I think we can all agree that getting some fresh air is good for the soul… and mind, and body for that matter. I also know that many mid-century modern architects loved to design homes in a way that allowed nature and the outdoors to become part of your indoor living space. Many felt it was important to blend the two. Frank Lloyd Wright referred to it as open-plan living, to bring the outside in. Architect Richard Neutra was another who said, “Place man in relationship to nature; that’s where he developed and where he feels most at home!”
Their intent was to let nature indoors through glass panels and an open floor plan. I believe that is why so many modern homes are loved and appreciated today. In today’s world we’re all huddled up in offices spaces, indoors and in front of computers, so maybe without even realizing it we crave that kind of living. The architect who built and lived in our home definitely had that mindset.
Where am I going with all this? Last night, after taking a run on my treadmill (thanks to blogger Meghan who got me off my ass this week) I went to the fridge to get some water and chill out only to enter the room and found that my husband had opened the SECRET DOORS in the back of our house. Not many people know they are there and to be honest they haven’t been opened since we had the house re-wired in June (HOT AS HELL JUNE!) of 2009 when we had to open them to get some air flow.
Those were some tough times…..
They were quickly closed after we had to chase two squirrels out of the house. That was exciting!
I’ve kind of been living in “get stuff done” mode and I forget about all the wonderful little things about this house that make it so special to us. Needless to say I was pleased to see that he had opened them. The weather is almost pleasant here in Texas and that doesn’t happen often. You get maybe a few weeks out of the year that you can do that… otherwise it’s heat, humidity, mosquitoes, love bugs, etc. etc. It’s just too damn hot!
The glass panels and the open floor plan are exactly why this modern house works for us. The two large panels in the center of our living space are on runners that actually allow you to fully open the wall and let the outside in. There’s just something magical about it. It’s kind of like being naked outside or something. HA HA! It just feels good. Okay, that was an awkward moment but you know what I mean.
I sat in the doorway watching the birds, looking at the pretty flowers and trees so green and happy and watched my cat chase lizards and run from her own poop. It was great. Yes, she’s a sweet but crazy cat. She does her “business” than runs like hell to get away from it. It gets caught in her long hair and she thinks something is after her. It’s hilarious.
I treat the cat like a queen and she gives me that “I will only tolerate you for one more second” look. INGRATE!
It was wonderful.. but it didn’t last long. The love bugs were starting to invade the house and that’s just too much “action” going on for one night. They’ll have to make their love somewhere else. So we shut the doors and we both agreed that the next chance we could… we’d remember to do it again and enjoy all this house has to offer us. It was a great evening.
I’ve met a lot of really cool people this week through blogging who are having their own adventures and look forward to reading about all of them in the weeks and months to come. Hope you have a restful weekend and get to “let the outside in” or get outside and do something fun. I’ll be planting some flowers in the front yard and starting my re-finishing job on the built-in cabinets in the bedroom.
What projects are you tackling? Have a great weekend!
Your house has such a peaceful, serene look. nothing appears ” not quite right” and jangles the nerves. With all the work you have poured into the project, it may be some time before you feel this way about it.
A look that is pleasing to the eye and gives me a peaceful feeling is what I am trying to achieve in our condo.
Yesterday , some pretty new sheets arrived. I can hardly wait to take the to the condo and see how they look on the bed. I just hate sending stuff back.
It was sort of like Christmas on Thursday. I also received an order from Old Havana Foods, a company owned by the son of my friend Julio. Now, I just have to decide whether to make Arroz Con Pollo, Camarones
Enciladados, etc., etc. !!
I appreciate that, Polly. I often look at other “modern” homes and they all have such a slick, minimal, polished look to them and mine is just way too FUNKY to look that way. I think a house should reflect the people living in them and we’re pretty funky, I guess. I think we have WAY too much “stuff” but how in the world do you get rid of anything that you collected and love. So it’s a hot mess. I’m glad you see it the way you do, though. You’re awesome!
ooooo, pretty new sheets! Where did you get them? I’ll have to buy some for our new bed soon and I always have a hard time with bed linens.
Okay… what time should I be there for dinner! HA HA HA! That sounds delicious. Did you get to take a look at the Paul McCobb credenza? What did you think?
Your house seems perfect. It is not too full of stuff to make it look junky, or too sleek and spare to make it look cold and impersonal.
