Jack and Christina Gano’s love of mid-century architecture and tropical landscaping is reflected throughout the exterior of their Fairhaven Eichler (model LA-91), designed in 1960 by architects Anshen and Allen.
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A third-generation resident of Orange, Jack Gano never imagined he would one day live in a vintage Eichler neighborhood like the one he rode his bike around as a kid.
Today, he and his wife, Christina, watch their own children play in the quiet street in front of their mid-century modern Eichler home in the Fairhaven tract, one of Orange’s three historically significant Eichler communities.
The couple purchased the home in 2009 after touring a similar Eichler home in the Fairmeadow tract, near Jack’s childhood home.
Discovered in Laguna Beach, the vintage coral sectional sofa is an example of how the Ganos use pops of color and authentic mid-century pieces to create a vibrant, cohesive design that feels both timeless and uniquely personal.
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“We were house hunting and happened to pass by an Eichler home for sale in the Fairmeadow tract close to where I grew up,” recalls Jack. “We looked at it, fell in love with the architecture and started exploring all three Eichler neighborhoods. When a home in the Fairhaven tract came on the market, we knew it matched both our style and the life we envisioned for our future family.
Of the approximately 11,000 Eichler homes in California, Orange boasts 350 residences within three neighborhoods: Fairhaven, Fairmeadow and Fairhill. The Fairhaven tract is the oldest and largest of the Eichler neighborhoods in Orange, with 140 homes total, constructed between 1960 and 1962
Built between 1949 and 1974 in select areas of California, Eichler homes are iconic for their minimalist modernist designs. Signature features include floor-to-ceiling glass panels, flat roofs, open atriums, post-and-beam architecture, abundant natural light and vertical plywood siding. The homes are named after the twentieth-century developer/ visionary Joseph Eichler, who built his first subdivision in the Bay Area in 1949 and leveraged well-known architects to design functional homes and floorplans for modern living.
The Gano family relaxes in their atrium, which features vintage Homecrest patio furniture and a period-appropriate aggregate concrete patio added by the homeowners.
The bright bird-print chairs were purchased at Woody’s Early Misc. in the Orange Plaza. The tension-pole lamp came from a home in Garden Grove, and was fully-restored by the Ganos’ helpful next-door neighbor, Jim. The Jungle Cruise attraction poster, found at an estate sale in Orange, inspired most of their outdoor spaces.
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For the Ganos, their 1960 mid-century Eichler home, model LA-91 designed by renowned architects Robert Anshen and Steve Allen, has proven ideal for raising their two sons, Royden (7) and Rex (12). By the time Rex was born in 2014, the couple had already spent several years restoring the home in preparation for their family.
“We were first-time homebuyers, so we had to budget carefully and make improvements over time,” says Christina. “The first several years we worked on major systems like heating, ventilation, AC and roofing. We also spruced up the atrium, painted the interior and exterior, added landscaping and started on hardscaping. Our first two summers, we had bare dirt, so we grew corn, pumpkins and sunflowers in the backyard to make the most of it.”
The once-barren yard has since been transformed into a mid-century, tropical oasis complete with Hawaiian foliage, a swimming pool, koi pond and fire pit.
During a kitchen restoration project, Philippine Mahogany paneling in the original style was returned to the kitchen and adjoining multi-purpose area. The couple showcases their collection of barware and heirloom family crystal in a custom display cabinet. The original picture window overlooks an outdoor dining space.
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When they first moved in, the home had seen better days after years as a rental property. Fortunately, the original floorplan remained primarily intact. Over the years, they’ve worked to bring original features and finishes back to the home, including adding (what would have been original) Philippine mahogany panels during a 2020 refresh of the kitchen. In a nod to the home’s original mid-century character, they incorporated mahogany accents on the cabinet drawers and returned the kitchen closer to its original layout.
