In February 1964, Sunset Homes introduced its 300 Series in Granada Village (Sunset West), marking a new phase in the builder’s expansion across Livermore. The collection followed several earlier Sunset neighborhoods and model homes in the community, but introduced a more distinctive approach: individual home names, memorable architectural features, and marketing designed around the experience of suburban living.
The 300 Series reflected a changing era in tract-home development. Rather than presenting homes as simple variations on a floor plan, Sunset emphasized character and lifestyle—European-inspired names, indoor-outdoor living features, flexible family spaces, and designs intended to stand apart from conventional suburban housing.
The homes were part of Granada Village, the master-planned community Sunset Homes had been developing since 1958. Although the original community name faded over time, this portion of Livermore became commonly known as Sunset West, a name still used by many residents today.
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| February 1964 newspaper ad announcing the grand opening of Sunset Homes’ 300 Series in Livermore. Featuring the tagline “Who would dream... that just over the hill is the city,” the ad emphasized the community’s peaceful setting just beyond the urban bustle. |
Selling the dream
The 300 Series introduced a more theatrical approach to selling homes. The model complex was not simply a place to view floor plans; it was a carefully staged environment where prospective buyers could experience Sunset’s vision of modern suburban living. Each model carried a distinctive name, and advertising highlighted features that suggested individuality rather than uniformity.
The series arrived during a period of change in postwar housing, as longer mortgage terms and expanding employment opportunities made suburban homeownership accessible to more families. Sunset’s models reflected that shift, presenting the home not only as a place to live, but as a setting for entertaining, family life, and personal expression.
The 300 Series used distinctive names to give each model a stronger identity. Each home carried the prefix “Le,” creating a French-inspired naming theme that helped distinguish the models from conventional tract housing. The names were less about literal translation than creating a sense of style and individuality around each design.
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| September 1964 Oakland Tribune newspaper clipping featuring the Le Continental model home. Sunset Homes promoted the design as a response to buyer feedback, incorporating suggestions gathered from previous homebuyers into the latest model. |
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| May 1964 Oakland Tribune newspaper clipping—the built-in barbecue in the Le Colibri model reflected Sunset’s early effort to turn everyday features into lifestyle amenities, bringing entertaining into the center of suburban home design. |
Legacy of the 300 Series
The 300 Series represented an important transition for Sunset Homes. Earlier developments established the company’s presence in Livermore; these homes introduced the combination of named models, lifestyle features, and carefully staged sales environments that would define Sunset’s next generation of neighborhoods.
The approach continued with the Castillos Series in 1965, where Sunset expanded the idea further with larger homes, more dramatic architectural details, and an even stronger emphasis on suburban living as an experience.
Exploring the original 300 Series today
Although the sales office is long gone and the advertisements have faded, the original 300 Series model homes remain part of the neighborhood. These homes gave prospective buyers their first glimpse of Sunset's vision for suburban living in 1964.
Today, they provide a tangible connection to the 300 Series' earliest days. The guide below documents the original model home complex, the homes themselves, and how they appear today.
Original advertised prices
- 1964: $16,700 – $22,350
- 1965: $16,700 – $22,350
Original model home complex
When the 300 Series opened, buyers toured a carefully staged collection of Sunset model homes showcasing the neighborhood’s mix of architecture, indoor-outdoor living, and family-oriented floor plans. Though individual elevations varied, these original models helped define much of the neighborhood’s visual identity.
The show home complex on Camellia was located next to an earlier Sunset Homes complex on Grace Street.
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| Annotated aerial map of the original Sunset Homes 300 Series model home complex on Camilla Drive. Base imagery from Google Maps. |
Original sales materials
The following newspaper advertisements document the original 300 Series homes as they were presented to prospective buyers. Together they preserve the exterior renderings, floor plans, pricing, and marketing language used during the neighborhood's first years.
The Le Sirene
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The Le Colibri
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| May 1964 Oakland Tribune newspaper clipping featuring the floor plan of the Le Colibri model home from Sunset Homes’ 300 Series in Granada Village. The design included three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and features intended to make everyday family living more flexible and connected. |
The Le Mouette
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| February 1964 newspaper clipping of the Le Mouette model by Sunset Homes. This two-story design was part of Sunset’s early offerings in Livermore, showcasing modern suburban style with spacious living and a bold exterior aesthetic. |
The Le Continental
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| December 1964 Oakland Tribune ad announcing the opening of the Le Continental model in Sunset Homes’ 300 Series. Promoted as a new concept in living, the home featured a separate family-living area and standard amenities, including perimeter heating, a Sonoma stone fireplace, and wall insulation. |
Original model home designs
1. The Le Sirene - This model offered approximately 1,127 square feet with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.
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| Original Le Sirene model today via Google Street View. |
2. The Le Rouge-Gorge - This model offered approximately 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.
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| Original Le Rouge-Gorge model today via Google Street View. |
3. The Le Colibri - This model offered approximately 1,484 square feet with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.
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| Original Le Colibri model today (with second-story expansion) via Google Street View. This home also housed the sales office. |
4. The Le Corneille - This model offered approximately 1,496 square feet with 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.
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| Original Le Corneille model today via Google Street View. |
5. The Le Mouette - This model offered approximately 1,792 square feet with 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.
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| Original Le Mouette model today via Google Street View. |
6. The Le Continental - This model offered approximately 1,384 square feet with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. Added in September 1964.
The Le Continental is camera shy.
Continue exploring
- Granada Woods — the executive enclave of Granada Village
- Castillos Series homes in Granada Village (Livermore, 1965)
- Granada Park (Livermore, 1963)
- Granada Village — Livermore's first master-planned suburban community
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