“In my heart I want to be a minimalist with my decor — but there are just too many fun things that are a joy to have around — it’s tough.”
Ted — who is a collector of all things retro — and his main squeeze Stella recently let me take a virtual tour of their amazing mid century home. Ted met Stella after she read a local newspaper article about Ted’s previous retro home then decided to write Ted a letter. He responded, the rest is history — and you can bet their together-house is retro-dreamy. Their place aims for authenticity to a tee: vintage magazines on the end tables, and there isn’t a flat screen TV in the house. Oh and did we mention — there’s a vintage appliance and electronics museum of sorts in the basement. Walking into Ted and Stella’s house is like taking a big beautiful step back in time.
S0 what’s Ted’s story and how did he become such a collector? He writes:
I am a collector first and foremost — I have a regular day job, but reselling the modern stuff is a great way to support my own collecting habit. I am a musician and I do carpentry — furniture restoration, and custom modern style hardscape/landscape installations on the side.
I am seldom at rest. Also design and build a lot of modern inspired sculpture – tables and lamps. (Currently working on a series of very interesting large scale floor lamps that use re-purposed vintage 50′s metal lamp cones and saucers that I have amassed from years of thrifting.)
When I was 15, I was at an antique mall with my Mom and Aunt. I spotted a pair of atomic 50′s lamps — it was the 80′s and they were like $250 — that was expensive !! I rode my bike back there a few days later and bought them with my grass cutting money. I could neither explain nor control the desire to have them. When I brought them home, my mom said, “Why are you buying lamps?? We have lamps all over the house!! and you are 15 — you don’t need lamps!!” I still have them and they still make me really happy every time I look at them.
Now my Mom’s and Aunt’s houses have been totally transformed into retro palaces as well — the bug is catchy
I was collecting this stuff long before all of the articles — TV shows etc. (actually before the Internet was in people’s homes, I guess)
In my heart I want to be a minimalist with my decor — but there are just too many fun things that are a joy to have around — it’s tough.
The house was an architect-designed home that looked really modern on the outside but awful and compartmentalized on the interior with early American fixtures. I got the keys at the settlement and immediately started ripping all of the walls down. I have done a great deal to it, including building the addition on the back myself…(with the help of my Dad and a friend).
What a gorgeous house and interior! I asked Ted about this photos with the awesome Predicta TV set. He said:
That Predicta set is a reissue by Telstar. I could not stomach having a new TV out ruining the decor. They make a great set in the old style with modern guts. I actually do have almost all of the real Predicta models as well.
I got rid of the microwave as well for the same reason. I even have to leave old magazines laying out instead of new ones.
Pam wrote about those Predicta reissues in her post Back in 50s TV land with Predicta – it is great to see one out in the wild — in a mid century home.
Ted, you and Stella have an amazing house — every little detail has a story. For example, I love that you have a juke box in your kitchen — definitely not the sort of “kitchen appliance” you see every day.
The main level of the house is like a carefully curated showroom. Ted is both a self proclaimed retro loving minimalist and collector. I can imagine him, constantly editing the decor and accessories in his home as if it were a work of art — additions and subtractions constantly being made — only the artist knows when it is truly finished…. but then, the beauty part of a house interior is that you can keep playing with it… forever, right?
Ted’s amazing basement full of vintage appliances
It is when you get to the basement of Ted and Stella’s house that Ted’s true collector self becomes apparent. Just around the corner from this framed vintage Nutone advertisement lies a truly awesome sight — what Ted refers to as “the appliance room.”
There they are — lined up in pretty rows — shiny vintage appliances.
It isn’t often that you find a gem of a house with a mini museum in the basement — could Ted possibly have more plans for these beautiful appliances? He replied:
Since I was a kid I have wanted to build a retro town… not like a lot of people do with overdone diners and cutouts of Elvis and James Dean… but something more on the Macabre side — like a 50′s Stephen King ghost town – where everything looks authentic and worn… like it was left one day and forgotten. I am planning on putting up a big barn and building a street scene/movie set kinda town inside… I have been gathering things for years — big signs off buildings — 50′s cars – vintage mannequins — the works!
