Last July we got our first look at Cindy’s 60s ranch home in Holyoke, Massachusetts. A real midcentury time-capsule beauty that needed some work – and which she has been accomplishing with great sensitivity to its original lines and features. In August last summer, I went to visit Cindy, as we live only an hour away. How delightful to be sitting here today – in my cold computer cave, 20 degrees outside – and see proof that warm July and August will be here soon enough. Several photos from Cindy’s house were featured in an earlier post, but I took a bundle more, featured here today. In particular, I was entranced by the many small, yet very carefully
selected, details within the house – from that beautiful Asian-style doorknob — to the porch light – to the can lighting – and on and on. Oh – the “Goldwater in ’64?” It’s a bumper sticker I picked up at an estate sale and brought for Cindy as a little housewarming. For the graphics, we didn’t talk politics! And wouldn’t you know it, it matches her kitchen.
Click through for 28 wonderful photos in all!
I must admit, right up front, that I am a terrible guest when I go to see reader homes. I immediately become the absent-minded professor eagle-eying every feature outside before I can even get up to the doorway to shake hands. I think Cindy understood, because we’d met before. Apologies again, Cindy, I’m working on my interpersonal skills especially when doing retro recon. But oh my goodness: Look at the pole lamp. A real beauty! Likely from Moe or Progress or Thomas Industries. Fantastic!
And there’s more — a matching outdoor wall sconce. If the tour had stopped right here I’d have been happy.
Walk inside Cindy’s front door and there is delight in every direction. She’s painted her living room walls a lovely butterscotch color. Love the rug, and the modern sofa! Glance at the ceiling, we’ll get a close up of those recessed can lights in a moment.
A fabulous marble brick fireplace separates the kitchen and dining area from the living room. No question, the more I see these gorgeous fireplace structures, the more I want want want. And these white bricks are fantastic. I wonder how much it would cost to replicate this fireplace today.
Cindy added this floor. It is Amtico resilient tile (vinyl, Cindy?), and what I found so cool about it was the flooring contractor used “welds” – some sort of plastic flooring pieces – between each tile – this gives the effect of grout and is an option to butting the tiles up against each other. A really nice look to consider. However, Cindy says that the contractor may have used too much adhesive because it bubbles up and is a bear to clean.
We’ve seen Cindy’s bathroom before, but in this close up, I want to point out the recessed metal cabinets right behind the sinks. The long shiny metal installation includes swirl-around toothbrush holders flanking each side. And in the center, a recessed cabinet with sliding mirrored doors. AWESOME! This kind of installation was made by companies like Miami-Carey. I actually bought one on ebay last year. It arrived broken in a million pieces. And then the seller shafted me on the refund even after I sent it back to him. I bet I might be able to replicate/find this product for readers today; stay tuned, it’s on my list. A wonderful way to add space if you have a countertop run. And note: Cindy has made some really well-done cosmetic updates to this bathroom since August. Look for that post next week!
An original 60s chandelier in Cindy’s kitchen. Simply divine.
I believe this was in the hallway.. I love the modern lines in a colonial lantern arrangement. A truly wonderful fixture.
These recessed eyeball cans were throughout the living room. These can still be found among the companies identified in our Lighting Page.
I gotta show this again. Cindy completely renovated her kitchen. The cabinets are laminate – a totally authentic choice, especially as you enter the 60s … she has a granite countertop and it looks great … and she stenciled the backsplash herself (goes under heading of: Some Therapy). Notice the butterscotch ties to the living room, too.
A simple but just lovely hall light with that little added something: Starbursts in the glass.
Even on the patio – a milk glass-meets-disco globe! The people who built this house know how to live – and had some dough-re-mi at their disposal!
Another wonderful kitchen light!
Cindy added these new pendants (from Lightolier, I think she told me) to her kitchen.0
Yes: Wood panelling (cherry, me thinks) in the living room, and a Nutone speaker system.
You’re looking at wonderful vintage 60s Romany Spartan tile — and a laundry chute! I love laundry chutes. Don’t have one, goshdarnit. There was a really cool one in the St. Louis time capsule house – photo coming soon.
Vintage clock.
A real dream house. Thank you, Cindy, for you wonderful hospitality and for finding this great home such a caring owner!
Troy rearranges his collections — in his new Eichler ranch house 
Hollywood Regency time capsule ranch house in Burbank, Calif. 
A 1950s ranch house with some surprising features — 15 photos 
Become a fan
speakers, coffee table and clock.I MUST POSESS THEM!!!
I love that hall light with the starbursts! Adore the tile in the bathroom! MUST HAVE the fireplace! Great pics. Thanks for sharing, Cindy and Pam!
Lovely house, Cindy! It’s great to see how you retained all the wonderful details intact, then enhanced them with your choices in paint and furnishings.
I’m awed by your hand-stenciled kitchen wall. Could you share some information? Did you make the pattern up in a one-foot stencil or what?
What a fabulous home!
Gorgeous home, Cindy! I have a laundry chute in my bathroom, which hubby loves (said he never had one in previous homes). Love the stenciling you did in the kitchen, looks just like wallpaper!
