“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
Janice says
I…love….this…house! And everything Gabe and Amanda have filled it with. How very lucky for the Nicholsons and the house that they both came together.
Diane Forsdale says
Wow! Absolutely fantastic house! I LOVE IT!
Kathi Kibbel says
I LOVE THIS HOUSE!! You guys are the PERFECT people for this home. If we ever drive thru NC I would love to stop by and bring you some candy and wine and just feel the love you guys keep in the house.
gabriel nicholson says
Thank you so much for your kind words! Sounds Great- let us know when your comin’ to the Old North State.
Eva says
The 11th picture down, the city sky line picture- I have that print also!! I love it! Got it the Habitat for Humanities Re-store near our home in Los Angeles. I changed my living room around and got new furniture just to work with that 30 dollar find.
Your place is great, beautiful and refreshing! I could never do what you did, but it makes me happy to know in a little way… I did!
Shamira Hanes says
We bought our house two years ago. All the records said it was built in 1965. I questioned it because the original part of the house looked more like mid to late 1950s. (There was an addition built on the back in 1970 which almost doubled the square footage.) I was getting something out from under the kitchen sink and saw the corner of what looked like a piece of paper sticking out from underneath the cabinet (original to the house). I very gently worked the paper out from under the cabinet and discovered it was the local newspaper from 1956! I talked to the next door neighbor who has lived here since 1957 and she said the house was here when they moved in. We want to restore the house back to it’s 1956 look (the same year I was born :). It’s a ranch-style and not nearly as cute as this modern-style house, but we just love the mid-century style. Great job on this house! We’re just at the beginning of our adventure into restoration.
debra hayes says
i would like to know where i can puchase those cabinets. i am also in north carolina and i am redoing my kitchen,bath, and livingroom
pam kueber says
head over to our buy/sell forum, debra: https://retrorenovation.com/forums/
Circa says
WOW! Thanks for sharing this Pam. Amazing home!
Bel says
this house is so inspiring & awesome! what an absolute gem! wallpaper, terrazzo, the furniture, the built dining seating, the bathroom!… super amazing! I’m in awe! in it must’ve been cutting edge at the time (still looks so modern!).
I’d love to see the plans/layout for inspiration for my future retro-reno!
All the best!
George says
Love the house! I am curious about your paint colours. I am repainting my mid century mod bungalow and have the same red brick. Thanks for your help!
George
gabriel nicholson says
Thanks George, The Exterior colors are Valspar- found at Lowes. Green Tea Leaf (darker green) and Charred Earth (dark Brown) I cant recall the window trim color name but it is a super light mint green. Then all the soffit and white trim is Chef White. It is a great white that isnt too white and bright but not as dk as egg shell.
Michelle LaFleur says
Hello, I am in Love with your home! Thank you for sharing these wonderful photo’s. It is so very nice to see homes with the original character still around.
What a lovely job you guys have done with the decor. Such a inspiration for me.
Best wishes
Michelle
gabriel nicholson says
Thanks Michelle!