZE WITH THEIR SURROUNDING ENVIRONMENT THROUGH THE USE OF SIMPLE SHAPES AND NATURAL MATERIALS,” HE SAYS.