Part of Sunset Homes’ “Sunsetown” collection
In the early 1970s, as Livermore continued its transformation from an agrarian town into a fully suburban city, Sunset Homes introduced a distinctive residential series that would quietly redefine middle-tier housing in the Tri-Valley. Dubbed the Quietwood Series, this collection of four floor plans was introduced in late 1971 and represented Sunset’s major design refresh for the 1970s.
Positioned between their budget-friendly Ripplebrook Series and the upscale Wildwood Series, Quietwood offered modern amenities, spatial efficiency, and a flair for entertaining—all while maintaining the affordability that helped Sunset Homes establish dominance across Livermore's south side.
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| January 1971 newspaper ad for Sunset Homes' Quietwood Series in Livermore, announcing the debut of the innovative “Kitchen-in-the-Round” — a unique circular kitchen layout designed to enhance space and flow in modern suburban homes. |
Where Quietwood homes were built
Built at a time when Sunset Homes marketed neighborhoods and lines of homes independently, Quietwood Series homes were not confined to a single neighborhood. Instead, they were strategically dispersed across three Sunset neighborhoods: Three Fountains, Whispering Pines, and Sunset East.
Sunset in the suburbs
By 1971, Sunset Homes had already built out large portions of Sunset West, Sunset East, and the Whispering Pines neighborhoods. These developments catered to the wave of new families arriving in Livermore—many of them tied to Lawrence Livermore Lab, local industry, or East Bay commutes.
Quietwood arrived just as the demand for modern layouts and lifestyle-oriented spaces began to replace the utilitarian ranches of the 1950s and early '60s. Sunset adapted with a series that offered design-forward homes without crossing into luxury pricing—a rare sweet spot in postwar suburban development.
Selling the dream
For historians of mid-century design, the Quietwood kitchens deserve special mention.
The Magnolia introduced a “kitchen-in-the-round”—a circular cooking core surrounded by cabinetry and appliances. This was not just functional but theatrical: a space meant to be seen as much as used.
Other plans, like the Escalonia and Gardenia, featured entertainment islands—precursors to today’s open-concept kitchens—ideal for casual dining, socializing, or hosting.
All kitchens featured durable vinyl flooring, accessible counter heights, and open plans that blurred the line between living and cooking spaces.
While Sunset Homes had experimented with round kitchens before, it was Quietwood that perfected the concept and tied it to suburban lifestyle trends—particularly the rise of in-home entertaining.
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| December 1971 Daily Review newspaper clipping—described as the queen of the Quietwood Series, the Magnolia model featured a signature round kitchen. |
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| April 1972 newspaper clipping—for the little cowboy, inside the Gardenia. |
Legacy of Quietwood
Sunset Homes put up the Quietwood model homes for sale in October 1973, signaling the close of the series. However, the most popular design—the Magnolia—lived on. It was reintroduced in later developments, including The Meadows, the Wildwood Series, and Shadowbrook.
Quietwood stands as a transitional product line: bridging the modest ranches of the 1960s with the lifestyle-driven suburban homes of the later 1970s. Quietwood also provides a valuable window into developer flexibility, marketing strategies, and mid-tier market segmentation in postwar suburban Livermore.
While Quietwood may have been “middle-tier” in Sunset’s portfolio, for many Livermore families, it was a first home, a forever home, or both. It was a place where shag carpet met circular kitchens, and where 1970s optimism was built right into the floor plan.
Exploring the original Quietwood Series
When Sunset Homes introduced the Quietwood Series in 1971, prospective buyers encountered the community through its model homes. The models showcased the different designs, floor plans, and lifestyles the builder was offering to buyers in Livermore.
The original model homes provide a way to revisit that introduction. The guide below shows where Sunset Homes' models were located, preserves the original sales material where available, and explores the designs the builder offered to prospective buyers when the community was new.
Original model home complex
Quietwood's four original model homes were arranged on Alden Lane around a temporary sales complex that welcomed prospective buyers during the neighborhood's grand opening on November 21, 1971.
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| Annotated aerial map of the original Quietwood Series model home complex on Alden Lane. Base imagery from Apple Maps. |
Original advertised prices
- 1971: $27,850 - $31,850
- 1972: $28,850 - $33,700
- 1973: $31,250 - $36,450
Original sales materials
The following newspaper advertisements document the original Quietwood 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 Gardenia
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| November 1973 newspaper ad—floor plan of the Gardenia. |
The Magnolia
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| March 1973 newspaper ad for the Magnolia model at Quietwood in Livermore, featuring the floor plan and the tagline “Sunset’s Famous Kitchen in the Round.” |
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| December 1972 newspaper ad—close up of the floor plan of the Magnolia. |
Original model home designs
1. The Escalonia - This model offered approximately 1,324 square feet with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.
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| Original Escalonia model today via Google Street View. |
2. The Gardenia - This model offered approximately 1,466 square feet with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.
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| Original Gardenia model today via Google Street View. |
3. The Magnolia - This model offered approximately 1,664 square feet with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.
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| Original Magnolia model today via Google Street View. |
4. The Nandina - This model offered approximately 1,674 square feet with 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.
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| Original Nandina model home today via Google Street View. |
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