I went to my first estate sale of 2011 last weekend — and stumbled into a jewel of a 1970s time capsule home. The lighting fixture above the kitchen-dining room table was mod-meets-70s-kitschtacular, and I kind of went crazy photographing it. The house itself — the layout, size, scale, location and even price for our area were darn sweet, too! Onward for 26 more photos!
Yes, the light was one of those that moved on a track along the ceiling.
A view to the kitchen. This table and light were in the area transition to the living room. The area was open concept — but in an “L” so you had some separation.
Dig the pinch pleat draperies in the background. What a lovely design — and color.
Straight on into the kitchen.
I am seriously in love with woven wood shades like this.
I was even digging this backsplash tile. I think it was tile, rather than some sort of vinyl. The laminate countertop looked like pressed leaves – a very faint design. It suited the kitchen perfectly.
The slider door by the refrigerator led to this sun porch. In retrospect, I wish that I had bought this vintage plant stand. It was marked $5. But, you know my problem with acquiring More.
Another plant stand, this is heading into the living room — look close and you can see where the kitchen floor ends and the living room floor begins.
A lovely living room.
I am really truly kicking myself that I did not buy this teeny Victorian fainting couch. I coulda woulda upholstered it in something mid mod and made it a daybed for Astro. I am going to call Teresa — who ran the sale — and see if it is still available. Drats and double drats! Sometime I just go to far in my mood swings. Buy everything! No — buy nothing! I am always black or white, high or low, all or nothing, will I never learn moderation?
I didn’t buy this smallish modern coffee table — the glass was amoeba-shaped — either. The prices were good, too.
I tried to buy the kitchen light and this hall light, though. Fortunately — or unfortunately — they were not for sale.
This couch did not sell. My friend Ron from Berkshire County Used Furniture picked it up at the clean-out. Dig the draperies. I am using the word “dig” a lot, did you notice.
The basement was jam packed. $5 for this set of cannisters.
The vintage GE refrigerator and freezer also did not sell. They seemed to be in fantastic shape.
Remnant flooring. Luv.
What a lovely house.
That’s the same countertop I have!! My house was built in 1956 and I knew the kitchen had been updated contrary to what the realtor and my mother-in-law said. They felt that everything was original but, to me, it didn’t have the right look at all for 1956. After we bought the house, and I found your fantastic website, I was convinced the kitchen had been remodeled, although I was thinking early 80′s. Seeing this kitchen though, I think I was about ten years off. I love my countertops even if they’re not quite right for the time period of the house. They look good and the previous owners installed a nice tile backsplash that matches with the “nature” theme of the countertop. Our house isn’t a typical ranch as it has more of that “Usonian” feel, being long, narrow and full of windows. Even though it was built in 1956, it doesn’t have that 1950′s vibe. I think our remodeled 1970′s kitchen actually works very well with our house and I’m thrilled to have some sort of reference point. Thanks for posting these pictures, Pam!
My parents redid their counter tops in 1994 and chose the leaves-laminate to go with their very very very 1976 house and avocado kitchen, but when the contractor tried to order it, he found out it had just been cancelled. I remember that it was lovely!
Wow, surprised no one snatched up that yellow sofa and coffee table. Those appear to be Adrian Pearsall designs. Those usually fetch quite a bit online.
LOVE the vintage refrigerator and freezer. I would have grabbed those up in a heartbeat if they were working!
Thanks, Matt. I’ll let Ron know they may be Adrian Pearsall and to research that — before he flips the couch to the NYC dealer that stalks his store weekly.
Yes, the table is Adrian Pearsall. See the website Adrian Pearsall, which includes a guide to his designs. I have a few of his pieces myself.
You’re not going to want to hear how much it was for sale for…
Oh, the pieces I have I got for what I consider a song – two end tables for a total of $200, and a coffee table for $75. The key is to find people who don’t know what they, have, and fleece them!
If Ron sees a Craft Associates label on it anywhere then he has the real thing. We found an awesome pearsall sofa on craigslist a year ago for $150. The woman who was selling it moved in with her boyfriend and she hated it. it belonged to his grandma but she talked him into selling it so they could go get something new. She took a terrible photo on her cell phone for the listing–poorly lit, not a good angle etc. The couch sat on CL for a week and a half before I found it. She was asking $350 but by that point was ready to deal! Someone came to pick up a craigslist item one time and offered me $1000 for it. I’ve never seen another one like the one we have and it’s not going anywhere!
Thanks, Matt. I already have a call into Ron.
I just bought a house built in 1951. Appliances are original, and in excellent working condition. Matt, if interested, let me know!
ARGH! That coffee table is exactly what I have been looking for! Why can’t I find this stuff in Ohio? Oh, right, I live in rural southeast Ohio. UGH!
