A 1959 Rossmoor Home Becomes a Family's Sanctuary

This gem of a 1959 Rossmoor home was infused with a light refresh for a bright, contemporary feel without sacrificing the architectural and design elements that make it special.

When homeowner and stylist Mary Jane (MJ) Cripe first walked into this 1959 Rossmoor home in Southern California, her heart started to race. While she and her husband, Jason, were not initially looking to move as they had just completed a renovation of their house in nearby Long Beach, something about the home drew them in. “We loved that it was Mid Century Modern with a single level and four bedrooms, and it had a large lot and a pool,” MJ says.

After her husband walked through the home, they agreed it was perfect for their family, especially regarding their special needs daughter. In the competitive housing market of 2022, and with an incredibly busy open house, neither of them thought their dream would become a reality. Unable to get the house out of her mind, MJ reached out to the listing agent and wrote an offer. To her and her husband’s great surprise and joy, their offer was accepted.

black fence with breeze block border and outdoor living room with fireplace in Rossmoor home — The gas fire pit with hood, original to the home, adds a touch of Mid Mod flair. “We thought the placement is a bit odd, but we embraced it,” MJ says. Long and low sofas, woven pendant lights and rug add touches of texture and cozy. “There is a large pass-through window with a bar extension,” MJ says. “We love being able to pass food and snacks through when sitting outside.”

Finding Home

At just over 10,000 square feet, the lot is larger than its neighbors. The Rossmoor community was a development project from 1955 to 1961 by Ross W. Cortese, an architect best known for the Lakewood Rancho Estates in Long Beach, the Frematic Homes in Anaheim and Leisure World in Seal Beach.

Expanded in the ’90s from its original footprint of 1,700 square feet with three beds and two baths to four beds and three baths at 2,263 square feet, this home had been well taken care of by its previous owners and just needed a facelift to breathe fresh life back into the design as well as introduce some specific functional updates. In addition to the expansion, the previous homeowners had added a fireplace in the family room, carpeting throughout the home and wallpaper in some of the rooms.

“We loved that there were different areas to explore in the home,” MJ says. “All the rooms in the home are generous in size. The vaulted ceilings, open concept and all the windows make the house feel airy and have a great flow.”

Outside, the covered porch allows for an extended living area and includes a vintage mid mod fireplace. The pool, complete with a vintage dive board, and ample hardscape allow for entertaining guests. Even the lemon tree in the side yard was a bonus. “The house felt like a sanctuary,” MJ says.

outdoor living room in 1959 Rossmoor, California home — In the back of the home, the loggia, which is original to the home, serves as the perfect spot to rest and relax outside alone or with friends and family. MJ and Jason chose to move the dining table and chairs out in the open and arrange a seating area of sofas and coffee table underneath the slatted covering. “It is a way to enjoy the fire from both sides and still see the fire from the dining room,” MJ says.

Making Changes

In a post-pandemic frame of mind, MJ and Jason were eager to carve out a new space for their family that centered around the values of calm and creativity. “We wanted to create a sanctuary—a place to relax, to create and to gather with family and friends,” MJ says. Because of this, they were not eager to make any structural or layout changes. Instead, they focused on emphasizing the features the home already had as well as updating to get the look, feel and functionality they desired.

“The plan was to live in the home and repair only what needed to be repaired and update things that really needed to be updated,” MJ says. “We wanted to honor the original features of the house.”

They decided to change out the flooring, repaint inside and out, and replace some of the light fixtures. Carpeting had covered the entire home, including the bathrooms and kitchen, and MJ and Jason replaced it with LVF flooring for its affordability and durability. After an inspection revealed asbestos in the ceiling, they opted to keep the popcorn ceilings. They kept much of the kitchen original, save for removing the upper cabinets to open the sightline.

For the palette, MJ and Jason chose a more minimalist, boho take on mid-century modern design. “We didn’t want a highly designed space that’s not approachable; we wanted it to feel like home,” she says. “We were going for a cozier space with a nod to Mid Century Modern design.” The neutral palette and layers of textures add warmth and a touch of lived-in coziness.

Noguchi table and black accent wall with fireplace in bright renovated Rossmoor home — After her husband walked through the home, they agreed it was perfect for their family, especially regarding their special needs daughter. In the competitive housing market of 2022, and with an incredibly busy open house, neither of them thought their dream would become a reality. Unable to get the house out of her mind, MJ reached out to the listing agent and wrote an offer. To her and her husband’s great surprise and joy, their offer was accepted.

Indoor/Outdoor Flow

One of the features MJ and her husband prized most about the 1959 Rossmoor home is its flow, including the seamless flow between interior and exterior spaces. “The house really has amazing bones,” MJ says. All original floor-to-ceiling glass doors and windows, indoor planters and a large, covered patio in the backyard create the perfect blurring of indoors and outdoors. The pool and mid mod fireplace provide a fun area for recreation and relaxation.

