Tammy is poised to launch an exciting new chapter of the American Dream: She’s quit her job, scheduled an estate sale, and this week put her meticulously restored 1961 Seattle house on the market — all so that she can travel the U.S.A. in “Nellie,” the 33′ Newmar Ventana RV that she bought last month. Tammy has lived in her beloved midcentury modern ranch home for 13 years, and her renovations and decorating — impeccable! Let’s take a look — and also hear about her plans to hit the road!
Tammy is a reader of the blog — we first met her when we spotlighted her GE Partio Cart last year — so she reached out to us with her story as soon as her house hit the MLS. We asked her to tell us more about the house and the changes she had made to it over the years. She wrote:
The house was built in 1961 and had one owner before I purchased it in 2002. They aged in place, so the home was in a bit of rough shape at that time.
I built the backyard cabana and remodeled the kitchen in period style with updated modern appliances.
I also took out a wall between two bedrooms to create a master suite, and converted the MIL downstairs into a wet bar.
The furniture is all mine – not staging furniture. Most pieces were estate sale, Craig’s List and Ebay finds! (Although I must admit the Philippe Starck Bubble Club outdoor furniture was purchased at Design Within Reach, and the turquoise outdoor furniture was purchased at Dazzles in Palm Springs.)
And of course, you know about the GE Partio Cart!
My friends and I named the house “The Atomic Abode.” I have loved living here and throwing parties, but I am in the process of selling all my worldly possessions, jumping in an RV, and traveling North America.
Thanks for your interest in my place. It makes my heart happy.
Gorgeous house!!!! But…. tell use more about your new quest! The “sell everything and hit the road” quest. Wow!
Q. What made you decide to leave your gorgeous home and hit the road? We read on your blog that wanted to leave your job as an attorney, but was there a specific moment/catalyst when you decided to take it from a dream to reality?
A. As much as I enjoyed collecting my “curated hoard,” for the last couple of years my possessions weighed on me, and keeping them meant continuing in a career for which I was no longer passionate. I decided that living more simply also meant more frugally, which gives me the freedom not to work and to do the one thing I love most of all: travel!
Q. I see you mentioned that you started collecting midcentury furniture and decor back in 2002 after you bought the house — have you noticed a big change in the market for such furnishings in your area since then?
A. I actually started collecting back in the 1990s, with 1940’s/1950’s dresses, handbags, hats and shoes, because I was swing dancing back then. That morphed into 1950’s vintage, which then morphed into Danish Modern. The good stuff is getting much harder to find (I don’t even try thrift stores anymore, which used to be one of my go-to places back in the 90’s/early 2000’s), and when you do find something, sellers generally greatly overestimate value (especially on Ebay!) Estate sale tips are the best, especially in the Pacific NW – big MCM collectors in Oregon and Washington.
I owned a 1955 canned ham vintage trailer, “FiFi,” depicted in the photo above. I recently sold her as part of my quest. It was hard to let her go!
That must have been the cutest vintage trailer ever!
Tammy, you and your story are inspirational — especially since I’ve been reexamining my own relationship with stuff recently. It is obvious that you have impeccable taste and you seem like such a fun person, who I am sure will have some great fun out on the open road. Kudos to you for having the bravery to make a change in your life and begin an exciting new adventure.
Tammy has agreed that she’ll send us periodic updates about her travels so we can keep up with her journey. You can get all the updates on her journey via her personal blog, The Lady is a Tramp.
Mega thanks to Tammy for sharing her story and to realtor Craig Blackmon, R7 Photography and Lance Wagner at Seattle Retro Photography for letting us feature this fantastic property and wonderful photos on RetroRenovation.com.
Link love:
- Follow Tammy’s journey via her blog, The Lady is a Tramp
- House photos courtesy of Ryan from R7 Photography
- Photo of Tammy courtesy of Lance Wagner at Seattle Retro Photography (website appears gone)
Tips to view slide show: Click on first image… it will double in size on screen… click anywhere to move forward and look for previous and next buttons within photo to move back or forth… you can start or stop at any image:
Rachel Hirsch says
Have a ball, Tammy! If you find yourself near Baltimore, stop by so we can sit and pixie a bit over cocktails.
