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  • Home » Mid Century Culture » time capsule homes » 13 scenes from an estate sale time capsule

    13 scenes from an estate sale time capsule

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    Posted by: pam kueber • June 22, 2009

    hallmack-toothbrush-holderTHE ESTATE SALE on Saturday was wonderful. A very classic, brick Cape Cod home, single owner, great quality. Loved. The only things changed out were the kitchen appliances and floor.  Above: Vintage “linen laminate” from the kitchen countertop. Grace Jeffers, the historian who restored the Wilson House, told me that linen patterns were the #1 most popular of the postwar era. Yes, even more so than the gold sparkle speckles we all love so much. At the left: That’s me with the first shot of a reader favorite, the Hall-Mack revolving disappearing toothbrush holder. Click on through for 11 more photos. estate-sale-houses

    Photo #3 (above): The Hallmack toothbrush holder starts its rotation.

    vintage-hallmack-revolving-toothbrush-holder

    #4: Voila: Open and ready for the daily business.

    vintage-church-toilet-marbleized-toilet-seat

    #5: Fabulous marbleized Church toilet seats in both bathrooms. I MUST have one of these! (See the Church palette here.)

    vintage-simmons-sleeper-sofa

    #6: Vintage Simmons sleeper sofa, origional upholstery. Oh those tufts! Lovely scale, too. Diminutive. $100.

    #7: Oh yes, a chair to match. $50.

    vintage-curtains

    #8: These short pinch-pleat curtains in the pine-paneled basement were just perfect. Every single room had pinch pleats, of course. I’ll show more later this week.

    #9: The house had lovely lights. Again, diminutive. This was in the hall.

    #10: In the foyer. Also small.

    #11: In the sun porch.

    #12: A sweetheart of a doorbell.

    #13: And a very very wonderful mill-finish screen door out front. I believe that when you bought these, you specified the insert on the front, it screws on. You occasionally see them with surname initials. I love those best.

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    Comments

    1. Cindy says

      June 22, 2009 at 11:23 am

      Pam, you have such a great eye. What a gem of a house….hopefully the new owners will appreciate that era and retain it.

      Reply
    2. Jane says

      June 22, 2009 at 1:37 pm

      Great tour, Pam! The lighting fixtures are very special. I wish we had more of this era home in Portland – I’d definitely make it to more estate sales!

      Reply
    3. nancy says

      June 22, 2009 at 1:45 pm

      Pam- We have that same laminate in our little bar area. The paper work we found with the house called the color Lipstick Red! I love it!! Wish I had it in the kitchen!

      Reply
    4. maddy says

      June 22, 2009 at 1:47 pm

      Thanks for the photos…adorable!

      Reply
    5. Kristin says

      June 22, 2009 at 2:12 pm

      This home exemplifies the Colonial Acres/Sea Isle midcentury home in Memphis! I love the toilet seat and light fixtures…speaking of, where can I find a good, small hallway sconce light fixture or even just a more modern glass shade?

      They replaced it with one of those frilly ye olden ones…if I brought the shade to a shade shop, do they typically have replacement shades like this so I don’t have to replace the entire fixture?

      Reply
    6. Maryann says

      June 22, 2009 at 4:57 pm

      Well?…Did you buy anything?!! 🙂

      Fabulous pictures – What a time capsule!
      Maryann

      Reply
    7. Juju says

      June 22, 2009 at 7:53 pm

      What marvelous pictures. I’m terribly jealous.
      What a great price on the furniture too!

      Reply
    8. Gretchen S says

      June 22, 2009 at 8:54 pm

      Thank you for lovingly capturing the details — I love the small foyer lamp! We have one of those revolving holders in our bathroom as well. Too small to hold today’s toothbrushes and soap, so I stick a snow globe in there as a nice surprise for curious guests.

      Reply
    9. tailfin says

      June 22, 2009 at 9:12 pm

      Re: Kristin sconce question – is there a Habitat for Humanity ReStore in your city? Or a non-profit ReUse store – or even an antique store that specializes in architectural antiques or in mid-century decor? Sometimes even retail lighting stores – especially ones that have been around forever – have old stock. I occasionally see mid-century sconces at estate sales here in Buffalo. Also, place a “wanted” ad on Craigslist.

      Reply
    10. Susan says

      June 22, 2009 at 10:11 pm

      The #10 photo light is perfection. I love it. And the couch.

      Reply
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