Here we go again! Next up, MCM!

Pipdog

10 years ago

We just submitted an offer on this MCM in our dream neighborhood. Thought I'd share some "before" photos.

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Comments (56)

pricklypearcactus
10 years ago
Wow!! You had me at the wood vaulted ceilings and the fireplace! I'm excited to see what you do with the place.
joaniepoanie
10 years ago
So cool...keep us posted! Location?
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Long day. Its finally stopped about 11PM. 12" here, and probably very close to that at National Airport. Still lots of wind and blowing and drifting, but the skies are now clear. Yesterday, up until about 4am it was a "warm storm" with temps around 32. Its been below 20F since about 8am here. The snow held and held and held on for longer than expected. This was definitely the storm of a lifetime, EVEN IF we had not had the 2 feet here last weekend, just the sheer conditions this storm produced, especially the whiteouts, and the near hurricane force winds along with 4-6 foot drifts, countless downed trees...etc. etc. etc. was a once in a lifetime event here in the Mid Atlantic. However, since we did have 2 feet on the ground already, it was just all the more historic. TZ7, Be safe! I hope you guys dont get it as bad as we did here, especially in terms of the winds. Many of our streets look like the photos you posted, and some were with downed traffic signals. Post more pics if you can! Suffice it to say, all of my palms, including the large trachy in the pot wrapped in plactic and xmas lights, are buried. The in ground palms were buried as of last saturday, and now they are under 3 feet. My smaller trachy unfortunately had spear pull, although that may be more attributed to the fact I left the xmas lights on it one day when we hit 49, and the palm cooked to well over 100F im sure. It somewhat dessicated after that, and has not looked good since. I think these storms just pushed it over the edge. Well see if I cant get it to come back. Ok Im going to bed. Ill post more photos tomorrow. Night all! Be safe.
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I can see lots and lots of little girl shoes. You would start with the white hi-top walker, go through the patent leather Church shoes years, ect. Spray paint all with pastel pink inside and out. Icey glitter bling could be put on top of the paint. These shoes could become your floral holders with floral foam and silk flowers. You may have to mount the shoes on placks of wood to hold floral arrangements. Or each 'pair' of shoes could be positioned in an 'L' shape, attached at the heel, and smaller vases would stand between each shoe. These arrangements could be the little bedding plants from the garden center. The center arrangement could be a large crystal vase, elevated, with Mommy's hi heels also painted pastel pink. You could make these arrangements be door prizes at the end of the occasion. Friends closets also would probably have outgrown shoes to give freely to the occasion. (newbie Susie)
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I do think that it goes back to childhood abuse, & that the reason it's so common is that abuse is so common. My friend's sister (Mary)is the older child, my friend (Susan) is the younger one. Susan has told me: their mom tried suicide a number of times. Mary started getting pregnant at *13*, & this was back in the 1960's. Mary "hated" her mom & wanted her dad to marry her. Her dad coerced her mom to accompany him when he tied Mary up & took her to a back-street abortionist. The mother had to hold Mary down until the drugs took effect, Mary screaming hysterically the whole time. *The dad was the calm in the center of the storm*, at that time & forever after. (Remember what I said about the only calm one in a family of hysterics? *That's the guy who's in control.*) I'd bet money that that dad was the father of that first pregnancy, & that he'd been sexually abusing Mary long before she was old enough to conceive. Yet, Susan refuses to consider that it isn't all Mary's fault; Susan worships her dad, feels that her mom was a tragic & flawed person, & blames Mary for the chaos & misery in Mary's own life & the chaos & misery she's dealt to everyone in her circle. & Mary, like my mother, *has* dealt a great deal of misery; Mary's daughters are in professions such as stripping. she often threatens to "take custody" of her grandchildren. she's befriended one pregnant girl after another for years & years, trying to coerce them into giving their babies to her. she's had many many pets, but she always exchanges an adult pet for a new "baby". & she never never never let go of the desire to have her father love her. Mind you, she's a holy terror, & I'm afraid of her. but she's been wronged & damaged to a devastating degree, *& nobody will acknowledge it*. Susan, like so many younger children in abusive families, just doesn't see it. They aren't "supposed to", & they aren't inclined to, because acknowledging that the victim doesn't deserve ill treatment means that they could be ill-treated, too. My brother is like that. He severed communication with me & our other brother years ago - thank goodness, because all he ever said to either of us, or about either of us, was how horrible we are & how he is just entirely different. According to him, he's the only one who deserves respect, decency, & success. It's just the dynamics of the matter, just the way those things go. & there's no "fixing" the problem; Mary & the many others like her will keep trying to get love from people who are just like the one who mis-treated them. I did it myself for years, until illness finally slowed me down so much that I had time to sit & think. I guess that was the blessing of my illness, & it was a big one for which I'm grateful. uh. what was the question? I think that so often the ex-wives, the mothers of your stepchildren, sound exactly like abused women, & their marriages *cannot* work out. It's just the dynamics, & it looks insane to anyone who hasn't had similar experiences.
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rafor
10 years ago
Love the fireplace. I grew up in a MCM house my parents built in 1955 in Baton Rouge. I still am storing their living room and dining room furniture since my daughter wants it but has no place to put it (she lives in a studio apt on Beacon Hill in Boston!).
Pipdog
Original Author
10 years ago
jakabedy, you're right, it was owned by one family. It's a trust sale after the 95 year old owner died. Apparently, she fed the wild peacocks that roam the area. The agent said that one male peacock has been coming back to her house nearly every day to see if she's there with food. When we were there this weekend, the peacock was strutting around on the back patio. Not sure how well my bird dog Pip is going to like their presence ;)

