Congratulations to Amy Hill and Cindy Friday — the two readers who won a “Love The House You’re In” collage — featuring them and their houses — specially created by collage artist laureate Mel Kolstad. Mel’s been doing a Love The House You’re Inn collage-a-month for the blog. But, we thought we’d take it one step further by getting readers involved. On Tuesday night, I used the random number generator at random.org (I to select the two winners. Their numbers came up! (I did not try to “judge” the comments — everyone’s were great — I selected the winners randomly.) Mel has started working with them on their collages. Thanks to everyone who participated. Your comments — AMAZING! We love our houses, that’s for sure!
Here were the rules:
- Leave a comment below, answering the question, “Why do you love the house you’re in?”
- You must sign up for my weekly newsletter.
- Residents of U.S. and Canada only.
Additional details:
- I’ll pick two winners from among the comments with a random number generator at 8 p.m. on April 19. (I will cross-check that they are newsletter subscribers, and if they are not, I will pick again.)
- If you win, you will send up to three high-resolution images to Mel, she will create your collage and mail it to within a month. The collage is mounted on a 4″x4″ wood tile with a notch for hanging – it’s very cool!
- Pam will confirm with you whether you’d like it featured on the blog or not – your choice.
- If this all goes well, I’ll continue the contest every month.
What do you think? Wanna win? Why do you love the house you’re in? And… be sure to be signed up for the newsletter.
Yay! I’m the first! I would love a collage of my home. I love the house I’m in because, from the moment I walked in, I knew I was “home”. My house is a 1961 ranch that we purchased from the original owners, who built the place themselves. Nearly everything about the house is original, from the Nutone food center and Fold-Away Hood-Fan above the electric stove to the yellow main bathroom and pink master bathroom (and there’s lots more to love!). I couldn’t be happier!
It took us a while to appreciate its charm, but we LOVE the house we’re in. In fact, it looks almost identical to the one in the featured collage! It’s a 1956 split that has been fiddled with over the years by previous owners. We’ve nearly finished restoring the original master bath to a gleaming pink beauty (complete with some of the original pink and black floor tiles found underneath vinyl flooring). Next we’ll turn our eyes towards the kitchen…
I would love one of those collages! I love our house because of our kitchen and living areas. We wanted a house that had most of the square footage in the living areas so that we could have people over and later encourage our children to be in the living areas and not cooped up in their rooms. It’s a 1960 ranch that is being restored to its original glory and I knew it was my home when we walked into it.
I could go on and on just like I am sure everyone else on here could.
I love my house because it’s not like all the others. In a neighborhood of brick cottages from the 40s, it’s a white Craftsman, sturdy and square. I love the red front door…the original glass doorknobs…the hardwood floors…the arched doorways…and the cute trim on the shelves in the tiny kitchen. The neighborhood has tall trees, incredible blooming heirloom flowers and a park you can walk to. Awwww……..happiness.
Oh dear. Seeing as how we have been out house hunting in order to replace our house, I’m not sure we qualify for this competition! We love our neighborhood, love our street, love our neighbors, love our back yard, love our brick veneer, BUT we don’t love the inside of our house because the floor plan is silly. And we hate our steep driveway. The cost of fixing some problems seems prohibitive, and maybe not even possible — how can you replace a steep driveway with a flat one? We have found another 50s house a few streets away that we think we could love, but, the neighbor to the left has apparently opened up a junk yard on the premises — at least four old cars on the driveway, a pile of old bicycle parts in the back yard, etc. We don’t think we could handle moving in next to all of that, knowing it will probably get worse. So, we will keep looking, and in the meantime, we enjoy what we do love about our place. Such as, I’m now going to go hang laundry on my 50s era clothesline, under the shade of an apple and a pear tree, both now in bloom. And my husband will be home for lunch because we live so close to his office. We may not exactly love our house, but we love the quality of life we have at this house. That counts for a lot!
Ooh! This is so much fun! Not just the chance of winning one of those super amazing collages but also reading how much people love their homes.
