I believe our mid-century modern home is not only fun but also a little bit fun-ky. Which is one of the reasons we fought so hard to get this place. The Goode’s (previous owners and architect) were definitely a creative and very talented pair and they did some things to this house that made it really special. Some of the wonderful things about this house, for me, are the awesome door bell, the cool mail box, and the autograph doors as you enter the house.
Our mailbox is pretty fun, as it’s built into the fence that surrounds our house and creates the front atrium entrance. Open the door, pop the envelopes in and on the other side is a really nifty “house” for all our mail. The box is so big that sometimes I forget to check the mail for 3 or 4 days and it gets REALLY full… but holds it all until I’m ready. Just one of the little things that make this house fun. Oh look… Sherwin WIlliams is letting me know they’re having a sale! Oh how they love us. HA!
I also love our unique doorbell made of a string that runs from the atrium along the tongue and groove ceilings and into the dining room on the other side. Pull the string and the cowbells jingle like crazy (click link for doorbell video). Fun and Fun-ky! I don’t know anyone else who has one. Do you? (laughing)
But another fun favorite are the autograph doors seen here that conceal a coat closet in the entry hall.
Our home has always been like one of those department store revolving doors… people always in and out. I told my husband we should have quit our jobs a long time ago and started a coffee shop for people to “hang out”. We love that our place is like that and we always wanted to have a photo booth for people who visited to take pictures of themselves so we could decorate a wall near the door for everyone to see “who stopped by”. It would be great fun… but it never happened.
Never say never because when we first met the Goodes in 2002 the first thing we were asked to do as they greeted us at the door was to sign the autograph doors.
WHAT? OH HOW COOL! We wanted to do that with PICTURES!
As we stepped into the house we saw the two sliding doors that were part of a coat closet that had hundreds of signatures on them… all the people who visited. BRILLIANT! We signed the doors and dated our visit never forgetting how cool it was. Naturally it was one of those things we wanted to continue after buying the house but we did not want to throw away the doors and the memories of all the people who had visited and enjoyed the home.
I tried to find a picture before we turned them around and only found this before and after… but you can clearly see on the “before” all the signatures on the outside of the doors.
The only thing to do was to take the doors down, turn them around, seal the strand board and start our own. So that’s what we did! I’ve been very bad about inviting people over to the house because it’s always in such a mess with renovation work, etc… so the signatures are few at the moment. I’m looking forward to finishing more of the house and feeling comfortable about having visitors. Now I’ll just have to remember to have them sign (I always forget and then get mad at myself)
I decided to get in the closet and get a closer view. Yes, you can imagine Richie screaming “where are you”?…. “I’m in the closet”! He opens the doors and finds me squatting on the floor in the closet with my camera. (LOL) Yes, that did happen. He could hear me but couldn’t find me. It’s a circus around here.
As you read the autographs on the door you see the names of city Mayors, symphony conductors, doctors, layers, artists, architects, designers, traveling musicians, university presidents, friends and neighbors… and as seen above, Chopin and Beethoven paid a visit too! (cute)
Anyway, it’s just one of those little things that make this place fun and special. It’s definitely a fun way to remember all the people who you laughed and enjoyed your home with.
I’m looking forward to filling it up over the next few years! We need to have some serious parties… SOON!
Is there something fun or fun-ky you love about your house? Do share.
Definitely fun :) And I can’t get over that hallway, it’s amazing!
Kristina
Nook & Sea
HA HA! This hall is a workout! Several trips up and down throughout the day and you’re clocking some mileage. (less time on the treadmill later) HA! It’s crazy long! Thanks Kristina, have a good one.
Like I’ve said before…Coolest house ever! :)
What’s great is having cool people like you to share it with! THANK YOU. I wish I could have all my favorite bloggers sign those doors. Thanks for looking, friend.
Haha! no Idea where you are,but if I’m ever near there,I’d be glad to.LOL! Hope your having a great week. I have a day off so mine is pretty good right now.
In Beaumont, Texas… about 90 miles from Houston. If you’re ever in Texas and don’t mind huffing fumes… come by! I shouldn’t joke.. but it made the national news yesterday that we now have the largest refinery in the world here. BLAAH!!! Let me just say it’s no Nashville! I shouldn’t complain.. there are some good things. (Little Secret – I found a vintage Knoll Barcelona chair yesterday for $5.00) Enjoy your day off (LUCKY!).
You WHAT?! Barcelona chair for $5?! Get out of the city!!
I had forgotten about your signature closets when I wrote about the Scarab club beams last week! It really is a fantastic idea. I suppose I’d have to wait until my kids are older so they won’t take it as an invitation to write on ALL the walls. Trying to think of the most famous person that would sign my house…my friend owns an ice cream shop!