lynneinnewmexico and pricklypearcactus, thanks, we're really excited to see what we can do with it. It's going to be a fun project. I've run out of projects on our existing house and so it's time for something new!

rafor, I've always loved MCM style but have never lived in one. I'm thinking that a lot of our existing furniture is not going to work in there. So I will be scouring flea markets and vintage shops to find some good MCM stuff. The agent said that they would be willing to sell some of the MCM style furniture in the house, although not much of the good stuff is left after an estate sale.

alex9179, I think that bathroom vanity is so fun! We definitely will be keeping that and working around that piece of art. It's in surprisingly good condition too!

thanks, joaniepoanie. The house is in LA/Southern California.

blfenton, here's a better photo of the kitchen. Small, but definitely workable. I am hoping GW'ers have some good ideas for us and can't wait to come back to the experts on this great forum. The cabinets are original to the house and are in good condition. My first thought was to paint them a high gloss white/lacquer, change out the appliances and counters and live with the kitchen. This house is at the very top end of our budget, so our renovation budget is much smaller than the one we had for our current house.

I would love for the kitchen to face the views from the back of the house, so that when I am prepping dinner I am looking at this view. Not sure we could make it work, but doing dishes would be a lot better if I could look out and see the sunset and the gray whales migrating down the coast!

This post was edited by pipdog on Mon, Sep 23, 13 at 15:32
gsciencechick
10 years ago
Wow, that is gorgeous! Love the beams, fireplace, and bathroom vanity. Good luck!
chucksmom
10 years ago
retrorenovation.com Pam has wonderful ideas!
ellendi
10 years ago
Wow, just wow. But, (sniff, sniff) I am going to miss your kitchen.
:)
Looking forward to seeing what you do with this house.
DLM2000-GW
10 years ago
What what what??? Leaving your gorgeous house? sigh. ok. If I HAVE to I'll watch you transform this already fab house into fab to the 10th !! This is gonna be fun!
justgotabme
10 years ago
Dang, there goes another keyboard!
sleevendog (5a NY 6aNYC NL CA)
10 years ago
I'm in an MCM. All original from one owner. Original kitchen, teak cabinets, terrazzo and cork floors...
If this works out for you it is a wonderful and fun space to play with. But i heard the 'paint' word.
Slow down and research. Live it in a while before making major changes. Many of us, (i am active on an MCM forum), spend an awful lot of time fixing and un-doing what previous owners have done. Ultimately it is your home and do as you wish but you will hear over and over from others, (not here) but MCM purists, architects, designers, "oh, what a shame that someone painted the original cabinets". I'm not part of the MCM police but i have witnessed some that are very regretful that they did not slow down and appreciate what they had before making major changes. Like lowering the ceiling on a post and beam or covering the clerestory windows. Actually some are relieved that their kitchen is not original so they can do as they please and put in a modern kitchen, period correct but updated, without guilt, lol.
Your example does have some changes it seems so it may not be a concern. Just don't want you to regret something later on.
I had some things planned and so so glad i got busy with work and just did not have the time. Just loved it as is and still love it as is.
mtnrdredux_gw
10 years ago
Good luck! What a wonderful spot. I know you can do it justice!
amykath
10 years ago
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!! First I am gawking at the house. It is incredible! THEN.... I see the photos of the location and view! All I can say is JEALOUS!!!!
justgotabme
10 years ago
sleevendog I thought the same thing when I read the word "paint". I cry when I see so many are painting pieces of beautiful, often walnut, teak or ash MCM furniture.

