Snaps to reader Shaun, who spotted this 1950 time capsule ranch home in Burbank. It looks like it got some Hollywood Regency style updating in the 60s — very groovy. I love the living room – a long, open-concept space properly anchored by a lovely L-shaped sofa. This layout — with the couch facing the window flanked by two chairs — is so typical, inviting, and livable. Lots of great stuff in this house. Like, I want that poker table with the tufted guy chairs in avocado naugahyde (left).  One thing I would do differently in the living room if this were my house: Take the pinch pleats and valence all the way to the ceiling to maximize the impression of height.

You know that I love wallpaper. And in the guest bath — novelty wallpaper is even better. Coincidentally (although nothing is coincidental between the retro decorating gods and me), I just bought a stash of vintage railroad themed wallpaper (left). Life is short, people, make an impression!

The bedroom (and other parts of the house) definitely have a Hollywood Regency feel. Appropriate if you live in Burbank, I guess. Thanks to real estate agent David Fogg for the permission to use a few photos of this wonderful house. See 21 more photos on the listing here.

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You just never know whether an estate sale will be out of this world – or a dud. This past weekend, I was fortunate to hit a real a jackpot. A Victorian-industrial-company-town townhouse in a northern Berkshires “hilltown” that appeared to have been redecorated to the hilt in 1961 or so. All what you call “Hollywood Regency” – a very foofy gilded Italianate style so named because it copied the Regency Hotel in Hollywood. Also, think “Rat Pack Viva Las Vegas.” The home was simply amazing as in eyes-popping-out-of-your-head amazing.

Among many other features, I really loved the valences in several rooms: Vintage woven wood blinds. But these are not the ‘all natural back to the forest’ kind you see today. They are the old-fashioned kind with big thick yarn threads woven through them (in the case of the orange valence at the top) or (as in the pink valence just above) with un-natural colors and lots of tassels and gimp. Yowza. I think you may still be able to get valences and shades designed to this extreme – but I need to do more research. Meanwhile, if you buy a house that has them – know that they are wonderful, I have so decreed!

Okay, so here are some more features of the home. It had a vintage St. Charles kitchen dating back to the 1940s – a very early set, I believe. There was even one cabinet with a built-in, pull-out meat slicer. And look at this incredible round dinette — and in what great shape! The kitchen was yellow with red trim – it also had yellow cabinets with red laminate countertops. A wonderful color combination. Oh – and notice that scalloped edge linoleum (another photo in the gallery) – breathtaking!

I loved this matador plaque.

The dining room furniture was very modern. Notice the delicious crystal chandelier — and I hope you can see the valence over the pinch pleats.

Of course, there was a completely – over-the-top pink bathroom – with marbleized pink laminate on virtually every surface. Wrought-gold mirrors and swans and angels and poddles and…Look at the swag lamp!

I was in heaven, of course. I just kept walking around with my mouth hanging open…. striking up conversations with complete strangers (who turned out to be fabulously interesting themselves)… and mumbling over and over “Unbelievable.” It was a good day.

Click on these gallery images once – then once again – to see them quite large:

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