I will have store fronts — with window displays — (of course and appliance shop) cars parked by meters — traffic lights — gas station parts — diner parts — etc.
Kinda nuts — I know — but you gotta follow your dream sometimes. Have to do it all on a shoe string budget as well.
Ted — I think I speak for most of us when I say — as soon as you get your retro ghost town built and set up, let us know. I’d gladly pay the price of admission to come and check out your collection of vintage stuff — which you would likely have arranged meticulously.
A huge thanks goes out to Ted and Stella for allowing us a peek into their fascinating home and collection and to photographer Veronica Hamburger for giving us permission to use her photos.
OMG! I am blown away. What a beautiful home. And, the outside is so beautiful as well. What a view. Our of curiosity, is this home in the SW somewhere? I want to visit Retrotown, USA when it is done too : )
All I can say is WOW! (Rare that I’m speechless.)
Wow! There is a man after my own heart. What a fantastic place. Absolutely gorgeous. Its exactly what I would love to achieve, but a pathologically untidy partner plus our ten year old and his two mischievous Scottish terriers mean our place won’t look this good for some time to come!
This is probably my favorite house so far. A gorgeous setting, authentic retro…everything! I too will visit Retroland when it comes to fruition! Carry on! Thanks for the smiles!
Just last night, I watched the old 1959(?) Twilight Zone episode where the man finds himself all alone in a completely empty town – it sounds exactly like Ted’s dream of a retro ghost town. I’d definitely love to see it when you’ve got it done as well – oh heck, if you need help setting it up, let me know!
You guys have an awesome home
Is this the one where his glasses break at the end?
That was the one with Burgess Meredith. He was obsessed with reading, which led him to read in peace and quiet in the bank vault, when…
He was thrilled to find a library! That’s when his glasses broke.
That episode scared the life out of me when I was a kid, that’s why I remember it well!
I think about this episode ALL THE TIME.
Me too!! That episode made a definitely impression! As well as a few more!! Oh, that Rod Serling!
I can’t believe that I, too, vividly remember that episode!!! I had a hard time figuring it out, though, because I always take my glasses off to read. LOL
Dulcie,
That episode was “Where is Everybody?”, I believe it was the first TZ episode aired in the series. Pam’s favorite is “Time Enough at Last”.
Yep, that was the name of it – I just couldn’t quite remember. I’m horrible at titles.
The Burgess Meredith one was always the most haunting episode for me as well. I loved to read (still do) and no one else in my family did and couldn’t understand my obsession with books, plus, I also had horrible eyesight and was helpless without my glasses. But now being married to an understanding spouse and having laser surgery on my eyes, that apocalyptic nightmare isn’t quite so scary for me.
Happy to hear this, Dulcie!
Where is Everybody is actually a silent inspiration for the town that has been in the back of my head since I was a little kid.
And just for the record – Twilight Zones look extra cool when viewed on a vintage Sylvania Halo LIght TV !
OMG!!!! We had a Sylvania halo-light TV in 1960! It was so cool. All the neighbor kids used to love and come watch it in our basement. Supposedly, it solved the problem of not having to watch TV in the dark, which was supposed to be harmful to our eyes. Remember all the TV lamps? That was almost an art form of its own. The best-known was probably the 2 siamese cats, but the crouching panther wasn’t far behind. Some of them even had planters for our (ubiquitous) philodendrons.
TV lamps here: http://retrorenovation.com/2012/07/31/14-vintage-tv-lamps-light-the-two-story-foyer-of-the-new-red-lion-inn-guest-house-maple-glen/
What an awesome house! I would love to have a house like that!
I don’t even need to wait for his retro ghost town! I’ll pay admission to come and tour his house!
Best quote ever: “In my heart I want to be a minimalist with my decor — but there are just too many fun things that are a joy to have around — it’s tough.”
funny — when editing this story by Kate, I originally added this quote as the subhead. I just took it out on final review last night. Based on your comment, have put it back up there! Yes, true true true. I am planning a standalone story on this topic, too!
yes, great quote and great idea for further exploration in another story! what a fantastic house – thanks for getting them to share it. Love their story of how they met. And love your site for bringing crazy house and design lovers together.
