Reader Hannah spotted this new old stock vintage light switch cover of a pink coffee pot (above) on etsy.com, and posted it to our Facebook fan page. I immediately Shared it, and yes, it sold in like 20 minutes, even though it was quite expensive, $38.
I reached out to the owner of the etsy shop, Ilze of San Diego Vintage, who gave me her permission to feature her photographs. After she told me she was regular reader of the blog, she explained the piece’s provenance:
The switch plate came out of an estate sale here in San Diego …. it would have gone in the trash if I hadn’t rescued it…. And while it wouldn’t go with my turquoise wall oven, I have a feeling down the road I may regret selling it when I find the pink kitchen of my dreams. I honestly priced it so high because I didn’t really want to sell it. Thank you so much for selling it for me. I really, truly appreciate it. Hope all is well and keep it up… Save the pink bathrooms! (and the pink kitchens too!)
Thank you so much, Ilze
No sour pusses, please, at the price. “The rare is the good”, and that pink plastic coffee pot switch plate was a sweetheart. Two other readers say they have it in turquoise. Thanks, Ilze, and thank, Hannah! Keep those finds coming!
Vintage light switch covers — where to find them
- Ebay and etsy are likely the top places to shop for decorative or novelty style vintage switch plate covers.
- For more ‘normal’ (although themselves interesting styles, try your local ReStore Habitat for Humanity — there are always lots at my ReStore, and I get them for about 25 cents each.
- I also search for vintage light switch covers at estate sales, where you can often find them in the basement workshop storage area.
- Any of your neighbors doing a big remodel of their mid century home? Maybe they have some — it can’t hurt to ask, can it, to see if they will let you take a look-see at all they stuff they are taking out — that you might want to put in!
Dave says
Looking for a switch cover like the pink teapot. My wife really likes it. We are about to redecorate our house in mid-century modern motif and this would be perfect. Any ideas where I might find one similar?
Thanks.
Enid Haban-Megahed says
Dear Pam, I’ve collected these for years, before the rest of you discovered them. I have a chief in my kitchen, white poodle in the hall, pink angelfish, black swan ( together with retro border with white swans on a black ground) in the back hall, and tourquoise swan in my bedroom. I had not seen a pink coffee pot however….
pam kueber says
Sounds very cool, Enid!
Chutti says
Ooohhoohh…..switchplates, DRoooool.
I can’t get with the “love is..” either, but understand how it rates on the Kitsch-o-meter.
The Irmi one with the little fiddler rings my chimes, though.
I had a swell one of those with some 3-D animals. The problem is that the plate itself is SO THICK I couldn’t install it without actually removing drywall! So back it went in the box.
I absolutely LOVE anything Irmi. Does anyone else remember the little lamps for children’s rooms with the clowns or the cow jumping over the moon? 20 years ago I saw a glorious collection of the clown ones in ? an IT guy’s man cave??? Just LOVE those.
A quick search found a Flickr group with Irmi images….
http://www.flickr.com/groups/999066@N24/
So cute! Sigh……
Amie Davis says
No matter how thick these plates are you can still install them without removing drywall. Go to “Home Desperate” or “Blowes” and get longer screws. Take the ones with you that came with it. Tell an associate this is what you need as far as length with a screw and you can get it. Also, your local hardware store can do this for you.
JKaye says
That pink coffeepot switchplate is as cute as buttons and lollipops and kittens. I love how the packaging says it will add to the beauty of your home.
That “Love is…” switchplate, on the other hand — I swear I want to get a hammer and smash it. I can tell Laura E. knows what I’m talking about.