Wish I could grab that coffee table as well. I have his big brother and always wanted a side version.
Never see them in Cali.
OK, now you’re making me want to look for a sale today. I live in a 50s neighborhood, but we’re running out original owners. It looks like everything was in pretty good shape.
Send a note to the house/heirs and make an offer on the lights!
WOW, Yellow sofa, my house. Dig! Yellow is my official 2011 accent color. And sorry to hear you couldn’t score those light fixtures, Pam. There will be others!
Love the couch and coffee table!! They would both look perfect in a Mid Century Modest OR Modern Ranch!! I did see the couch listed on Craigs list for I think $350.00.
Looks like they tryed to sell the couch on Craigs list first but no luck there either. I bet Ron got it for a song!!!
Wow, that house is a total blast from my past. My parents had those exact same wooden shades (the ones in the kitchen). Ours were in our den.
Lots of fun finds! Hope you can go back for the things you wanted.
my wife and i got the Hotpoint version of that fridge. we paid over $500 for it from a dealer.
what an amazing sale…
Pretty sure that is an Adrian Pearsall coffee table. Looks like there was some high end design mixed in there!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190467474138#vi-content
And I love that lucite hall light…
This is making me a little bit ill. I should have bought it. Crap.
I am a little bit ill on your behalf. That sofa…
I share your all or nothing mode at sales and thrift shops, In my austere “I have enough Things” mode I too have passed on some astonishing pieces.
My house is full! Over-full!
Now Pam, do you not have a Garage? Turn it into a “Mr. Modtomic Garage”! Craigslist is your friend. Use it like a friend!
I just can’t believe you passed on the Pearsall sofa and biomorphic table. Now my mouth is watering for some estate sale shoppin’. Didn’t have much luck last year though…but I’m willing to put that all behind me and press on.
Question, what ARE you looking for at an estate sale?
my attic is full, my basement is full, my garage hatch is full, and we live in the snowy northeast so my husband is right in demanding that there be space for two cars, and oh the back area of the garage is full. i look for “ephemera”. little bits of paper and memories and strange little things that i can turn into collages. all that stuff fills one big area of the basement. i am NOT A BAD PERSON because i did not know it was an adrian pearsall table. i actually came home, showed the pic to DH and said should i go back in the a.m. and buy it. we decided a little coffee table we already have in the spot where we would have put it, was not the right fit. stop making comments that make me feel worse. waaaaahhhhhhhhhh
also, i never said i was an expert in mcm designers. i am learning this as i go… waaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh….. nobody loves me everybody hates me i’m gonna go eat worms
OK, it’s 2013, I am catching up on the archives to where I first started chiming in. This really made me laugh. I never knew who he was until last year when I started seeing lots of info on APearsall start popping up. I never knew there was a “designer name” associated with the tables in the living room that were given to my parents in the early 70s. The retro world is a learning experience!
Pam- Press on and fight temptation!
“Buried under all these great finds is a dreamhouse!” (this is my new mantra)
You have your hands full, but you really could make some $ as a “picker”- the folks who go to sales with the intention of flipping items. Maybe become an agent of Ron?
“Diggin’” the house- but the only things I would have grabbed are the fainting couch and the Karastan rug.
Yes, Ron and I have already talked. Now that he has an NYC dealer stalker, he will let me become a picker for him!!!!!
I have begun farming out “finds” at a shop in Northampton. You get the thrill of the finding an item, a short honeymoon of ownership, and then pay-ola.
A win-win.
I didn’t catch that the estate sale was LAST weekend. The price on Craigs list for the couch was probably Ron although it doesn’t list as a dealer.
OMG, I *want* that coffee table and the yellow sofa! :swoon:
Pam, Pam, Pam! Rule # 1 of estate sale shopping, antique store shopping, flea markets, garage sales, Goodwill, Salvation Army shopping – *Especially* when you are in a “no, don’t buy anything” mood:
Ask thyself: Will I ever see this again?
LOL
That one question has cost me a ton of money, but saved me from some regrets!!!!
I never see that sort of furniture at estate sales. It’s always ugly mauve or country 1980s-style stuff. Blergh!
Pam, I really hope you open a vintage furniture/home goods store someday! You have an amazing eye and I’d love to visit a store that you curated.
Thank you, Hillary. I’d LOVE to do it… maybe someday…gotta make a real living off the blog first. Still not there…
Wow – as much as I don’t like 70′s stuff this was great! We had the kitchen flooring – in the kitchen & bathroom of the house I grew up in. It was installed in 1979 when my Mom had the kitchen remodeled.
I would’ve for sure bought the fridge & freezer!
