“Luckily we didn’t have the money
to do all the renovations we wanted right away,
because we ended up falling in love with many of the
original aspects that we had considered changing.”
Gabriel and Amanda own a stunning house, designed by architect John Erwin Ramsay, in North Carolina. “Own” may not be the right word, though: To me, Gabe and Amanda clearly have taken on the role as “caretakers” of this house with so many original features. Above: Holey Jetsons, one of my newest favoritest kitchens ever. Continue on for the story and 27 more photos of this beautiful home.
Gabe writes:
We spent about year looking for the perfect house, and in 2007 while working out of town Amanda did an internet search for a nearby county. As soon as she saw it she called Gabe and told me she’d found our house!
We weren’t looking for midcentury, but it was looking for us. During our first visit we were surprised to find the door was unlocked.
We stayed for hours planning out exactly what we would do once we owned it. We had to have it!
Luckily we didn’t have the money to do all the renovations we wanted right away, because we ended up falling in love with many of the original aspects that we had considered changing.
During the five years we have lived in our very original, mid- mod we have fallen in love with this house over and over.
We can’t imagine living anywhere else.
With the help of George Smart of (trianglemodernisthouses.com) we located our architect and discovered our house plans were stored in the N.C. State University School of Design Archives.
Since this discovery we have worked to locate and document other works by the same architect, John Erwin Ramsay AIA, of Salisbury, N.C.
We started immediately collecting pieces from the 50’s 60’s and 70’s. This passion for authentic pieces has continued to grow. We eventually sold all our furniture and accessories to be replaced with vintage pieces.
Yes, everything has to be vintage… even the can opener, umbrellas, and pot holders. We love going out as close to period as we can on everything! and even have a closet full of vintage clothes, purses, jewelry, hats, ties, etc.. p.s. even a pink ’62 Caddy and ’60 Ford truck.
(The 1962 Caddy is Amanda’s, and it is a mostly original survivor car.
And it is the original factory color, “Laurel”. Elvis would just call it pink!
The 1960 truck is ruff but it has such character! I have enjoyed it so much more than anything new!…Rust Rules!
(BTW the dogs are “Ellie” (white) and “Lucy” (black).)
We were always drawn to old, simpler times as well as simple clever design… I’m an artist and a musician so I’ve always been enamored with interesting lines, colors and the practical / impractical Design for the sake of Art and usability.
Some specifics about the house.. it was built in 1954, it is 4 bedrooms, 2 ½ bath, 3000 sq feet and sits on 5 acres. We purchased it from the original owner and had the privilege of his sons visiting us a few years ago.
We learned so much about the house from this visit, including that the terrazzo flooring was laid by 2 men they flew in from from Italy …..
How do you even begin to do that without the internet?????
Check out my house sign I made and custom mail box stand my dad helped me make out of steel tubing!
The mailbox is period, I just took it apart, restored it and painted it to match the house.
The stickers on the bathroom tile are original and feature teams from the 50’s and their old logo’s some aren’t even around anymore like the Washington senators!
The boys who stuck these on as kids ended up visiting us and checking out what we’ve been doing. (They posed for photo during their visit, above, from left: Barry and Mark Levin.) They remember sticking them there.
Some other great features: Check out the Thermador double ovens and warmers.. Original CRAZY wallpaper overhead in the background!!!!
… the Herman Miller desk and drawers set..
Big umbrellas by the pool.. (pool unrestored but a whopping 25′ x 40′.
We love living with and using our mid century pieces every day. It has become so normal to us living this way that it is sometimes funny when someone starts commenting on one of our period staples like the double Thermador ovens or the vintage toaster. It makes you stop and think about the fact that some of that stuff and this house is approaching 60 years old! Boy they don’t make ‘em like this anymore.
Portaits of Gabe and Amanda: By © Kyle L. Pearce 2011 Kyle Pierce Photography
Wow. Gabe and Amanda, it is clear that you are Livin’ the Dream. Thank you so much for sharing! xoxo
BlueJay says
That is a spectacular house! It’s hard to pin down a favorite anything in that place; it’s all stunning!
Nikki H says
Oh my gosh! I think I fell in love! You have a wonderful house.
Jenny A. says
Holy cow!!! Your house is absolutely amazing. I can’t even tell you what my favorite part is because it’s all my favorite. That blue and green bathroom, though, is just fantastic. I love the outside, too, not to mention the kitchen, the living room, that awesome pool umbrella…
James Owens says
WOW!!! What a magnificent place. Really dig what you’ve done with it. (Or should I say are NOT doing TO it?!) And I thought my mailbox stand was cool. Love it. Lot’s of little gems hidden away down here in the land of cotton. Keep up the nice work.
Kelly Cornacchia says
What a beautiful home and a lovely couple who APPRECIATES it! It must have been such a treat for the “boys” to see how it’s being cared for. Thanks for starting my day with a smile (and a small twinge of envy). : )
wendy says
OH, just WOW. What a fabulous, fabulous home! I don’t know what to say except please adopt me so I can live there too. Awestruck.
Chris says
Love the home — inside and out!
Love the story! Too cool about the stickers and the brothers who put them on the wall.
Thank you for sharing!
Barry says
Chris..I’m the “brother” (now 63) who put the baseball stickers on the tile wall in our bathroom. At the time (I was perhaps 10 or 11), i was an incurable baseball fan; even went to see the Yankees play in the 1961 World Series. Many of the stickers represent baseball teams that have moved to other cites and now have new names. I’m thrilled that Gabe and Amanda bought the house and have gone to such great care to restore it. Their desire for architectural integrity is greatly appreciated. Best, Barry
pam kueber says
Barry! It’s so exciting to have you comment, and I’m so glad you liked the story. If you have a moment, we’d LOVE to hear some of your recollections about growing up in this amazing house? Did you KNOW it was fabulous????
Barry says
As young kids, we knew we had a cool house, especially compared to others in our small town. Of course, we knew nothing of “mid-century modern” or anything about architecture. But our house did seem magical. Later on, as a young adult, I especially liked the hidden drawers, worm-chestnut wood paneling and custom granite-composite brick wall in the living room. The house sat on five acres and was my field of dreams for games of home run derby, practicing my 9 iron and playing with our German Shepherd. We also had a pet alligator and after he bit me, I threw him in our pool; sadly, the chlorine killed the poor critter.
Cathy says
Barry, these are the stories I love to read! I love to hear first-hand stories from the children who grew up in these fabulous homes. I’m even thinking of a book on the subject. Thank you so much for sharing your memories. Please, tell us more!
Kate Fowle Meleney says
You two have a gem! How wonderful that it found you. And the owner’s sons must be delighted that their childhood home is appreciated and honored with such TLC. Great photos! Thanks so much for sharing!
Solveig says
WOW! Just wow! That house is amazing, what a dream!
apsutter says
This house is beyond amazing! I love everything about it especially the kitchen/dining area with that sweet built in sitting area. It’s so well planned and thoughtfully designed. This actually reminds me a little of Don’s new pad in “Mad Men.” Pam, you should profile that show now that they are in the late-60’s and firmly entrenched into mid-mod.