Bessemer Time Capsule

This place is amazing. I know that's not something you hear a lot when discussing Bessemer, but I just have to say . . . this place is amazing. The neighborhood is Skyview Estates, which is adjacent to Historic Lakewood, which has a strong active neighborhood group, wonderful home tours, and a love for historic homes of all kinds. So this custom pad is definitely worth a look. And for $189,900! It is still in the hands of the original owner, and is an entertainer's dream. 3,700 square feet, central atrium with fountain, huge rooms, swanky checkerboard decking around the concrete pool (with diving board!). Kitchen and master bath have had some '80s "updates", but I know you can work with those. The mister and I went to look at this place. How could we not. It was difficult to comprehend the enormity of it until I arrived at a new way to analyze house size: The Butt Factor. I started placing my current furniture in the place, and ran out of furniture in about two rooms. The Butt Factor allowed me to truly gauge the comparative size. In our current home, there are 17 places for one to put one's "Butt", excluding beds and footstools. In the Bessemer pad, there are . . . wait for it . . . 71! And I didn;t have to turn sideways to get past anything. There are several custom mid-century homes in this little neighborhood. And this one is one of the best. So if schools are not a big deal to you, and you have a bit of a pioneering mindset, this could definitely be the place for you. And I want an invite to the first pool party. http://tinyurl.com/810skylinecircle

Mod Pads on the market for Spring

Some of these are new to the market, and some have been languishing a while. But if you've just started looking, you'll want to check them all out.

Let's start in Mt. Brook for $599,000. This one is on Old Leeds Road. A lot of the wood has been painted white, but it is still a very solid MCM home. And the price isn't bad for the location (overlooking MB Club) and the two acres.

http://tinyurl.com/3908-old-leeds-rd





Who doesn't love a good A-frame. Granted, it's a touch more Boogie Nights than Mad Men, but still pretty doggone cool. And the paneling in the living room is a match for the stuff in my living room, so they must be doing something right. Only $405,000, and on the golf course, too.

http://tinyurl.com/322-Vesclub





This one is in that little pocket of Birmingham just off Montevallo Road and surrounded by Mountain Brook. It's a great spot and the homes in there are almost all mid-century with some interesting features. It's $299K, and claims to be only a 2BR. But I see three dining areas. So I'm not sure what's going on here. You'll have to check it out for yourself. And don't miss the vintage UNPAINTED panelling and floor-to-ceiling windows.

http://tinyurl.com/133-glenhill





This one is also in Birmingham, in the Mountaindale neighborhood. It's big, and retains a lot of its original features. I might not have made some of the same finish choices, but this is a pretty cool pad. $337,500 sounds a bit high to me, but it's worth a look.

http://tinyurl.com/4405-Mountaindale-Road






For the budget-minded, this little cutie in Holiday Gardens. 3/1 for 128K, and it looks to be pretty original and clean as a pin.

http://tinyurl.com/204-woodside





And just up the hill on Scenic View, another cutie. Only $105K

http://tinyurl.com/4905-scenic-view




Now come some homes that have been waiting for some time to be adopted. Don't just walk past the cages. Stop and take one home with you! Several have had price reductions.

Mt. Brook. 5BR, 3 BA. For $349,900. Seriously. They tried to tuscanize it a bit, but it fought back. You can do it right.

http://tinyurl.com/7bwxvp8





Homewood. I have featured this one twice. Maybe the third time (and a price reduction to $255K) is the charm. It's got some flippish finishes (countertop and flooring) and the lot is a little odd. Very secluded, but the driveway actually circles the house completely, which is a bit strange. But if you don't have dogs to factor in, it just adds to the swankness. If any of you go to see this place, report back and let me know what's up. Does it have some hidden tragic flaw?

http://tinyurl.com/1628-Dobbs





You know I love this one. It's in Redmont, and sits petite and proud overlooking the city lights. It's only 2/1 with a tiny kitchen. But it would make a great pad for a single person. It's $255K now, which is less than it was initially. Seems high for a 2/1, but compare it to similar condos and lofts and its a winner.

http://tinyurl.com/1507-smolian-place





A split foyer in Vestavia. The price is now a mere $219,900 for a 3/2. Did I mention in Vestavia? And it has some nice original details.

http://tinyurl.com/2225-Garland-Drive





Anyone looking for a mod ranch? Not a ranch-er. A ranch. Like, with a barn. And a lake. And 24 acres. I featured this one quite a while back. It looks like it is still on the market. And I think the $549,900 is a drop in price. The realtor is not one of us. I can tell because the only actual pictures of the house in the listing are from across the lake and from a satellite. But I might have a few older pictures saved of this one. If I find them, I'll add them. If you've got the scratch and the horses, it might be for you.

http://tinyurl.com/1000-Arabian-Road

Roll Time!

These are the adorable wares of my friend John, known as "Le Luni" at his etsy shop. I "met" John on another message board/forum that has nothing to do with design, but we were kindred spirits at once.



I meant to post these wonderful clocks around the holidays, but time got away from me. However, I know all you mod babies have those tax refunds burning holes in your pockets about now.



So go forth and keep time. Stylishly, of course.

http://tinyurl.com/LeLunietsy

Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum - sweet mod rides!

So we had company this weekend and were looking for something to do. We seldom have company of the gearhead variety, but this time was an exception. So we went out to the Barber Motorsports Track and Vintage Motorsports Museum near Leeds. This is the largest motorcycle collection in the world. Right here in Birmingham!



www.barbermotorsports.com

Yes, I know I should have gone there before now, but at least I finally went, right? And of course I had to take pictures. No, I don't have all the details on the swell bikes and scooters I saw there (and Lotus automobiles), but I know you'll appreciate them just the same. And for a mere $15, you can go check them out yourselves. So here's a little reminder of why we all love mid-century design so much . . .



































Ciao, baby!

The Foundry Thrift Store in Bessemer

The mister and I were near our old stomping grounds over the weekend so decided to stop in at our old Friday night haunt -- the Foundry Thrift Store. Now, we all know that MCM never really hit Birmingham like it did in other cities, But every now and then you find a gem. Not that these are gems in particular, but they are definitely options. You can have all four pieces for less than $100. So give thrifts a chance!