Let’s see…I love my house because it’s the first house since my childhood house that has feel completely like “home”. I feel like my husband and I are not only thankful for it but it’s thankful for us and the care that we are taking to preserve it. It’s the first house that I’ve ever lived in that I’ve thought that I would like to live in for the rest of my life. Not to sound corny, but I think that the house was waiting on us to find it. : ) Oh, and I love it because it has *the* perfect Christmas tree window!
…Corny?
Just wait till I tell MY house story….It’s one step from being a “Lifetime” movie……
Your post is really very sweet.and your home is all the things it should be.
I love my mid-century modest home…just like Goldilocks loved the bears’ home. It’s JUST RIGHT! Not too big, not too small… just right. It’s constructed of real building materials.. like wood and glass and metal. No plastic. It’s constructed solidly, built to last with a level of craftmanship that simply no longer exists. It is Simply…simple and beautiful.
I love our home because we spotted it while I was pregnant with our daughter and watched it on the market for months and then finally, when the time was right, we were able to put in the offer after three viewings and many long talks. When she was three months old, we moved in. She is now five and her brother is three. We live in every corner and spot of our 1958 ranch and are currently renovating our kitchen and dining room to restore it back to its original 1950′s wonderfulness (with some modern updating). We still have the original cabinetry in our garage and we even found pink tiles in our attic when we moved in! Apparently, we’re finding out that our kitchen and bathroom were originally both pink!
My husband was a realtor for a few years and we would look at lots of houses, just for fun but we were always happy to come home! Even our kids get excited when we turn onto our street and pull into the driveway.
Hi. I live in a 1956 ranch. I love my house because it’s so small and cozy. I also love my home because we brought our son home to this house. It’s full of memories. Oh and we have a pink bathroom original to the house!
I love our 1926 house because it’s full of heirlooms, tag-sale finds, and e-bay treasures that we’ve collected in our 17 years here. I love the view of trees and of butterfly bushes and roses planted by my husband (only old-fashioned roses that don’t need chemicals) from the big windows in the kitchen, dining room, living room and our bedroom. The southern exposure in our bedroom is a napper’s dream! I love the very short front lawn that reminds us we are in a neighborhood built in the 1920s (sorry–don’t love the midcentury obsession with lawns). I love that our neighborhood is junky enough that we don’t get in trouble when our backyard starts looking like Sanford and Son. And, look ma!, no fences! There are things about those 1950s and 1960s lifestyles that were just a tad uptight! It’s not a true beauty from the outside, what with the aluminum awnings and all (one of the many “newer” features added after a fire in 1978), but it’s held up for all these years and holds us well.
I love my 1940 bungalow because it’s unique and quirky — it’s about half-renovated, and even though I can’t afford to do all sorts of crazy awesome things to it, it still impresses people. I love it because it would cost twice as much in any other neighborhood, and my neighborhood is a well-kept secret: an affordable pocket of older homes very close to downtown that is quiet and low-crime, filled with deep yards and mature trees and spilling over with azaleas and gardenias.
I love my enormous kitchen, even with the crooked floors and hairline crack in the ceiling. I love the tree swing in the back yard. I love the view out the front windows of flowering bushes and the original lamppost.
I love my 1955 4-level split because of the efficient use of space and for the attention to detail; cupboards for storage of pans, dishtowel rails, windows that are larger in areas that require more light, wide overhangs outside to keep the house cool in the summer, and shoe closets at both the front and back of the house.
I love the house I’m in because it’s the first house I’ve owned! My husband and I just bought it in February and we’re going to fix it up and make it ours. It’s a 1951 Cape Cod in the neighborhood I’ve wanted to live in since I was a kid; I used to ride my bike through the area and dream about living there someday. The house needs loads of work, and we’re going to have to do it slowly, but I’m so excited. I never wanted a McMansion–I would have liked one of our village’s big Victorians if we could have afforded it, but ethically I prefer the idea of a smaller house, a smaller footprint on the world. Less energy to heat and cool, even less furniture and other consumer goods to fill it up.
