Beautiful Virgin Islands

Monday, Jul 14, 2025

A Midcentury California Ranch by Cliff May

A Midcentury California Ranch by Cliff May

With four outdoor living spaces, this prefab Cliff May abode is perfect for large-scale entertaining.

Marked by timeless charm and simplicity, this California ranch house, designed by the prolific midcentury architect Cliff May, has hit the market in Tustin and comes with its original structure largely intact.

Built in 1954, this stylish three-bedroom, two-bath home boasts all the hallmarks of indoor-outdoor living with walls of glass, an open floor plan, and an abundance of space for entertaining.



Designed by the "Father of the California Ranch Home," Cliff May prefab homes, like this 1950s dwelling here, were completed in just a few days after the concrete slabs were poured.



The house ridge beam is painted black and flanked by clerestory windows above the main entrance.

As with all of Cliff May’s prefab homes, this constant connection with the outdoors gives the L-shaped house a surprisingly spacious feel that belies its 1,235-square-foot size. Moreover, its four usable outdoor spaces-including a lagoon-style pool area-offer ample space for entertaining.



Walls of glass to the left of the entrance open up to an outdoor dining area. Hardwood floors are used throughout the open-plan great room.



The outdoor dining area is accessible from the open-plan great room.

"This particular home is one that I lived in for over 10 years," says Stephen Meade, a real estate broker at The Better Living Socal Group with a penchant for Cliff May properties. "I remember buying it back in 2005 when nobody wanted it-despite a red-hot housing market, it had sat on the market 60 days.

"I initially bought it because I thought it was a cool-looking house…what I didn’t realize at the time was that the ‘Cliff May magic’ wasn’t just the aesthetics…it was the way the house lived."



A dining table to the right of entryway sits close to the kitchen tucked behind the wall.



Beautiful butcher-block countertops lend a sense of warmth to the all-white kitchen with modern fixtures.

While the home has had major sub-systems upgrades-including a new electrical panel, tankless water, and HVAC-the structure of home has been kept largely intact.



The living space is anchored by a wood-burning fireplace with a white-painted brick surround.



Accessible from the kitchen, this outdoor patio and lawn are shielded from the street corner by tall vegetation and a fence.

"There is only a very thin line between the inside and outside. And in an era when most homes had tiny, closed-off rooms, Cliff May homes were built to be wide open and for guests to meander and mingle," continues Meade.

"The signature Cliff May courtyard becomes an extension of the living room. Despite its diminutive 1,235-square-foot size, this home can accommodate parties with 30, 40, or even 50 people."



Set on a 7,875-square-foot lot, this Cliff May-designed Tustin home comes with a detached garage with two covered parking spaces.



A look at the light-filled master bedroom that's flanked by walls of glass on two sides.



A peek inside the master bathroom. The house comes with two full baths.



The second bedroom with a full-height glazing overlooks the backyard pool.



Here, a third bedroom has been converted into an office. The room faces the garage and opens up to the pool area.



A lagoon-style pool sits to the south side of the house. Tall cinderblock walls provide privacy.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Air India Pilot’s Mental Health Records Under Scrutiny
Google Secures Windsurf AI Coding Team in $2.4 Billion Licence Deal
Jamie Dimon Warns Europe Is Losing Global Competitiveness and Flags Market Complacency
South African Police Minister Suspended Amid Organised Crime Allegations
Nvidia CEO Claims Chinese Military Reluctance to Use US AI Technology
Hong Kong Advances Digital Asset Strategy to Address Economic Challenges
Australia Rules Out Pre‑commitment of Troops, Reinforces Defence Posture Amid US‑China Tensions
Martha Wells Says Humanity Still Far from True Artificial Intelligence
Nvidia Becomes World’s First Four‑Trillion‑Dollar Company Amid AI Boom
U.S. Resumes Deportations to Third Countries After Supreme Court Ruling
Excavation Begins at Site of Mass Grave for Children at Former Irish Institution
Iranian President Reportedly Injured During Israeli Strike on Secret Facility
EU Delays Retaliatory Tariffs Amid New U.S. Threats on Imports
Trump Defends Attorney General Pam Bondi Amid Epstein Memo Backlash
Renault Shares Drop as CEO Luca de Meo Announces Departure Amid Reports of Move to Kering
Senior Aides for King Charles and Prince Harry Hold Secret Peace Summit
Anti‑Semitism ‘Normalised’ in Middle‑Class Britain, Says Commission Co‑Chair
King Charles Meets David Beckham at Chelsea Flower Show
If the Department is Really About Justice: Ghislaine Maxwell Should Be Freed Now
NYC Candidate Zohran Mamdani’s ‘Antifada’ Remarks Spark National Debate on Political Language and Economic Policy
President Trump Visits Flood-Ravaged Texas, Praises Community Strength and First Responders
From Mystery to Meltdown, Crisis Within the Trump Administration: Epstein Files Ignite A Deepening Rift at the Highest Levels of Government Reveals Chaos, Leaks, and Growing MAGA Backlash
Trump Slams Putin Over War Death Toll, Teases Major Russia Announcement
Reparations argument crushed
Rainmaker CEO Says Cloud Seeding Paused Before Deadly Texas Floods
A 92-year-old woman, who felt she doesn't belong in a nursing home, escaped the death-camp by climbing a gate nearly 8 ft tall
French Journalist Acquitted in Controversial Case Involving Brigitte Macron
Elon Musk’s xAI Targets $200 Billion Valuation in New Fundraising Round
Kraft Heinz Considers Splitting Off Grocery Division Amid Strategic Review
Trump Proposes Supplying Arms to Ukraine Through NATO Allies
EU Proposes New Tax on Large Companies to Boost Budget
Trump Imposes 35% Tariffs on Canadian Imports Amid Trade Tensions
Junior Doctors in the UK Prepare for Five-Day Strike Over Pay Disputes
US Opens First Rare Earth Mine in Over 70 Years in Wyoming
Kurdistan Workers Party Takes Symbolic Step Towards Peace in Northern Iraq
Bitcoin Reaches New Milestone of $116,000
Biden’s Doctor Pleads the Fifth to Avoid Self-Incrimination on President’s Medical Fitness
Grok Chatbot Faces International Backlash for Antisemitic Content
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
NVIDIA Achieves Historic Milestone as First Company Valued at $4 Trillion
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years
US Imposes New Tariffs on Brazilian Exports Amid Political Tensions
Azerbaijan and Armenia are on the brink of a historic peace deal.
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Weinstein Victim’s Lawyer Says MeToo Movement Still Strong
U.S. Enacts Sweeping Tax and Spending Legislation Amid Trade Policy Shifts
Football Mourns as Diogo Jota and Brother André Silva Laid to Rest in Portugal
×