History with a Twist

Learn about this unique home, which is part of a little known marketing project from Joseph Eichler himself

Despite some initial challenges, this couple achieved a thoughtful renovation in their “Forever Home,” which has a unique connection to Joseph Eichler.

Taking on the renovation of a midcentury home is always a challenge. In Fullerton, California, there's added pressure when the homes are a beloved local symbol of a bygone era. Fullerton's 'Forever Homes' are a series of quintessentially modern midcentury tract houses constructed thanks to the influence of iconic developer and real estate mogul Joseph Eichler. But when new owners Keven and Ala na Stirdivant found termites and then dealt with a significant kitchen design disaster, they started to wonder what they'd gotten into. 'There was definitely some fear. We were really thinking, 'Should we still do this?'" admits Keven, who along with his wife, Alone, purchased the home with a full renovation in mind. The Stirdivants are both mildly obsessed with Midcentury Modern homes, design and architecture. So much so. they started a real estate company that specializes in buying and selling mid mod homes. Having gotten their feet wet with purchases for clients, they wanted to do something a bit more hands-on and set about finding an iconic 1950s home that needed thoughtful work. When they saw this home, they knew it was perfect.

FULLERTON'S FOREVER HOMES

The Stirdivants' house is one of Fullerton's so-called 'Forever Homes.' These homes have ties to Eichler, though they were built by local builder Pardee-Phillips. That partnership came about thanks to Eichlers promotion of modern living on the then-popular 1950s TV show Horne, where he offered plans drawn up by architects A. Quincy Jones and Frederick E. Emmons to developers in small towns across America.

THIS FRONT SITTING ROOM WAS ONCE AN OPEN AIR CARPORT IN THE HOME’S ORIGINAL DESIGN. WHEN KEVEN AND ALANA STIRDIVANT BOUGHT THE HOUSE, IT WAS ALREADY CLOSED IN. THEY TURNED IT INTO A FRONT SITTING ROOM, PAINTED THE WHOLE ROOM WHITE, AND NOW IT’S A LIGHT AND BRIGHT GATHERING SPACE.

THE STIRDIVANTS LEFT MOST OF THE HOME’S FOOTPRINT INTACT. A FORMER CARPORT BETWEEN THE DOOR AND GARAGE WAS ENCLOSED BUT NEVER DRYWALLED BY PREVIOUS OWNERS, LEAVING AN ODD STUCCOED WALL INSIDE THE HOME THAT BELIED ITS ORIGINS. KEVEN AND ALANA OPTED TO KEEP THE ROOM BUT DRYWALLED IT TO MATCH THE REST OF THE HOME.