Every now and then, a special home comes along that makes us so happy to have our job! This one just radiates good energy, maybe because of its beautiful and peaceful lakefront setting. But the lake is not the real source of the good vibes, it’s the home’s beautiful, site-respecting design.

Designed and built by architect Don Winecoff in 1960 in the Grove Park neighborhood for his family. Winecoff was an architect for Charlotte firm Odell and Associates, and judging from his stacks of drawings stored in the basement of this home, he designed all kinds of buildings, residential and commercial.

Most impressively this house is small by current “McMansion” standards, about 1600 sq. ft., yet it doesn’t feel cramped at all. Winecoff used a number of clever techniques to create this effect, starting with the front entrance. A front courtyard (with a cool patterned concrete block wall) embraces you before you’ve actually entered the home. A wide slate tile front porch gives a generous feel to the front entrance. Inside, a normal-size hallway connecting living areas to the front bedroom also functions as an entrance foyer. But the wall of glass beside the front door transforms the space, giving it an open, spacious feel.

Stepping inside the living room, your eye immediately travels beyond the confines of the room, through the attached sunporch and to the lake view beyond. These two rooms, both vaulted, are separated by large sliding glass doors that can be opened to create one large, guest-impressing space. Winecoff cleverly arranged all the living areas – living room, sunporch, den and kitchen – so that one can go from one room to the next around in a circle with no dead ends, and so there’s also a lake view from each one. The kitchen is efficiently laid out but compact, yet feels larger because of the floor-to-ceiling opening to the breakfast bar and den with its wall of windows and lake view.

One the other side of the house, the bedrooms and bathrooms have good separation from the living areas and each other. The master bedroom is also not particularly big by today’s standards, but with huge windows, great light and another stellar lake view, who cares? Another interesting feature on this side of the house is the pocket door connecting the two bathrooms, put there as a quick way to get from the back bedrooms to the front bedroom without having to go around through the living area.

This home is listed for under 200k, and has already attracted a mad swarm of interest, the same as with the previous starter priced MCM home Modern Charlotte listed. We wish we had 20 more MCMs in this price range to offer, but they’re gettting harder and harder to find. Why aren’t there more houses like this available today? That’s a subject for a whole other blog. For now, I’ll just post the following note to the powers that be.

Dear architects, builders and developers: There are huge numbers of buyers out there who are searching endlessly for modern (as in Mid Century Modern-style modern), well-designed single family homes in a starter home price range. Stop endlessly building Neo-Craftsman bungalows. These buyers aren’t interested in crown molding or rocking chair front porches. If you really want to re-do the past, take a page from Don Winecoff’s playbook and build something with thoughtful design that embraces its setting and is affordable, too. If it was done 1960, it can be done now. For more photos and details about this home CLICK HERE.

If you love modern, this tour cannot be missed! It’s the perfect way to appreciate Charlotte’s hidden modernist gems. Also the perfect opportunity to introduce someone who doesn’t quite ‘get’ modern to the joy and livability of this style.

This year’s 8 homes run the gamut from an art-filled multilevel dwelling, to a hip, low-slung atomic 50′s ranch, to a 60′s modern mid-rise condo. All homes have one thing in common, their owners’ passion for preserving their iconic style, while bringing them into the 21st century with thoughtful updates. Whether your thing is classic modernism, clean minimalism or atomic ranch-ism, there’s something for everyone.

The 2013 Mad About Modern Home Tour is dedicated to architect Alan Ingram, who died in 2012. Ingram opened his architecture firm in Charlotte in 1960, designing Mid-Century Modern homes and industrial buildings locally and internationally.

To purchase tickets CLICK HERE. Tour proceeds go to benefit Historic Charlotte.

Would you like a FREE tour ticket? Volunteers are needed the day of the tour to staff the tour homes in half-day shifts. They will earn a free tour ticket, plus an invitation to  DWR’s pre-tour reception on Thursday, May 9. For more info CLICK HERE.

Just in case you need extra enticement, here’s a few details about each tour home to whet your appetite:

(Tour home photos courtesy of and sole property of Cameron Triggs, Triggs Photography)

7212 Benita
Designed by Aubrey Arant and built in 1964 for the Mitchum family. I was lucky enough to have been friends with a previous owner of this one-of-a-kind home, and I never used to miss an opportunity to get inside, hang out and soak up its retro 60′s charm. Loads of unique, drool-inducing original features, like the rosewood doorknobs on the interior doors.