Tammy says
Rachel, I would love that! Thank you! Baltimore is on my list for sure.
pam kueber says
Come see me, too! Lenox, Mass. — try to time it for the 4th of July 2016 – James Taylor concert at Tanglewood, I’ll buy. And, we have a 40′ driveway!
Tammy says
I LOVE IT! I’m IN!
pam kueber says
I’m serious!
Tammy says
So am I! I have travel plans through Springtime 2016, and you’ve just given me the next leg of the journey! I suspect that we are both the “do it, don’t just talk about it” types, so this is gonna happen. Oh, hell yes.
pam kueber says
hell yes. and yes: put it on the list, shutcherpiehole and just do it!
JeffK says
Great looking place Tammy! I’m also enjoying your blog…
The Seattle market, and Ballard where Tammy is, is pretty hot right now. Here’s an example of a listing for $559k that went for $717k!
http://www.seattletimes.com/business/real-estate/king-county-home-prices-surge-just-shy-of-2007-peak/
https://www.redfin.com/WA/Seattle/7033-9th-Ave-NW-98117/home/495028
My guess is that the listing at $724k will really just be the starting point. Best of luck!
pam kueber says
Yup, best of luck!
lisa in Seattle says
I think you’re right. The house was also featured on the blog Curbed.com. Lots of exposure is a good thing; hopefully will lead to a good price on the house for Tammy AND the house finding new owners who will appreciate the charm and not try to turn it into a Craftsman.
Yasmine says
You go, Tammy! I will be following your adventures on your blog. Enjoy every moment on the road.
Mary Tatum says
Consider giving buyers the opportunity to purchase your worldly goods along with the house! It’s so perfect exactly the way it is. Best wishes.
midmichigan says
What a great job on the house! Your home looks fantastic and you should have no problem at all selling it! Everything inside is done very well, I even liked the Marlin above the tub, but what is the story on the white buck head? Did you trade out a starburst clock? Safe travels and many “Kodak moments” along the way.
Tammy says
MM, the faux trophy is “Bucky” from cardboardsafari.com. They have great stuff! It hung in my law office for years. A friend bought the Calder-esque mobile that hung above the fireplace, so Bucky took its place for staging.
J D Log says
Hi Tammy may I recommend that you also read Travels With Charlie by John Steinbeck go safe and have fun
Tammy says
JD, I am re-reading it now, in fact! Thanks for the tip!
Melinda says
What a fabulous home! I do hope is goes to someone else who will love it just as well. Enjoy your adventure!
Jeanne says
Gorgeous home and decor!!! I know how tough it must be to leave it, but off to new adventures! I’m doing something similar…getting ready to sell my 1952 bungalow, move in with my BF and then retire (very soon) to the great north (the U.P.). I’ve had a “declutter” mindset change and am letting go of many things I’ve collected over the years. They are pretty to look at, but do create a burden of sorts. I figure someone will pick them up at a thrift store and enjoy/covet them like I have. 🙂
Sharon says
Let me know where you drop off your lovelies! Lol! I am remodeling a 1958 split level in GR! Good MCM is hard to find! Congrats and enjoy the beautiful UP!
Jeanne says
I’m in Dearborn, so two hour drive from Grand Rapids. Not real convenient. I do have four chrome bar stools (with backs) that I had reupholstered and hardly used I’ll be selling (maybe Craigslist?). And right now I have a Barbie dilemma! What do I do with them. LOL!
Kathy says
I’m a Yooper too! Now live south, but the Great Lakes will always hold a fond place in my heart.
Jacki says
We also are getting ready to list our 1964 AZ retro ranch home. We’re moving to TN so my husband can finish his PhD and planning to live a simpler life on some acreage. Can’t wait to install my my 1958 Gerrity Princess faucet Woddity with attached kitchen in the new place.
Jacki says
Have a wonderful time in your travels Tammy!!!
Mod Betty / RetroRoadmap.com says
What an exciting chapter of life to embark upon! I will be avidly following Tammy’s adventures via the mid mod armchair, and hopefully be inspired to make as dramatic a decision in my own life at some point!
pam kueber says
Yes — very inspiring!
Jay says
Kudos to Tammy, lovely house! Happy Trails as you embark on your next journey.
steve says
Stunning. I went weak in the knees when I saw those aquamarine cabinet pulls. Best of luck to you.