What a fabulous week it’s been — topped off last night with a great phone call with Pennsylvania real estate agent Jeffrey Hogue, who gave me permission to feature his photos from his listing of this fabulous 1965 time capsule house. Yes, complete with a professional beauty parlor in the basement. Thank you, Jeffrey. Snaps, too, to reader Jamie, who sent me this tip. Luv.
This fun and fabulous in-home bar makes it on to the homepage, too. Golly, did I just use the word “fabulous” a third time? I guess I’m excited by the orange-and-brown (wood?) stripes … the tic-tac-toe wine bottle holder … the scalloped indoor awning designed to hold can lights … those yellow shelves behind orange arches. Who thought this space up? They were fabulous.
Above: Setting the scene before I further amaze you with…
… the kitchen. Are those authentic Saarinen tulip chairs, do ya think?
The ceiling in this kitchen has pushed me over the top: I neeeeeeed to wallpaper a ceiling, stat. I’m gonna do it. I’m gonna.
The living room is sedate, by comparison. Love the chartreuse upholstery. S0 1965. So 2012. And the window treatments: Please, new owners, don’t change them! Fortunately, Jeffrey says that houses like this — retro time capsules with style — usually find appreciative buyers. This house is in Reading, Pa, about 50 miles outside Philadelphia. I was so pleased to talk to Jeffrey, who said he tells sellers of houses like this not to change anything. Buyers either want completely renovated — or completely original; no middle ground, he said, because a house can’t be half-one and half-the-other. It just does not compute. Love the house you’re in. Sell the house you’ve loved.
Original 1965 George Nelson bubble light — on a pulley? Any experts out there to confirm?
The green chairs! Swanky!
You know what else Jeffrey said that made me really happy? He said that very typically, the owners of these older homes … original or longtime owners … almost always took care of the houses, impeccably. “If anything broke, they fixed it right away.” Theirs was not a disposable, “oh if it breaks, I’ll just get a new one” generation. Stuff was made to last if you took care of it, and they took care of it.
Link love:
- This home in Reading, Pa., is for sale for $164,900
- See all the homes for sale by Jeffrey Hogue, Realtor, Berks County, Penn.
Vicki says
I love the wallpaper in that bar. I think it would be easy to reproduce with paint!
Jon Hunt says
Oh my god: GORGEOUS. And so reasonably priced!! Heck, I paid more for my house that’s less than the size and only about 1/18th as fabulous, and with NO beauty parlor in my basement.
Fantastic!
Caryn says
Oh My Goodness! LOVE the dining set and hanging light in the last pic. Looks like it’s in the basement of the house maybe? Ahhh just amazing!!
Betty Crafter says
The bar has blown my mind. It’s perfect. And I’m so glad there are real estate agents out there who aren’t telling sellers of retro homes to update everything first!
Jackie says
Such a dream home! I would keep almost everything the way it is. The beauty parlor in the basement is to die for!!! I think I would spend all my time in there. The perfect “lady cave.”
Michael says
“Lady cave” —- love it!!!
Allen says
The Saarinen chairs are not Knoll. They are most likely either Burke or Contemporary Shells brand. Still super nice and I would snap that up in a heartbeat if I lived there!!
pam kueber says
Thanks, Allen!
Charlotte says
Clearly I need to move to Pennsylvania and start a beauty parlor.
Stacey says
That is absolutely a beautiful house! Perfect down to the last detail. It makes me want to move to Reading!
I would also like to meet the owners. I bet they are fun!
Tina says
FABULOUS! I want that bar. The house also shows you how much you miss when you just see a home from the front.
Oh, also… Reading is more like 50 miles outside of Philadelphia.
Mod Betty / RetroRoadmap.com says
D’oh! I didn’t see your post when I noted the distance from Philly in my post, great minds think alike!
gsciencechick says
Thank you for this early morning eye candy! I love it all!
It was not uncommon to have salons in their basements in the northeast.