Sunset 600 Series: 1968–1970 Sunset homes in Livermore

A striking modern tri-level home from the Sunset Homes 600 Series, photographed in the Sunset East neighborhood of Livermore. The house features clean mid-century lines, varied roof elevations, and a bold geometric facade characteristic of late 1960s suburban design.

Welcome to the 600 Series by Sunset Homes

If you've ever explored the quiet streets of south Livermore, you may have come across a striking group of mid-century homes unlike most others in the area. These are the 600 Series homes by Sunset Homes—a bold and forward-thinking experiment in suburban design.

Far more than just houses, these homes embodied a cultural shift. They reimagined the postwar American dream for a new generation of middle-class buyers, blending modern conveniences with evolving lifestyles. With open floor plans, innovative features, and distinct architectural character, they marked a turning point in East Bay residential design.

Sunset Homes heads east

By the mid-1960s, Sunset Homes had already made a name for itself with the development of Granada Village (now called Sunset West). With land acquisition stretching beyond Holmes Street into former farmland and ranches, the builder launched its next major phase—a new community called “Sunset East.”

In early 1968, Sunset debuted its new architectural lineup with the release of the 600 Series, originally marketed under the same name as the neighborhood: Sunset East. These homes were modern in both form and function, showcasing cutting-edge residential design for the time.

A note on naming confusion

Interestingly, the term “Sunset East” originally referred not just to the neighborhood but also to this first wave of homes. But as new model series were added—such as the Young Americans Series—Sunset began marketing the individual collections separately, while the neighborhood name remained Sunset East.

Suburban design with dramatic flair

Architect Ken Gooch and decorator Joan Kann led the design of the 600 Series, delivering eight floorplans that blended theatrical design with functional family layouts. Gooch’s homes weren’t just variations on the ranch house—they were tri-levels, atrium-centered showpieces, and homes built for entertaining.

Their release was met with overwhelming interest. The model complex, located on Vancouver Way, opened with four homes priced from $31,800 to $34,950. By late 1968, Sunset had shattered local sales records. They weren’t just selling houses—they were selling a lifestyle.

What made these homes stand out?

Each home came packaged with “Sunset East” standard features that felt upscale for the time:

Wall-to-wall carpeting
Full fencing and front landscaping
Fireplaces
Shake roofs
G.E. Americana appliances
Built-in dishwashers
Custom patios
Zoned air conditioning

All of this reflected an emerging suburban ideal: not just privacy and ownership, but comfort, design, and technological convenience—all prepackaged in a way that made homeownership feel like a curated experience.

Vintage 1968 newspaper ad for Sunset Homes' Sunset East grand opening in Livermore. Features a dramatic, space-age tri-level house with a bold roofline. Text promotes a “sparkling new life” and highlights included features like carpeting, shake roof, G.E. Americana kitchen, custom patio, fireplace, and air conditioning.

1968 grand opening ad for Sunset East — This bold tri-level home helped launch Sunset Homes’ new Livermore subdivision in February 1968. Marketed as “the East Bay’s most charming new suburb,” Sunset East offered buyers comfort and modern style, with standard features like carpeting, G.E. Americana appliances, shake roofs, and zone air conditioning.

Where they were built

The 600 Series homes were built in the Sunset East neighborhood and the northern portion of the Whispering Pines neighborhood, which was formerly called "Sunset South."

Map highlighting locations of Sunset Homes’ 600 Series homes in Livermore, including Sunset East and north Whispering Pines in the Sunset South neighborhood.

Map showing where Sunset Homes’ 600 Series homes were built in Livermore—within Sunset East and the northern section of Whispering Pines in Sunset South.

The homes of Sunset's 600 Series

First four, then expanding to eight model homes opened in a complex at 1710 Vancouver Way. Each model captured a different dimension of suburban life—from cozy family living to high-concept entertaining.

Diagram showing the original location of the 600 Series model home complex on Vancouver Way in Livermore’s Sunset East neighborhood.

Map of the 600 Series model homes on Vancouver Way in the Sunset East neighborhood.

Pricing history

1968: $31,800 - $34,950
1969: $29,950 - $38,950
1970: $32,950 - $39,700

Model homes

1. The Ranch Kitchen - 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,990 sq. ft. A classic ranch with an arching twist—open living, a generous footprint.

