Comments on: My neighbor's groovy "conversation pit" perfectly preserved from 1974 http://boingboing.net/2010/11/18/my-neighbors-groovy.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Thu, 20 Jun 2013 00:12:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: jahknow http://boingboing.net/2010/11/18/my-neighbors-groovy.html#comment-942599 jahknow Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-942599 This just made me feel so much better about my late parents' house which I've recently moved into (built 1964, my parents were original owners). More specifically, the sunken family room (& den) on the first floor, which with its brick fireplace and wood-paneled wall, is suddenly looking better. Thankfully it's just hardwood flooring with a rug... not that my sinuses (or my design sensibility) could handle shag carpeting. This just made me feel so much better about my late parents’ house which I’ve recently moved into (built 1964, my parents were original owners). More specifically, the sunken family room (& den) on the first floor, which with its brick fireplace and wood-paneled wall, is suddenly looking better. Thankfully it’s just hardwood flooring with a rug… not that my sinuses (or my design sensibility) could handle shag carpeting.

]]> By: GeekMan http://boingboing.net/2010/11/18/my-neighbors-groovy.html#comment-942346 GeekMan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-942346 Looks cozy... very cozy... Looks cozy… very cozy…

]]> By: edgore http://boingboing.net/2010/11/18/my-neighbors-groovy.html#comment-942349 edgore Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-942349 Ah, the conversation pit. The house we bought in 1976 actually had one built-in; *as part of the standard floorplan*!. It was amazing. I note that your neighbor's seems to lack a wet bar, which, to my childhood imagination, seemed a critical component of ours. Ah, the conversation pit. The house we bought in 1976 actually had one built-in; *as part of the standard floorplan*!. It was amazing. I note that your neighbor’s seems to lack a wet bar, which, to my childhood imagination, seemed a critical component of ours.

]]> By: blueelm http://boingboing.net/2010/11/18/my-neighbors-groovy.html#comment-942353 blueelm Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-942353 That very clean, very white, carpet is original!? I'm impressed with that alone. The truly fabulous wall decor is just a bonus. That very clean, very white, carpet is original!? I’m impressed with that alone.

The truly fabulous wall decor is just a bonus.

]]> By: GreenJello http://boingboing.net/2010/11/18/my-neighbors-groovy.html#comment-942357 GreenJello Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-942357 Did people really converse in these things, or is that code for something? Did people really converse in these things, or is that code for something?

]]> By: Gondosan http://boingboing.net/2010/11/18/my-neighbors-groovy.html#comment-942360 Gondosan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-942360 A kid in my neighbourhood had a basement lair that looked a lot like this, except very, very silver. His mother, I suspect, fancied herself a cutting-edge interior designer. At the top of the stairs there was a sign that read, in huge silver appliqué wall lettering, "Teen Scene," with a gorgeous black-and-silver zig-zaggy arrow pointing down the steps. If you were a teen wanting to make the scene, you followed that arrow. Oh yes you did. A kid in my neighbourhood had a basement lair that looked a lot like this, except very, very silver. His mother, I suspect, fancied herself a cutting-edge interior designer. At the top of the stairs there was a sign that read, in huge silver appliqué wall lettering, “Teen Scene,” with a gorgeous black-and-silver zig-zaggy arrow pointing down the steps.

If you were a teen wanting to make the scene, you followed that arrow. Oh yes you did.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/11/18/my-neighbors-groovy.html#comment-942361 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-942361 Looks like a lot of swinger's parties were had in there... Looks like a lot of swinger’s parties were had in there…

]]> By: imag http://boingboing.net/2010/11/18/my-neighbors-groovy.html#comment-942363 imag Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-942363 Don't you talk a lot after doing a lot of blow? Don’t you talk a lot after doing a lot of blow?

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/11/18/my-neighbors-groovy.html#comment-942371 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-942371 That is awesome. It reminds me of the film The Ice Storm. Flashback to the '70s when people cared about personal actualization, not monetization. Simpler times. That is awesome. It reminds me of the film The Ice Storm. Flashback to the ’70s when people cared about personal actualization, not monetization. Simpler times.