That’s what I call “curb appeal” and what a beautiful lot and setting with the mature trees in back. Really beautiful. What a treasure of a home.
This just shows that a well designed house, especially the exterior, never goes out of style!
Every single lighting fixture is dreamy, dreamy, dreamy.
There are a couple of homes similar to yours, Cindy, in the area where I live. I’ve always admired them, as they were built with tall windows (and a lot of them) and beautiful entry doors.
Hi All,
thanks for the appreciative comments…as you know, caring for a retro home is a rewarding labor of love!
As for the kitchen stencil, I saw a wallpaper pattern in a kitchen cabinet catalogue and tried desperately to find it (or something comparable) on line and at every store between Boston and New York…..then I decided to do it myself by enlarging the pattern on a copy machine and tracing, cutting,painting etc….I had never done this before and I never will again, it was so frustrating and such slow going,……….but I love the results!
Hello,
Does anyone know where I can get reproduction recessed eyeball cans similar to Cindy’s?
Thanks
Diana
Diana, Progress Lighting seems to have a lot of possibilities: http://progresslighting.com/products.aspx?1=1&Category=70&page=1
There may be other companies on our Lighting Page that offer them as well. Companies to try: Halo, Thomas Industries, Remcraft, Primelight Mfg….I’ll put this on the list for a future post as well. Good luck.
The exterior lights are exquisite!
I love it! My favourites are the light fittings and wallpaper.
Great place Cindy! I love that clock. I want one for my collection. And the bathroom vanity looks amazing. I still can’t believe the kitchen was done by hand, it looks very good. like a really cool wallpaper! I’m extremely jealous of the Goldwater bumpersticker!
Hey, Cindy!
When you did your stenciling, did you use regular wall paint or paint designed for stenciling?
Thanks for the info and you are especially talented (and patient)!
Hi All,
When I did the stenciling I used regular Benjamin Moore latex paint and a tiny roller from a craft store….there are four separate colors so I had to go over it three times after I did the base coat on the sheet rock. (see why Pam said I needed therapy?) I guesstimate the project took about 50 hours. I am constantly worried about water damaging the sheet rock backsplash and someday will figure out a way to tile it with that pattern.
The clock and coffee table came from tag sales!
Hey Cin – to clarify, I think I said your painting job was “some therapy” – meaning a good way to zen out – a positive thing. Well, sort of!
TY for the paint info, Cindy!!!!!! Again, you did a beautiful job!
You have a great eye – and I fully appreciate taking a vintage house, being brave enough to remove some of the “original” fixtures, surfaces, and features, and replace them with newer, but entirely appropos and better looking alternatives. Great job!
Cindy, your home is dreamy! When I was growing up in the 60s we had neighbors with a similar fireplace and the kids would always pose in front of it for those classic Christmas cards.
About your kitchen and the fear of water damage to your artwork. Have you thought about fitting clear plexiglas sheets over it? I have a collection of vintage tablecloths that I protect with plexiglas.
I am in love with this site and all of you who share my love of retro everything. I grew up in a very traditionally styled home and dreamed of living in a “modern” house. I am working on my pink and orange retro remodel funky mountain retreat and will post my photos as soon as I can clean up and take them.
Cindy,
Did you ever find the name of the designer/maker of your kitchen pendants? We just purchased a vintage light like yours and I can’t seem to find it’s origin. I’m hoping you can help.
Thank you. Beautiful work on your home!
-deebee
Love your backsplash & cool speakers!!
I have friends down the street, and have walked or driven by your home 1 milion times- often wondering if the folks inside realised what a gem they had obtained. Congratulations, I applaud a great job
What I like best is that it is cohesive. When new- it was top of the line, Holyoke executive, stylish and yet home-y. You have kept it as designed without getting kitschy. Your additions look as if they SHOULD have been part of the original design.
It is lovely and I’ll be moving in next Tuesday.
BTW- so tell us…1954, 55, or 57?
and I think it is time to bring back rippled brick.
I just saw this last question from Gavin…house was built 1963. Do you live in the area? You should come for a visit!
How about a retro reunion in Lenox, Pam?
hmmmm, Cindy. I think there are a few readers now in the Pioneer Valley. Let me think about where to have a meet-up.
Pam, we could meet in Holyoke, my place,…keep that as an option for anything out this way…also if you’re going to be speaking at the Home Show you’re welcome to stay with me. I think there is one at the Eastern States in West Springfield once or twice a year……
I love the stenciling in the Kitchen. Where did you find the design? I have looked for something like this and am not able to find any retro patterns.
Michael, I am pretty sure that Cindy made up the design herself. Hey: Maybe she has a new business concept here!
I’ve just seen this one for the 1st time. Just ADORE the house and how sensitively and exquisitely Cindy has reworked it. I love the new kitchen, and, like her many other admirers here, am in awe of the great stencilling job she did, and gorgeous pattern she chose to do it in! I also envy that beautiful front door. Great house!
Nice home, Cindy….Did you have a cabinet maker build your kitchen cabinets? Materials? Cost? Thanks. Am thinking about re-ding my kitchen and am curious. Thank, jason in Florida
Amazing job, Cindy! Absolutely beautiful. I am beyond jealous, but I do so love living vicariously though everyone else!