The post World War II housing boom changed the Valley “from ranchland to L.A.’s most emblematic suburb” and this is where Sonia and Edward decided to raise their family.
From George J. Heltzer’s Westridge Park Ranch Houses to Palmer and Krisel’s Corbin Palms in Woodland Hills and the Living-Conditioned Homes in Northridge, vast tracts of modern 50s Ranch-style homes lined the streets of new developments. Built in 1957 on a wide tree-lined street, 22503 Welby Way offered a pared-down version of features and details to homes in these developments.
Michael, an interior designer and the youngest kid in the family, recalls, “My dad taught army brats in Germany. At the time my parents had two kids (I wasn’t born yet) and they were settling back to life in the United States while looking for a place to live. They purchased the home from the original owner”
Entering the space today you feel wonderfully almost stuck-in-time, with a layout conditioned for optimal light and space. Measuring 1,439 square feet, the modestly sized four-bedroom residence opens up to a living room with a decorative fireplace looking onto a dining area with sliding glass doors leading to the rear yard. There’s also a galley-style kitchen with a pocket door opening to the laundry area and a bedroom and bathroom that has doubled as a den over the years.
The other side of the home holds the remaining bedrooms, each with roomy closet space. Michael remembers the bathroom with double sinks once featuring striped minx marble countertops, a popular feature in these homes at the time.
More fond memories unfold as he talks of his parents opening up the home to everyone. “People from out of town would stay here. It was always a place where people could gather.” He also says, “My brother and sister were married in the back yard.”
Ideal for a homebuyer looking to reimagine this 50s gem, the home is asking $665,000 and comes with a pair of groovy light fixtures and an attached garage.