MEET REBECCA AND KEITH, new owners of a 1961 tri-level home. Rebecca has been totally sucked into the mid-mod vortex… and has a great eye. It is just so fun for me to see all the young couples feathering their nests. That was me, too :). Rebecca has a few questions… and shares photos of the fabulous features of this gem of a home — including an asymmetric fireplace with a “Feastmaster.”
Hi Pam,
I LOOOOOOOVE your site. Thanks for all your hard work! I have been bookmarking MANY pages on your site for all the redecorating I plan to do. … I just bought a 1961 tri-level. It has a brick wall with a fireplace and a “seat” that runs the length of it, if that makes sense. It was the reason I decided to look at the house! I would LOVE your help with what to do with it. Did they put pillows on it? Also, was cork floor ever used in a kitchen in the 50’s or 60’s? I am thinking no.
We moved from the East Coast (I moved back) to live and buy a home in the Midwest. First I decided against the areas of town that the homes were from the 30’s because the yards are small and all are too close together. I really didn’t want a 70’s colonial, which also seem to be everywhere here. I decided that I wanted a split-level or tri-level, because I generally love things that look “dated” andor are from the 60’s. Once I figured out that that was what I wanted, I was determined. I wanted a real neighborhood of streets, not a subdivision. My realtor sent me the link to this house along with many others. THE aspect that made me want to see it was the brick wall with fireplace. We liked the neighborhood because it has a lot of homes from the 60’s, and it’s very nice but modest. The house we saw right before was a 1969 colonial, which my fiancee liked, and I remember feeling like an argument would occur when I had to tell him that I just couldn’t do it. I didn’t have to deal with that because we loved this house immediately..Right when we got to the door we loved the windows on the sides of the front door with diamond shapes and wavy glass. And when I saw that there is an attached, screened-in, three-season porch I actually said ” this is enough to buy it!” The four rooms on the upper level are hardwood, and the lower level is better-than-usual-looking pergot. The only major work that NEEDED to be done before moving in was the awful green carpeting on the main level. (atrocious!) Other plusses include big bay windows looking out to a nice and private back yard, a pink-tiled guest bathroom, and shiny new Dishmaster!
She thought I was funny. I hated the 50’s ranch because they added a new bathroom that looked like a restaurant’s bathroom. She thought I was funny that I LOVED the dishmaster. It’s the “Imperial Four” edition. I also think my Dutch coffee maker looks incredibly cool and retro on accident. It makes amazing coffee… Terroir Coffee Company
My style is basically all things retro, but not too kitschey, and I love Scandinavian/Danish Modern…. We still need to PAINT! I hate white desperately. Keith is going to make something to have printed on canvas, with my helpful opinions, for above the teak record stand..So much of this room is craigslist, btw.I want this area, which is the lower level/media room, to feel good for cocktails near the fire. 🙂 I have a Room & Board couch down there, and an orange Ikea rug, and Ikea coffee table. I love that wall! Honestly, we were practically sold when we saw just that..BTW, the fireplace has a “Feastmaster” on the right side, of course written in fabulous typeface. Do you know what that is? It’s a grill on which to make steaks! So 60’s – love it. We were thinking of this Ikea lamp for it because we love it. What do you think? But, we didn’t actually buy it, yet. Oh, And I would love to do something to the walls. My dream is wood paneling-the nice beautiful hardwood kind. My god if I could have it be teak, I think I’d die..The kitchen isn’t retro, except for my tupperware, Martha Stewart clock, and Typhoon scale. Typhoon makes these adorable items! I LOOOVE my bread box so much.Keith’s lifelong dream…a built-in bookshelf..[The living room’s green carpet…before.].I love the plate around the bathroom shower faucet!!!The tile in shower is different than the floor. The milk glass vase is from a thrift store (I collect them ) but the soap dispenser, toothbrush holder and box are all Martha Stewart from last year. I love the formica on the countertop.
Phew. Those were a lot of photos, Rebecca, so I am pooped. I’ll be comin’ at you again tomorrow with some ideas and suggestions. This has been a fun one. A Feastmaster! And after cookin’ those steaks, clean up with the Dishmaster! Awesome. .
Back tomorrow with ideas for you! Many thanks for sharing all these great images, and your story.
Natalie @ Chadwell Chronicles says
Not sure why I said Ann, totally meant to say Rebecca. Haha.
Natalie @ Chadwell Chronicles says
Ann – the lamp on the book shelf….is it battery powered? If so, where did you find it?
nina462 says
I have a 65 ranch-with a huge brick fireplace too. Thanks for the infor on getting retro fireplace implements-as I don’t like the ones I currently have.
I noticed that it looks like you have newer windows. As much as I like my new windows (installed this year) when it comes to saving heat—I mourn the loss of the original windows/front door. They are saved in the basement however for someday when I can have them put back in.
I really like your house–I have 2 friends back in MN who each have houses with the wall length fireplaces, too!
sumac sue says
I meant “happy to hear” of course.
Jane (aka Elvis) says
Rebecca, I wish you could see my floor in person. If you have cats or dogs, they will likely scratch the floor somewhat. People damage, though, has been minimal. The floor doesn’t chip, but it can dent at pressure points from really heavy furniture or the skinny legs of chairs. A lot depends on the look you want: if you’re obsessive about wear, I’d say this isn’t the floor for you, but if you don’t mind some gentle, 60s appropriate, wear and patina, go for it. Part of what I like about my floor now is it looks like it could be original.
Dot says
Hi Pam,
I just wanted to thank you for a great website. I recently bought our family home here (my late father, an engineer, designed and helped build the house in 1961). I still have his original schematic drawings for the house. I’m glad I never owned it until now, because I used to think I would really ‘modernize’ it if it were mine.
I’ve seen many so features of my house on your website, including the square recessed lights w/chrome trim, pink and gray bathroom w/original American Standard large 1 piece toilet (along with a built in planter in the vanity), the Feastmaster grill in the kitchen, built in dressers upstairs, etc.. I regret that we didn’t keep the gray metallic retractable lights over the built in desks upstairs.
I’ll probably send an occasional email to ask your readers and you for suggestions once I get going on the actual painting, etc..
Thanks again.
pam kueber says
Welcome, Dot, and thank you for your kind comments. How wonderful that you are keeping your 1961 family house in the family. It sounds fantastic. If you are game, send me some photos — retrorenovation {at} gmail {dot} com. In the past week 1961 has become my new favorite year 🙂 And I can’t resist seeing planters built into vanities!
MrsErinD says
Absolutely gorgeous, I love it all, especially the furniture, that place will be fun for you guys to decorate!! What an awesome house!
Sara in WA says
As a Realtor who adores this site I congratulate you! (and I’m a little jealous) Boy would you be fun to buy a closing gift for! If you put your furniture in the fireplace room it would be just like the photo Pam found. Have fun!
atomicbowler-dave says
Probably work just great. The 400# finish, final oil-sanding (turn the paper often, as it will load fast) and the paste wax are what really make it happen.
D
Rebecca Prichard says
Thanks Dave! I have Scan Care Teak Oil, made in Denmark. Would this work?
And, yes, made in the USA matters a lot to me. 🙂