7201 Benita
Also located in the sweet little enclave of Burtonwood. Built in 1956 by Neal Arch Biggs, the owner of the Biggs Camera stores. Biggs adapted the plan for the house from one that appeared in Better Homes & Gardens Magazine. And I’m proud to say, I’ve weaseled my way into this amazing atomic ranch as well,  as a lucky party guest on occasion. Each time I’ve been in this house I’ve been blown away the discovery of yet another totally swank feature. Like the “almost secret” passway between the sunroom and family room. The cool 50′s vibe in this house is addictive!

2101 Cloister Dr
Designed by architect Jack Boyte and built in The Cloisters in 1956 for Hyman Polk. Boyte also designed at least two other iconic Modern residences in The Cloisters. With it’s distinctive long, sloping roof and landscape-hugging silhouette, this home bears his signature touches as well. I know the inside is going to be a treat, and thanks to the 2013 Modern Home Tour I won’t have to wrangle any invitations out of any friends so that I can see it.

2015 Cloister Dr
60′s tri-level, also in The Cloisters. With all that great flagstone on the front, you know the inside going to be sweet as well. This neighborhood is home to some of Charlotte’s best modern architecture. When I die and go to Modernist heaven, my neighborhood will be just like the Cloisters, built around a beautiful pond with Mid-Century Modern houses like this one around every bend.

6810 Folger Dr
Located in Lansdowne. First of all, let me thank previous owner Ron Crider for painting the front door chartreuse (his “signature” color). And the current owners for keeping it. We need more lively, in-your-face front doors, and homeowners with the imagination to put them out there. These current owners obviously have the good taste required to properly appreciate a Mid-Century Modern tri-level like this one. A complementary pair of sunglasses is in the mail to all unimaginative neighbors. And you, my friend, don’t have be an invitation wrangler to weasel your way in and see what’s inside, all you need is a 2013 Modern Home Tour ticket. By the way, while you’re here on this tour stop, explore a bit in Lansdowne and discover the numerous other MCM houses in this family-friendly neighborhood.

1300 Reece Rd
Penthouse condo located in The Kimberlee, a 60′s modern mid-rise co-op building behind Park Rd Shopping Center. I feel a bit guilty about telling you about this one. Because only a special few have discovered this building and its retro charms. For years it has flown under just about all of Charlotte’s radar and without being stumbled upon by the movers and shakers who would strip it of its MCM character and flip it into something bland and characterless. And to this day, it residents enjoy its great location, city views and uncorrupted modernist vibe. Sometimes life really IS fair!

3524 Seward Pl
Designed by architect Charles Connelly and built in 1953 for the Sinnicks family. One of the few original remaining concrete block houses in Charlotte that somehow didn’t torn down and replaced by, well, it’s just too horrible to say. But somehow this unique home dodged that bullet and acquired an owner who appreciated it enough to make wonderful things happen inside those unassuming concrete blocks. It’s been given new life with a complete renovation, but the charming original black and white bathroom tile was preserved. An official “Thank you!” from all us vintage bath tile lovers. Your complementary can of Scrubbing Bubbles is in the mail!

2121 Valencia Ter
Located near Southpark in Town & Country, this one-level ranch has one of those wonderfully practical floorplans that only a modernist would be clever enough to design. It’s L-shaped, with the living areas in one leg of the L and the bedrooms in the other. The inside of the L is lined with windows, giving the living room and all the bedrooms expansive views of a backyard oasis complete with pool. I know this because I weaseled my way into this one as well during an estate sale. And wow, the house was quite the time capsule, complete with the owner’s big ol’ ancient Buick parked askew in the carport. But the sale also stands out in my mind because when the Asian-style iron gate opened at 7 a.m., a friend in line with me slipped in ahead and snagged a Nelson-ish bench for himself that I’d had my eye on (Estate sale law: no matter how good the friend, every man/woman for his or her self!).  And while I was grabbing armloads of other stuff to make up for that wrenching loss, I noticed the house was something special. I’ve heard the current owners have done an amazing reno. Can’t wait to see it without a houseful of people fighting over boomerang ashtrays!

