Just when I begin to think that there must be no more time capsule houses left, we a get a wave where they are coming at us from every direction. I try to parse them out on the blog, but lately I can’t keep up — so I’m grooving to the beat, and here’s our third time capsule house in the span of a week. Outside, it’s: deceptively ‘normal’. But inside, it’s: A 1970 gem of an original-owner home in Skokie, Illinois, where listing agent Sarah Rothschild tells me she entered and won her first and only disco dancing contest! Yes, the was the coolest house in the neighborhood, party central. I’d call this interior design exceptionally refined 1970s — oh my word, is that a set of Warren Platner coffee- and side tables? And those sofa sectionals, you’re gonna swoon! Come inside and join the party –>
From the listing:
- Price: $425,000
- Square footage: 1,720
- Bedrooms: 4
- Bathrooms: 2 full/1 half
- Year built: 1970
Grand, contemporary custom-built with oversized rooms, one of Skokie’s finest homes. This is a great Devonshire Highlands split in terrific condition. 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, sub-basement, 2 car attached garage, several open entertaining spaces. The open floor plan, huge eat-in kitchen and huge family room are unlike most of what you see these days. Fantastically well-kept & mechanically up-to-date. Master bedroom with bonus space, two over-sized closets and en suite full bath with walk-in shower. Sunken Living Room, Spacious Dining Room, Double Ovens, Wet Bar, Large Foyer, A 10+!
Above: See! Gorgeous! Sarah says the interiors are all original, including the paint colors. Is that an Arco floor lamp? Oh my! These babies are $3,000 today at Design Within Reach.
Above: Those are likely Platner coffee and side tables — one of my all-time favorites.
Above: This art panel (?) is used to create a visual break among three rooms, the living room, dining room and wet bar.
Above: The sunken living room steps up to the foyer on one end, the dining room on the other. Bold and stylish wallpaper is used to create accent walls in many of the rooms.
Above: That ceiling fixture — I’ll guess it’s an expensive Lightolier. And I’m sure some knowledgeable reader can ID the dining room set.
Above: There is a wet bar on the third side of the living room. Matchy-matchy wallpaper and roman shade. And ferns that I betcha have been there the entire time — 46 years!
Above: On the other side of the foyer, a den?
Above: The kitchen. Simple and almost utilitarian, in contrast to the high style of the other rooms.
Above: The master bedroom, we presume. Lots of built-ins.
Above: Timeless design: Sorts pennants arranged in wheels in kids’ bedrooms and family rooms, too. Never goes out of style. Those dressers are properly called “campaign chests” style, I believe.
Above: Day beds with bolsters arranged at 90-degree angle to each other so that you could use them as a sofa. Look carefully [click the photo to enlarge it if you’re on a desktop] and see how the one on the right tucks under the specially-sized end table. My mother-in-law had this exact arrangement in her apartment. I wish I had that table! This is a brilliant way to do a guest room/office. Oh. And that wallpaper. Oh and: We finally see some shag carpet!
Above: Bathrooms. Vanity in first photo looks to have been updated. Otherwise, ya got yer 1970s dark woods and some dark marble laminate too.
Above: This looks to be the basement. This must be where Sarah won the disco dance contest. She told by phone that this was a friend’s house. It was unlike any other house in the neighborhood, an it’s where all the kids hung out. The dad owned a chain of blue jean stores. “He was the cool dad,” Sarah said. Indeed.
Link love:
- See the listing here.
- Thanks to listing agent Sarah Rothschild for permission to show the listing photos. See her website here.
Dana says
Definitely not the 70’s I remember, burnt orange, mustard and sepia. This could stand up in today’s design as contemporary comfort. I especially love that fun tile with the matching wrought iron shape in the stair rail
Mark says
The daybeds in the corner remind me of the ones in the Bradys’ family room. I always thought those were the grooviest!
Kelly M says
Groovy — that’s the word I’ve been looking for to describe this place!
Mark says
“Far out” also comes to mind 😉
midmichigan says
This was fun to look at! I’m with reader “dan” though. The 70’s was my least fave era but this house does it tastefully, indeed. The place would be fun to tour in an open house. I could imagine the faint smell of Hai Karate and Bee Gees’ tunes being blasted out in the basement.
pam kueber says
The 70s was my Favorite decade for interior design! The boldest brashest pushing-the-limits-mostest! Different strokes for different folks!
JP says
I think the table is Milo Baughman designed and made of burlwood. It probably has extra leaves tucked away somewhere. Do the hanging cabinets and coffee table in the basement come from the same line?
pam kueber says
Yes, that furniture is amazeballs!
Bette Jean says
Love the time capsules! Keep ’em comin’ Pammy!
pam kueber says
And THANKS to the readers who continue to send me tips! This one came directly from agent Sarah!
Austin says
Absolutely amazing! Everything looks so clean and contemporary! Proof that 1970s design was done well and can appear timeless.
Janet in ME says
Fantastic but the furniture is all so perfect, it would be a hard act to follow furnishing it unless some of the pieces went with the house! Those “daybeds” are studio couches, with those a-line removable bolsters in the back. Like porch swing sofas, they were indeed very popular in the day, especially for rec rooms and camps. I just found one in our local thrift store that looks like new and I want it so bad but have nowhere to put it. This house is a work of art for decorating.
Carolyn says
Now, I ask you – how in the heck would you “update” something like this that is already way ahead of its, and our, times. Remove the antlers and zebra and you’re done?
Note the dining table is similar to the basement coffee table?
Well, of course, the kitchen is utilitarian – there was a party goin’ on and ain’t nobody got time to be cleaning the kitchen! Geez, you could have a food fight in there and just hose it down after.
HA! he had the kids thinking he was the “cool dad” but that’s what you wanted to be as a parent – if you and your friends hung out at your house, Mom and Dad hoped to keep youse guyses out of trouble.
The daybeds were in “The Complete Book of Built-Ins” 1950 by Wm. J. Hennessey – smart stuff never goes out of style.
Carol says
This looks like a currently modern, well designed and furnished house but with interesting texture and layers. Nice burled wood and substantial upholstery fabrics. The 70’s is generally my least favorite design decade, however, anything done right is fabulous. This is fabulous. And yes, he was definitely the cool dad with a chain of blue jean stores in the 70’s. Remember window pane stitched jeans? I had a pair in junior high and thought I had finally reached cool! bah ha ha ha, I was awkward until I hit 20. Aaaah, the memories, some bad, like the avocado green Buick Electra land yacht my mom was driving. I felt like we were riding in a big green bug and I don’t mean a VW. How I did loved the fabric interiors of the cars back then. Those interiors always looked brand new and you could slide across the seats. Textiles were very interesting back then and this house has some very nice examples.
dan says
There was so much baaad stuff in the 70’s (believe me, I was there) but this place avoided it all, except, perhaps, for that ceramic zebra. This is the house we all dreamed of having, the house we would see on ‘McMillan and Wife’ or ‘Columbo’. Usually the bad guy lived in it. (Special guest star – Robert Culp or Bert Convy). It is perfect, and I do so hope it survives intact.
Susie Q. says
I’m diggin’ that zebra though!
meb says
I adore the zebra. It’s one of my fav things about the decor.
Different strokes and all. ????