Part of Sunset Homes’ “Sunsetown” collection
In March of 1971, Sunset Homes launched a housing concept that turned heads and challenged norms: the Ripplebrook series. Designed with first-time buyers in mind, Ripplebrook offered stylish, starter-friendly homes—but not on the outskirts of town. Instead, they were placed right in the heart of Livermore’s more affluent neighborhoods, alongside homes nearly twice their price.
That meant if you bought a Ripplebrook home starting at just 20,950, you could be living next to a $35,000+ executive-level Sunset Wildwood home. And that was the point: inclusion by design, decades before it became a buzzword.
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| April 1971 ad for the grand opening of the model homes at Ripplebrook in Livermore. The ad promotes homes starting at $20,950, with the label “Grand Opening.” |
Where Ripplebrook homes were built
Ripplebrook homes were built across the Sunset East, Three Fountains, and Whispering Pines neighborhoods—giving buyers the freedom to choose not only a floor plan but also a neighborhood.
Selling the series
The Ripplebrook series offered four models, each tailored for livability with a splash of 1970s style. Sunset’s hallmark signature fireplace anchored many living rooms, while timbered ceilings, open layouts, and stylish built-ins gave each home a touch of architectural flair.
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| 1971 Oakland Tribune ad—quality, style, and a sky high ceiling you can afford at Ripplebrook in Sunsetown. |
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| 1971 Oakland Tribune ad—the grooviest ceiling you've ever seen with a signature fireplace inside the Taku model. |
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| 1971 Contra Costa Times ad—signature Sunset fireplace, wall-to-wall carpeting, and hip wall treatments inside the Hacienda model. |
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| 1973 Oakland Tribune ad—Local schools organized field trips to view this metallic wallpapered ceiling inside the Maison model. |
Legacy of Ripplebrook
At a time when housing was increasingly segmented by income, Ripplebrook broke the mold. Sunset Homes didn’t just build houses—they challenged the unspoken rules of suburbia by inviting starter homes into upscale neighborhoods.
That kind of integration wasn’t just bold—it was rare. And it gave buyers a chance to belong somewhere they might not have otherwise.
The series officially wrapped in mid-1973 with the sale of the model homes, but its legacy lives on—in floorplans that were ahead of their time, and a vision of housing that welcomed more people to the table.
In today’s housing market, the Ripplebrook story feels surprisingly modern. It’s a reminder that good design, smart planning, and inclusive thinking can still shape great communities. And sometimes, the most revolutionary ideas come with shag carpet and an all-electric kitchen.
Exploring the original Ripplebrook series today
Although the sales office is long gone and the advertisements have faded, the original Ripplebrook series model homes remain part of the neighborhood. These homes gave prospective buyers their first glimpse of Sunset's vision for suburban living in 1971.
Today, they provide a tangible connection to the Ripplebrook series' earliest days. The guide below documents the original model home complex, the homes themselves, and how they appear today.
The original prices
- 1971: $20,950 - $25,600
- 1972: $23,450 - $29,450
- 1973: $24,600 - $30,950
The original model home complex
When Ripplebrook 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 four original models opened in 1971 on Heidelberg Drive. By mid-1973 the original model homes had been sold off as the neighborhood neared completion.
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| Annotated aerial map of the original Sunset Homes Ripplebrook Series model home complex on Heidelberg Drive. Base imagery from Apple Maps. |
The original model homes
1. The Taku - 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,330 sq. ft.
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| Original Taku model today via Google Street View. |
2. The Hacienda - 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,239 sq. ft.
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| Original Hacienda model today via Google Street View. The sales office was in this home. |
3. The Maison - 3 bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms, 1,026 sq. ft.
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| Original Maison model today via Google Street View. |
4. The Colbeh - 3 or 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms,1,575 or 1,584 sq. ft.
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| Original Colbeh model today (with added front gable) via Google Street View. |
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