NuTone Food Center

Thanks to my intrepid friend Carolynne, who is even more obsessed with Ensculptic than I am, I now know that the weird thing built into the kitchen countertop is a NuTone Built-in Food Center!

Yes, that is correct... Ensculptic has a blender built right into the countertop!  This space-age device is a combination mixer, blender, juicer, and knife sharpener. The motor sits underneath the kitchen countertop and the various appliances can be changed at the top.

Just when I thought it couldn't get any cooler.

Ensculptic Listing

How could I forget to post a link to the actual realty listing?  Sheesh.

Here it is.  Everything you need to know to make an informed purchasing decision.

After reading this article in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, I have to wonder if Ensculptic could be grandfathered into Historical Preservation status as well.  It's certainly a significant architectural achievement.

Into Ensculptic!

On January 30th, 2010, Grant and  I and a couple of our friends got to take a tour of Ensculptic, thanks to my step-brother who is a real estate agent (thanks, Nate!).  We had to keep the group small since we were mostly there as curiosity-seekers (though one couple did put a great deal of time and effort into working all of the angles available to them to try to buy Ensculptic, they were unable to make the numbers work). 

I finally got around to making a little "virtual tour" of Ensculptic. I hope you enjoy seeing this wonderful house through my and Grant's camera lenses!

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Here is a view of the house. You can see the front door to the left, the well head in the center, and the garage and back door to the right (and Nate walking to the back door).

Here I am taking a photo of the arch that leads from the main parking area to the house.

Here is Carolynne demonstrating how un-tall you must be to walk through the arch!  (Grant is 5'10" and had to duck or risk braining himself on the ceiling!)

This is the view walking up to the front door...

Walk inside, and this is the view from inside the front door looking out...

This is the entry closet.

And this is the planter you encounter as you enter the main part of the house. We think it would make a smashing Koi pond, or a fantastic showcase for exotic plants, or both.

There are steps leading down to the living room.

Looking back up the steps toward the main entry.

This is the living room. Lots and lots of lovely windows and a fantastic view!

This is the entrance to the fire area, with the dining room off to the left and the steps leading to the entry off to the right, just out of frame.

Take a look at the fireplace - isn't it wonderful!You can't see it in this photo, but there is built-in seating that wraps around this cozy little nook that is accessed by the stairs you see to the right of the photo.

To the left of the fire area is the dining room.  The windows and skylights are plentiful and unusual.

And to the right of the entry stairs you find a lovely cozy den.  I imagine back in the day this room must have had deep shag carpeting on the walls and floor.  I saw a photo showing that the Littlejohns had an upright piano where that orange chair is.

A good kitchen is very important to me, and Ensculptic's kitchen looks very functional.  Lots of counter space and cabinets, and good flow.

The ovens are set in the wall on the left, and there is a glass ceramic rangetop set in the counter.

The sink and dishwasher are on the other side of the kitchen.  The "window" allows light to pass into the master bathroom.

And the icing on the kitchen cake is... patio doors located between the range and the dishwasher!

Look up!  You can see the cables that form the "skeleton" of Ensculptic, and the main concrete pillar / chimney.

OK, so those are the main living areas. Now, if you go up the hall to the right of the den, you will first encounter a cozy little nook for lounging and reading...

And this hallway leads to the small bedroom. The small bedroom features a bench under a window, a nice closet, and a cozy bed-nook with sky-light.

Here's the cozy bed-nook on the other side of the room. Note the skylight!

There is a nice little bathroom down the hall. This is the bathroom with the spiral shower... very cool, but too tight to get a good photo of!

This is also where you will find the famous square toilet!

And of course, there is the master bedroom, which would become my office... there is plenty of closet space for all of my belly dance costumes, plus lots of room for my vast and expanding collection of vintage clothing, shoes, and accessories.

And look - the closet doors are covered with mirrored tiles!

And if that isn't perfect enough, there is a built-in vanity!

There is a bathroom off of the master bedroom, but time, and more  importantly, people, have not been kind to it. The toilet is missing (!?!) and the sunken bath is full of hoses and buckets.

Ensculptic also features a main-floor laundry area which is just inside the back door and right across from the master bedroom.

Grant stands inside the master bedroom/future Belly Pit, looking out the patio doors to the balcony.  But wait, what's this? Another level?

Yes indeed, with a spiral staircase leading down to it!

There are two nice big rooms; one has a wall of windows and a door that leads out under the master bedroom balcony... so we could get pinball machines and records down here without any disasters!

The other room has a fantastic skylight. It's a little leaky right now, but that is easily remedied.

The basement level also has a nice full bath with a shiny red bathtub.

Here is the view outside the basement.  We aren't sure who or what is in those barrels...

A nice side view of the exterior.

And one last look at Ensculptic nestled in its woods.

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