P&H Custom Style 1

P&H Custom Style 1

This design is one of four multi-level Modern concepts provided by the builder during the first Northcrest building phase (from the P&H Realty Company Inc. Catalog, Page 2 top image). As with most of the MCM floor plans, the house is divided into left-right halves, with stacked rooms on either the left or right and living/dining/kitchen on the opposite half. The upper floors generally contain the bedrooms and a shared "Jack and Jill" bath - where both the main and master bathrooms share the same bathtub/shower (each side of the tub has a glass sliding glass door). The main level contains the living room, dining room and galley kitchen. The "basement" level generally contains a door or sliding glass door for carport access, a wet-bar, a second full bath and closet. All of these styles featured tongue-and-groove pine ceilings with exposed beams, large sliding glass doors and wood finished cabinetry (usually walnut but occasionally something more unusual such as native heartwood pine). The dining cabinets usually extend as a divider to the dining room, featuring matching wood tongue-and-groove on the back for a distinguishing accent (these dividing cabinets usually have an open counter for additional space, with the oven mounted on the end). The cabinets have deep toe indents and are built in place.

Additional features include a fireplace, either on the main level or in the basement corner. The demising wall separating the living from the dining room is usually brick with either a real or "faux" fireplace (when "faux" a metal hood is sometimes selected to hang on the brick, providing a focal point). The wall may also contain a high planter and skylight. Kitchens featured stainless double-sinks, a dishwasher, electric stove and separate oven.

This style uses Eichler-inspired windows in the back and bedrooms (high to provide light with louver-style casement windows with cranks). Many are found with globe-style exterior lights. Sliding glass doors generally open to a rear deck. This style also has an open trellis connecting the carport to the main entrance as a design feature (providing that atrium-like feel). As with most MCM homes, the roofing material is "built up" layers of fiberglass and asphalt, ballasted with stone and held together with metal flashing. These homes originally had no gutters. Only a handful still have their original metal mailbox posts (I'll try to get some images up of those that are left as they are interesting). Some homes have some additional ornamental brickwork providing privacy screening. The bottom floor of the stacked half typically is sheathed in brick to the ground.

Some units also have full basements rather than crawlspaces under the living/dining/kitchen level. All systems fed to a single basement area that contains water heater, furnace and 150 AMP breaker box. Most original plumbing used galvanized pipes (copper was actually cheaper at the time so some houses contain copper piping - not considered as good as steel as it was "newfangled." Almost all electrical outlets were ungrounded 15 AMP with an occasional 20 AMP for flavor.

This design is featured on the cover of the sales booklet copy that I possess (it also is the same style that I initially owned in the neighborhood before purchasing my current home). This style is on the low end according to the booklet with an unadjusted sales price of $21,500 (the high-end was a Mid Century Modern listed for $24,600 - style 6 - and the low-end a contemporary at $19,750 - style 3).

All other content, including images and editorial, is Copyright © 2004-2024 John Eaton and/or contributors unless otherwise stated. If there are any comments or objections, please contact John Eaton.