I bumped into this 1958 kitchen over on our Forum, which helps readers buy and sell vintage steel kitchen cabinets and other salvage items to remodel their homes in authentic period style. Reader Nicole recently bought this single-owner, Seattle house. Alas, there is water damage to the cabinets. She is replacing them with a like design and selling this gorgeous vintage Ventahood exhaust fan. I initially contacted Nicole just to get more photos of the fan. But, crikey, she then also sent more photos of what proves to be a stunning house with stunning views to the Pacific. Mouse on down on for eight more photos and for a bit of Nicole and her husband Jeff’s story ->
Nicole says:
We just bought our house and are working on some renovations, but keeping it in line with the 1958 feel.
We bought it from the original owners, and have all of the plans, can you believe it?! We were looking for a house with a view – plus open floor plan.
It was designed by Ralph Anderson, a famous Mid Century Modern architect in Seattle. We had lived in a bungalow and a tudor (both rehabs)… We walked in and we fell in LOVE. We had to have this house..
I’ve added photos of the house, and one of the kitchen photo is an AWESOME one of the ventahood!
We are not, unfortunately, (able to keep the kitchen) — some of it had water damage. But we are keeping the cabinets in the garage, and ordered the closest looking ones we could!
We have vintage chevron pulls that we got at the Re-Store and are keeping the sweet red lights. Plus, other vintage lights. The Ventahood (is for sale here): http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/app/2794818079.html
And the Oven (is for sale here): http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/app/2825017337.html
Let me know if you need anything else, and am thrilled to have you feature it!
It is a Beauty!!!
Thank you so much, Nicole, for sharing these photos. And thanks also to ImageArts Photography for making these photos available and giving me permission to use them here on the blog for our archive-of-great-houses; you do gorgeous work.
Now. Nicole: “It is a Beauty!!!” — even with three exclamation points and a happy face — seems like… the understatement of the year. Ummm, will you adopt me? Do I spy with my little eye: sliding doors in the foyer wallpapered with metallic wallpaper? DAGTH. I also adore the Arabesque tiles in sunroom (?) — Nicole says they are resilient. And what’s that wood on the back wall of the kitchen behind the dinette. As the New York Times said, you know we have an “…inexhaustible enthusiasm for the minutiae of home décor…”
I am so happy you are renovating in harmony with the home’s original style. Also, props for working to find a new home for the vintage pieces. Now that we have the “before” photos of your kitchen, we will be eagerly waiting for the “afters” to come soon. No pressure, dear.
One more thought, readers: When we talked recently about creating “timeless kitchens” the recommendation to do “medium-tone wood cabinets” came up. Here’s a great example of what I think, is a great piece of advice.
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That’s about as close to being my dream house as I’ve ever seen. It’s mesmerizing.
Speechless… what a dream! I see TWO sets of cool sliding doors! Are they etched glass?? WOW!
I think that’s wallpaper on the sliding doors (mentioned in my superwordy post). Nicole: Can you confirm? Maybe send me some close-up shots?
It is the original wallpaper! I’ll take some photos for you.
“We were looking for a house with a view…”
Mission accomplished!
A house with views for sure – both inside and out. If there wasn’t anything to see out the windows, I’d be perfectly happy sitting inside just looking around at the INTERIOR. Thanks for sharing your beautiful home.
This house is heartbreakingly beautiful. Would love to see the exterior views.
Nicole, I’m curious about your sunroom flooring. If it is, indeed, resilient, is it tile or sheet? I’ve recently uncovered very similar flooring under my LR/DR carpeting. Your photo helps confirm my decision to restore it.
Thank you for sharing these inspiring photos with us. Enjoy that gorgeous home.
This sheet, and was in poor condition, so we are putting in hardwood floors. Thanks for asking!
What a warm, inviting feel this house has! I’m jealous of all those closets.
OMG, I’m swooning over here! SWOONING!! S-W-O-O-O-O-O-O-N-I-N-G!! It may take me awhile to be able to form an intelligent sentence again…
I second that!
Wow, that is an awesome looking home! I can imagine they paid a pretty penny for that view!
That. Is. GORGEOUS! Wow! What a fantastic home!
This is one amazing house! Congrats!
This is totally amazing!!! congratulations!!! I can only imagine what you can do with an open floor plan such as this!!! wow!!!!! A+++ please post some more pics whenever you finish the kitchen! what a view!! its like being on a vacation 24/7 , 365 (this year 366) days a year!!! ^_^
Omg…that house is gorgeous, and that view! A beautiful northwest view!
That is one house that I’d leave as ‘original’ as possible.
Wow, gorgeous house!
Annie B. said it – “heartbreakingly beautiful” – mostly because I don’t get to live in it!
Beautiful house Nicole! Are you planning on keeping the stone entry flooring? I just love that.
More than anything though….your view makes me SOOOO homesick, down here in California. I was born, raised and lived my whole life in the Mt. Vernon/Burlington area, north of Seattle before moving here. I miss my GREEN surroundings and WATER! I even miss the clouds on some days!
We would never touch the stone floor…we love it!
This is making it a little hard for me to love my 70s split-level in Gresham, Oregon. Grew up minutes from the Sound, in a 50s ranch. Feeling a little homesick. What an amazing place.
I’d love to know which neighborhood this house is in…
This is the most amazing house I’ve seen on Retro Renovation and I’ve looked at all of them…it seems like some kind of magic place far, far away in a land of well, near perfection! Thank you for letting us look at your wonderful home! And congrats!
I love this house — reminds me of the fab mid-century houses in Pebble Beach I used to visit as a kid when my mom was cleaning them!
Oh, and not to be a turd in the punchbowl, but those views are of Puget Sound, not the Pacific. The Pacific is another hour or so west, at least.
Thanks, Megan, geography is my way worst subject.
Wow–just wow!!! I now have something to show when asked: “what exactly is it you want in a house?”
I drive by those houses (there are a few mid-cent pretties in the same area) and dream. Maybe someday…. Until then, I’ll continue to love the house I’m in.