Hipsteria Modern is the newest small business to appear downtown, located in the left side of the Carter Building near the intersection of Hillsborough Street and South Glenwood Avenue. Open for only a few days, the husband and wife team that run the place were still in the process of getting everything organized when I met with them to talk about their new shop offering mid-century furniture and accesories.

This new small business located in a former textile/sewing factory is the culmination of something that was somewhat of a weekend hobby of the proprietors, Ben and Lee: bringing the gems of mid-century modern furniture to those who love it, at a reasonable price and with the artistic expertise to assist in proper placement in the home.

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The Palmour residence on Mayview Road was constructed in 1953. Designed by Jim Milam, a graduate of the NCSU COD, this is one of only two modernist houses to his credit. Read more at TMH.

Above is the Heck-Lee House in 1972. Below is a view taken last night.

Back in 1971-72 or so, before Oakwood became “Historic” Oakwood, I would often ride my bicycle through the neighborhood (with my Kodak Instamatic, of course) and take snapshots of the faded Victorian houses lining the streets. I remember being intrigued by three near-identical, flamboyantly-towered structures that comprised a corner of E. Jones and N. East Streets. They appeared to me as miniature versions of the opulent Heck-Andrews mansion on N. Blount St. Hmm, I wondered, could there be a connection?

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