Evanston Light and Dark

A week or so ago we visited this house in Evanston with a neighbor. It was a twisty-turny place with lots of nooks and crannies and strange little surprises around every corner.

Do you have room in your home for a baby grand piano? These people didn't.

I think that one in the lower-right might be a little off, but otherwise this looks perfectly fine.

Quite possibly the ugliest candlesticks ever made.

When one TV in the bedroom just isn't enough.

Will's jacket. Never worn.

 Wallpaper #1.

 Wallpaper #2.

I took this just because I liked the juxtaposition of the vacuum cleaner bag's pattern with Wallpaper #2.

 In the creepy bedroom at the very top of the stairs I found these paintings.

I was not surprised to find this nearby.

Or this.

Evanstonaganza!

We're back in Evanston, which is arguably our favorite suburb next to Skokie. Coincidentally, it also happens to literally be next to Skokie, and if that's not evidence of God's Great Plan at work in the world, I don't know what is. Why is Evanston our second-favorite, second most-visited suburb? Because of classic split-levels like this.

This indoor planter was waiting just inside the front door. Nothing says "welcome to our home" like a built-in container of dirt and/or some hastily arranged artificial plants, don't you agree?

One question: If you've been blessed with a classic mid-century split-level, why would you decorate it with curlicued gewgaws and knick-knacks from a previous century? That's like buying an iPad and then converting it to run on steam power.

The kitchen featured another classic wall oven.

This one is a Wedgewood Futura-Matic. Though the brand is easily Googled, the Internet is strangely silent regarding this particular model. (Go ahead and look it up yourself.) From the looks of that control panel it did everything but cut your meat.

Oh, yes. There's nothing I love more than a paneled den with a fireplace and a bentwood rocker.

And an incredibly loud sofa.

And a smart little Playboy After Dark bar. Tequila sunrise, anyone?

Upstairs I found some of shaggiest shag carpeting I've ever laid eyes or feet on.

It was almost capable of holding its own against the wallpaper and curtains.

Look what I found -- an "Our-Little-Girl-is-Becoming-a-Woman" starter kit!

Speaking of little girls: I think this is a portrait of Dolly Parton as a child.

That's all for now! Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend!

Evanston Gratitude

Is it just us, or is something weird going on? One of us at ESS World HQ is totally overworked (and overwrought as well, truth be told) and the other is fresh out of a job. We just got our central computer back up and running. And now, to top it all off, our cleaning lady just quit because she "needs to limit her exposure to cleaning products." What is going on in this world?

We have a lot to be grateful for, though. We're still here, for example, and still in possession of all our stuff. By the way, that's a nice kitchen torch hiding there in the middle of all that clutter -- you pay something like $40 for those brand new at Sur la Table.

We love Thanksgiving as much as anyone. Which is to say we've always considered it to be Christmas's ugly sister. But four porcelain turkeys -- in two sizes, no less -- is a bit much even for the land of plenty. (And doesn't that cat look about ready to pounce on one?) Add the turkey napkins and you're all set for a festive festival feast!

We are grateful this image does not grace our home. Or haunt our dreams.

Who needs a pen?

No, really. Who needs a pen? We'd be grateful to get rid of a few!

Why in the hell did I take this picture? What's so funny about that concrete? I'd be grateful to know!

Evanston Modern

I liked this house and I think I would have liked these people. From the street it looked like an ordinary ranch, but inside it had some flair. There were some nice items I missed out on, too.

Right past the front door was this little room, with a powder room on the right.

The powder room had this cool faux-stone floor.

There was some nice brickwork in the house, including this fireplace in the front room. I don't know what this space was for -- there was one much larger and grander just on the other side of the wall. Maybe it was a little room you let people into when you didn't want them to see the rest of your house. The kind of place you reserved for sales people, political volunteers and Jehovah's Witnesses.

The great room had a cathedral ceiling over a dining room and a large living room, and was pretty cool in a Mad Men sort of way, which is the way I take it.

The owners had nice taste in furniture, and they took good care of it.

The overhead lights added a theatrical flair to the feeding frenzy that was going on in front of three large cabinets full of classical CDs.

The owners also collected art.

A lot of it in the purple and aqua range.

Which would have looked good in my old apartment.

They also had a lot of really great mid-century pottery and ceramic lamps.

All of them had been sold to a mysterious "K."

He really didn't leave anything behind for anyone else.

He grabbed those lamps like a fat kid eats cake.

Eventually I found out "K" was Karl.

I bet Karl has a cute store somewhere, and comes to these sales on Fridays and makes a fortune selling this stuff for four times what he paid for it.

I hate Karl. Karl got my life.

Swinging Evanston Colonial

On the main floor, this place was all business and traditional furniture and proper North Shore living.

It even had that uptight lord-and-lady wallpaper all over the dining room. But something tells me these people knew how to entertain.

Why don't you and the Mrs. stop by on Saturday night? We're having a few other couples over for our regular get-together. I think they'd really love to meet you.

We'll start with a little dinner. Probably something from that new Scandinavian cookbook my wife is so crazy about. Bring an appetite! (And breath mints.)

Afterward, I'll break out the homemade wine, and we can, um, get things started.

Once everybody is loosened up, we'll all go downstairs.

We've set up a little space for, you know, fun and games.

Whoa! Don't open that door just yet.

You all get comfortable while I turn on the hi-fi and freshen those drinks.

You know, I modeled this kitchenette after the one in the basement of the Playboy mansion.

Eek. A mouse!

Later on we can play a little something I like to call...

..."Letting the lobster out of its cage."

Share and share alike, that's our motto. Isn't that right, honey?

Honey?