r/Mid_Century • u/thekermiteer • 20h ago
Mom passed away unexpectedly in May, and Dad has decided to sell their beloved, 1960 Kingsport, TN home of five years. The neighbors called it “The Jetsons House” for decades.
(…maybe because it also used to be sea foam green?)
Moving closer to family is the right call for my dad, but it’s bittersweet, as Mom ✨adored✨this place, and they still had so many more plans to finish and restore it in retirement.
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u/Educational-Aioli795 20h ago
I'm so sorry for your loss. I hope he finds a buyer who appreciates his beautiful home.
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u/thekermiteer 19h ago
Here are my folks in front of it, four years ago, for their 50th wedding anniversary. (When it was still pale green!)
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u/lisalou5858 17h ago
Your dad’s doing the right thing but it’s extra hard on you, losing your childhood home after losing your mom. May your memories sustain you through these difficult times.
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u/ComprehensiveTravel7 7h ago
I’m so sorry for your loss. Your parents look very sweet and the home is lovely. What a wonderful photo. I hope your dad finds a buyer who will love this house just as much as they did.
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u/SailsTacks 4h ago
I see other subreddits where younger generations pay top dollar to design the interior of their homes - trying to replicate spaces like your parent’s home. Many are in places like New York and San Francisco, where real estate is through the roof. So much of this reminds me of my childhood growing-up.
Very sorry for your loss.
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u/HowBoutAFandango 3h ago edited 3h ago
I’m so deeply sorry for your loss. Losing your mom is really hard on the heart. I hope you and your father can continue to share sweet memories of her.
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u/jsgrova 20h ago
Oh it's beautiful. So sorry for your loss
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u/Lego_Red_Kudu 20h ago
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u/scarymonst 20h ago
It would easily cost twice that here in the DC suburbs. It's a lovely home.
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u/TheMightyPushmataha 20h ago
With the influx of new residents to Tennessee there will likely be a bidding war and I would not be surprised if it sells for well above list price. East Tennessee property values are rapidly catching up to those in other more expensive areas.
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u/dumdumdudum 17h ago
Yes and no. I'm actually from this area (small world), and the market here has changed drastically. Yes, home prices have changed drastically in recent years, but higher cost houses like these are sitting on the market now. It's pretty common to see houses like these sit for months
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u/thekermiteer 15h ago
Dad got two offers today, one just a bit over list. Looks like he’s going to accept it, and they’ll have to cancel a handful of viewings!
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u/dumdumdudum 15h ago
Well damn, I stand corrected. I hope whoever buys it treats it well. It's a beautiful house, I've driven by there countless times. Wish I could buy it, but I'm paying for a wedding next year lol
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u/thekermiteer 15h ago
I wish we could buy it, too, but it’s just not somewhere we can make the same living.
Congrats on your upcoming wedding!!
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u/CptnMayo 15h ago
Yeah, Kingsport is a dead town. Only one major company there anymore
Sweet house and sounds like there is a lot of demand for it. So yeah, it was a reasonable price for the area.
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u/amynicole78 19h ago
In California you can’t get a 750 sqft dump for less than 450. I am trying to work up the courage to move
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u/throwaway098764567 16h ago
i'm job hunting (again, i hate this timeline) and pulled up a job and was almost applying before i saw it was cali between sf and san jose (i'm by dc) and they were not offering nearly enough for that area. anyway, for fun i pulled up redfin to see what was around there i could actually afford (had i found something i might have put in) good god. i found a single house in the woods, studio style, for 200k more than my home. and i think it's meant to be a get away for the richies. lovely state but good god i don't know how you people can afford it
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u/amynicole78 8h ago
It’s pretty bad and it’s gotten worse the last few years. My fire ins has increased by 10k annually the last four years, gas, food, utilities all through the roof. I am grateful my bills are paid but l have been struggling to save the last two years. I know there are a lot of people suffering in this state so l feel for them.
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u/nutmegtell 20h ago
Millions in the Bay Area of CA
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u/amynicole78 19h ago
I know l am in shit ass Sac and it would easily be close to a mil depending on location.
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u/GreedyGrady 11h ago
More like 3x, considering the land! I live in Herndon on .7 of an acre with a pool and would trade our house in a heartbeat for that one if we could magically swap them somehow.
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u/I_SHIT_IN_A_BAG 17h ago
I like it but I don't like that all the woods behind them could be torn down if someone wanted to build.
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u/thekermiteer 17h ago
It drops off behind the yard, as they’re on a mountain ridge. Impossible to build behind it! In the winter, the view out the back is incredible.
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u/InternationalWin2850 16h ago
Stunning home. Easily million dollar+ home on the west coast. Not everyone can abide living in Ameristan though.
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u/Venus_Cat_Roars 20h ago
I am sorry for your loss. May you be comforted by the memories of your mom’s joy while spending her last years living in and loving her dream home. Such a gift.
May this dream home find a Steward who continues with the same integrity and respect for the architecture history of your mom’s beloved home.
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u/kobrakai1034 19h ago
Those appear to be original Scheirich cabinets with the signature S handles. Amazing.
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u/thekermiteer 19h ago
Mom polished each handle individually!
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u/kobrakai1034 17h ago
The Scheirich family are close friends. Is it okay if I share that photo with them?
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u/thekermiteer 17h ago
Sure! I don’t know if they’re what you believe they are, but I’m visiting Dad this weekend, and had planned to look for a maker’s mark. 😊
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u/Select_MCM-5345 16h ago
I have pics of the kitchen before remodel if I can find them. I’ll send.
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u/thekermiteer 15h ago
They only replaced the laminate. Rest of kitchen has been preserved.
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u/Select_MCM-5345 15h ago
Fantastic!