Jack’s roots run deep in Orange. His father’s side of the family settled in Silverado Canyon in the late 1800s, traveling by horse and buggy to Old Towne for shopping. At that time, his great-grandmother had purchased a small house on Harwood Street as a place to stay when in town. The house remained in the family before Jack’s father eventually made it his primary residence. That’s when Jack’s parents met.
“My mother lived just around the corner from the Harwood house on Sycamore in a one-bed/ one-bath house in Old Towne,” says Jack. “She is the twelfth of fourteen kids. She was introduced to my father by a neighbor, and they got married just three months later. My dad worked for Pacific Bell in Santa Ana. My parents are still married and retired in Yorba Linda.”
The floor-to-ceiling glass integrates the outdoor and indoor spaces. Purchased from an antique mall in the Plaza, a 1955 AMI Jukebox plays 45s of various genres. The family enjoys switching the 45s seasonally to include Christmas music during the holidays.
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Jack and Christina met while attending film school at Chapman University. Christina, a Southern California native born at St. Joseph Hospital in Orange, has worked in the mortgage industry and currently works as an executive for a homeowners’ association management firm. Jack is a real estate agent with the SoCal Modern Group, a team specializing in mid-century modern listings. The couple also recently opened their first Phenix Salon Suites franchise location in Carson and have expansion plans to become multi-unit franchisees, with hopes of opening their next location in the City of Orange.
Both Christina and Jack share a passion for mid-century design and pieces, incorporating vintage style into their everyday life. Their interior décor includes everything from signed Shag prints, vintage furniture finds, period-appropriate globe lighting and custom starburst light fixtures, to a working 1950s-era jukebox they discovered at an antique store in Old Towne.
Rex and Royden hang out in their tropical pirate hideout, which was added to the backyard in 2022 as a pool-side retreat. On display are a Megalodon tooth, a whale bone and mounted insect specimens.
The Ganos truly enjoy their outdoor haven, spending time roasting marshmallows or entertaining friends.
The family’s many pets include a cat, Koi fish, a cattle dog, and a 16-year-old Chiweenie mix, Gigi.
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“Our children have antique Heywood Wakefield bedroom sets we purchased from Woody’s Antiques in Old Towne,” Christina says. “Just before Woody’s closed, we picked up two vintage chairs with an amazing orange ‘bird print.’ We have many other pieces that pay homage to our Southern California roots, including vintage Disneyland attraction posters.”
Outside, the Ganos have continued to refine the space with tropical landscaping while keeping their hardscaping and pool design true to the home’s mid-century modern themes. Another highlight of the backyard is the mid-century- style cabana they built for their kids, complete with a TV, tiki décor and a ship’s wheel. The breezeway blocks, orange accents and roofline impart an Eichler aesthetic.
A collection of vintage and modern tiki finds include pieces from Big Ed and Oceanic Arts of Whittier, plus a large carved Hawaiian-eye style tiki gifted from a fellow Eichler family in Fairhills.
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“We originally built it as a playhouse, and we ended up with something more permanent,” Jack says. “As the kids get older, we can modify it to their needs, or maybe someday turn it into a tropical poolside cabana.”
In their spare time, the couple volunteers in the community. Christina is currently on the board of South Sunrise Little League, and Jack served many years as board president at a non-profit preschool co-op in Tustin when the boys were younger.
The family-friendly Eichler neighborhood is an idyllic setting for their family.
A day by the pool feels like a tropical vacation. The yard incorporates unique tropicals, such as ivory-cane palms, King-Kong fishtail palms, coconut-queen palms, and many exotic flowering gingers, plumerias, heliconia—all added over the years to create a lagoon-style escape.
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“Our house is very welcoming and warm, and there are many kids in the neighborhood the same age as our sons,” Christina says. “We enjoy hosting parties and other events. The open concept spaces in our Eichler home are great for entertaining.
“That’s what we love most about living in an Eichler,” she adds. “It’s a home that naturally pulls people together. Whether it’s a weeknight dinner, kids running in and out, or neighbors stopping by, the open spaces make it easy to share time and build community, right here in Fairhaven.”