The reason for low inventory? Buyers who bought homes at the peak of the housing bubble cannot afford to sell them because of overall depreciation in the market, so they’re forced to sit on them longer, thus there are fewer houses in the for sale pool. Adding to this, many homeowners who have owned their homes for long periods are reluctant to sell, thinking that if they wait until the economy is more solid and mortgages are easier to get, their home will sell more easily and they can ask a higher price for it.

But even though it’s now harder for buyers to get mortgages, there are still plenty of buyers who can get them, especially in the starter home price range. Due to low inventory there are less homes on the market to choose from, so houses are suddenly selling much faster and prices are starting to inch up. In fact, starter homes are “hot” in almost all areas of Charlotte. And these strong sales are starting to stimulate sales in higher price ranges as well.

But how does low inventory affect sales of Charlotte’s Mid-Century Modern homes in particular? Not only are these homes harder to find due to low inventory overall, there’s an additional factor that affects these houses when they hit the market: the rediscovery of the style by younger buyers.

Ten years ago, Modern homes were like the red-headed stepchild of real estate. Very few realtors understood them or even wanted to show them, and it was normal to see  these homes listed without exterior photos or marketed as “tear downs”. The MCM style had a devoted following, but it was small and not enough to raise the value of these houses. This was the era when a great MCM home could be snapped up for a song. Then Hollywood and the young and the hip discovered mid-century modern and the style began being featured in TV ads and movies. The new trendiness of the style is a great thing for homes that previously would have been candidates for tear down or horrendous make-overs. But not so great if you’re hoping to snap up a MCM house with a low-ball offer.

If you’re in the market for a MCM-style home in Charlotte, it’s important to understand that the inventory of these homes is more limited than ever, and there is now competition to get them. It’s now normal for a Charlotte Mid-Century Modern to get scores of showings as soon as it hits the market. and it’s possible you could be bidding against other buyers. These properties are hot, and low-ball offers will likely be rejected in favor of the next buyer in line. To score the home of your dreams, a good buyer’s agent is essential. Modern Charlotte can help you get the jump on the competition, because we’re focused on the MCM market and we continually get leads on these homes. We have been at the forefront of marketing this style of home in Charlotte since 2006 – it’s not just the latest hot new fad for us – we’re committed to this market.

If you’re the owner of a MCM home in Charlotte, now is a better-than-ever time to sell. There are numerous buyers looking for your home, even if you have never updated a thing and still have your original avocado appliances and orange shag carpet. Buyers are seeking out these particular homes like never before; they love original features and don’t want updates that aren’t in harmony with original style of the home. No Craftsman-style facades or crown moldings. Modern Charlotte is linked in to the tastes and desires of this new and emerging pool of buyers and we know how to market to them. And we can give you all the help you need to market your special modern home to its fullest potential.

And if you’re one of those complicated types who like a quiet, natural setting but also like to be near everything – and who issn’t? – the location in Robinson Woods is primo. Haven’t heard of Robinson Woods? It’s a small neighborhood with just 5 streets and no through traffic. A quiet little niche off of Sardis Rd near the intersection of Randolph. In addition to being 2 miles from Cotswold Shopping Center and 3 miles from Southpark Mall, Robinson Woods is also 15 minutes from uptown Charlotte.

Most homes were built in the 60′s, and many were custom-designed. A high percentage are Mid-century Modern designs similar to Modern Charlotte’s upcoming listing. The lots tend to be large and wooded, averaging about a half acre. Residents of Robinson Woods are close-knit, and can frequently be seen strolling the neighborhood streets and stopping to chat with neighbors.

Robinson Woods also has a true ace in its pocket: Providence Day School, a private school for grades K-12 that sits adjacent to the neighborhood on Sardis Rd. Robinson Woods students can easily walk to the school by using the walkway that connects the neighborhood to the school grounds.

Five miles south of uptown Charlotte, Mountainbrook is bordered by Sharonview Road to the north and Carmel Road to the east, with its two main entrances off of Sharonview. The streets are quaintly named to reflect the hilly geography: Johnny Cake Ln, Mill Pond Rd, School House Rd and Knob Hill Ct to name a few. The majority of homes were built between the mid-1950′s and the early 1980′s, with peak construction in the 60′s and 70′s. Most homes were custom-built for families in the days when a family usually had way more than two kids and tend to have at least 4 bedrooms. Currently there are 13 homes listed for sale In Mountainbrook, with asking prices ranging from $199,900 to $450,000. Since August 1, 2012, 32 homes have sold within a mile of Mountainbrook’s center, with an average sales price of $552,943.84.

