tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8366093636851252541.post7734869812410747425..comments2024-03-28T23:45:24.495-07:00Comments on San Fernando Valley Blog: Cinderella Homes of the San Fernando ValleyUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8366093636851252541.post-19656571332473238282017-06-10T08:37:12.581-07:002017-06-10T08:37:12.581-07:00Jen, yes I am. Currently restoring mine still. R...Jen, yes I am. Currently restoring mine still. Retroconsulting@gmail.com or 818.472.7103Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00558710268599494648noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8366093636851252541.post-45419798763521179002017-06-10T00:15:46.863-07:002017-06-10T00:15:46.863-07:00Hello Mark, Are you still offering this service? ...Hello Mark, Are you still offering this service? The website you listed isn't working for me. We have moved into one of these homes and want to restore some of its charm.Jenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07703173845023468997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8366093636851252541.post-3967716955074600792016-10-23T18:30:17.579-07:002016-10-23T18:30:17.579-07:00I grew up in one of your homes, on Hanna Ave. Tryi...I grew up in one of your homes, on Hanna Ave. Trying to find floor plans with room dimensions and having no luck. I really loved my childhood home. Thanks so much for building it!!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08477993707211928324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8366093636851252541.post-83914115313326796682016-10-23T18:29:18.459-07:002016-10-23T18:29:18.459-07:00I grew up in one of your homes, on Hanna Ave. Tryi...I grew up in one of your homes, on Hanna Ave. Trying to find floor plans with room dimensions and having no luck. I really loved my childhood home. Thanks so much for building it!!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08477993707211928324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8366093636851252541.post-23801692254949221972016-09-11T13:00:01.098-07:002016-09-11T13:00:01.098-07:00We own one of these Cinderella mini-ranches and ha...We own one of these Cinderella mini-ranches and have it restored to its original beauty, save for a few tall Tiki gods in the backyard by the rock fountain and the pool. Its open floor plan and sweeping A-frame entrance is a great setting for our MCM and Hawaiian furnishings, resulting in a relaxing "less is more" approach. Our greatest respect and adulation to you, Mr. Vandruff, for your stylish vision and attention to detail. xoMx2https://www.blogger.com/profile/01669347438560870703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8366093636851252541.post-59345240891503688342012-11-21T22:54:51.770-08:002012-11-21T22:54:51.770-08:00My wife and I bought our first home in Canoga Park...My wife and I bought our first home in Canoga Park on Covello St back in 1982. We noticed the style of tract home we called "Swiss" around the neighborhood that now know to be Cinderella homes. It is great that thre is a preservation movement for this important era of stylish affordable homes. BubbleBottomFeederhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13452146166207124263noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8366093636851252541.post-77794921561719757782012-11-13T12:54:02.938-08:002012-11-13T12:54:02.938-08:00As an owner of one of these wonderful homes (see a...As an owner of one of these wonderful homes (see above, first comment in the thread) and having been in contact w/ Mr Vandruff himself, I want to congratulate him on a lifetime of achievements that have improved and accentuated many lives.<br /> <br />On a personal note, if there are any readers of this thread that either own one of these magnificent structures or other related styles such as MCM or Hawaiian modern, and wish to "restore" their home to it's original glory, I'd like to introduce my "Retro Home Improvement Consulting" business. If you truly want to "go retro", I can assist you in your renovation projects w/ that 'taste' for the past. If interested, please visit my website at www.markvancleve.com -- where "Retro" rules..!Mid-Century-Markhttp://www.markvancleve.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8366093636851252541.post-17397926257160801452012-11-11T21:15:54.893-08:002012-11-11T21:15:54.893-08:00Thanks everyone for the wonderful comments. I forg...Thanks everyone for the wonderful comments. I forgot to mention that I was raised in a Cinderella home in the tract mentioned in this post. My dad still owns his Cinderella home which will someday be willed to me where I will plan to restore it as best as possible to its original condition. <br /><br />To Mr. Jean Vandruff, I am honored that you took the time to view this post and comment on this blog. If you are ever in the neighborhood, please let me know and I will be more than honored to show you around. <br /><br />Also, one last thing, whats your secret for longevity?