I went to my first estate sale of 2011 last weekend — and stumbled into a jewel of a 1970s time capsule home. The lighting fixture above the kitchen-dining room table was mod-meets-70s-kitschtacular, and I kind of went crazy photographing it. The house itself — the layout, size, scale, location and even price for our area were darn sweet, too! Onward for 26 more photos!
Yes, the light was one of those that moved on a track along the ceiling.
A view to the kitchen. This table and light were in the area transition to the living room. The area was open concept — but in an “L” so you had some separation.
Dig the pinch pleat draperies in the background. What a lovely design — and color.
Straight on into the kitchen.
I am seriously in love with woven wood shades like this.
I was even digging this backsplash tile. I think it was tile, rather than some sort of vinyl. The laminate countertop looked like pressed leaves – a very faint design. It suited the kitchen perfectly.
The slider door by the refrigerator led to this sun porch. In retrospect, I wish that I had bought this vintage plant stand. It was marked $5. But, you know my problem with acquiring More.
Another plant stand, this is heading into the living room — look close and you can see where the kitchen floor ends and the living room floor begins.
A lovely living room.
I am really truly kicking myself that I did not buy this teeny Victorian fainting couch. I coulda woulda upholstered it in something mid mod and made it a daybed for Astro. I am going to call Teresa — who ran the sale — and see if it is still available. Drats and double drats! Sometime I just go to far in my mood swings. Buy everything! No — buy nothing! I am always black or white, high or low, all or nothing, will I never learn moderation?
I didn’t buy this smallish modern coffee table — the glass was amoeba-shaped — either. The prices were good, too.
I tried to buy the kitchen light and this hall light, though. Fortunately — or unfortunately — they were not for sale.
This couch did not sell. My friend Ron from Berkshire County Used Furniture picked it up at the clean-out. Dig the draperies. I am using the word “dig” a lot, did you notice.
The basement was jam packed. $5 for this set of cannisters.
The vintage GE refrigerator and freezer also did not sell. They seemed to be in fantastic shape.
Remnant flooring. Luv.
What a lovely house.
Kevin says
Pretty sure that is an Adrian Pearsall coffee table. Looks like there was some high end design mixed in there!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190467474138#vi-content
And I love that lucite hall light…
pam kueber says
This is making me a little bit ill. I should have bought it. Crap.
kate mckinnon says
I am a little bit ill on your behalf. That sofa…
I share your all or nothing mode at sales and thrift shops, In my austere “I have enough Things” mode I too have passed on some astonishing pieces.
pam kueber says
My house is full! Over-full!
Mr. Modtomic says
Now Pam, do you not have a Garage? Turn it into a “Mr. Modtomic Garage”! Craigslist is your friend. Use it like a friend!
I just can’t believe you passed on the Pearsall sofa and biomorphic table. Now my mouth is watering for some estate sale shoppin’. Didn’t have much luck last year though…but I’m willing to put that all behind me and press on.
Question, what ARE you looking for at an estate sale?
pam kueber says
my attic is full, my basement is full, my garage hatch is full, and we live in the snowy northeast so my husband is right in demanding that there be space for two cars, and oh the back area of the garage is full. i look for “ephemera”. little bits of paper and memories and strange little things that i can turn into collages. all that stuff fills one big area of the basement. i am NOT A BAD PERSON because i did not know it was an adrian pearsall table. i actually came home, showed the pic to DH and said should i go back in the a.m. and buy it. we decided a little coffee table we already have in the spot where we would have put it, was not the right fit. stop making comments that make me feel worse. waaaaahhhhhhhhhh
pam kueber says
also, i never said i was an expert in mcm designers. i am learning this as i go… waaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh….. nobody loves me everybody hates me i’m gonna go eat worms
Jay says
OK, it’s 2013, I am catching up on the archives to where I first started chiming in. This really made me laugh. I never knew who he was until last year when I started seeing lots of info on APearsall start popping up. I never knew there was a “designer name” associated with the tables in the living room that were given to my parents in the early 70s. The retro world is a learning experience!
pam kueber says
🙂
Gavin Hastings says
Pam- Press on and fight temptation!
