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1964 split level time capsule – great midcentury mailbox and kitchen

pam kueber - May 11, 2009, Updated: November 5, 2020

recessed-midcentury-mailbox1960s-kitchen-for-a-split-level-house
THE ESTATE SALE ON FRIDAY was a jackpot — the 1964, single-owner split level house was in gorgeous condition. What I really liked about it was that it was a very middle class, unpretentious house – but it had features that were clearly chosen for their high quality and craftsmanship. It was timeless in the true sense that everything about the house can endure. Oh lordy, I hope that the new owners understand what they have in hand! Today, two slide shows: The first of an awesome midcentury mailbox, recessed into the roman marble brick of the exterior. I know lots of readers will be so envious of this feature, I’ve never seen anything like it yet. And second, a fabulous time capsule kitchen — it includes two-tone cabinetry, a great little breakfast counter with original stools, and yellow GE appliances with gorgeous design features. One of my new favorites ever — like this house. 27 photos in all.

To start: Here’s the mailbox. Fabulous! Click on the first image to enlarge, then proceed through the slide show.

And here is the kitchen. I wish I’d taken more photos of the GE dishwasher. Like the built-in yellow oven and range top exhaust fan, it is a real beauty. Gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous! The fridge is a replacement, of course, the harvest gold is a bit off the yellow, but still an uber-cool refrigerator. And notice how the wall cabinets above the breakfast counter are in a different material (darker laminate), with glass on the dining room side, and suspended. This house is all about the details! More photos to come, tomorrow. 

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  1. St. Christopher says

    This goes right back to my latent OCD issue. While I love all the disparate parts of this kitchen, having them all together just makes the place sort of a mess. The blonde cabinetry with the copper handles…beautiful! The blue tile backsplash…wonderful! I’m loving the Googie breakfast bar and “floating” cabinet. I’d love to get that retro dishwasher and I love the other appliances, but none of this really “goes” together, at least in my book. 40’s / 50’s blonde with late 60’s dark danish modern? Not for me. I’d personally stick with the blonde, “86” the dark laminates and try to replace the sink and appliances with vintage baby blue units that match the wonderful tile.

    Just my $.02.

    Chris.

  5. Anne H says

    Hi Pam, love the mailbox! Where is this house? The exterior limestone brings to mind all the snazzy limestone MCM houses in Louisville…

  6. MidCent Keith says

    That kitchen is awesome …and immaculate. The wall oven looks new – no grease anywhere, incredible. The only thing I would change is that wallpaper – a littel too fussy for the clean lines in the rest of the kitchen.

  9. Cindy says

    Ooooh that mailbox is beautiful. I’ve been looking for a new mailbox and now you’ve spoiled me…I MUST find one as retro as that one!

  10. Jeanne says

    Nice photos! I have the exact same flooring in my kitchen. I wonder why the didn’t put a glass cabinet door on the other side if the glass cabinet so the light would shine through. I love the way it’s suspended from the ceiling!