Chris and Angela wrote to me a few months ago, excited because they were about to close on a beautiful 1964 mid-century modern home in Wisconsin. Well, the deal went through successfully, and now this cute-overload couple is happily playing house in their stunning, designer-built house — a time capsule with mint-condition original lighting, Nutone, basement bar and heavens to betsy: two flocked wallpapers.
Before I launch Chris, let me explain that when he originally wrote, the couple was concerned about the sunset tan bathroom — didn’t quite know what to do with it even though they are “designer types.” I pointed them to a photo of one of my bathrooms, in which I used Home Depot “rose beige” tiles, and suggested something akin to the mint green, aqua and brown combination I used for wallpaper, linens and accessories. You can see how they picked up and ran with the suggestion in their bathroom design experiment to date.
So here’s the story and all the awesome 1964 time capsule eye candy. Chris writes:
Hi Pam,
My wife and I were lucky enough to just purchase this beautiful 1964 home. Our house is an original one of a kind. The original owners we bought the house from designed the floor plan and many of the details were constructed by the owner himself. Beautiful features, fixtures, stonework.
We are not finished decorating any of this yet, but had to share now since it will be a while until it’s finished. These are all just items we already had that we’re using until we find better suited ones, along with nice drapes.
The chocolate & mint accessories in the bathroom will work once we find ones we like, thanks for the color tip!
As you can see, right now we’re experimenting with chocolate, green and cyan.
The bathroom is nearly as-new with hardly any wear (they used the similar but smaller blue bathroom which will be undergoing restoration shortly). About the only non-original item is the faucet.
Note long sliding medicine cabinet under the mirror with an electrical outlet inside. Slanted cabinets. Also we have the NuTone 3-in-1 heater, light and fan.
Needless to say, this room will stay as-is forever. We need to find a chair appropriate for the dressing area,
and I need to clean that floor grout. Pretty easy restoration, I’d say!
Next up is our main hall with what we call
our “UFO” light fixture 🙂
And our cozy fireplace room that we’ve accessorized temporarily with some Danish Modern influences.
We love our dotted light fixtures here, too. NuTone built-in doorbell here, too. This room’s flooring is an interesting laminate that is clear with laminate chips in it that looks like pebbles in water. Unfortunately there is a lot of damage, so will need to be replaced eventually.
Entry tile. Pink/green, though camera flash brings out the
color. It’s more subdued. [Pam adds: I like the look of that wallpaper, too.]Last up is our basement 1960’s paneled family room. We are starting to furnish and accessorize this room now in all oranges and greens. Need to find some orange barstools!
Oh, and can’t forget a couple samples of our flocked bedroom wallpaper, one orange… [Pam adds: I couldn’t resist putting these images in super-size. Blow your mind, mon!]
…one blue.
Great site, it’s our favorite… keep up the good work!
Chris & Angela, near Milwaukee, WI
Thank you, Chris and Angela, for doing this great archiving of your home and for sharing it with us. Fantastic house — and you two sound like you are the perfect caretakers. I can’t wait to see what else you do with it, over time. xoxo
Bonus quiz:
atomicbowler-dave says
I could live with that kitchen as-is, too! Sure, the black appliances look a little foreign, but you get used to it eventually?
NICE HOUSE! Even the kitchen-I’m all in with Pam on that one!
Congrats folks on such a great find..truly I am envious.
Dave
Angela says
oh! and the floor of course. 🙂 I would take away the things that have been added that look “country” like the little towel rack added on the side of the cabinet.
Angela says
WONDERFUL house! You know, I also think the kitchen is beautiful. I love the cabinets. The only thing that stands out to me is the little piece of woodwork over the sink. I have one of those in my little 1947 cape cod house and it fits in, but I think your house is more streamlined mid century. I would probably take that off, it doesn’t seem to “go”. Others may disagree with me though. Just my opinion! 🙂
bepsf says
Chris–
Congrats on your beautiful Mod home – Enjoy the restoration!
