“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
IMissLiberty says
Wow! I remember when many buildings in California looked like that house does on the outside. My family ranch (1960) did not, but my elementary school and the libraries built during the post-war through 60’s building boom, had that wonderful Japanese inspired design. (So nice to share culture in peacetime.) The brick and window walls, open to the outside, the terazzo, and the simple roof lines, with the obligatory junipers that can be trimmed to Edward Scissorhands shapes…
Nancy says
Gorgeous! Thanks for sharing.
Rebecca Prichard says
WOW! Amazing.
Glamorlux Nancy says
Pea green with envy! Great house, great work on your part!!!
linda says
Lovely. It’s a tonic after watching female home buyers on House Hunters declare over and over with disgust that a house needs updating because it doesn’t have granite counters. They all sound so entitled and close-minded, or maybe it’s the “vocal fry” I am objecting to.
Andrea says
Unbelievable! Thanks for sharing this find. Those ovens! Swooooon.
Ranell Morris says
This is my all time favorite!!! I love everything about it, all the detail! The door blends with the wall. Would like to know what is beyond the wooden opening by the table. Is it a window, pantry? I would totally live in that house. I am in love with the kitchen most of all!! Two thermadore ovens. Isn’t it like a fairy tale when the perfect people find the perfect house. Am so happy for you and your house. The doggies like the big windows too!!!
gabriel nicholson says
beyond the door is a screened in porch.. with the terazzo continuing out from the kitchen and dining room.
Tea says
What a wonderful home! It’s just gorgeous!! My favorite parts are the mailbox and house sign. I know they aren’t vintage originals but they are so COOL, love the diamond theme and how perfectly they match the house. You guys did a great job designing and building them.
The only thing about this post that makes me sad is lack of a floor plan. The pictures are beautiful, i love the house, i just wish i could see the layout since i am a huge floor plan nerd. Other than that, this whole thing is perfection!
vintigchik says
This is my dream house!! Everything about it! You are both so blessed to live in a jewel such as this house! All the best!
Pam says
Maybe my favorite of any house you’ve ever posted!!! OMG, I LOVE it!!!!! Inspirational.