Originally, I was aiming for sleek, spare, and easy to clean. Then, we made some mistakes and I realized it was not going to be that way. As it turned out, I am okay with that. I hope our house will have a warm,” unique to us” , look. My present models are pictures we have in a coffee table book of unique Paris apartments.Dream on!!
I like crispy sheets and they are available at the Company Store .Nice quaity, not
too expensive.
About the credenza. You mentioned that Richie leaves decorating ideas to you, as long as there is a place for his things. My boyfriend , Shelby, has definite ideas on all this. Luckily he has pretty good taste and we often agree on things. He says grasscloth on the doors of the credenza is out of place in a mid-century modern piece of furniture. Soooo, we will probably scratch it off the list
I don’t blame Shelby for that one. I don’t think I would want to try to keep that clean. It’s an interesting look but probably not one I’d choose over something like these McCobbs.
A Paris Apartment sounds like a place I’d like to be. Ahhhhh. Lovely.
I’m going to get online and peruse their site. From the little I saw their sheets look so pretty. Thanks, Polly.
Beautiful. Having lived in texas two separate times, I understand completely what you mean about the good days. Make sure you enjoy each one. What intersting art work on the interior wall, are you an artist as well? Love your sense of style, and the way you write. Good work.
Cats are funny. Your is also very good looking,,which I am sure feeds her ego. Have a great weekend
Thanks so much! Where did you live in Texas?
Oh no, I’m not an artist… but I just love art of all kinds and we’ve collected some fun stuff. I WISH I WAS!
That cat is such a priss she kills me! Every picture I take she looks like she’s about to pack her bags and leave! And she’s so sweet.
Can’t wait for you to get your keys!
Dallas proper when I was single…..in the village…then several years later with hub and three little ones in Plano. My babies had very heavy accents….the word “milk” had two syllables.
How about you, where are you?
We’re in Beaumont.. about 90 miles from Houston.
My aunt and uncle lived in Richardson when I was growing up and I always loved visiting them. Dallas is great. Sometimes I catch myself sounding so ridiculous! It’s hard not to draw things out and get all TEXANIE. When we visit other cities people love that Texas drawl… it’s funny. I can almost hear your kids say it …. Me-ulk. How old are they now?
That is exactly how they said it…lol. It was so cute.
When we moved north the school wanted to put my youngest into speech therapy…I threw a little fit and that was the end of her suggestion. Seriously, they don’t have a clue up here about the south.
All three of my kids are in college as we speak..Next month they will be 20,21,an 22 years old, that’s called “Irish triplets” up here. ( thanks for asking) So our renovation comes at a good time, seeing at we are empty nesters part of the year.
Have a great day…..we sign tomorrow at the title company. Yippee.
Absolutely beautiful, Stacey. Your before and after photos are inspiring and remind me why we are doing this. One question…are your floors concrete?
Brandy
Thanks Brandy… that means so much coming from you! Those “befores” get lost in the shuffle and I love to bring them out and …. as you say… “remember why”.
Yes, they are concrete. The whole house is. It’s not necessarily the color I wanted but you work with what you’re given. The architect that designed and lived in this home was a forward thinker (in my opinion) for 1958.
He planned the concrete floors and actually had stain (a deep “chocolate” color) mixed into the final pour of the slab. So even in the places that have cracked or chipped it is the same color about 1/4 inch down. So crazy!
They later added carpet throughout, which we pulled up, of course. We’ve always wanted concrete and I have to say that I’m enjoying it. When we are finished with the front portion of the house we are going to go back and seal, wax, and polish everything. They’re pretty screwed up from us working and dragging rocks stuck in our shoes, etc. over them.
Sorry, that was a long answer to a simple question. I’m a chatter box. Thank you again for the sweet comment and interest. :-)
Ooh! I love your secret doors! I would love to have a home built just like that – concrete-poured with glass walls that open to a courtyard. I see that you have a Nelson bench too! Nice touch. Who needs to see an exhibit when you’ve got the real deal!
Oh goodness… thank you for looking. I guess seeing the exhibit reminds you how much you appreciate the design, the era, and the fact that you love it every day in your own place. You’re in a very cool area of the country so you get to see some great stuff. Lucky you. Your blog is so fun… you’ve got great style!
the place is looking great so far! Keep up the good work :)
Encouragement always helps, I’ll take it with a smile … thank you for looking, Tippy.
You have a fantastic space here! I love the open floor plan and the way that it can turn into an indoor/outdoor space. So jealous!