Great post, Stacy. I love the care you take with your photos, the composition, text. Very inspiring. I need a photo shop class…
:) Cathy
You are too much fun!!!! That first sentence made me just burst out laughing. I know, it’s a secret… I forget that people read the comments. A crazy find and I don’t know what I’m going to do, Cathy. I’ve contacted Knoll for replacement cushions and straps.. but my guess is it would be around $3,000 to fix this sucker. (OMG!!!) I’ve got to get really creative and then save for that. Hope to post when I come up with a solution, but it was pretty crazy at our house last night… we were both hopped up on mid-century crack! (laughing)
Yes, you wouldn’t want the kids writing on the walls… unless you paint them chalkboard. (which could be fun!) :-) The Goodes knew everyone! It was so fun reading all the names before we turned them around. That’s a lot of years of entertaining. I hope as we grow older… we continue to have that much fun.
Thanks for looking. Let me know if you need help with photoshop… I’m happy to.
That doorbell is so funny, I used to live in a really old house that I put almost the same chime outside my door and that was my doorbell!
OH I LOVE THAT! It’s fun. Visitors love ringing that cowbell… you see their faces light up like kids! Thanks, Pam.
that’s one of the raddest things i’ve ever seen! what a great way to remember your guests and have them be part of your home…who doesn’t love happy memories?! wish i could sign it! i gotta say that doorbell is pretty cool, too and that scrap metal artwork next to the mailbox is AWESOME. plus i think i love that white desk poking out in the last photograph. i’m working on a post about one of my favorite desks, but yours has mine beat!
Wait, you’re going to sign it… remember… when you guys come through Texas with your juicer and margaritas!! That metal piece is done by an artist friend of ours who is also an amazing photographer. He wonders the streets like us for rusty gold and I love that we have that piece! Thank you for noticing.
The desk is actually not a desk but a credenza with sliders in the front. It’s a piece from Modernica (furniture co. in L.A.) based on the Eames storage units.
They have actually pinned my credenza into their folders on pinterest. It was a complete and happy surprise! But now you have me anxious to see your desk! Such a tease. Looking forward to it, as always. Love that you’re here!
Stacey
rrrright! juice-o-mat and ritas!!! phew.
now i wished i hadn’t said anything about the desk post. it really is nothing and pales in comparison with the credenza. modernica is amazing. if i only had a million….heck. a fraction of that. is that where you got your HM rocker? love everything you have. you guys have such a knack for this…
Oh please…I have a feeling your desk will knock my socks off… like EVERY other thing in your home. If you haven’t figured out how much I love your restored pieces and your wonderful eyes for beautiful things.. then I need to leave more comments!! I’m crazy about it all!
Sometimes we break down and “buy” things (meaning retail) but ONLY because we’ve spent years looking for something and have not found it. We give up and buy it. It’s not something I’m proud of to be honest. I’d much rather find it in a ditch, buy it at an estate sale for $2.00, or trade something with someone. Modernica does make some beautiful furniture and they are the only manuf. licensed to make the original designs for the Eames shells and the Nelson Bubble lamps. They reproduce the storage units and you can custom make your own (which was cool). So, the “million”… you don’t need it – you have way better stuff than most millionaires I know.
We bought the credenza and one cigar bubble lamp from them.
The shell chairs were all found and most restored by us. I don’t think I paid more than $5.00 for any of them and some were FREE. I’m much more excited about that, than anything I could ever “buy”.
Now, post that fabulous desk so I can be jealous! ( and excited )
-Stacey
okay, stacey, it’s up! but, i’d still take your credenza any day (not that it would function the same as a desk). and i hear you about “the find”. i much rather come across something on the side of the road or at a second hand store. it’s better on your pocketbook and thrilling to come across amazing things. but, sometimes you just gotta go for the purchase, especially when you know it’s just right for the space. well bought. and i love that you found and restored all those chairs. you probably have enough blogs to write for a lifetime with your house as it is. we win!!! ;) have a great day, my friend!
I think I see my signature. Since I come over so much I’m gonna start signing the toilet paper.
Greg
Okay, I’m doubled over in laughter! Greg, please tell me you signed those doors? PLEASE SAY YES… because if you haven’t I’m a loser friend who deserves a place in time out! I always forget because you come through the side entrance. Come over, use the bathroom, pour some coffee, and then sign the doors. If you already have… please sign again and draw something for me! We’ve missed you… now that you’re all famous with your biggest refinery in the world status. Come by!
(still laughing)
P.S. I need to feature YOUR modern home on my blog… maybe have a feature titled “someone else’s modern home”. I’m up for it!
– Stacey
Yes, Stacey, y’all had me sign it a long time ago. When I get my place organized and I cull my junk, I would like to be on your blog. Right now, here’s the status: Your house = Dwell Magazine; My house = Mad Magazine.
Greg
Oh thank goodness… I hate time out! Everyone loves mad magazine!!! We’ll do it… holler when you’re settled in. It would be so fun.
So much fun!!
I think so. Thanks for looking.. I know you’re so busy right now! I hope things are going well with the move and the craziness. Looking forward to you getting back to some sort of “normal”. I miss seeing all the madness at your new place ….. it’s always so EXCITING!
Such a cool idea! And I love how you guys are making it your own. I still like the photo booth idea too.
PS. I nominated you for a Liebster Award because it was too fun to not share with you! :)
Maybe I’ll do a mix of names and pictures. I need to think of another reason that iPhone is necessary and that might really seal it for me! HA HA!
