If you are a fan of vintage post-WW2 houses, then you’ve surely heard of Lustron Homes.
Lustrons were manufactured in the late 1940’s and early 1950’s in a converted airplane factory in Ohio to house the growing number of new families after the GI’s returned from war.
These prefabricated kit homes are notable for being built of enamel coated steel panels – durable and easy to transport. They were popular in the American east, south, and midwest but only about 2,000 of them survive today.
House Crazy Sarah came across this beauty Lustron in Indianapolis, Indiana and she had to share with you!
This one is extra unique because it has a rare factory garage and breezeway add-on (shown above).
This house is a Westchester Model 02 and it still has the original registration plate:
It is also in original mint condition, complete with all mid-century mod decor!
It’s affectionately called “The Atomic Toaster”.
Let’s have a look inside!
The owner graciously allowed House Crazy Sarah to share these fabulous pictures with you.
It’s like stepping into a time capsule!
The owner doesn’t actually live here. Normally she rents it out as an Airbnb, but during the coronavirus pandemic she has been renting it to first responders at a discounted rate.
What a treat to be able to come home after a long, hard day to this happy place.
The dining room:
Love those drapes!
The period details are hilarious…
This house just makes House Crazy Sarah grin like a vintage house-loving fool.
This Lustron home is a 2 bedroom model.
Here’s the breezeway that connects the house to the garage:
What a joy it is to virtually tour the The Atomic Toaster!
Thank you to the owner for making our day 🙂
ps…. for more mid-century modern fun, check out this fab Palm Springs rancher.
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Very very cool! I’m a former resident of Indianapolis, from the mid 80’s up until 1990, but I worked in Indy long after I moved to the next county East. (And went to IVY Tech from 1991 to 1993, too. But downtown, as the Healthcare School wasnt in Lawrence yet. Any info on where this house is located? Or is that a State Secret?💁🏼♀️)
Anyway – I love the kitchy decor! And the whole thing looks so welcoming. That’s a much older tabletop gas(?) range in the kitchen – late 20s or early-mid 30s from my guesstimate – than everything else that goes with the rest. The fridge is pretty too. I’ve been looking at so many vintage pieces, appliances, houses, and house plans over the last 20 years or so, some just stand out to me!
Love that the owner has maintained all the original features so well – that Master Bedroom closets and makeup counter is really awesome! It doesnt always survive, unfortunately, and I’ve rarely if ever seen a replacement for it that really suits the space when it’s been removed. Glad to see that so much of it is still original. And the bath is great!
The garage and the breezeway are both really rare! And it must be heaven to sit in when the weather is nice in the Spring and the Fall, and there’s time to relax. Can it be closed up when it’s wintertime to make a protected enclosure to the house from the garage?
Thanks for sharing this with us! 🙋🏼♀️
Shari D.