It’s going to be great.
My husband and I live in the house we are in because it is cute, has all it’s original 1949 parts and our first kiss happened in the hallway. I looked into the history of this house and the first owner and my husband have the same name. We love vintage and antiques and it’s the best feeling to actually live in a relic from the past.
My husband and I love our 1950 museum… I mean, Cape… it sits cozy on a just big enough lot with lots of flowers and trees, but room for more. Inside, not much has been touched. Original bathroom tile- white walls, mauve oct and dot floors, buzzing fluorescent light above the medicine cabinet. Red oak floors through the rest lovingly maintained by the carpet-loving 50s. A rotary phone on the wall. But most of all, the kitchen. At first, I couldn’t wait to get rid of the raspberry red and light blueish-grey color scheme- grey tiles on the walls, red lino counters with giant cast iron sink and chrome edging, and of course the 2 colors in lino tiles zig zagging across the floor. It’s a color scheme I’d never have thought of, but once we get to updating, I think there will still be some raspberry put back in. And lastly, my husband’s favorite thing: our original Hotpoint stove. Apparently there was less limit on oven temps back then- we can get her up to 500+ easily, which makes killer pizza!
I love my home because my husband has fond memories of hanging out there as a teenager and working around the farm with his friend. He remembered the orange layer of wallpaper in one of the bedrooms. He found an old adult magazine in the woodshed! And he remembers with great fondness the people who owned it. It’s very rustic from the outside and looks like a bigger version of the “Little House on the Prairie” house so people are always curious about what it must look like on the inside. I must admit that I feel like I’m giving people a little gift every time I show someone our house on the inside and they feel special because they got to see it. We had a wedding reception for a family member outside between the house and the barn in August and I ended up giving a “tour” which kept growing. Also, I agreed to buy the place without seeing the inside of the house with the promise that I could do whatever I wanted with it. It looked a little haunted and it was a big leap of faith. (so I feel like the “good wife” who helped make her hubby’s dream come true) I find old bottles and rocks collected over a lifetime around the outside of the house in various places. It’s neat to be a part of the place’s history. However, it is a love/hate relationship. I have to remind myself to “love the house I’m in” on a daily basis. I need that collage!
I love the house I’m in because it was built in 1957 out of Redwood and is provided nature’s air conditioning from beautiful mature maple trees. The front yard is simply terraced down to a quiet winding street that mostly satisfies school children and the occasional neighborhood dog. Because we sit up on a bit of a hill, I can watch my young children walk home from school each day with other neighborhood kids out of 2 large picture windows that marry each other at a corner.
The house is simple, small and understated but the center of the house is occupied by a 2 sided floor to ceiling corner limestone fireplace. (The 3rd side to the fireplace wraps around to the kitchen where the double oven and rotisserie are built right into the stonework.) It’s not a large house, and, truth be told, we could use a little more elbow room, but it is enough. And, as the old english proverb says, “Enough is as good as a feast.” We feel very fortunate to have and love our house!
Why do I love the home I’m in? After spending last summer fighting a losing battle to save a historic school building, my love for timeworn things truly blossomed. Not long afterward, layoffs cost my husband his longtime job, and he struggled for months to find work nearby. Sadly, there was nothing in the entire region.
Around Thanksgiving, a phone call of opportunity came. The job was in another part of the state, and on a leap of faith, my husband accepted. Not only did we land in a great, friendly town where preservation is cherished, but we fell in love with a sprawling 1962 ranch with original colorful bathrooms, a swanky Frigidaire Flair, and flagstone built-ins (both a fireplace and a planter)!
And so, despite the hardships of 2009, we are blooming in 2010. Three cheers for blue bathtubs, swan doors, and charm!
Thanks, Pam, for your endless inspiration and joy!
