Comments on: A 1950 American Dream Home

By: Mid Mod Pam

Mid Mod Pam — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 16:39:37 +0000

Elvis and Dana – I have many many references to what I believe is called simply, ‘ornamental ironwork’ on mid century homes. I’m not academically sure of its design evolution – but will be on the lookout and plan for some authoritative posts in the future.

In terms of an educated guess, though: I tend to think that this ornamental ironwork was just a decorative effect to spice up otherwise boxy, similar ranches…another example of variation added to subdivision homes that would otherwise have been quite cookie cutter. The ironwork also provided posts for a relatively inexpensive and cheery front porch or door entryway also. Metal would have been plentiful post war – so this was a good way to integrate it. Finally – I think this will also turn out to be a mass-produced, great grandchild of Victorian ironwork.

By: elvis

elvis — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 16:05:48 +0000

DanaMc, we have the same wrought iron porch support on our ‘56 ranch, but I don’t have a name for you. I wonder where the trend inspiration came from: it seems so different from the rest of the design sensibility of ranches, yet so common. Could it be a leftover from colonial revival?

By: BSMet94

BSMet94 — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 03:54:32 +0000

Check out http://www.antiquehome.org/House-Plans/
Scroll down on the left for several house plan sections from the 1950s, including National Plan Service, Aladdin, and others.

By: benevola

benevola — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 19:39:34 +0000

Hey, that’s my house! (though we have wood siding rather than brick)

By: DanaMc

DanaMc — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 13:54:06 +0000

Hey Pam and others,
See those white wrought-iron looking pillars above? Do they have a name? I have some of that curly iron-work on my brick ‘59 house. I refer to it as “Metal Gingerbread” but there’s likely a name for it.

Now that we know that the metal ring surrounding an old sink is called a “Hootie Ring” – I expect everything has a name!

All the best,
Dana in Chicagoland

By: nancyb

nancyb — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 10:34:19 +0000

So cute! Isn’t it funny how in the post-war era of prosperity, the majority of new houses being built were well-designed, but small? Everything was supposed to be efficient and useful, none of the over-the-top excess we see in 90’s-2000’s houses (where it would be torture to have less than 4 bathrooms)! Hmmmm, living within your means… now there’s an idea!