“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
Jan Schochet says
Haha. I love this house!
And when I saw the guys who grew up there, I said, “I know my brother or my cousin knows those guys.”
Was I right–I sent the article to my brother and he was a fraternity brother of Barry Levin at ZBT at UNC-Chapel Hill.
What a hoot–he’s sending the article to another fraternity brother friend of his. Thanks for the memories–the house and the people!
Jamie Janosz says
OMG – I am absolutely, positively in love with this house. It is so perfect. I love that you kept it the same! Gorgeous in every way.
Sheila Massingill says
Stunning… in every way possible. I’m so glad that house found you to once again make it a home loved for what it truly was meant to be. Enjoy it — you certainly deserve to!
Amy says
You have that umbrella! I have been looking for a vintage one but no luck yet. They have them new but spendy! I would love one or two for my yard! Nice job with the house, looks gorgeous!
Maxine says
Great home, love the opportunity to take a walk back to my childhood. You shouldn’t change a thing! Enjoy your lovely home.
Brenda Reamy says
As soon as I saw their pic, I remembered their mailbox!! I want one!! lol
Marcie Grant Robinson says
My husband and I love this home! Although we love this current home and took our cues from mid century modern design, we are always looking for homes of this era and want to own one as beautiful as this one one day. This one is a great inspiration for us!
Elizabeth says
House is nearly identical to the house I grew up in! HATED it as a child–wanted to live in a Georgian like my grandmothers in Halifax County. My father was an architect and this house brings back so many memories–like the Thermidor ovens & the pot holders & wild wallpaper! Wow, didn’t appreciate the brilliance of the design as a kid. Great house!
shelly says
I would love to see the plans on your home if you all would share.pool would be so cool.great find amanda.best wishes.
SusanD says
Absolutely gorgeous! Must be a charm living there!
And, by the way, those wood and metal ducks you have flying on your living room wall? My parents had the same, exact set in their den! I have yet to find them and hope I will in my cleaning travels! 🙂