]]> By: scionofgrace http://boingboing.net/2010/11/18/my-neighbors-groovy.html#comment-942628 scionofgrace Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-942628 I once saw a home improvement book from the fifties, detailing how to turn "outdated" paneled doors into "modern" smooth-faced doors. My parents and I laughed and laughed: they'd just spent thousands replacing all the smooth-faced doors in their house (built in 1958) with paneled ones. Dated or not, that "conversation pit" looks like a great place to hang out. I once saw a home improvement book from the fifties, detailing how to turn “outdated” paneled doors into “modern” smooth-faced doors. My parents and I laughed and laughed: they’d just spent thousands replacing all the smooth-faced doors in their house (built in 1958) with paneled ones.

Dated or not, that “conversation pit” looks like a great place to hang out.

]]> By: chgoliz http://boingboing.net/2010/11/18/my-neighbors-groovy.html#comment-942374 chgoliz Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-942374 I would prefer that set-up over conventional overstuffed sofas and sectionals any day. Even the flower power wallpaper is OK by me. White shag carpeting, on the other hand, belongs only in a museum...behind glass. I would prefer that set-up over conventional overstuffed sofas and sectionals any day. Even the flower power wallpaper is OK by me.

White shag carpeting, on the other hand, belongs only in a museum…behind glass.

]]> By: irksome http://boingboing.net/2010/11/18/my-neighbors-groovy.html#comment-942375 irksome Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-942375 Oh you kids... blow was so '8s. In the '70s, we smoked a ton of pot and did too much acid. But where's the shag carpet and the bong? Oh you kids… blow was so ’8s. In the ’70s, we smoked a ton of pot and did too much acid.

But where’s the shag carpet and the bong?

]]> By: mdh http://boingboing.net/2010/11/18/my-neighbors-groovy.html#comment-942377 mdh Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-942377 what happens in the conversation pit stays in the conversation pit. what happens in the conversation pit stays in the conversation pit.

]]> By: PapayaSF http://boingboing.net/2010/11/18/my-neighbors-groovy.html#comment-942378 PapayaSF Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-942378 Yes, for heaven's sake don't destroy it now! It's taken decades to go from fashionable to hideous and now back up to amusing historical ironic status. It reminds me of an article I saw in a home decorating magazine from around 1962. A couple had bought an old Victorian in the Haight-Ashbury, and decided to modernize the exterior. So they ripped off all the fussy old-fashioned decoration and put up nice, modern, streamlined aluminum siding. If they'd waited just a few years, they'd have known how foolish that idea was. No doubt it's now the least attractive and valuable house on the block today. Yes, for heaven’s sake don’t destroy it now! It’s taken decades to go from fashionable to hideous and now back up to amusing historical ironic status.

It reminds me of an article I saw in a home decorating magazine from around 1962. A couple had bought an old Victorian in the Haight-Ashbury, and decided to modernize the exterior. So they ripped off all the fussy old-fashioned decoration and put up nice, modern, streamlined aluminum siding. If they’d waited just a few years, they’d have known how foolish that idea was. No doubt it’s now the least attractive and valuable house on the block today.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/11/18/my-neighbors-groovy.html#comment-953391 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-953391 Post these photos on Pottery Barn Teen, sit back and wait for the orders to fly! Just redid my tweens room... would love the hanging basket chair and wallpaper.. it's coming back!!! Seriously have some great memories from that Pit, from Mud Man, to ... what was that board game we used to play?... Restore.. don't redo!!! and that shag does look darn good for the use it got over the years... Post these photos on Pottery Barn Teen, sit back and wait for the orders to fly! Just redid my tweens room… would love the hanging basket chair and wallpaper.. it’s coming back!!!
Seriously have some great memories from that Pit, from Mud Man, to … what was that board game we used to play?…
Restore.. don’t redo!!! and that shag does look darn good for the use it got over the years…

]]> By: imag http://boingboing.net/2010/11/18/my-neighbors-groovy.html#comment-942391 imag Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-942391 I hear you. I just couldn't imagine having any kind of fun trapped in that room on acid with a bunch of other people. And white carpet just didn't fit the pot vibe to me. It seems like the bong stains and burn marks would be a problem. I hear you. I just couldn’t imagine having any kind of fun trapped in that room on acid with a bunch of other people.

And white carpet just didn’t fit the pot vibe to me. It seems like the bong stains and burn marks would be a problem.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/11/18/my-neighbors-groovy.html#comment-942394 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-942394 Americanized Opium Den? Americanized Opium Den?