Our 1955 home still has the plaque showing what number it is off of National Home Corp.’s prefabricated line. It was originally identical to 44 other homes in our neighborhood. Now, with so many years gone by, they all look completely different, but they’ll all wonderfully cozy. My home sweet home survived the Chicago area’s only F5 tornado while the newer, allegedly better houses were pretty much dismantled and the neighboring church was leveled. (This brings new meaning to “act of God,” huh?) When my husband and I were looking for a house, we both knew this was the right one when we stepped in the door. Every step we take to try to bring it back to its 1955 glory just exposes more greatness: gorgeous wood floors that were hidden beneath bland carpet, tulip bulbs that were ready to bloom as soon as we unknowingly shifted the soil and notes written in chalk by the original homeowner to remind himself when they’d made changes to the house.
I love my home too. It’s a relatively small ranch home from 1958. It’s easy to clean and we put a lot of time into it with upgrades that do keep in with the character and style of the home.
I’m so glad I bought our 70s rancher with a huge yard for the dogs compared to the 80s townhouses we were also looking at. It might not have been built in the 50′s but it’s certainly decorated that way.
I love our 70s split level because it’s so, so 70s. We’re the third owners and are having a blast “downdating” our baths and kitchen. The house is a blank slate – there are some jewels, like the tile in the hall bath, but for the most part, I can play with it the way I want. Since I’m a stay-at-home mom, I have time to play!
We LOVE our 1955 ranch home! It’s our first home, and we have been so proud of it since we moved in about five months ago. We feel good that we are teaching our two year old daughter that we don’t have to have 3000 square feet to be comfy in our home, and we love shopping at thrift shops and antique stores looking for budget and period friendly furnishings for our home. We spend a lot of time on other blogs looking at what other people are doing with their homes, and try to get inspired. We have a shoe-string budget, but our little home is full of fun and quirky finds. We would LOVE to have the collage. They are amazing!
Not only do I love my mid-century home, I have such admiration for the architect who had such a forward-thinking vision. From the exterior, it appears to be a rather standard wood-paneled home. But anyone who walks through the front door into my soaring great room is bowled off their feet. It’s as fresh today as it was in 1947. Tongue-and-groove pine walls, blond brick fireplace wall, built in cabinetry, and terrazo floors. I have it all including a pink and green bath with Cinderlla tub. I wouldn’t trade it for anything!
I love the home I’m in!
Right before I turned 50, my life changed dramatically when my husband of 26 years ran off to join the circus. I was left in a 3200 sq ft new build filled to the brim with possesions. I made a decision to reinvent myself and start fresh. It wasn’t easy at first, but like anything else, it got easier with practice.
I had been an antique dealer for several years and called up a local auctioneer who came an collected 90% of my belongings and sold them off for me.
About the same time, my house sold and I needed a new place to live. My special friend, now my DH, and I went for a drive thru the little southern town I lived near, and we came upon this little 1945 cottage.
It was love at first sight, if that is possible with a house. I called the rental office and told them I wanted the house, and would the owner consider selling? I first moved in as a renter because it took me a couple of months to get my financing taken care of. It’s not always easy reinventing yourself, and some things take longer than others.
I used some of the money from the sale of my antiques to get the repairs that needed to be done on the house, but overall the house was in pretty good shape. It’s a solid little house, with lots of charm, and a big back-yard.
When we got married, he wanted to move into a larger, newer place, and I just couldn’t bear to leave my little house. It is perfect for two middle-aged newly weds who don’t want a lot of maintenance, and would rather take off for the week-end than spend every Saturday afternoon cleaning a big house and mowing 2 acres!
I love living in town and being able to walk to restaurants and the grocery store. I love the fact that it’s less than 1000 sq ft to clean and heat and cool. I love having huge trees in the yard, and the cute little detached garage.
This is my house and I am completely happy here. I have lived in bigger, but never anything better.
I love the house I’m in!
I love the house I’m in because it has character, warmth, heart. We have made so many memories in the 10 months we have owned it as we try to restore as much as possible and make crazy mistakes. Bizarre how our furniture “fits” not only in the house but the style of the house, after being in military quarters and rentals for 20 years. Even how my Fiestaware goes with our “updated” 1940′s kitchen! Our 1923 arts & crafts bungalow is home, our first to own.