This is amazing.
Love the house! I really appreciate that Ted’s decorating feels so “normal,” not at all like a house of a mad collector (I guess that’s what the basement is for). I’m super excited to see his town. I can’t stand “retro” museums that think retro means black and white flooring, counter stools, and James Dean posters. I want to feel like I’ve stepped back in time not into someone’s fantasy of the past.
Wish I had his restraint. I have expanded to my parent’s basement, lol. “To keep an eye on my elderly Dad” Sounds reasonable, doesn’t it? Very well done.
I’d love to visit the retro ghost town when it’s finished!
The whole house is fabulous, but I especially love the poster for the NuTone “In-built” mixer. My kitchen had one of those mixers when we moved in, but we removed it when we replaced the countertop. I’ve kept it, though (along with the instruction book with that same illustration) just in case.
Beautiful home both inside and out. Lots of work and energy have gone into this fabulous place. I think the owner may be a little OCD in a good way! Great vision.
Nice reds with the greens….coral and avocado are a lovely pair.
Yes, aren’t they! The autumnals were a popular midmod combo – this fact gets less attention than it should!
Build it and they will come!
“They’ll come to Retroland for reasons they can’t even fathom. They’ll turn up your driveway not knowing for sure why they’re doing it. They’ll arrive at your door as innocent as children, longing for the past. Of course, we won’t mind if you look around, you’ll say. It’s only $20 per person. They’ll pass over the money without even thinking about it…”
*Retrotown USA. Arg, I wish I could go back and edit my posts.
This is absolutely BRILLIANT! One of my favorite houses ever on here. This is what I aspire to do some day. Maybe not the collection in the basement (Only because it would make me sad to see them sitting there not being used) but the house completely authentic. I love it all! Its a beautiful house.
I thought I was the only one who thought a retro ghost town would be cool to visit – nice to see someone has the vision and the plans to build one! Reminds me of those nuclear test sites out west you see in movies sometimes – everything was set up for the tests and then just left there. Creepy and beautiful at the same time. He’s got a huge collection – it will feel like stepping back in time!
Someone actually has one of these going. I will have to find….
Beautiful! Can I work at the museum? I’d be glad to be a tour guide.
Whoa is that a basement, my eyes are bugging out at so many things! And the three sets of Kromex canisters in the kitchen. (Mmm.)
What a striking house, the outside is just amazing. I have to say I actually think he pulls off both “minimalist” and “collector” in the same breath. I’m not exactly sure I can put my finger on why, but maybe it’s that the house is so open and airy. It totally works. Gorgeous!
Ted and Stella,
Your home is positively stunning! i’m awed. I, too, suffer from the “minimalist vs. I want it all” dilemma. A really fine line to walk.
Please follow through with Retro Town, Ted. You can count on every one of us to visit it. If I ever win the lottery, I want to create a real life Retro Town here where I live: a community of one level, MCM styled homes of practical size (RBW, Cliff May, MCModest, Eichler-esque….). A dream for me, but what fun to dream.
Annie B,
You had it – Southern Shores low flat beach houses – so few left anymore…
OMG, swoon! I just fell off my office chair in a state of aesthetic bliss. Wondrous!
Stunning, Ted and Stella, simply stunning. And the appliance collection … holy toledo! (BTW, amen to eschewing overdone diner designs. Authentic over kitschy works for every time for me.)
This may sound strange, but I love the plants. They look like what we always referred to as “mother-in-law’s tongue”. Those were very popular during the 50s through 70s. Every family I knew back then had those kind of plants. Plus you just can’t kill them. And the cars just make me swoon.
The other plant that is a retro must-have is the large split or cut leaf Philodendron. We have a giant one but he did not make an appearance in any of the pics.
Oh and it must have a motel so everyone can come stay there and enjoy it! It would be delightful. Keep us posted!
Ahhh yes – there will definitely be a place for guests!
I plan on using a big old Royal Spartan Mansion trailer with vintage motel signs out in front. I might even wire one of the letters in MOTEL so that it flickers on and off.
