• Fencing for a mid century house

    Lots of interest, it seems, in exterior issues. I received this email from Beanik Babe Ginny a few weeks ago and have had had it queue’d up waiting for spring to sprung here in the great Commonwealth of Massachusetts

    Hi Pam!
    Love your website! Just bought a 1959 California atomic ranch in Yellow Springs, Ohio after living in cavelike craftsman bungalows for the past 25 years. Your website has been soooo helpful. But I can’t find anything anywhere on what type of yard fencing, both privacy and front yard, was used in the 50s. With four rescued dogs, we want to be good neighbors and enhance the look of our new house. And ideas or suggestions? Thanks.

    Ginny Friend / beatnik babe

    Thanks, Ginny. I know that Femme 1 is working on some custom fencing, basket-weave style, that sounds fabulous. I’m sure we can get her to send us a photo.

    Meanwhile, I have been on the lookout. Not a lot of photos of fencing as far as I can tell, in my vintage materials. I’ll tell you – it seems to me that chain link was pretty darn common in the 50s. Remember, they weren’t so Fancy then.

    Nonetheless, I did find these great style options from the 60s — which I think that everyone will like a lot. Isn’t it clever how they made mix-and-match pieces so you could create your own design?

    I’ll keep watch for other fence options, and exterior issues in general. Meanwhile, Ginny, let us know how it goes. And send pics of your four lucky dogs — and oh yeah, the 1959 atomic ranch in Yellow Springs, Ohio, too. Beatnick Babe, it sounds like you are livin’ the dream!

    Note: All these images scanned and inserted at 300 dpi, so click on them to enlarge for all the riveting detail.

  • Comments

    1. Alice says:

      Pam – I too, could benefit greatly from some exterior fencing design help. I loved the mix and match samples that you found…anything else you can come up with please share!

    2. Laura says:

      Wow! Those mix and match fence ads are so cool!

      Populuxe has a great Sunset book called “HOW TO BUILD FENCES AND GATES” published 1951 and 1966

      http://www.populuxebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=69_73&products_id=300

      http://www.populuxebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=69_73&products_id=299

    3. Joe says:

      I’ve got a book full of fence design, gazebos, decks, etc. I’ll see if I can get some of it scanned and put on my flickr. I bought it off of eBay about a year ago with the hopes of redoing my chainlink fence.

      • Pam Kueber says:

        Thanks, Joe! The sun is shining here in Lenox, Mass. today. I can’t wait to start working again to landscape the forest in my backyard!

    4. Barbara Standing says:

      The “Mix and Match” fencing idea is just fabulous! It solves just about everyone’s fencing desires! I suppose a carpenter could build the same now, but for a lot more money. Probably worth it!

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