Thursday Three Hundred JFK Week: Midcentury Split-Level in University Manor Has a Gorgeous Pool and Backyard

When you think about Midcentury Modern architecture, some defining features often pop up. According to Mark Meckfessel, FAIA, here are some common characteristics found in Midcentury Modern design:

Floor plans tended to be more open, with less separation among living, dining and family areas. Large, continuous expanses of windows broke down traditional notions of “inside” and “outside”. Roofs tended to be flatter and building forms more geometrically crisp. Structure was often openly expressed and applied ornamentation – cornices, brackets, moldings, etc. – was minimized or avoided altogether.

I think you’ll find a lot of these same characteristics in 7272 Walling Lane, a split-level Mid-Mod built in 1958. It is wonderfully preserved, and has a gorgeous backyard with a pool, too. It comes in at more than 2,400 square feet, so it’s a good size for a family, too.

With three bedrooms, two baths, and a sunken living area with floating stairs, this home delivers on Midcentury style. Check out the cool fireplace in the living room, and the gorgeous clerestory windows that keep the light flooding into the home from many different angles. I’m not a fan of the carpet, but for this price — $309,000 — you can afford to do a few upgrades of your own.

One place I would think you might leave alone, though, would be the kitchen. I just adore it, with the original cabinetry with by-pass doors and the cool stained-glass window behind the kitchen sink, it’s just so vintage and fun! There are new countertops, too, but I wouldn’t be hurt if you upgraded the appliances.

The master bedroom is huge, and has a wall of windows from which you can see the backyard and the fantastic little pool. I’m not sure I love the air conditioning unit as it’s installed in the wall there, but it could be worse.

Unfortunately, there aren’t any photos of either bathroom with this listing, which could be a turn-off to prospective buyers. But maybe they’ll be willing to overlook that when they see the stone patio in the back.