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Mid-Century Time capsule

14 years ago

A Mitchell Giurgula house built in 1971 and probably unchanged since. I'd want to call the interiors "Philadelphia Regency": antiques and traditional furniture in a contemporary setting. (typical of my parents' generation)

The kitchen isn't bad--and in one photo appears to have two DW.

Here is a link that might be useful: Mitchell Giurgula House

Comments (21)

  • 14 years ago

    Love it! My house was built in 1970 and also has those same floor to ceiling windows in the family room. Since buying this house I've come to really appreciate the mid-century style.

  • 14 years ago

    Lots of drawers in that kitchen. Metal cabinets, do you think? At least from the photos the kitchen looks as though it has aged very well, presuming it's the original.

  • 14 years ago

    I love the exchange between the indoors and outdoors.

    Do you think the walls were all white, originally?

  • 14 years ago

    If the kitchen isn't original, it's early mid 80s at the latest. I am not sure but I think it's laminate.

    I think the house has always been a series of white boxes inside. The decor seems to indicate that.

    Did you notice how the main stairs cantilever half inside half out over the exterior wall of the house?

  • 14 years ago

    I had missed that those fabulous stairs carried over to the exterior as well. It must be amazing to stand at the top of the stairs and look out. Imagine how it looks during rain or winter weather.

    The sense of light and space is wonderful.

  • 14 years ago

    Interesting to think about. I had never considered that what I often see where I live is the opposite juxtaposition.

    The example in this post has a contemporary style dwelling with traditional antique style furnishings.

    As my neighborhood has homes built in the early 20th century, one often runs across the exact opposite. A traditional styled dwelling with contemporary style furnishings.

    I like the example in this post much better, but am not sure why?

  • 14 years ago

    As far as the aesthetic of having antiques and traditional furniture in this house: it probably doesn't hurt that it is located about 4 city blocks from Independence Hall! That area oozes tradition from its pores.

  • 14 years ago

    This house sits very near the Physick house and a number of other federal period houses. On the corner opposite is another mid-century gem that also fits right in the historical context.

  • 14 years ago

    Now that Wikipedia is back, I had to look up the Physick house. It is described as the "last free-standing Federal townhouse" in Society Hill. What the heck is a freestanding townhouse? To my ear, that is an oxymoron, as I take "townhouse" to be a uppity term for "rowhouse."

    Are they using "townhouse" only to refer to the usage, not the structural design, as in the London sense (i.e., as opposed to their country house)?

  • 14 years ago

    Its the only house in Society Hill that doesn't share at least one wall with another house. Townhouse I think, in this usage meaning that it is built right against the lot line on at least one side, and had someone else bought the adjoining lot, the house would have become a row house. This house touches the sidewalk on two sides and probably touches the lot line on the third.

    Fairmount Park has free standing Federal Period houses but those were country estates at the time. And this was Physick's House in town, proper.

    There are late 19th c. mansions in the Art Museum area and other areas outside Center City proper and much later than the federal period that are free standing, and built as such, but this is very rare in the 19th century portions of the city.

  • 14 years ago

    I love it.

  • 14 years ago

    Thanks for the explanation, Pal!

  • 14 years ago

    One of the recent _The Magazine Antiques_ has a Kentucky house of modern multi-level design with a heavy dose of late 18th/early 19th century furnishings. Very interesting to see this architectural choice paired with the antique pieces.

  • 14 years ago

    Lovely, and especially the staircase balanced on the wall of windows

    It's brick, it blends nicely into the neighborhood.

  • 14 years ago

    OMG! I want this house!!!!!

  • 14 years ago

    How come my post/comment on this property disappeared? I really liked this property and would like something like it only one story in Florida.

  • 14 years ago

    It's so beautiful and unpretentious. By keeping the features that likely existed when it was born, it makes the house approachable, comfortable and not changing on the whim of a trend. Solid. That Monet print in the bath. Ptobably was scarcer a while back and it's still adding its loveliness, even tho that Monet print is in use somewhere and everywhere fourfold. No apologies and revisions of the floor tile with grout showing. It belongs. Just not the trend of NOW

    Th house knows who it is. Integrity

    Re the white paint. I am not in the same decorating class as those who have worked on this gem, by light years, but I kept my 60's whiter than white paint in every room. Has a name now. Super white

    The house has lovely antique and vintage pieces but there are moderns, as well. The furnishings have been arranged to fit a modern sensibility. Not matchy, pairs arent equal. Colors are happy Ideas are modern. Diverse plates on wall are anything but formal and antique arrangements. Special Unique Light

  • 14 years ago

    jterrilynn, you posted your first comment on the decorating thread: it's still there. I posted it in both forums because a many people don't cross over much and I thought both would appreciate it.

    My thought is that the homeowners are probably in their 70s or 80s and the house was decorated primarily when they moved in and just added to a little bit over the years.

  • 14 years ago

    Typically all I would need to know is 1971 to know it was not my thing. But this surprised me.

    The livng room in particular is so well done. Posters on here are always talking timeless and classic ... i think this room truly is.

  • 14 years ago

    This house is a gem! I would love to find something close and smaller in a one story that is as untouched. I love where I live and never wanted to move but since husband is pressuring to downsize I could only get excited about leaving my somewhat country house for something like this. I really want to live in a non-mixy architecture Florida home for a change. We had one once years ago but it was really too far gone in style mixes for us to afford a proper remodel. The more I look at this house the more I really must have something close. Love Love Love!

  • 14 years ago

    I'd keep the kitchen intact with one exception. I'd change the hardware to something non-white and keep with the modern aesthetic. Otherwise, I like it and the house as it is.