Casa View Cliff May-Designed MCM is a Treasure for Under $200K

Y’all. By now, it’s no secret how we feel about midcentury modern architecture. The open floor pan! The vaulted ceilings! The walls of windows! Sigh. We feel it’s our sacred duty to report when one hits the market and 2615 Millmar Drive is no exception. In fact, it’s rather exceptional.

Talk about owning a piece of history. Practically untouched for over half a century, this Cliff May-designed Casa View estate gem is crying out for an architecture lover with a stout heart and an eye for midcentury detail. With original parquet floors and wrought iron fence work, it oozes vintage charm. The price point makes it even harder to resist. At $199,900, it ought to entice anyone looking to make the most of a modest renovation budget.

We spoke to Tom Sheshene at Coldwell Banker, who couldn’t say enough about this time capsule of a home. “It’s a nifty house,” he said. “Just nifty. We pulled up the carpeting and found all original parquet floors throughout. All of the original doorknobs are there, too. This house is really for the midcentury purist who wants to make it shine.”

With some floor refinishing, paint, and some attention to the windows, Sheshene emphasizes that this house doesn’t require a top-down renovation to be wonderfully livable – just some TLC. We’re with him. We’re not going to tell you what to do, but in our humble opinion, preserving the uniqueness of the kitchen, with its slanted cabinetry and (presumably functional) vintage appliances, is a must!

The through-and-through views, with two sets of glass double doors, bring views of the large backyard in – but you’d expect nothing less of a midcentury treasure. What you may not expect are the oversized walk-in and massive linen closets. For some extra quirk, Sheshene tells us there’s a dial in the master bedroom that controls the lighting for the home. How delightfully George and Jane Jetson!

Realtor Mindy Niehaus who arranged the Casa View Cliff May Home Tour last fall is also a fan. “The prior owners preserved the home wonderfully by maintaining the original aesthetic architecture.  Yet, new buyers for the property have ample room to make modern updates to bolster its appearance.  We can’t wait to see what the new buyers do and hope to include it in the next home tour!”

This home, built in 1954, has three bedrooms, two full bathrooms, and 1,554 square feet. We’re not even in the market, but we’re tempted to stop by the open house this weekend (Sunday, 1 to 3 p.m.) to take in this marvelous specimen.