I did pick up a metal plant stand (like the one by the couch) this summer at an estate sale – it was free. Needs to be repainted – but hey, it was free
I picked up an Adrian Pearsall sofa with built-in end tables at a recent estate sale for $125 and sold it 24 hours later for $600, and my daughter got a Pearsall end table and coffee table at the same sale for $4 each! I probably should have asked more for it, but it went to a very appreciative home.
…Oh yeah, and the cool light fixture. Sweet! Was it not available? I hate finding amazing fixtures and built-ins at Estate Sales that just can’t be had yet you know will likely be trashed by the next home owner. We can only hope that they pack them off to the local ReStore. I’ve picked up a number of great light fixtures at our local ReStore. Some of them we are using now but I just sold this really cool “sunburst” kitchen light a few hours ago…using our friend: Craigslist!
i DID try to buy the lighting fixture cuz i woulda had a place for it.
Kitchen back-splash looks to be Daltile. We have a version of that pattern in our gray bathroom…
cool! thanks for the info, melanie! i’d love to see photos of your bathroom! send them to me at retrorenovation [at] gmail [dot] com if you’re game!
my parents had those living room pinch-pleats in their bedroom when I was growing up. pic looks like the same gold they had, too! pretty sure they came from Sears.
That backsplash is our kitchen floor. Definately tile. So durable and shows NO dirt.
send me pics send me pics!
Saw some pinched pleat drapes at a sale today hanging on the windows. No one was looking at them.
Seriously, Pam, if you can strike up a deal to be a picker and can quikcly transport big items, you should do it.
But if your attic, etc. is full, you are doing the right thing resisting items you would be storing for years to come. You don’t want to become a hoarder filling your home to the brim and investing in stuff you don’t use. Enjoy what you do have!
Kinda like ‘loving the house you’re in…and it’s limitations!’
yup! thank you, it’s making me feel better….
The one that got away…
I live in a small house. I have learned that every square inch counts and that I have to repsect the amount of storage I have. One thing in, one thing out.
I have also learned that your first impulse is usually your best, so I think you were wise to pass on these items. You didn’t need them, and someone else who needs them more will get them. It’s all about the karma. Look how much we all learned today about Pearsall. You still did good!
Thank you. Yes: Karma. I was talking to my husband about this… told him what the table was worth since he’d been part of the joint decision not to go get it… and after his initial dismay, he quickly said, “we already have an embarrassment of riches.” no time to look back with any regrets about THINGS.
Joint decision? I find it hard to understand that concept…until it’s too late!
My parents have that same GE refrigerator. It was the first model with a full-size freezer compartment.
It was a real beauty. Still worked. Seals seemed good. Didn’t sell. If someone really wants it, I know who handled the sale. Let me know.
That light fixture with the cubical outer piece is so amazing.
Yes, that was really a favorite of mine!
I LOVE their minty-fresh front door!
isn’t there a chance that amoeba coffee table is actually a Vladimir Kagan design? And if so, wouldn’t it be worth at least twice as much as it would if it’s an Adrian Pearsall?
(Wasn’t Pearsall mostly copying Kagan’s designs?)
A reader above put in a link to Pearsall’s complete catalog. You can see the table there — it’s a ringer.
Now *those* are the pinch pleat drapes I remember (and would have again). I would buy that place with all the furnishings, lighting and drapes intact and just move right in, ha-ha!
Love the 2 refrigerators, esp the tall GE with the large handles. When I moved into my house I found a 1961 GE refrigerator exactly like the one in the pic standing out in the garage, plugged up an running with nothing in it. Stupid me not thinking called special pickup had them come take it. It wasn’t till 6 months later I realized what a huge mistake I had made an missed getting it back by 4 days. But I did keep the metal drawers from inside.
We recently bought a 1965 ranch in Overland Park, KS and it is so similar to this house it is scary! Even the same floor tile. The house languished on the market for months because everyone who saw it didn’t want to sink the money to modernize it – but we snapped it up at a bargain price because we loved the fact that everything in it was original!
Fantastic house — I adored it! You are lucky and it sounds like so is your house — for you!
I would KILL for that coffee table!!!
When I saw the curtains I thought, “Oh cool, my grandmother used to have some of those in her living room!” Then I saw the second plant stand and said “Wow, she had one of those too!”
But the absolute coolest thing was when I saw the canisters. I inherited a set exactly like those from my mother. Unfortunately they broke before I ever got to use them, but it’s cool to see so many things I recognise from my own childhood all in one home.
Pam that house looks like one that i just went to
for a estate sale i bought all the light fixtures and much
more. I even bought the vintage clothing.
the house has been with the same family for 95 years
and i don’t think they through any thing out.
i have a light that looks like the kitchen light you
took pics of but mine has fruit on it i’m going to try
to sell all my lighting on ebay. i have never been on
ebay before but i heard its great for buying and selling