Mountainbrook’s lots are large and wooded, tending to be about a half acre. And many have steep slopes; traditional flat, grassy yards are rare in the neighborhood. But the trade-off for the lack of level yard space are the beautiful wooded views seen from almost every home. And you won’t hear any Mountainbrook families complaining about their hilly yards, because for outdoor fun they head to the Mountainbrook Club, a true old-fashioned neighborhood club with a large pool, tennis courts and other amenities.

And when they’re not hanging out at the pool, many  Mountainbrook residents can be seen strolling and jogging the quiet, meandering streets and enjoying the interesting architecture that pops up around every bend. Mountainbrook houses tend to be sited at angles to the street and in other non-traditional ways, sometimes even perched on pole-and-beams. And they reveal themselves gradually, through naturally landscaped yards chock full of azaleas and rhododendrons.

But as we all know, nature is nice, but a big dose of location, location, location is what truly makes a perfect neighborhood. Southpark Mall, Phillips Place, Piedmont Row, Whole Foods plus the whole smorgasbord of Charlotte’s best shopping and dining are just blocks away from Mountainbrook’s entrance gates. A world of convenient and exciting destinations awaits Mountainbrook residents when they emerge from their “mountain” retreats.

Want to know more stats about Mountainbrook and other Charlotte metro neighborhoods? CLICK HERE

The starburst first pop and crackled into popular use right after WWII, thanks to some of America’s iconic designers like the Eames, George Nelson and John Lautner. It was a time of excitement and jubilation. We had just won the war, and everything seemed new and shiny again and full of promise. A wealth of new technology developed during the war was now being applied to our civilian lives. Everything was easier, more convenient and a whole lot faster. Radio became television and we all got powerful, shiny new cars and home appliances.

We now used our newly-freed up time to zoom about the country in these cars, and we needed places to eat and sleep. Fast food was born, along with a new form of architecture to house it that would quickly catch the eye of a speeding driver. Swoops, curves, and spires topped off with starbursts. John Lautner first used the style to design Googie Hamburger joints in the late ’40s, and the name stuck.

The Park Terrace Movie Theater at Park Rd. Shopping Center. One Charlotte’s few remaining original starburst neon signs.

Now we’re talking icon! The original Welcome to Las Vegas sign, a Googie era classic? Have you ever noticed its starburst?

George Nelson made the starburst a must-have for every home with the design of the clever starburst clock. Lore has it the idea was conceived during a night of drinking with buddies Isomu Noguchi, Buckminster Fuller and Irving Harper. Fuller offhandedly scribbled the idea for the perfect clock on a napkin, and Nelson ran with it.

George Nelson Ball Clock

George Nelson Asterisk Clock

Starburst clock by Welby, one of the many clock makers that copied Nelson’s wildly popular starburst concept.

But the strongest force that fueled our love of the starburst was the Cold War. When USSR launched  the first satellite,

the starburst-like Sputnik in 1958, we became obsessed with regaining our star status in the race to conquer outer space. By the mid 60′s starburst was popping up everywhere, becoming one of the most popular design motifs in our homes. Because above all, the starburst stood for unlimited possibilities and our collective belief that the sky was the limit.

1950′s -60′s tableware, clockwise from upper left: Salem North Star, Taylor Smith Taylor Cathay, Franciscan Starburst, unmarked

1950′s tile-top coffee table

Drexel Suncoast credenza

Freidle wall sculpture

C. Jere wall scupture

1950′s mosaic tile by American Olean

If you’re a MCM archeologist like me, you can spot relics from the era still lingering here and there. Like on the fabulous starburst hardware on the front doors of a home in Charlotte’s Mountainbrook neighborhood.

Built in 1963 and designed by P. Conner Lee as his personal residence. Lee used all his training and ideals to design this house for his wife and three children. He sited the house at the top of hill to make the most of the lovely, secluded location and dramatic views. In keeping with modernist tradition, it fits the landscape but also stands apart from it.