Chris says
Caryn, I’m not sure how similar to terrazzo it is, but it’s laminate sheets, yes. We have not decided what to replace it with, but it’s a shame there’s so much damage from prior carpet installation and wear. I put some close-up photos of it in the photobucket gallery, but the photos don’t really show the depth as much as in real life:
http://s664.photobucket.com/albums/vv8/Mirage1972/1964House-Dec/1964House-Angie/
Kersten, sounds like we already have a good start to a MCM/RR meet-up in WI! If you need better photos, measurements, etc of our bathroom cabinetry, contact me via contact form on my website and I can get you whatever you need.
pam kueber says
Chris’ website is retrostyleroundup.com. Chris, I didn’t realize you had a blog or I would have included it with the post!
pam kueber says
Also, re flooring replacement — I think the first place I would look is Fritztile, they have ’embedded’ stuff.
Caryn says
P.S. That flooring looks like terrazzo, but in a laminate sheet form?
Caryn says
Chris and Angela–what a great house! You two have already highlighted it nicely, and I can’t wait to see what you do with the damaged areas.
I was especially interested in the laminate in the fireplace room area. Have you been able to find anything with that same effect, or are you going to go with a different look? I always loved that “pebbles in water” effect, like looking through marbles, when I was a kid.
Best of luck with every step from here!
Kersten says
Chris and Angela!
What a great house! I feel so much joy from Pam’s blog, and go almost crazy happy when I see houses that are close to me! I’m in LaCrosse, and our houses have many similarities! I’m all for Rebecca’s idea of getting a WI version of Baz’s atomic parties in our area! Count me IN. You need to know that your post came up perfectly for a bathroom “re-re-model” in our home. We have a 1957 redwood ranch that I absolutely LOVE. The bummer is that the 2nd owner (we are the 3rd owners) “updated” the bathroom and kitchen in the early ’90’s. (The 2 rooms that I would really like to see original!) In October, I was so sad about the menards bathroom that I decided to post all the wall fixtures and bathroom vanity and sink on craigslist. Much to my husband’s shock, it sold almost immediately. And, um… it still sits, almost gutted (but useable), as we wait for floor tiles to arrive. We ordered the “block random” from Daltile on November 23rd, and are told that they “should” be in on January 29th!! (What the?!) But, it is the same pattern as your bathroom, offered in only one color- almond- but we’ll take it. AND- I found a cabinet maker that understood me – and has planned a cabinet that is basically the design of the one in your house. I’m so excited to be able to show him your photograph, so he gets it just right!
I keep bugging Pam with pleas for HELP with these two rooms. I want to get them right the first time…
I agree with Pam that the kitchen looks fab! That wallpaper is awesome. Once you get some different appliances, it will probably look like it was originally.
I am over caffienated, and could go on and on, but I’ll try to hold back. You’ll definitely be hearing more from me! I’m so excited for the 2 of you!
Kersten
pam kueber says
so sorry Kersten – i have your emails — but it sounds like you’re doing fine and now, the retro decorating gods have sent you chris and angela’s bathroom for further guidance! BTW, regarding your emails — i think i would try to keep both sinks – even if it means less counter space — a very good thing for longterm marital happiness…! okay, i’ll try to pull your stuff together tonight / tomorrow…
Janet Gore says
Chris and Angela: ‘Thought that I was fortunate to find so many original features in the home that we bought in May of 2008 … I believe yours tops the cake!
I notice that you built-in oven seems narrow. Mine is only 23″ inches wide (outside), and because I don’t want to do anything with my original 1961 cabinets, it will stay that way. I does, however, limit the size of pans, etc. that can be used.
You have a treasure. Lucky for folks like us to have Pam’s wonderful site to guide us and help us defend our love of MCM!!
Chris says
LOL, yeah, we’ll see, like I said, we’re doing the kitchen last to see how to best fit it into the house, no decisions have been made yet. The wallpaper really is unreal… you can tell these people were (and still are) fun. The cabinets are homemade by the original owner and are nicely done. We have been advised that the flooring is indeed asbestos.
Yes, my wife scolded me for sending in my sub-par photos 😉 Swap whatever you’d like, no problem with me!
Side-note, our fireplace room color looks grey in the photos, but it’s really not, it’s a subtle warm beige/tan that matches the warmish fireplace mortar color.
I will stop spamming the comments now, thanks again!