<br /><br />Marty McFly<br />SFValleyblog.comMarty McFlyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11529647889374572329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8366093636851252541.post-54081204152573681632012-11-09T13:54:19.639-08:002012-11-09T13:54:19.639-08:00Hi everybody. I am Jean Valjean Vandruff, the ori...Hi everybody. I am Jean Valjean Vandruff, the originator, designer, builder-developer and franchiser of Cinderella Homes. One of my sons, Dean, just sent this blog to me. I am 90 years old and still going strong. I appreciate this interest in the Cinderella mystique. <br />It captured me in my earliest designing of custom homes after two and a half years of architecture at USC. I couldn’t stand the cold, hard, rigidity of ‘modern’ houses. To me, a real home had to exude friendliness, heritage, cozy warmth and a distinct comfort that you didn’t want to leave. It had to have the feeling of a joyous and happy family who ‘live’ together in harmony and love. It had to, literally, be a part of the character of those who live therein. It also had to be complete in its architecture, with the garage as an integral element of the architecture of the home. These were not houses, they were homes. <br /><br />It is so nice to hear from those whose lives are being enhanced by them. I have heard from many who won’t give them up until it cannot be avoided, and then they try to will them to one of their children. The homes have aged though, and many are now hardly recognizable, especially the loss of their heavy shake shingle roofs. I went through one of my developments recently, and was sad to see the changes made ... a little at a time. To the person who made this blog, I thank you, and wish the Lord’s best blessings on each of you who want the best fine-fulfilments of your lives. Joy to you! Jean (Jene) Vandruffhttp://jean.vandruff.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8366093636851252541.post-6824042676689737222012-10-25T12:39:42.596-07:002012-10-25T12:39:42.596-07:00Just found this blog as I was googling Cinderella ...Just found this blog as I was googling Cinderella homes. I don't live in one (mine is a '54 smaller version, I think), but I adore them. I love the charming features on the homes that are still intact (boo to all who deface them inside and out! and hooray to MidCenturyMark for restoring his! I just viewed his photos and I'm so excited to see that. :)<br />I've been in a few when we were house hunting 15 yrs ago and I remember one still had the pink tiled bath with the Cinderella coach silouette on the tiles. I'm not a native Californian but I so wish people would care about preserving what is special about SFV...these vintage homes are one of them. Yes, I've seen the beautiful land/orange trees disappear over the 30 yrs but do they have to replace them with those ugly faceless box homes? Not even an attractive shutter or scallop design..ugh. <br />Anyway, will bookmark this site. BTW, one of my favorite movies for showing SFV around 1960 is "Bachelor in Paradise"...a Bob Hope/Lana Turner comedy...features the new Valley homes and Woodland Hills area. Also, just saw another WHills recognizable street sign in another favorite movie the other day "Mad, Mad, Mad World". Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8366093636851252541.post-51417720553232893312012-07-02T16:07:58.803-07:002012-07-02T16:07:58.803-07:00The homes that were these Cinderella Homes were bu...The homes that were these Cinderella Homes were built in the Pomona Valley by Robert Olin Construction, I think the first tract was in Claremont (I remember when they were built) on Vista Dr. They built a couple other tracts in Pomona-Cinderella Royalty on La Verne Ave. (and another later tract on Arrow Hwy) and another tract Bangor and Orange Grove (Royal Coach Estates?) One in north Claremont (name Piedmont Mesa Estates?) they got fancier with step down living rooms marketed as a 'talk of the town' glittering gold model. I think the final VanDerRuff series was Holmby Estates on Silvertree and a 'custom series' next to it. I think Olin may have partnered with Ralph Lewis (now KB home) to built other tracts on Mural Dr. He built later homes in LaVerne above Baseline but I think they weren't Van Der Ruff's and a few apt bldgs. but I think Olin retired, their offices on Foothill are now a Music store near Towne Ave.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8366093636851252541.post-16217622118282245942012-05-12T05:05:44.368-07:002012-05-12T05:05:44.368-07:00Interesting that this style was all over the Valle...Interesting that this style was all over the Valley in the the 1950s, but that tastes changed so quickly with regard to how homes were styled.<br /><br />We moved to the orginal Porter Ranch development (the tract was built by Republic Homes) essentially going north from Rinaldi, between Wilbur to just east of Reseda. There were also some houses scattered south of Rinaldi to the east of Reseda as well, and all the homes were built in 1965 and 1966. "Porter Ridge" was built right after, with homes of similar design, up by Sesnon and Tampa.<br /><br />Most everything to the south of us, at least as far down as Devonshire, was this ranch-y style of the Cinderella Homes, built only a decade earlier. But to my young eyes, those houses seemed "old" by comparison to the more streamlined ones in our immediate neighborhood.<br /><br />But of course, tastes changed again the late 1960s and well into the '70s, as the Spanish/Mission style became popular with newer homes built in the Porter Valley area and in portions of Chatsworth. Then, the '60s houses looked dated.<br /><br />The '94 Northridge earthquake damaged so many houses that a lot of the different character of the various neighborhoods was homogenized into a more generic look. Still, it's fun to drive back through the old 'hood and see examples of the various designs still intact here and there.Valley Guynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8366093636851252541.post-57140407717002500812012-05-02T17:55:09.374-07:002012-05-02T17:55:09.374-07:00I own one of the 'Storybook Ranch' homes i...I own one of the 'Storybook Ranch' homes in this tract and plan to restore it to it's former glory. Back to a simpler time when houses weren't just big stucco boxes without any "heart" or "soul" & had at least some semblance of "style". Whether you liked it or not...Mid-Century-Marknoreply@blogger.com