2. The Kitchen in the Round (Design 620) - 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,809 sq. ft. This one dropped jaws. A circular kitchen complete with a wet bar, indoor BBQ, and an atrium garden? It even had a cathedral ceiling with a built-in ash bookcase. No wonder it won awards.

1968 newspaper ad showcasing Sunset’s “Kitchen in the Round” design, featuring two sinks, dual ovens, a built-in BBQ, and theatrical overhead lighting.

From a 1968 Oakland Tribune—two sinks. Two ovens. An indoor BBQ. A dishwasher. And lighting worthy of a Broadway debut. This wasn’t just a kitchen—it was a stage for culinary excess.

A 1968 advertisement for Sunset Homes' 600 Series featuring a futuristic round kitchen with an open layout, curved countertops, and built-in modern appliances. The tagline reads “Tomorrow’s Kitchen Today,” reflecting the space-age design trends of the late 1960s.

From a 1968 Sunset Homes ad—Tomorrow’s kitchen today. With its open layout, curved countertops, and built-in modern appliances, this round kitchen captured the space-age optimism of late-'60s design.

3. The Garden View Kitchen (Design 610) - 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2,034 sq. ft. This early favorite had a 3-car garage, a spacious layout, and thoughtful details like dual vanities in the master bath. Later renamed The Lancaster, this home dazzled and won an "Award of Distinction"

1969 newspaper advertisement for Sunset Homes’ Garden View Kitchen Nook model in Livermore. Image shows a woman using a wall phone beside a curved kitchen counter, separating a paneled dining nook from the all-electric kitchen. Large windows open to a garden, highlighting the era’s emphasis on visibility, outdoor connection, and informal family space.

This January 1969 ad highlights Sunset’s Garden View Kitchen Nook, showcasing a curved counter and large windows designed to bring the outdoors in and allow parents to watch children at play. The woman on the wall phone reflects the era’s domestic multitasking, capturing how home design blended function, family, and modern convenience.

Master bathroom in the 1969 Garden View Kitchen model home featuring dual vanities, pendant lights, and mirrored walls reflecting mid-century suburban luxury.

From a 1969 newspaper feature, the Garden View Kitchen model’s master bathroom embodied suburban luxury with dual vanities, glowing pendant lights, and mirrored walls that expanded the sense of space—reflecting the era’s growing emphasis on comfort and style in everyday living.

4. The Gold Patio Kitchen & Solarium (Design 630) - 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2,117 sq. ft. Opulence? Delivered. Featuring a private solarium, roman tub, and built-in wine rack, it practically asked to be sipped with cabernet. Later rebranded as The Imperial. A 5-bedroom adaption of this home became available in 1969.

1968 artist’s rendering of a built-in wine rack and bar in a Sunset Home, illustrating mid-century design trends emphasizing social spaces and Livermore’s wine country influence.

Artist’s rendering from a 1968 Oakland Tribune featuring a built-in wine rack and bar—reflecting Livermore’s growing reputation as California wine country and the era’s shift toward homes designed for entertaining and social gatherings.

5. The Gourmet Kitchen (Design 600) - 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 2,133 sq. ft. A tri-level wonder with a sun deck over the garage. This one had personality, flow, and enough modern edge to make neighbors swoon.

6. The Gold Kitchen Nook (Design 660) - 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 1.973 sq. ft. An evolved version of Granada Village’s Castillo de Oro, this home retained the warmth of its predecessor and added new layers of elegance.

7. The Country Kitchen - 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,624 sq. ft. The coziest of the homes. Perfect for small families or first-time buyers with a flair for the charming.

8. The Garden Villa (Design 680) - 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,838 sq. ft. Added in 1969, this home embraced flair, with a mirrored dining room ceiling and spaces that felt like they belonged in a storybook garden.

Artist’s rendering of the Garden Villa model’s dining room from a 1969 newspaper, featuring mirrored ceilings that reflect mid-century modern design trends focused on elegance and spaciousness.

From a 1969 Contra Costa Times article—mirrored ceilings in the Garden Villa model’s dining room exemplify the era’s fascination with glamorous, space-enhancing design elements in suburban Livermore homes.

1969 photo of a luxury shower with a view into a private solarium—part of the Garden Villa model, emphasizing privacy and spa-like features.

From a November 1969 newspaper photo—the Garden Villa model’s luxury shower offered a serene view into a private solarium, blending spa-like indulgence with mid-century privacy and design innovation.