Here is a link that might be useful: Here's a great source I found while browsing the Retro-Renovation blog.
Pipdog
Original Author
10 years ago
sleevendog, thanks for the words of advice. I'm bidding against a developer that wants to tear this house down (!!!). I wish the MCM police were around to save this Frank Lloyd Wright house that was demolished recently. I think there was quite a bit of protest but this area lacks a historic preservation ordinance, so the owners were able to tear this down and build a gigantic Mediterranean style home:

So sad. I won't even post photos of what is now there, because it is garish example of someone's ego gone way wrong. I wish the MCM police would have driven up in their vintage cars and just hauled that owner off. Would you be willing to share the name of the MCM forum that you visit? I'd love to read up and get some insight.

thanks aktillery, i may ask your advice with some staging for my current house! I love your work.

mtnrdredux and justgotabeme, thanks!

thanks for the resource, jaysmom -- I will check Pam out!

ellendi, dlm2000 -- yes, we're sad to leave our little house with our kitchen. We love the house and enjoy the area. But the area that we're moving too has exceptional public schools, which was the deciding factor for us. The schools in our current district are in the LA Unified School District, which is a underfunded mess, and most neighbors end up sending their kids to $35k/year private school. We're public school proponents and have two kids that are one grade apart, so we made the decision to hightail it to in the more desirable area with better schools rather than to sink the money in private school tuition.

fingers crossed - we are meeting with the agent tomorrow!
joaniepoanie
10 years ago
Oh Pip....tearing that house down to build a Tuscan monstrosity...horrible! Sounds like something a Real Housewife of OC would do!
Annie Deighnaugh
10 years ago
Very stylish!
louisianapurchase
10 years ago
Pipdog, first off kudoes for being a champion of public schools. I too am a proponent of public schools and had to bite my tongue just this weekend at a social event in regards to public schools particularly in our area. Note: I am not against private/parochial as I have been a student and parent of both.

Now that I am off of my soapbox, I love your house. It is pristine and appears from the photos that it needs nothing extreme in relation to work. Unless something needs work with the mechanical, electrical, etc. I would live with it for a while before making any major changes.

I love MCM and wish that one in my area would have come up while we were looking. One did but it was outside of our school zone and just north if the area we wanted to live in.

So I guess I am saying that I am jealous! We just entered into a contract on a house that is great but is like the one we live in now. A fifties ranch with no true identity.

Another note: the fabulous house that was torn down to build the Tuscan monstrosity sounds like it was built by the exact people who I had had to bite my tongue with in relation to the school conversation this past weekend!
Bethpen
10 years ago
Pip, so excited for you! I can't wait to see what you do with it

Beth P.
justgotabme
10 years ago
That's not the first FLR home that I've heard about that someone bought with plans to tear down. I've not heard if the other ones succeeded or not. How sad for the gem you shared above.
I'll pray you get a chance to save the home you're after and the developer gets the boot.
chispa
10 years ago
Pip, I hope it goes through for you. Had no idea where you might want to move to, until you showed the view, then I knew from the coast line where it was! When we relocated that area was on our list, but DH wanted the shortest commute possible, so we concentrated our search in other towns. A few people that work with DH live there and they love the area.
ellendi
10 years ago
Crossing my fingers for you. I currently live in a neighborhood where tearing down and rebuilding are the norm. The houses reflect the needs of the newbies, but it was just not the neighborhood I bought in to.
cliff_and_joann
10 years ago
That is so beautiful...good luck.
kellienoelle
10 years ago
Beautiful house! I will keep my fingers crossed that you win over the developer as I know that you would do it justice.
lascatx
10 years ago
I hope you get the house, the view and the schools. Hope the estate finds some value in maintaining the home. I've never lived in a MCM, but I see a few here that would make me willing to give it a try (I have this traditional mahogany furniture that has been in the family and it would get difficult) Good luck. I really want you to get this house. :)
beekeeperswife
10 years ago
Oh, so lovely! Wishing you the best with the bid. If you get it, can't wait to see you Pip-ize it!!

bee
Pipdog
Original Author
10 years ago
thanks, bee! you'll have to come visit when you are out in CA!

lascatx, thanks -- I've been thinking a lot about how our furniture will go with the style of the home. Our current home is more cottage/transitional style. We're considering selling our current home furnished.

thanks kellienoelle, cliff_and_joann, bethpen, AnnieDeighnaugh and ellendi.

louisanapurchase, like you, I've had to bite my tongue so many times during public vs. private school conversations. in certain pockets of LA there is definitely a stigma attached to sending your children to public school, which is so unfortunate and keeps the public schools from getting any better. With California's massive budget cuts, our classrooms are really crowded and the state of our public schools is pretty sad. In our local school, the music, arts and physical education programs were cut. So I can understand why parents send their kids to private school. But we feel differently and really want to support the local public schools, and we're super excited that this school district has amazing schools, k-12!

