Actually, Buy Me A Pink Flamingo.
In one of my alternate Universes, it’s 1958 and I bake. Daily. Looking remarkably similar to Bettie Page, I wear pretty day dresses with petticoats, clack about in kitten heels and have my hair set weekly. During the mornings I hold quaint tea gatherings for the neighbours and in the evenings I host magnificent dinner parties with martinis and souffle. All of this takes place to Frank Sinatra crooning in the background of my Mid Century Modern home, of course.
I’ve had a love of the era for many years, long before MCM became all current and now. In 2001, I studied interior design for a brief moment in time and focused on Googie, the style of building you see featured in any Jetsons episode. Since then, I’ve fantisized about owning my own MCM home but they are somewhat hard to find in our part of the World. Mum also shares the passion so we sometimes drive around seeking out homes with flat roofs and huge glass windows or scout the 2nd hand stores in search of that elusive Eames original.
So, you can imagine my royale delight that here in California, I’m currently amidst the epicentre of all things Mid Century Modern. Long before we arrived though, like some internet nutter, I emailed real people who actually live in these gorgeous homes..Nice people who, luckily, replied to my over-enthusiastic ramblings with equal passion for their mid century “Eichler” neighborhoods and invited me to come and see for myself. As we drove around these streets in Orange recently, I could barely breathe for the sight of one incredible, Joseph Eichler designed house after another, with manicured lawns and house numbers in the kitschest of fonts. We were lucky enough to tour through this house and when the agent explained that cocktails are held each weekend at the home of whoever has the pink flamingo in the garden, I just about refused to leave.
For me, these homes in these streets hold a magic I find hard to describe. I know I said Anthropologie was my Heaven on Earth..well this Eichler neighborhood resembles my idea of Heaven in Heaven.
Talk about dream home! My fave part is the atrium in the middle, how nice would that be!
love it and share your dream, thus our 3 year search to buy our first home, which has to be an MCM, the search continues…
I don’t know if you’re much of a reader, Sheye, but after reading this post, for some reason I think you’d love the book Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates. It was made into a film recently, which is good but doesn’t quite do it justice, but it has long since been one of my favourite novels of all time. I don’t suppose you get much chance to read though!
dreamy for sure. in connecticut where i’m from, there are some really cool MCM homes. i’ve yet to see any on the north shore of boston – sooo many colonial and federal homes. i have had my eye on 4 bertoia chairs for a year now but can’t justify purchasing them. they are still in the window of a very cool shop in CT. do you think that means they are just waiting for me?!! glad you are doing so well! xo m.
Completely and totally share your love. There are a couple of MCMs in the main part of Albury in a place called Forest Hill Avenue. I drive past often (probably looking like a stalker…) but I love them – it’s not just their look, it’s a whole way of living that I’ll never get to experience (I LOVED the photoshooot with Brad and Ange in an MCM…did you see that?) Heavenly.
(Did you get my message in the comments on one of your posts?)
Vxx
I love those types of homes. I know that if I ever had one I would have to go completely MCM with the furnishings – I love Heywood-Wakefield furniture – there used to be a store that sold nothing else nearby but every time I tried to visualize it in my home I just knew it wouldn’t look right – it would look fab in the house in the pics though.
Do you watch the television show Mad Men? You would swoon over the clothes and houses!
I love these homes too!! unfortunately we just don’t seem to have these homes here, well not that I’ve seen!! I’m so glad you’re having a wonderful time Sheye!
Tan xx
Even more heavenly if you could charge it :)
I am a big fan of this architecture my hubby and I would love to build a house like this. We actually bought our house bc it had a flat roof and big eaves….oh so lovely.
So…did you put in an offer?!? I don’t know the area where the house is but the price was a lot lower than I expected it to be (from what I’ve heard about CA). It is beautiful!
Sounds like you’re having such a good time. You’re going to need a while to rest & relax after this vacation! :)
I always coveted Frank Sinatra’s Palm Springs house. Gorgeous.
COME VISIT ME SHEYE !!
I HAVE THE ATTRIUM IN THE MIDDLE AND KIND OF THE SAME ROOF LINE. HEAPS OF WINDOWS SO YOU CAN SEE RIGHT ACCROSS THE HOUSE THROUGH THE ATTRIUM.
YOU’RE ALL MOST WELCOME ANY TIME YOU FEEL LIKE DRIVING TO LOOK AT HOUSES ~Kristen
opps don’t know why my email addd. came up sorry. Must be the thought of having you all here to visit LOL
Oh, I’m so with you girl! Love the attriums. The prices there are still a little too high for me right now, but since house values have been dropping like crazy here, that’s a pretty good deal for the area. I’d love to live there..either that or a 1940’s cottage on the beach. What makes it even more tempting for me is that I’m only 20 min. from Orange! Did you make it to Old Town? There’s some vintage/antique shops. Also there’s a nice regional park just a few min. down chapman. Put an offer in Sheye, you know you want to!! ;)
Ohhhhh why do I get the sinking feeling that you will be buying your own MCM soon & leaving the Land of Oz ):
The house is so you honey, I can picture you baking up a storm….ok well, pouring martinis & wearing sexy kitten heels.
xxx
Gorgeous house!
As an aside, I logged onto Blurb today to start making my wedding album book and guess what the first book I stumbled across was…?
http://www.blurb.com/make/flip/
(Not sure if it will take you directly to the page. If not, look under ‘Blog Books’ in the ‘Get Inspired’ category.)
Yep, just tried the link now and you’ll need to click on ‘Blog Books’.
Orange County is full of MCM architecture. It’s ridiculous. You should check out The Parasol in Seal Beach if you have a chance.
I meant it was ridiculous how much of it there was, I didn’t want you to think MCM was ridiculous. It isn’t, it’s adorable.
OMG!!! Me too!!! Your sentiments are mine, exactly. I grew up in an Eichler in Mountain View, CA from the ages of 2-4. My first memories are in that house and it shaped a whole adulthood obsession with Eichlers and all things MCM. We have a 70s ranch that I am trying to turn into an MCM haven. It’s no Eichler, but maybe someday I will live in one. Enjoy!
as always, inspired…
Oh my! So good to know that so many of us share the MCM love. Gorgeous home. Sigh.
I could not agree with you more! I was raised by Walnut Creek..by the way! Shi~
I lived in an Eichler, growing up. They are very, very special. I love to see people share their delight in his designs.
BTW – came over from donna’s blog and I agree. Your world is a nice one…coming over now!
I live in one of the Orange Eichler homes, you probably drove right past my house. I can’t imagine living anywhere else. I didn’t know about the pink flamingos – must not be my neighborhood (there are 3 Eichler neighborhoods in Orange) OR I’v been missing out on all the fun. :0)
Oh Lauran, you’ll probably never see this but if you do, email me!
S x
I am in the process of scheduling interviews for a roofing contractor.
I know the basics (i.e. proof of insurance, license, written price, schedule) but are there any other questions
I should be asking that would effect the outcome of the roof? Is it ok to flat out as for referrals?
Do you think it is important to actually meet the foreman who will be on the job?
Any insight would help!! Thanks!