more of other peoples' houses

Since everyone seems to enjoy my estate sale photos, here are some from the past couple of weeks (none today though, I might as well have stayed in bed).

Last week we stopped at a house in Schenley Farms, a historic neighborhood here in Pittsburgh, and found something rather amazing still in operation...

That's an original built-in vacuum cleaner.  So very cool!  Also some nice art tile (Grueby, Moravian?) with brass lantern sconces on the fireplace.  They also had a lovely copper and glass awning over the back door. 

Another house was full of original details (and also so full of people I couldn't take many photos).  There were so many closed and caution taped doors that I missed most of the house, the few I peeked into were original/untouched bathroom and closets.  But since I was in ninja picture mode, no pictures..

Another rather unassuming house had both it's original 40's bathrooms, including colored fixtures and patterned linoleum.  Sadly, I don't think the future bodes well for their continued survival.  

 

A nice hex tile floor at a storefront near us (it also has a great early light fixture that I don't have a picture of). 

And just a pretty rear view of a couple of houses in Shadyside.

And lastly, some nice details from a Mt. Lebanon Tudor Revival.

 

 Hopefully you all had fruitful weekends, if not, hope you had a nice spot to lounge

mired

Just a few updates...  The onset of another week of cool wet weather means I've resumed my contortions in the eaves.  I had hoped to finish today, but the discovery of my cat in there with me, and her subsequent retreat deep into the bowels of the house meant that finishing would risk trapping her in there, so, I didn't.  Fie.  Stripping the kitchen built-in continues to suck my soul dry, there is really no end in sight on that front.

6 of these paneled doors to go

Today found us heading out to a rather fantastic estate sale.  We missed these by 15 minutes... *sob*

antique electroliers, 300 for the lot of 6 with shades

And saw things like boxes of antique Steiff stuffed animals leaving as we went in.  We didn't do too badly though.  Some nice hardware, a tall turned floor lamp, some art and such, books (including P.T. Barnum's, Thirty Years of Hustling) and a lovely huge porch swing. But we left some troops behind folks...

antique china low tank toilet under the barn

That would be an antique china low tank toilet under the barn.  I saw it long after they had wanted to leave for the day, and while they were happy to let me crawl under there to rescue it, it had sunk deep into the mud.  There was simply no way for me to dredge it out with what little time I had.  So I have a humble request for all you locals.  Please save her.  It'll be there waiting Saturday for you, keeping company with the house's original huge multi-light windows.  Bring a trowel and don't wear heels... I promise the house is worth seeing too, you know, if original Victorian kitchens are your thing....

http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/gms/4471131492.html

I spy a tub like mine!