600 Series today

Here’s what the former 600 Series model homes look like today.

The Ranch Kitchen today

Current photo of The Ranch Kitchen model home, a single-story ranch with distinctive curved architectural features, located in Livermore’s Sunset East neighborhood.

The Ranch Kitchen model — a classic ranch-style home with an arching design twist — remains a testament to mid-century Livermore’s suburban charm.

The Kitchen in the Round today (Design 620)

Exterior view of The Kitchen in the Round model home, featuring mid-century modern architectural elements in Livermore’s Sunset East neighborhood.

The award-winning Kitchen in the Round home, famous for its circular kitchen, wet bar, and indoor BBQ, stands as a bold example of innovative 1960s design.

The Garden View Kitchen (Lancaster) today

Photo of The Garden View Kitchen (Lancaster) model home, highlighting its traditional suburban architecture and large garage in Sunset East, Livermore.

The Garden View Kitchen, later known as The Lancaster, showcases spacious layouts and thoughtful details like a three-car garage and dual vanities — a standout of its era.

The Gold Patio Kitchen & Solarium (Imperial) today

Current image of The Gold Patio Kitchen & Solarium model home with mid-century modern design details in Livermore’s Sunset East neighborhood.

The Gold Patio Kitchen & Solarium, later The Imperial, features luxury touches such as a private solarium, roman tub, and built-in wine rack, reflecting mid-century elegance.

The Gourmet Kitchen today

Exterior photo of The Gourmet Kitchen model home, a tri-level design with a sun deck above the garage, in Livermore’s Sunset East neighborhood.

The tri-level Gourmet Kitchen model—with its distinctive sun deck over the garage—illustrates the era’s growing interest in multi-level suburban living.

The Gold Kitchen Nook today

The Gold Kitchen Nook model home, a two-story house featuring classic mid-century suburban architecture, located in Livermore’s Sunset East area.

An evolved take on Granada Village’s Castillo de Oro, The Gold Kitchen Nook combines warmth and elegance across two stories, capturing the style of late 1960s Livermore.

The Country Kitchen today

Photo of The Country Kitchen model home, a modest-sized ranch-style house typical of Sunset East neighborhood homes in Livermore.

The Country Kitchen model offers cozy charm with its three bedrooms and efficient layout, embodying the appeal of small-family living in the late 1960s.

The Garden Villa today

Exterior view of The Garden Villa model home, showcasing mid-century design with distinctive decorative details, located in Livermore.

Added in 1969, The Garden Villa’s storybook charm and unique features like a mirrored dining room ceiling make it a standout in Livermore’s Sunset East legacy.

The Custom Design series: when Sunset went all in (1969)

In September 1969, Sunset introduced the Custom Design Series—a collection of 11 homes tailored to buyer feedback. Visitors had often asked, “Can I get the kitchen from this model in that one?” or wished that popular upgrades came standard. Sunset listened.

This series featured thoughtful enhancements to their classic 600 Series homes—like adding 315 square feet to the Kitchen-in-the-Round, or transforming one section of a 3-car garage into a fifth bedroom. It was a test: what if Sunset offered fully loaded homes, no customization required? Prices ranged from $33,750 to $39,950, giving buyers a taste of high-end without the hassle of add-ons. These homes were built around Sunset Park.

1969 ad for Sunset’s Custom Design Series featuring model homes with bold wallpaper, upgraded kitchens, and tailored floorplans based on buyer feedback.

From a September 1969 San Jose Mercury—homes built and designed for the gods. Custom wallpaper you had to see to believe.

Legacy and preservation

Sunset Homes continued building in Sunset East until 1974 with subsequent series like Ripplebrook, Quietwood, and Wildwood. The 600 Series models were retired in 1970, but many of their concepts—especially the Kitchen in the Round and open-plan designs—lived on in newer models across Livermore.

A single lot on Vancouver Way next to the former model complex remained empty until 1985—a quiet footnote to a neighborhood that was otherwise fully realized.

Why it matters

For local historians, the 600 Series represents more than a homebuilder’s golden era. These homes reveal the values, aspirations, and evolving tastes of Livermore’s suburban pioneers in the late 1960s. They reflect a moment when suburban housing moved from purely practical to visually expressive, technologically equipped, and culturally aware.

Today, the brick signs still stand. The homes are still lived in. And their stories continue—room by room, renovation by renovation, memory by memory.

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