Thanks for thinking of me, Danielle. I’m happy you got the award because you’re blog is so great. (and now EXTRA EXTRA pretty) I’ve been nominated a few times so I might do what you did and break the rules a little if you don’t mind… I’ll post something soon.
Thanks again for sharing it with me. I feel so lucky that you even put up with my nonsense!
You’re a rule breaker… I knew it! And thanks for putting up with my shenanigans; that’s what makes for fun friends.
I just love your house, and that hallway….wow! The autograph doors are really fun! I can’t wait til we can do something like that. It will probably have something to do with skateboarders visiting our house to skate the pool. :)
YES!! That makes more sense than what we’re doing. You guys should definitely do that for the skateboarders… Oh how I imagine the fun they’d have. I’m seeing not only names but colorful, cool, craziness! Most of the skateboard/surfer guys I know also have amazing creative tendencies. Like Kelly, I guess. They could really make it a work of art! Which is what I think the whole idea should be. LOVE IT!
Those doors are amazing. You’re lucky to have such a connection with your home’s history and past life! (Not too many people have proof of Chopin and Beethoven visiting!! Ha ha.)
I know how you feel though, about inviting people over. Since we’ve been here, I’ve avoided all but our closest friends seeing the place. Which is kind of sad—who cares if the house is a mess (well, I do. But, what a waste of time and energy).
Your doorbell and mailbox are awesome too. You really have a unique home.
Thanks Victoria. How do you get over that feeling, though? I struggle with that. Richie says.. “who cares if it’s a mess… lets see what their house would look like if they were doing the same thing”! I know you’re both right but it’s like I want them to see it when it’s ALL finished, not just two or three rooms. I have to do better about that… or I’ll never get those doors filled with friends names. I like being social and I miss it.
Chopin and Beethoven were a hoot! They played some of their music but drank all the booze. Couple of lushes! I’m not sure they’ll be back. :-)
I don’t know how you get over the feeling. I haven’t. It really doesn’t make sense that I’ve avoided showing people the house. After all, it’s pretty much the biggest, ongoing plot-sequence of our lives…
Maybe secretly (my husband would say—not secretly, ) I’m a hermit.
Love the autograph doors!!! such a great idea and a really cool way to preserve fun memories :)
Hey Nikki! Thanks for the visit. I think it’s fun and unexpected… which I’m always up for! I know as the years go by it will be great to look back at some of the names and remember that day you spent with friends. I’m excited to fill it up! Now I’m heading to your place to see the progress. I bet the wallpaper looks fabulous.
I LOVE the doors! What a great idea to keep that tradition going. And the doorbell is so clever. I want to make something like that for our house, though I am probably not handy enough to do so.
YES YOU ARE HANDY! Maybe you should walk outside your door and look at that gorgeous yard! Good grief, it’s amazing. I feel certain you could pull off anything you want. Even brick laying. HA! Thanks, Dana – you’re so sweet.
When i start my photo-by-mail-letter-subscription-service (soon) I hope that they’ll get delivered to your mailbox…it looks like a nice place to hang out for a few days.
And…you’ve now inspired me to do a signature wall at my house in the desert…I just bought it last year and it has a bunch of wood paneling that I’m not sure what to do with, now I need to use a few panels of it to record the visitors…genius!
On a side note (that you might appreciate)…it reminds me of my great great grandparents – one part of their family homesteaded on a ranch in No. Cal from Italy close to 100 years ago….they had an outdoor bar (kind of a small wooden barn) for travelers through the area (super remote, dirt road from Hopland to Gualala on the coast). The walls in there were signed by everyone that came through. The place was bought a few years ago and I’m not sure if it’s still there but I have some photos somewhere. It’s amazing! And such a great way to record the history of a place. So cool. Thanks for sharing and inspiring!
Hi Judy! My mailbox and I would LOVE that. I think I’d check it more often. :-)
Wonderful story about your GG grandparents… I ate that UP! Loved reading about that and imagining the house and all the signatures. I think it’s a great idea for you to do with your paneling. Not only is it history and friends and fun… but it’s sort of becomes a wall of art and of course I LOVE THAT! Go for it… and be sure to share some pictures!
Thanks for stopping by, it’s so nice to hear from you!
Now, I want a cowbell doorbell. How cool is that?
Wow, thank you.. it’s hilarious. I always forget it’s there until the bells go crazy. It makes me jump and then gets me all happy. VISITORS! Thanks for looking.
I just love how open and airy your space is. Also; your doorbell is amazing. Such great additions that make it all the more unique!
Thanks so much! We love all the little unexpected things in this house. It is a pretty open space… I’m trying not to clutter it with stuff but it’s hard sometimes. I love STUFF! HA HA!
Glad you visited!
That is a kick ass mailbox!! I wish our mail delivery came to our door. We’re in subdivision ‘walk to your PO Box” misery. I want a cute mailbox like that damnit!
HA HA! You’re great. Well damnit, I want you to have one. I don’t know I kinda think with your awesome skills you could easily built you one… but then you’d have to convince the mailman to use it (front door service!) Thanks for that. Made me laugh.