You might try sending an email to Bonhams down here in LA, but I don't think you're going to raise a big price, Bonhams has a monthly auction that they call an "estate sale" auction, and you can search on the site for past results. I'm not suggesting that you strip it and paint little hearts on it, but it's not showing to its best advantage, I think. Even if it's custom made, colonial repro isn't in fashion, and esp. not in Southern California. I'm not trying to be all doom and gloom, but being realistic.

very interesting to hear everyone's thoughts and I'm glad to hear that many of you think it is possible to achieve a comfortable, inviting space while still being sparse and minimalist. thanks mtnredux -- I've also made a number of bad design mistakes after drinking. ;) I started to paint my current dining room black one night after a bottle of Veuve Clicquot. I just got out a brush and went at it. And, um, my head hurt the next morning just looking at it. I also never decorated my homes differently because of kids - everyone told me I needed them, but I was not a fan of those hideous plastic things on cabinets to keep infants from staying out of them and I refused to install them. But you all are right that there is definitely a certain amount of clutter that is unavoidable (backpacks lying around, leashes and dog food bowls, shoes at the entryway, toddler socks in the middle of the room) given our lifestyle. None of that stuff bothers me -- it is the décor-style clutter (too many furnishings in a space) that makes my head hurt. javachik, yes, good eye, that is my peacock! :) Interestingly enough, our home is near a canyon that is a wild peacock preserve, so we have them roaming on our property. Several live in trees in our backyard. aktillery, your space is so warm and inviting! I love your design style and all of the furniture seems really comfortable and I just want to kick back on that sofa and read a good book. I'm with you that some of the minimalist furniture doesn't seem nearly as inviting or plush, although I am finding a few pieces that are really comfy -- like a beautiful Eames chair I am hopelessly in love with (the black/walnut chair in photos 8 and 9). It would be a splurge, but I do love those chairs, especially because they swivel and you could sit in them and watch tv and then look out the window at the backyard. mnzinnia, thanks for sharing your experience. I've been reading a lot about MCM homes and atomic ranches, and how many were built and designed to raise families in. There are so many aspects of this home that appealed to us -- the high ceilings, the open concept, the indoor/outdoor lifestyle and the use of glass everywhere and floor to ceiling windows -- even our front door is all glass. But like the house you grew up in, there is very little frou frou - no laundry room, a small but open and well planned kitchen, no powder bathroom, no dining room -- things that might be deal breakers to some people. snookums, self cleaning windows sound awesome! I've never heard of those, but I will have to google that. thanks, nancybee! I agree with you -- with kids, keeping our house picture perfect is definitely not a priority (and not even within our realm of possibility!). thanks ellendi, peegee, marti8, joanie, juliekmco and nosoccermom! chispa, you're definitely right that Houzz photos don't depict real life. I love Houzz but realize it's sort of like the airbrushed version of real homes. I spent nearly two days organizing and de-cluttering our current house for our MLS listing photo shoot and it still looks much more cluttered than these Houzz shots! hoping I responded to all! gotta run, nap time is over

My husband just pointed me to this story from Port Perry Ontario (he had siblings in Port Perry several years ago). The Golden Girls of Port Perry Lifted from that article: The national median monthly cost of a private room in a nursing home in the U.S. is $8,365, according to Genworth Financial, which means it costs more than $100,000 annually to live in a retirement home, and the price tag is only going up. Even if you have to "hire in" cleaning help, etc., aging-in-place is a whole lot cheaper than a nursing home. Of course, that's a nursing home -- not assisted living. Some communities here have gotten so far as declaring that first cousins aren't close enough family members to live together. That particular case was a household of grandmother and her two granddaughters. After grandma's death, the two cousins inherited the home and continued to live there but the local government was trying to force them to leave. I've never heard of this, but I don't see ... - How it's enforceable. If I let you come live in my house, who's going to say no? Assuming, of course, we're both law abiding citizens, who can say what happens inside my house? And if "they" do say no, how are they going to make you leave my house? - How it's possible, given society's widespread acceptance of unmarried couples living together as if married /though not married? I mean, if you can live with a guy you just met last week, why is it not okay to live with your cousin? - How it's possible, given that young people have always looked for roommates as a way of keeping their rent low? If this isn't okay, then college dorms are just plain wrong.

I'm no pro, but I too have a bit of a mix of modern with antique. My way of thinking (which may or may not be right) is that my base style should be modern/contemporary, because that is my general stylistic preference, with the antiques and quirky things as accents. So mcm and contemporary furniture mixed with oriental rugs, an antique china cabinet, and some rustic copper pieces from Turkey and Afghanistan.