MJ created design cohesion through her use of palette and textures both inside and outside the home. The exterior shares the same neutral palette with bright white paint and a jet-black chimney. Surfboards decorate the back patio as well as their children’s rooms. Organic textures like sheepskin, wood, leather and rugs adorn living spaces inside and out.

credenza with record player and lyric art in 1959 Rossmoor home — MJ framed lyrics from Rapper’s Delight above a Paul McCobb credenza, inherited from her parents, as a playful mix of old and new in the family room.

Between the abundant windows letting in the natural light and the chic yet cozy style, the home keeps all the classic hallmarks of mid-century design without feeling like a museum. MJ and her family have since moved on from this cozy refuge and now rent it to friends who enjoy the contemporary mixed with mid mod feel.

“We wanted to honor the original flow of the home. It is, after all, what we fell in love with in the first place,” MJ says.

black painted brick fireplace with wooden candle holders — A wood mantel cuts across the pop of black of the fireplace in the family room, creating cohesion between the various wood elements throughout the home.

homeowners in their 1959 Rossmoor home sitting in between vintage shelving units — These shelves, originally in the master bedroom, are vintage. “It was a bit too big for the bedroom and I thought it should be placed somewhere – it is too pretty to be hidden in a room,” MJ says. Now in the front sitting room, it adds character and dimension to the painted wood paneled wall. “The wood paneling in the sitting room was already painted,” MJ says. “We wanted to have the shelves hold books, and objects we may want to display.” Some of these treasures include Girard Wooden dolls by Vitra.

open concept living and dining room in 1959 Rossmoor home — The front sitting room looks into the dining room and through the glass wall windows out onto the exterior patio. MJ’s use of textures combined with modern lines and contemporary palette create a sense of calm and comfort. “This is such a special space,” MJ says. “It is where Jason and I sit together and talk.”

living room with brick fireplace and Eames lounge chair in 1959 Rossmoor home — “We wanted a cozy feel in this sitting room,” MJ says. “We imagined sitting there with the fire going; a place to sit and relax.” The tulip side table, teak Modernica table and Eames chair are all nods to Mid Century Modern design. “The wooden bench is another piece we bought together 20 years ago,” MJ says. “It’s not Mid Mod but we love it, and it is part of our story.”

dining room with bubble light, Eames style dining chairs and fiddle leaf fig in 1959 Rossmoor home — Floor to ceiling windows original to the home provide an abundance of natural light in the dining room, as well as a connection between interior and exterior spaces with views of the pool and firepit. A George Nelson bubble lamp centers the space above the teak dining table and Eames chairs. The adjacent kitchen has a pass-through counter for hosting. “We took down the upper cabinets in the kitchen to maximize the openness and views in the kitchen,” MJ says. The wood buffet is vintage.

white and bright corner of 1959 Rossmoor home — Layers and textures play a major role in MJ’s design throughout the home. “We want to make the space feel welcoming for extended family and friends,” she says. “The goal is to make them feel the story of the home when they come into our space. In our case, calm, relaxed and focus on well-being and togetherness.”

playroom in bright renovated 1959 Rossmoor home — Windows play an important role in the original design throughout the home in creating connection between interior and exterior spaces. In the master bedroom, original plantation shutters provide much needed privacy as the windows peer out onto the entry of the home. “We love that there are full pictures windows, floor to ceiling, and glass sliders with minimal framing throughout the home,” MJ says. “Most of them open up to relaxed moments outside.”

outdoor shower in Rossmoor MCM backyard — the back patio and pool area provide the perfect place to relax outside year-round. “The previous homeowners had hedges planted, and they are very tall,” MJ says. “It is great for privacy.” A planter box surrounding the pool contains ferns and other greenery. MJ and Jason added tall grass and put up a slatted fence where a dilapidated pool equipment shed once stood. They also added an outdoor shower. “There was a faucet in the area, so we thought it was a great place for the portable shower – great for rinsing off after a swim in the pool,” MJ says.

Creating Cozy

Revamp your outdoor vibe with these patio design tips.

Do you feel unhappy with your current patio but not sure what to do to make it feel more inviting and comfortable for your family and friends to enjoy? Stylist MJ Cripe offers the following tips to elevate your exterior living spaces without breaking the bank.

mustard colored bedding in primary bedroom of 1959 Rossmoor home — Here in the primary bedroom, MJ and Jason kept their updates minimal. “We love all the windows and the high vaulted ceilings,” MJ says. “Removing the carpet really unified the space and was an instant update.”

If you love the indoor/outdoor flow of this incredible Rossmoor home, you’ll also love Easy Breezy Entertaining in an Eichler Kitchen. And of course, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest and YouTube for more Atomic Ranch articles, house tours, and ideas!