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!
Roseann says
In response to Ilze’s comment about wanting a Pink kitchen…My husband and I are ALWAYS mid-century shopping and we stumbled upon a store in Las Vegas called Retro Las Vegas { http://retro-vegas.com } and they are selling a COMPLETE and Fabulous pink kitchen, appliance and all. If you haven’t seen it look it up under storage it’s on the last page
clampers says
P.S., just read your related post, “Vintage wallplates – An easy jolt of retro”…you have convinced me to keep my vintage switchplates. Since I moved in I’ve been like “eh” about them but now I’m going to keep them because you’re right, they are more interesting than the plain ones sold today.
So I think I will just give them all a nice scrub instead of replacing. That’s easier anyway than replacing everything. And I definitely prefer the easy way out. 😉
pam kueber says
Yes, I have collected the ribbed beige ones for most switches in my house. I’ve done several stories on this…
Kim says
We had that Cat-and-the-Fiddle switchplate in my baby sister’s room! (She’ll be 39 in two weeks, heh.) Thanks, Pam–so often, I don’t even know what it is I’m looking for on eBay, until you feature an item and immerse me in total flashback once again. 🙂
Ann-Marie Meyers says
Most of those are so cute I would pay the price. I don’t know if I need a gold plated one, though. All my light switches are double or triple ones, so these are no use to me. Guess I will just have to use my own creativity when it comes time to do the tiny touches.
Joyce Wagner says
Thanks for the great post on these light covers. Thanks to you I am now going to be the proud owner of the Jack and Jill one! I have collected other items that are similar and am using them in a faux 50’s baby room with some of my original baby items (I’m 51 now). I’d have never found this great light cover! thanks again!
pam kueber says
YAY! Congrats!
TappanTrailerTami says
Haha, love the x-rated one, but Jack and Jill are just the CUTEST faces ever!
Love the coffee pot too, kudos to the buyer.
Laura E. says
I think that “Love Is…” switchplate is grounds for divorce in 32 states. Just sayin’.
clampers says
Perfect timing…I was just searching Etsy the other day for vintage switchplates.
Kate says
I love that switchplate! Very retro cool! Thanks for sharing!
hannah says
Oh no! *egg on my face*
Completely understand pricing high because she didn’t know if she wanted it to sell. The local flea market we go to, sometimes that’s the case with one of the vendors there (he’s an old friend of hubbies from the hippie days, so he’s honest with us about things like that). We do get attached to some items. My apologies. 🙂
I love shopping for vintage switch plates – all ours in the house are just white plastic at the moment save for one hammered copper one I purchased off Etsy.