“Buried under all these great finds is a dreamhouse!” (this is my new mantra)
george says
my wife and i got the Hotpoint version of that fridge. we paid over $500 for it from a dealer.
what an amazing sale…
Cynthia says
Wow, that house is a total blast from my past. My parents had those exact same wooden shades (the ones in the kitchen). Ours were in our den.
Lots of fun finds! Hope you can go back for the things you wanted.
John says
Looks like they tryed to sell the couch on Craigs list first but no luck there either. I bet Ron got it for a song!!!
John says
Love the couch and coffee table!! They would both look perfect in a Mid Century Modest OR Modern Ranch!! I did see the couch listed on Craigs list for I think $350.00.
TroySF says
WOW, Yellow sofa, my house. Dig! Yellow is my official 2011 accent color. And sorry to hear you couldn’t score those light fixtures, Pam. There will be others! 😉
Patty says
OK, now you’re making me want to look for a sale today. I live in a 50s neighborhood, but we’re running out original owners. It looks like everything was in pretty good shape.
Send a note to the house/heirs and make an offer on the lights!
Beth says
ARGH! That coffee table is exactly what I have been looking for! Why can’t I find this stuff in Ohio? Oh, right, I live in rural southeast Ohio. UGH!
Joanna says
Wish I could grab that coffee table as well. I have his big brother and always wanted a side version.
Never see them in Cali.
Matt says
Wow, surprised no one snatched up that yellow sofa and coffee table. Those appear to be Adrian Pearsall designs. Those usually fetch quite a bit online.
LOVE the vintage refrigerator and freezer. I would have grabbed those up in a heartbeat if they were working!
pam kueber says
Thanks, Matt. I’ll let Ron know they may be Adrian Pearsall and to research that — before he flips the couch to the NYC dealer that stalks his store weekly.
Jocelyn says
Yes, the table is Adrian Pearsall. See the website Adrian Pearsall, which includes a guide to his designs. I have a few of his pieces myself.
pam kueber says
You’re not going to want to hear how much it was for sale for…
Jocelyn says
Oh, the pieces I have I got for what I consider a song – two end tables for a total of $200, and a coffee table for $75. The key is to find people who don’t know what they, have, and fleece them! 😀
Matt says
If Ron sees a Craft Associates label on it anywhere then he has the real thing. We found an awesome pearsall sofa on craigslist a year ago for $150. The woman who was selling it moved in with her boyfriend and she hated it. it belonged to his grandma but she talked him into selling it so they could go get something new. She took a terrible photo on her cell phone for the listing–poorly lit, not a good angle etc. The couch sat on CL for a week and a half before I found it. She was asking $350 but by that point was ready to deal! Someone came to pick up a craigslist item one time and offered me $1000 for it. I’ve never seen another one like the one we have and it’s not going anywhere!
pam kueber says
Thanks, Matt. I already have a call into Ron.
Suzan says
I just bought a house built in 1951. Appliances are original, and in excellent working condition. Matt, if interested, let me know!
Jenny says
That’s the same countertop I have!! My house was built in 1956 and I knew the kitchen had been updated contrary to what the realtor and my mother-in-law said. They felt that everything was original but, to me, it didn’t have the right look at all for 1956. After we bought the house, and I found your fantastic website, I was convinced the kitchen had been remodeled, although I was thinking early 80’s. Seeing this kitchen though, I think I was about ten years off. I love my countertops even if they’re not quite right for the time period of the house. They look good and the previous owners installed a nice tile backsplash that matches with the “nature” theme of the countertop. Our house isn’t a typical ranch as it has more of that “Usonian” feel, being long, narrow and full of windows. Even though it was built in 1956, it doesn’t have that 1950’s vibe. I think our remodeled 1970’s kitchen actually works very well with our house and I’m thrilled to have some sort of reference point. Thanks for posting these pictures, Pam!
Laura says
My parents redid their counter tops in 1994 and chose the leaves-laminate to go with their very very very 1976 house and avocado kitchen, but when the contractor tried to order it, he found out it had just been cancelled. I remember that it was lovely!