Deceptively modest outside — High-end disco fever inside! Awesome 1970 time capsule house

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.