Beautiful home and so nicely done. Love the colors. Ted and Stella should be consultants for MidCentury movies and TV shows.
Can you please give the story on the pantry cabinets? Old, new? Refurbished? They’re awesome!
Not sure which cabinets -
The kitchen bottom cabs are the original bodies /frames and my Dad and I made new doors and drawer faces for them. For the upper cabs I cheated and used some Ikea cabs.
The big metal and glass cabs in the laundry room are 1940′s stainless steel medical cabinets. They are HEAVY !
The cabs in the basement over the washers are vintage Kelvinator with opaque fluted glass sliding doors. I found them one here and one there over a period of years until I had enough to make a set.
Regarding the quote about ‘minimalist vs. ‘too many fun things…’ – my girls, ages 23 and 24 refer to me as an ‘exceptionally organized hoarder’ – I’ve lapped over to furnishing two vacation rental condos in the mid-century genre as well as my own home…More than once they’ve asked me what they should do when I ‘croak’ lol! I said, “call in the estate sale people – – until then, I’m ENJOYING!!!”
I meant to mention the ‘divider’ between the basement stairs and the hallway – swoon!<3
Can’t comment on just one thing because your home is all just spectacular!! I really feel I am looking at another Mad Men or Hitchcock set! It is so perfect! This will take me days to study all your spot on details!! Thanks so much for sharing!
It’s not often that a blog post gets my husband reading over my shoulder, both of us repeating, “oh my God!,” when-Harry-met-Sally-style! Incredible house!
Wow, terrific it is a nice balance of items in the place. Love those washing machines my friends do not believe me that attractive washing machine do exist. Would of loved to seen more photos of the garden and the cars, but then I suppose another 75 photos would hardly make a visual dent on the place.
What a great vision you both have Ted & Stella.
Yep – there are a great many things (furniture, appliances and cars) that I did not photograph. The washers are really neat – like most of the appliances of that time the cosmetics were re-tooled each model year so there was a new dash or different atomic handle design. Most of the washers and dryers have beautifully backlit consoles so even when not in use they make great mood lighting.
Dreamy! Where in the country is this? Knowing these houses are far away from me is the only thing that keeps me from jealously stewing all day because I WANT!!
I think your dream is lovely, Ted. Who cannot say they wish they could turn back time. Wonderful home and wonderful dream. Much better than the world we live in now.
Love that you’ve included plants – so many people seem to leave them out of their MCM decor! Plants were such a huge part of decorating, and your snake plants are awesome! Might I suggest a pony tail palm for your next acquisition? They’re easy to take care of – I have the one my stepmother took to college in ’68 sitting on my porch now!
Stella has always wanted a Pony Tail Palm – I am sure we will end up with one soon. They have a great sculptural look. I tend to gravitate towards plants that have a simplistic architectural form.
All I can say is I LOve lOve love love it. Many of the same items I have. especially appreciate the kitchen
. I would like to put same items into a retro trailer park! I have one, a 1958 Nashau. To redo a whole park of redone trailers!!
Whoa! I love their house!! And talk about inspiration! My mid mod has an unfinished, full basement (almost 2,000 sq ft) and I’ve been wondering what on earth to do with it. Now I have my answer…go ahead and buy all of that mid century stuff that I don’t have room for upstairs and set up a museum-esque masterpiece downstairs! Love it!
…also love seeing the same GE fridge that I just bought for myself as a Christmas present in their kitchen! \
OMG!!! My soul sister & brother lol…. Where do they live? *LOVE* LOVE*
If readers don’t volunteer where they live, I don’t ask — assuming they want this private.
I could look at these photos all day. Any additional photos of the original bathroom(s)? Those are always my favorite rooms in these mid-mod houses.
Very nice…something you’d definitely see in Atomic Ranch magazine. I like the different colors and textures that all seem to go together. And, the outside setting/landscape is gorgeous.
Just exquisite! Please, want to see more … and want to go to RetroTown! Thanks for sharing Ted and Stella!!!
looks like a 1957 Plymouth, 1955 Olds “88″ and 1955 Cadillac
Good eyes on the cars – correct on all!