]]> By: bklynchris http://boingboing.net/2010/11/18/my-neighbors-groovy.html#comment-942396 bklynchris Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-942396 Not that she would be interested, but she could seriously rent that puppy out for teen parties. Not that she would be interested, but she could seriously rent that puppy out for teen parties.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/11/18/my-neighbors-groovy.html#comment-942398 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-942398 Uhm...are there... you know... "security cameras" in each of these pictures? Seriously, what's with the spooky-as-hell built in surveillance system in this "conversation room"? Uhm…are there… you know… “security cameras” in each of these pictures? Seriously, what’s with the spooky-as-hell built in surveillance system in this “conversation room”?

]]> By: Telstar Logistics http://boingboing.net/2010/11/18/my-neighbors-groovy.html#comment-942411 Telstar Logistics Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-942411 edgore, excellent point about the wet bar. I'm happy to report there is also a wet bar in this basement, just down the hall from the Conversation Pit, and right in front of the very schwanky pool table. edgore, excellent point about the wet bar. I’m happy to report there is also a wet bar in this basement, just down the hall from the Conversation Pit, and right in front of the very schwanky pool table.

]]> By: anniearonburg http://boingboing.net/2010/11/18/my-neighbors-groovy.html#comment-942412 anniearonburg Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-942412 Just go the whole hog and paint those bricks white while the carpet is pulled out. Just go the whole hog and paint those bricks white while the carpet is pulled out.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/11/18/my-neighbors-groovy.html#comment-942414 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-942414 "shag" carpet... you got that right! “shag” carpet… you got that right!

]]> By: LightningRose http://boingboing.net/2010/11/18/my-neighbors-groovy.html#comment-942419 LightningRose Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-942419 That is awesome in it's awesomeness! That is awesome in it’s awesomeness!

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2010/11/18/my-neighbors-groovy.html#comment-942422 Antinous / Moderator Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-942422 Naturally, you'd want to record the "conversations" so that you could watch them over and over and over. Naturally, you’d want to record the “conversations” so that you could watch them over and over and over.

]]> By: Beezy http://boingboing.net/2010/11/18/my-neighbors-groovy.html#comment-942430 Beezy Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-942430 Those aren't cameras, they are those old canister lights that were so popular in the 1970s. Those aren’t cameras, they are those old canister lights that were so popular in the 1970s.

]]> By: Telstar Logistics http://boingboing.net/2010/11/18/my-neighbors-groovy.html#comment-942432 Telstar Logistics Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-942432 Just found a good blog post about the history of conversation pits here: http://blog.ounodesign.com/2009/06/23/whatever-happened-to-the-seating-platform-the-conversation-pit/ Just found a good blog post about the history of conversation pits here: http://blog.ounodesign.com/2009/06/23/whatever-happened-to-the-seating-platform-the-conversation-pit/

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/11/18/my-neighbors-groovy.html#comment-942434 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-942434 Eligible for National Register of Historic Places status in 2024. Eligible for National Register of Historic Places status in 2024.

]]> By: Jack http://boingboing.net/2010/11/18/my-neighbors-groovy.html#comment-942438 Jack Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-942438 This is neat! But I love the fact kids were not allowed to play in what is essentially a playroom. Design fascism melded with baby boomer narcism! This is neat! But I love the fact kids were not allowed to play in what is essentially a playroom. Design fascism melded with baby boomer narcism!

]]> By: mgfarrelly http://boingboing.net/2010/11/18/my-neighbors-groovy.html#comment-942442 mgfarrelly Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-942442 Granted, the color scheme is a bit...off, but I love the idea behind these spaces. It's organized around people talking to each other, sitting and stretching out at will. The focus is on conversation, not staring at a screen. Go into (too) many people's homes and their living room is set up to worship a big screen. We just had a party and a number of guests asked where our TV was, confused that our living space was set up so people could chat, not watch. Long live the pit! Granted, the color scheme is a bit…off, but I love the idea behind these spaces.

It’s organized around people talking to each other, sitting and stretching out at will. The focus is on conversation, not staring at a screen.

Go into (too) many people’s homes and their living room is set up to worship a big screen. We just had a party and a number of guests asked where our TV was, confused that our living space was set up so people could chat, not watch.

Long live the pit!

]]> By: webmonkees http://boingboing.net/2010/11/18/my-neighbors-groovy.html#comment-942700 webmonkees Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-942700 Wow. I briefly had custody of one of those hanging wicker chairs. Excellent for meditation, as long as your ceiling anchor is well secured. Wow. I briefly had custody of one of those hanging wicker chairs. Excellent for meditation, as long as your ceiling anchor is well secured.

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