chispa, good eye! ;) I'm glad to hear your friends love living there. Even though it's only 30 miles or so from our current house, it's a whole different world over there. It's so peaceful and feels almost small town-ish compared to the hustle and bustle of where we are now. My husband works at the studios, so it will be quite a commute for him! But we won't worry about that for now ;) btw, I'd still love to get together for coffee if you are around! I'm planning on going to the Pasadena Rose Bowl flea market next month. Any interest in meeting up there?
TxMarti
10 years ago
Fantastic house! I have my fingers crossed that you get it instead of a developer who won't preserve it.
beekeeperswife
10 years ago
I'm comin'......the countdown is on! WooHoo!
chispa
10 years ago
Hi Pip,

Yes, it is a very different feel. The only complaint I ever heard was the long drive on secondary roads to get to the highway. Your DH might want to test it out, but the views, schools and location might be worth a longer commute. You could come to my town too!!!

I'm up for the Rose Bowl, keep meaning to go, but always forget to put it on the calendar. I also have a lot of design gossip for the last 2 months. I was at the PDC earlier today due to a new sofa that doesn't have the same feel as the one in the showroom. Always something, and the designer/middleman doesn't really make things easier.
chispa
10 years ago
Duplicate

This post was edited by chispa on Tue, Sep 24, 13 at 18:27
Pipdog
Original Author
10 years ago
Just thought I'd update, we are in escrow on the house!! The developer with plans to tear this gem down and build a Tuscan monstrosity lost! There are at least two back up offers so we are due to close in less than 20 days.
mtnrdredux_gw
10 years ago
WOO HOO! Fantastic. I am so glad it will not get torn down, and can't wait to see your vision for it.
blfenton
10 years ago
Oh I am so glad that you got the house. You'll take us along on your new adventure with whatever changes you make to the house - right?

Did I mention how much I love MCM homes? I'm in a 1972 post and beam which is about as close as you can get where I live. Most of both styles have been torn down.
chispa
10 years ago
Congratulations! Getting your house on the market and sold quickly shouldn't be a problem because all the projects you have done look great and have most certainly added value and appeal. I would take this weekend to really relax, because you will have a lot of work to do packing and moving in the coming weeks!
awm03
10 years ago
Pipdog, that is fabulous news! I'm happy you're getting your beautiful new home and especially happy you foiled the evil developer's plans. The house will reward you with extra good karma.
Pipdog
Original Author
10 years ago
thanks, everyone, we are very very excited!

blfenton, for sure, I will definitely be coming here with questions and asking for input! I have a lot of ideas flying around in my head but am trying to do some research on MCM style so I feel like I have a grasp of the style of the home and how to update the home while retaining the integrity of the style and architecture.

We'll be back at the house this weekend to do some more exploring of the yard (there's apparently a Zen/mediation garden area that is so overgrown I didn't even notice it) and I'll take some more pictures.
beekeeperswife
10 years ago
WoooHoo!!!!
maggieq
10 years ago
Congrats from one MCM owner to another. Ours was custom built in 1957, we bought from original owner in 2008.

If you are not familiar with Atomic Ranch magazine, check it out. They also have a couple of books they have done. Super resource.

Here is a link that might be useful: Atomic Ranch
lynninnewmexico
10 years ago
Great news!
allison0704
10 years ago
Love the house and that view is amazing! Congratulations!!!
lascatx
10 years ago
Glad to hear it. October is going to be a whirlwind, but how fun!
justgotabme
10 years ago
Oh I'm so excited for you pipdog! This will be fun to watch you make this your home. I'll also be looking forward to more pictures of it as it is now too.
sochi
10 years ago
Wow, what a house! I love it. The fireplace is stunning. I can't wait to see more if it. Congratulations!
ellendi
10 years ago
Congrats! Let the decorating begin......
loribee
10 years ago
I too, am a proponent of public schools & salute you. This is going to be so exciting...glad you are taking us along for the ride! Congrats!
doodledog_gw
10 years ago
Congratulations! I too will be following along - looking forward to more pictures.
Arapaho-Rd
10 years ago
pipdog, I have always loved your current home and will look forward to your next transformation. You've got a great home to work with and boy, what a view! Gorgeous. Can't wait for pictures :)
oldbat2be
10 years ago
Remember the theme song to the Jeffersons? Something about 'moving on up, to the top.' That's definitely running through my head as I read this :)

What a fun adventure and amazing location you will have... Congratulations!
gsciencechick
10 years ago
I am so thrilled for you!! How exciting!
Cloud Swift
10 years ago
Congratulations! I'm looking forward to seeing what you do with this home.

Here we go again! Next up, MCM!

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