There are a whole bunch more stashed away (with equally “beautiful patina”) – waiting to be parked along the streets of the retro ghost town.
Wow – just wanted to thank everyone for their comments!
We sincerely appreciate them all and glad that we could share on this
great site!
It’s like having a little retro enthusiast “support group”.
When I start doing the building of the town – I plan on documenting the whole thing – maybe starting a blog or site where folks can follow the progress… should be pretty fun!
-Ted
Dude, that is just too much!
Wow, incredible house! I openly sobbed when I saw your basement, wish mine looked like that, instead of an episode of Hoarders!
All I can say is…. WOWZERS!!!! I stumbled across this blog/post while I was doing some “virtual window shopping” and Ted & Stella’s mid-century modern home is fantastically RAD!!! I loved al the true to mod design style, the colors, and the “bonus” mid-century basement showroom. Ted’s idea of a mid-century modern ghost town is sooooo cool…. LOVE IT and I would totally visit for an awesome (and admittedly kinda bizarre!!) vacation!! Thanks for the great design and inspiration to keep searching for authenticy to the mid-century design as I redecorate, reinvent and rejuvenate my dwelling into an atomic show piece!!
Hi, Ted and Stella,
What a beautiful house. Thank you for sharing. Love all the collections, especially the Catherineholm lotus enamelware, which I had a whole set of in my 1960s kitchen.
Why no microwave? The Amana Radar Range came out in the 1960s, so a microwave is not inconsistent with mid-century decor. Wonder if there is unused stock around or whether it is possible to have someone put new parts in the old case?
Thank you so much for sharing your home with us. What a treat. It took me back to my childhood.
Wowwee!!!All of the stuff in this couple’s home reminds me of the house I grew up in as a child of the 60′s.It is nice to see there are cool folks who still adore vintage EVERYTHING.This house is awesome,or shall I say groovy???
OMG! I can’t stand it! It’s easy to be minimalist when one has genuine artifacts. Only a few are needed to impart the impression of genuine. Obviously Ted, like Cullen, has a gift of putting things together to achieve just the right look. (Although Cullen is far from a minimalist! LOL)
Ah, yes, the green picture tube! Opthalmologists believed the green hue was better for the eyes. Since I had several eye problems, we got a Hoffman. There were also other myths: Sitting too close or watching in the dark would ruin your eyes, and watching for too long would cause headaches. Now, we know the latter just creates societal dysfunction. LOL
Does anyone else remember the plastic static-cling sheets we put over the tube so we could trace drawings on them with crayons? On Saturday mornings, there was a show on which they drew on the “inside” of the tube, and with the static-cling sheets, we could trace their moves and create our own “art!”
Winky-Dink is what I remember. You had to send in for the plastic screen cover. They would have a cartoon story going on and the kids at home would have to, say, draw the bridge in so the character could get across a river or something like that. I loved that show.
We never had the send-for screen so we’d just draw on our t.v. Mom, needless to say, was not happy.
OH.. . and the Kelvinator, Coldspot and original Frigidaire! Ah, what memories. . . And I remember how cool the washers were because they back-lit or under-lit panels. Were those fluorescent light bulbs they used? Does anyone remember if the Sylvania halo-light TV used fluorescent tubes? That would have been VERY avant-garde for the ’50s, no?
I LOVE looking at your pics!
I had to share….I have a 1957 Plymouth wagon! I knew the
car and got very excited! My husband has done of work to my
car and has a 1957 Chrysler himself. I also was drooling over
your tv’s, fridges, and decor! Such fun!
Thanks for sharing!
This is one of the most fascinating and fun things I have ever seen. Picking a period in time and restoring it accurately down to the last detail is amazing!!!
Maude
Jay Leno has nothing on this place! Who needs a flux capacitor? This place is already back to the future!
I have some pictures of door cutouts that I really would like to know if they are frigidaire handle cutouts maybe you could be of some help or someone on this site that knows alot about vintage frigidaires. Thank you in advance for any help you can give me.
Sincerely,
Ryan DeCol