6 timeless mid-century modern homes
It doesn’t hurt to look!
Santa Monica, California
Richard Neutra alumnus David Hyun designed the four-bedroom Modern Tree House in 1960. The post-and-beam home has a main level with double-height living room, incorporated tree, floor-to-ceiling windows, eat-in kitchen, bar, and three bedrooms; up a spiral staircase are the primary suite, two offices, a den, and a deck.
Outside are native oaks, a giant sycamore, wood walkways, garden beds, a patio with pool, and a gate into Rustic Canyon Park. $6,995,000. Billy Rose, The Agency, (310) 650-2999.
Washington, D.C.
Designed by George T. Ward of Vosbeck-Ward, the A.F. Maxwell house was built in 1961, expanded in the 1980s, and recently updated. The four-bedroom home on University Terrace features hardwood floors and walls of glass; an open contemporary kitchen overlooking a sitting area with fireplace; a dining room; a gym room; and two cantilevered decks.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The multilevel lot is landscaped with grass, shrubs, and mature trees. $2,195,000. Christopher Ritzert, TTR Sotheby's International Realty, (202) 256-9241.
Hinsdale, Illinois
This 1956 five-bedroom home by Keck & Keck was fully updated this year. The house has oak, ceramic, and marble floors, floor-to-ceiling windows, smart features, passive solar, a chef's kitchen, a living room with fireplace, a family room with wet bar, a primary suite with luxury bath, and a chrome-and-glass spiral staircase to a basement with a guest suite, laundry room, flex rooms, rec room, and wet bar.
The corner lot includes a deck and landscaped gardens. $2,599,000. Dawn McKenna, Coldwell Banker Realty, (630) 686-4886.
Palm Springs, California
Built in 1962, this home was designed by William Krisel, the architect who gave Palm Springs its signature look. The turnkey three-bedroom house features upgraded systems, complete retro furnishings, an atrium entry, an art-tiled kitchen and dining area with a wall of glass and clerestory windows, and a living room with fireplace.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
The Chino Canyon property includes new tropical landscaping, a kidney-shaped saltwater pool with spa, a firepit, and a dining palapa. $1,149,000. Marco Colantonio, Bennion Deville Homes, (760) 537-8420.
Austin, Texas
Once owned by former Texas Gov. Ann Richards, this 1968 home was designed by Roland Roessner and revamped by Webber + Studio. The five-bedroom house has redwood, pale brick, and copper elements; multiple skylights; designer fixtures; floor-to-ceiling windows; a living room with 19-foot ceilings and arched latticed-brick fireplace; vaulted bedrooms; a chef's kitchen; and a full wet bar.
Outside are trees, garden beds, lawns, and a landscaped courtyard. $5,995,000. Kumara Wilcoxon, Kuper Sotheby's International Realty, (512) 423-5035.
Dayton, Ohio
This four-bedroom ranch home was built in 1956. The open main space features wood-clad walls, beamed ceilings, a wall of windows, a three-sided fireplace, and a chef's kitchen with Sub-Zero refrigerator; downstairs is a recreation area with etched and dyed concrete floors, exposed rafters, and a fireplace.
The lot, on a hill 10 minutes from downtown, comes with a patio, a built-in firepit, mature trees, and a groundhog named Rufus. $325,000. Lynne Dillon, Coldwell Banker Heritage, (937) 681-3545.
This article was first published in the latest issue of The Week magazine. If you want to read more like it, you can try six risk-free issues of the magazine here.
-
Following the Tea Horse Road in China
The Week Recommends This network of roads and trails served as vital trading routes
By The Week UK Published
-
Crossword: March 30, 2025
The Week's daily crossword
By The Week Staff Published
-
Sudoku hard: March 30, 2025
The Week's daily hard sudoku puzzle
By The Week Staff Published
-
6 breathtaking homes in capital cities
Feature Featuring a glass conservatory in Atlanta and a loft library in Boston
By The Week US Published
-
6 spacious homes in lofts
Feature Featuring a Landmarks Conservancy award-winning apartment in New York City and a helicopter-workshop-turned-home in Washington, D.C.
By The Week US Published
-
6 spacious homes for multi-generational families
Feature Featuring a 1900 Jacobean-style mansion in Massachusetts and a 22.5-acre compound in California
By The Week US Last updated
-
6 grand homes in Boulder
Feature Featuring a mountain-facing balcony in Lower Chautauqua and a clover-shaped home in Flagstaff
By The Week US Published
-
6 breathtaking homes built in the 1980s
Feature Featuring two floor-to-ceiling fireplaces in New York and a sunken living room in Maryland
By The Week US Published
-
6 spa-like homes with fabulous bathrooms
Feature Featuring a freestanding soaking tub in California and a digital shower system in Illinois
By The Week Staff Published
-
6 refreshing homes in Miami
Feature Featuring a home previously owned by concert pianist Ruth Greenfield in Spring Garden and a wraparound balcony in Coconut Grove
By The Week Staff Published
-
6 lavish homes for wine lovers
Feature Featuring a climate-controlled glass wine vault in Texas and a vineyard mural in Oklahoma
By The Week Staff Published