Ruth’s Geneva kitchen, pink bathroom, peach bathroom, Tennessee granite fireplace — everything in her 1957 Michigan home — are just fantastic. I thought that I had more Geneva metal cabinets in one place than anyone, but Ruth sets a new record. And look at it: A curvacious island… marble counter topped baking area … original range exhaust fan … and more. Ruth did replace the kitchen floor – so you also can ogle her design and see if it might be right for you. I think it’s terrific – the scale is just right and the soft gray and blue have just the right ‘coolness’ to go with the lovely light blue Geneva cabinets.
Read on for Ruth’s story…16 photos…and a link to more on her flickr stream…And when you’re done be sure to check out her new blog: No Pattern Required.
Ruth writes:
Hi Pam!
I love your blog and it has been an unending source of information for us since we have purchased our new home. At the time we bought our 1950’s brick ranch, we didn’t know anything about mid-century modern, but we knew we loved the way it looked. Thanks for helping us to restore our house to the style it was meant to be.
The house was built in 1956-57 and was designed by the homeowners. They owned if for their whole lives, and we purchased it from their daughter.
The cabinet colors are original, and totally awesome. I almost lost it when we walked into the kitchen for the first time. It was really well thought out and is so wonderful, the amount of storage space is just amazing. My favorite cabinets are the round ones in the front of the island, they are so perfect for holding big equipment that takes up counter space and big serving pieces. And to the right of the island is a whole extra bank of cabinets that serves as a pantry with extra countertop work space. In front of the long window and next to the oven is a low marble slab that matches the marble windowsills. Underneath the slab is 9 drawers, including drawers for flour and sugar, and a built in breadbox.
I wish I could think of more things to tell you, but if I did everything would end with an exclamation point. We love it! It’s fantastic! Cooking is a breeze! Etc, etc. 🙂
{I ask about the new kitchen floor and Ruth explains:] We are using Armstrong Imperial Texture Standard Excelon in Blue Cloud and Soft Cool Gray.
The living room might be awhile, we have to put up our gold atomic wallpaper and figure out how to make pinch pleat drapes out of our existing drapes!
Oooh, you know that “gold atomic wallpaper” is going to keep my attention on your house, Ruth! In addition to the images above, Ruth has posted more photos on her flickr photostream. Many thanks for sharing, Ruth!
Jeanne says
That home is fantastic!! That’s all I can say!
And my mother always made pinch pleat drapes for her living rooms, whenever she redecorated. And she’s a perfectionist, too, so they always come out beautiful. She just made some for her home in Florida last year. I wish she lived in Michigan and could make some for me, but I’d never ask her to do that, as she’s 82 and it’s quite an undertaking. There are women who run ads in our church paper who advertise that they make drapes. Maybe check local papers for ads of someone who sews at home. They are not that hard, just need good measurements.
RetroRuth says
Hey everyone! Thanks for all the comments and the envy! I do agree, sablemable, that we in MI are more fixated on homes than anywhere else I have lived. I love the home preservation spirit here, it is the best!
My mom, who is a sewing teacher, approved my conversion of regular drapes to pinch pleats for two reasons. 1) In our old rental, we had more windows in the living room, so I have about 10 panels of the same fabric. It takes a lot of fabric to make pinch pleats, and I am going to need all 10 to do it. 2) In the living room we have an overhanging “box”, kind of like a jumbo cornice box, that hides the tops of the drapes and hardware. So she thinks it is a good idea for me to practice on these to get ready for the main event: pinch pleat sheers for my bedroom.
But the main issue is the fabric! Pam is right. You have to realize if you convert, purchased drapes won’t cover the same space anymore when you are finished.
Pam Kueber says
MidCentKeith et.al. – on pinch pleats – honestly I don’t think you are going to be happy with trying to convert existing panels into pinch pleats. Better to: Watch for vintage to fit (this has worked for me) or to start from scratch. Reason: You will want to make sure the panels fit the entire window expanse plus the wrap plus the stack-back – and this takes a lot of fabric considering the pinch pleats create all those… pleats. See Femme1’s PDF in the comment on this post – which seems to provide some good basic instructions: https://retrorenovation.com/2008/12/23/how-to-make-pinch-pleat-draperies/
Ruth – what does your mom say about this question?
Brenny says
Woo Hoo. Good Grief. I cannot believe some peoples luck. Not mine, that’s for sure….lol
But seriously, beautiful home and kudos to you. When I get past my house-envy I will give you a heartfelt congrats, but for now I’m just green and sullen.
MidCent Keith says
Yes, I too need to convert some IKEA curtain panels to pinch pleats … Help Pam!
Milster says
Oh my goodness Ruth, I hate to say it but I’m in house envy! That place is amazing and if I would have walked in there as a potential buyer they’d have had to pick my jaw up off the floor! The whole place is amazing and the only thing I would probably change is the pink carpet too and leave the rest just as fabulous as it is! You’re so lucky and it almost makes this Floridian want to move to Michigan!
Elizabeth Mary says
Sablemable,
To see the exterior of this great house go to her flickr album. The link is at the end of the article. Lots of pictures there.
Elizabeth Mary
astrosonical says
I love all those pictures! That’s a dream house for sure. I cringed when I watched HGTV last night, Mr. and Mrs. Yuppie traipsing through houses, the Missus sniffing haughtily over the “outdated” kitchens in the 1913 and 1927 houses, and neither were neglected! If I ever win lottery, I want an original ranch somewhere up north. I love the built in cooktop and oven in Ruth’s house, as well as the fireplace and hanging fixture.
Maddy says
Gorgeous home!
sablemable says
Beautiful home, Ruth! Would love to see an exterior photo.
Don’t we have gorgeous ranch homes here in Michigan?