From the front, the house appears to be a one-story, with a low, vertical shape that hugs the landscape. A counterpoint curve of a slate path leads to a multilevel  platform and a double-door entrance. It’s there you receive the first hint of the unusual features to come: a pair of  sliding glass doors flank the entrance.  A view of the woods is seen through a row of sliding glass doors that traverse the entire back of the house. But why all the sliding doors, especially the ones in the front? Because back in the 60′s there was a thing called fresh air. Opening the doors in the front and rear lets in an actual breeze, so that you won’t have to always rely on the A/C.

A screened porch on the upper level is the perfect spot to hang out in a hammock or eat sushi at your Sculptura table and chairs. And even if you’re a complete agoraphobic who never cracks a window or goes outside, you can’t escape nature here–natural materials are used in abundance. Exposed wooden beams (not plastic) go across the ceiling on both levels, revealing the building’s structure. Skylights are in almost every room, with the sunlight filtered through 60′s-cool plastic baffles (not wooden).  And thankfully, there’s no piece of molding anywhere, nothing to junk up the clean, modernist design. No craftsman do-over here, no crown molding add-ons.

Lee’s design is thoughtful and tempered with a big dose of serene purity. Spaces are open and flowing, but due to great space-planning you can still get away from your teenagers. On the end of the main level are two spacious bedrooms with a bathroom in between. The bedrooms have pocket doors that slide out of view, no open door to steal space. Custom built drawers in the bedrooms have no pulls. And two of the bedrooms still have the original 1960′s carpeting, one orange and one aqua.  The original walnut kitchen cabinets present a clean, continuous front–no curly-cues or shaker updates here! Cabinets are lifted off the floor to give a feeling of lightness. The kitchen counter, with a sink and eating area on top has built-in cabinets on both sides. Travel down and around the spiral stairs and there’s a great entertaining space of a family room (or the perfect place to stash your kids in or escape from your spouse).  And even MORE sliding glass doors, fresh air lovers, overlooking a weiner-roast heaven slate patio. And should you desire a extra dose of serenity, go through the modernist gate and down the sweet brick path to the small stream at the back of the property.

More about P. Connor Lee

Praise Connor Lee was born in Grimesland NC. Upon graduation from Atlantic Christian Academy (now Barton College) in 1951, Lee joined the United States Air Force and served until 1955.  According to Lee’s wife Harriet, he planned to be a farmer but when that proved too costly, Lee entered the engineering program at NCSU.  Soon, he discovered architecture and transferred to the School of Design.  There, the young air force veteran caught the fire of Modernism, absorbing the ideas of Kamphoefner and instructor George Matsumoto. While at State, Lee was awarded first place in the 1959 Edison Electric Light for Living Home Design Competition.

Lee graduated in 1960 and went to work for J. N. Pease Associates for four years.  He received several awards including an AIA Merit Award for a branch of First Citizens Bank.  After leaving Pease, Lee worked in Charlotte as a partner with Brackett, Sadri & Lee before moving to Raleigh briefly to establish a branch office for Lyles Bissett Carlisle & Wolfe.  He returned to Charlotte for Little Lee & Associates in 1967.  Lee left there to establish his own firm in 1971 and the firm became Little and Associates.  He died in 1977. Credit to our friends at Triangle Modernist Houses for their research on Mr. Lee.

Dara and Scott are constantly on the road searching for danish modern, classic mid-century modern furniture and accessories. That translates into fresh inventory with merchandise changing weekly! As if this wasn’t enough, it gets better. They also do custom upholstery and restoration. I just want to know when they ever sleep. (?).

Here is a sampling of some of the current inventory- but hurry as their items sell fast!

Be sure and check out their Facebook page for their latest finds and pictures from their travels. They love Mid-Century Modern homes,too! And are proud owners of one of the best MCM homes in the area for sure.

Modern Charlotte Realty is happy to include them on our resource page – coming June 15.

Modern Charlotte Realty now has a brand new, vastly improved- Modern Home Search. Now with one click you can view every darned mid-century modern home, new construction modernist houses and California style contemporaries.

Charlotte’s regional Multiple Listing Service has no Style category for Modern and only offers Contemporary or Transitional as a style. Since no one really knows what either of those mean as far as a Style, mid-century modern homes are often miscategorized ! Modern Charlotte Realty’s new search actually allows me to sift through all the listings available via MLS and tag them as Modern. So now you can easily find MCM homes in and around Charlotte ! If you know of any I missed, send them my way.

