Cliff May: "Pace-Setter" model house (Brentwood, Calif.)

May first took the plans for his postwar demonstration house to Sunset, asking the magazine to sponsor the building of the house. When Sunset declined, House Beautiful agreed to partner with May on the house. First National Finance Corporation financed the construction in Riviera Ranch and Elizabeth Gordon and her staff designed the colorful interiors with furniture and fixtures supplied by advertisers.

This model house was opened as the first House Beautiful Pace Setter house, promoted by two months of public tours, a cover shot and accompanying lavish spread in the magazine’s February 1948 issue. Gordon published a new Pace Setter house annually until the mid-1960s to spotlight ideal modern villas for the suburban middle-class.

Cliff May, architect

Cliff May papers, Architecture and Design Collection. Art, Design & Architecture Museum; University of California, Santa Barbara.

1946-1947

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