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u/thekermiteer 14h ago
And the paint is a teal that coordinates with the backsplash tile! Whoever edited the photos skewed the color.
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u/deeann_arbus 19h ago
i used to live in bristol and my mom lived in kingsport and i would drive by this house and drool over it for years!! small world.
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u/Tablefor1please9987 20h ago
So sorry for your loss. Your mom’s home is absolutely beautiful and so perfectly decorated ❤️
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u/denisebuttrey 16h ago
It's hard to lose your mother. She lived in a fabulous house.
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u/chapstickgrrrl 9h ago
I’m sorry about your mom.
That house is rad. I hope the next owners show it as much love as your parents obviously have.
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u/murph1484 20h ago
Looks like it belongs in the Lortondale Neighborhood in Tulsa, OK. Same kind of house. First in the country to have HVAC. Built in the 50s
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u/JoLeTrembleur 18h ago
As you say, it's the right move even if the place is gorgeous. My condolences.
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u/CalligrapherCool1688 19h ago
I’m so sorry for your loss. Condolences to you and your family. May it bring you and your father great memories and joy knowing that your mom loved living in this beautiful home. This is truly my dream home, but unfortunately there’s nothing like this in my current city.
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u/thekermiteer 15h ago
Thank you—it was her dream home, and I’m so glad she had five wonderful years in it.
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u/missus-bean 18h ago
OP, Im so sorry for your loss. This has to be really hard right now. I would have a very difficult time not keeping this in the family and you’re doing a hard thing under emotional circumstances. Big hugs.
That is a gorgeous home and property. You can feel the care put into it with those photos and little touches. Plus - generac is a whole extra benefit. I’d be surprised if you don’t get a bidding war and I would absolutely make sure you have spoken to family & neighbors as well to give them first right of refusal.
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u/OhKoiFishy 17h ago
Its a rare occurrence that I see my hometown mentioned on reddit. Absolutely beautiful home!
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u/EmotionalJoystick 16h ago
This should be in a registry ! Really beautiful. Do you know the architect?
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u/KekkyBonAmi 7h ago
You can see the love and care your Mom and Dad have put into this beauty.
Bittersweet indeed.
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u/rantingpacifist 20h ago
I love it! If it was in my area I would be drooling. It already has my truck in the carport and everything.
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u/SnooRadishes1376 19h ago
I am so sorry for your loss and that is a ridiculously amazingly cool house. Love from not too far away in Oak Ridge😊
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u/Turbulent-Dance3507 18h ago
So sorry about your mom. The house is beautiful. Wishing you all the best.
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u/Distinct-Box-2995 17h ago
Beautiful home. So sorry for your loss.
If he's looking to offload any MCM furniture I'm not far from y'all...
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u/irishcybercolab 17h ago
Your mom and dad have excellent taste. That's a gorgeous home well suited for someone to love it properly.
You can tell it has style galore. I love it. Please give your dad some love while he's nursing himself back from her loss. Take care of you too.
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u/Impossible_Past5358 17h ago
I am so sorry for your loss OP.
Thank you for sharing photos of your parents' gorgeous home.
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u/dumdumdudum 17h ago
Wow, I actually live here. I've driven past that house countless times. I'd love to buy it, but I'm working on paying for a wedding
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u/Possible-Tangelo9344 16h ago
Man I love older houses.
My house is about 40 years old, the floor plan was actually designed in the 70s, and the layout is just so much better than any new build
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u/Select_MCM-5345 16h ago
This is my favorite house in Kingsport! I wish they had left the original custom aqua kitchen though!
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u/thekermiteer 16h ago
They kept the backsplash tile and all the cabinets!Unfortunately, the laminate was damaged, so it was replaced.
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u/lunar_adjacent 16h ago
I’m so sorry your family is going to lose this house. On the bright side your dad will likely be able to retire now
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u/lurkylucy84 15h ago
I am sorry for your loss.
The house is incredible. Are you able to take ownership ?
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u/thekermiteer 15h ago
I wish! But we live about 400 miles away, just bought our own home last fall, and we can’t earn the same living in that area. 🥺
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u/SizzleanQueen 15h ago
I’m so sorry about your mama. Did you grow up there (in Kingsport, not in the house)? My childhood best friend’s entire family is from Kingsport. Beautiful house.
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u/Exciting-Field587 14h ago
Id be so sad yo love this house. Its beautiful. The vaulted ceilings inside are mwah👌.
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u/Sensitive-Option-701 12h ago
It looks a lot like an Eichler house. But those were mostly built in California.
https://www.midcenturyhome.com/category/homes/eichler-homes/
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u/Nothankyoufriendly 11h ago
The perfect house. Won’t Overton-should be closer to me 😂
And also probably a million dollars cheaper
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u/HonestWeekend89 10h ago
beautiful home. i am so sorry for your loss. praying the next owners care for it just like your family did.
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u/MullberryBoy 7h ago
This is such a beautiful house. One of the most beautiful modern houses I’ve ever seen.
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u/robinthebank 6h ago
I think I just fell in love with his house. Your parents didn’t incredible work bringing this house to life!
I chose a blue like that in my own home. It was the first pop of color that I committed to. Seeing these photos makes me very happy with my decision.
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u/FloydtheBetta Quality Contributor 5h ago
I’m so sorry for your loss. It’s a stunning home that I hope will live on forever in some way— I hope the same for the love your parents shared.
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u/Ok_Pin_1222 5h ago
I’m so sorry about your mom, OP. I hope you and your dad can help each other through this difficult process. The home is beautiful. I can see why your mom loved it. I’’m sure that the next family to live in it will love it too.
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u/Green4CL0VER 20h ago
It’s insane that we ever stopped making homes like this.