I hope you enjoy this new feature and find it helpful. Please contact me if you need more information about any of these homes for sale.

Happy Hunting!

Here is a sampling of some of the homes currently listed!

When it comes to creating a period landscape for your Midcentury Modern home, it’s all about the garden geometry and the hardscaping. Plants are plants; they don’t care whether they’re part of a “French Chateau” garden design or an “MCM” garden design . But it’s in the shapes of constructed elements of wood, concrete, masonry, metal, that a design vocabulary asserts itself. One such component, all the more visible because of its three-dimensional qualities, is fencing.

Freestanding panels proposed to create depth and interest, and to screen backyard neighbor; translucent fiberglass with blocks of solid color. Design by SCLA; inspired by a Garrett Eckbo design, which was in turn inspired by painter Piet Mondrian.

otherwise-plain pool fence becomes dramatic statement with simple addition of bold blocks of color

When you think of a fence, what definition comes to mind? You probably see it as a practical way to keep someone (or Fido) in or out. But I urge you to think of it in broader terms. When it comes to creating enclosure for outdoor “rooms”, the subject can be interpreted anywhere from the actual physical security provided by a high fence surrounding a property’s perimeter, to just a subtle suggestion of privacy screening that doesn’t lock anything out except curious eyes from certain directions. It can be a work of art rather than just a utilitarian means to an end.

“Fencing” can mean screening just as much as enclosure. At left, a simple freestanding panel of gridded 2 x 6s helps create subtle sense of privacy from street views into outdoor dining courtyard (design by SCLA); at right, a curving free-form fence adds flair while screening pool equipment (design by Robert Royston).

The midcentury landscape architects, notably people like Garrett Eckbo and Bob Royston, used fences and other vertical elements to great effect to create this infinitely-varied range of enclosure. They found inspiration from the Expressionist painters of the early- and mid-20th century, which they translated both on the ground plane and vertically. And, just like their counterparts designing homes, they were driven by a basic premise of using off-the-shelf materials to compose inventive, bold, but affordable design suitable for the explosion of the post-war middle class.

These wavy panels above were a popular material....but since they’re made of asbestos, it’s a no-no today! Design below by SCLA uses Cor-Ten steel, a popular choice for contemporary garden design, in this proposed 5’ ht. fence/retaining wall with sedums to grow through some of the slotted cut-outs.

Note that there’s no rule that says you have to limit a fence to the property line; fences and walls can likewise be used to delineate outdoor spaces in whatever form a design theme, and circulation through and around it, suggest. A landscape architect should approach the task thinking not solely “Where does the property line run?”, but rather “What kind of subtle geometry is going on in the house that we can take inspiration from?”

Landscape plan at right (Garrett Eckbo; Harvard graduate project, 1937) shows influence of earlier French Modernist garden device of zig-zag patterns that effectively camouflage linearity of narrow city lot. Similar idea employed below (plan and perspective views), with overlapping pool fencing (design by SCLA) which adds subtle layering and depth, especially when grazed by night lighting, to otherwise flat property edge. (An existing tall brick wall, in a Classical style, had been nearly pushed over by huge beloved shade tree to be saved; cost to repair masonry presented the opportunity to propose a more-MCM-appropriate replacement.) Repaired wall would have to detour around tree; here, the stepped-back panels (connected unobtrusively in the gaps, for complete enclosure as well as to provide stability) achieve same result in a more design-deliberate manner.

In subsequent blog posts we’ll explore more aspects of fences and enclosure for Midcentury Modern gardens: appropriate materials; the different spatial experiences created by varying fence heights or amount of ‘transparency’; when you might want fences or walls to be an extension of the house’s own material vs. a design that stands in dramatic contrast. But for now when you realize you need to contain Fido in the backyard, after you’ve spent untold energy making your Atomic Ranch or International Style home perfect, outfitted with that cool Eames lounge chair you scored on Craigs List, realize that you don’t need to just accept the standard choices from the fence aisle at the orange big-box store!

— Ted Cleary, ASLA / Studio Cleary Landscape Architecture
www.studiocleary.com