Our home has changed us, taught us – old , (ahem, vintage) is awesome! I love our huge front porch, hanging out with coffee or ice tea and gabbing with hubby or the neighbor as he sits on his front porch. It is great to hear the stories about the house, how a father who lived next door built it for his daughter’s wedding present (totally explains why my back porch has a sidewalk leading to the 1850s house next door’s back porch and why our carriage house matches that house and not ours!)
There is nothing like finding a 16 year old stripping wall paper in her bedroom, when she was supposed to be working in the bathroom and getting to tell her “you can’t stop now-you have to do all 6 layers, all 4 walls!” Yup, there is satisfaction in parenting a teenager!
I have kept my end of the bargain with my hubby-I must tell him on a regular basis “I love this house!” and I mean it from the bottom of my heart.
Our house is not just our house – we love our house because it’s all about the choices we’re making and the values we have. The 1951 bungalow floorplan encourages the family to be together, to talk to each other, to play and eat together – you have to cooperate in small square footage.The small space also forces choices around how much “stuff” you have, we don’t have space for clutter and mass consumerism. Our location is close to everything we use – stores, library, transit, the kids’ schools, my work – and that’s teaching the kids about being “green” and having an active lifestyle, because walking is how we get around. Our community is full of young families making the same choices so the kids have teams and clubs to attend in our own community and don’t have to go out to the “burbs” for their activities. And I love the basement reno we just finished because we know we’ll have teenagers down there someday, so we’ve already sound-proofed the ceiling. I agree with the concept of solid craftsmanship too – I love the well-built feel of our house, and the quirky spaces we have.
How could I not chime in? I love the house I’m in because it’s an odd 1950′s custom built spanish hacienda ranch nestled amongst the brick capes here in our little Pennsylvania town. I was intrigued by it the first time I saw it and whenever I was in town would stalk it. Long story short, when a For Rent sign went up I had Retro Roadhusband call to ask about it and we made the leap- selling a house that was OK but not us, in a town and state that was OK and not us, uprooting and moving. It has all worked out wonderfully!
We love the architectural details of our wacky little house, how our mid century furniture fits in instead of sticks out.
We love being able to walk the dog down to the park, to the library, to a pal’s front porch for a swing and a chat, to Bridge Street for a coffee or to stop in and visit pals who run the stores in our little downtown.
Leap of faith- totally worked out, couldn’t be happier!
Wow, I love hearing everyone’s stories of how they love their homes and their memories and their things. I feel a little funny posting since I don’t own a “house” per se, but I will tell everyone why I love “Craig”, my 1977 mobile home.
When I first moved to California in late 2005, I rented. Then in 2006, I decided I needed my own walls, but could ill afford the median house price here in the Bay Area of $700k. So, I searched Craigslist for mobile homes, and I found the one I bought in the area I wanted to live.
Since then, housing prices have come down, but I still can’t wrap myself around the idea of a $400k mortgage, and so Craig is here to stay in my life. I will be remodeling Craig in all things retro, and almost everything I have acquired to remodel with has come from Craigslist. Hmmm…..anyone wondering why my mobile home is named Craig? LOL.
When Craig is done, he will be outfitted in the full retro regalia, and then I believe I will truly love the house I’m in all of the time, instead of our current love/hate relationship! The best thing Craig has done for me is keep me warm and dry, and out of the poorhouse.
Tami, even a trailer can be loved. And named. Before moving to our current ’59 suburban home, we lived for several years in a ’95 trailer in the country. We called it the Tin Box Lodge. It had a great floor plan. And bad plumbing. But, it was so inexpensive that we paid it off, and having no mortgage was great. But my husband switched jobs, so we moved back to town. Have fun with Craig!
Thanks Sue – love the “Tin Box Lodge” moniker! Maybe Pam should have another contest to fill in the blank. “Love the _ _ _ _ _ _ you’re in! My goal is to never have to say “Love the tent you’re in” or worse – “Love the bridge you live under”. If I avoid those two things, life is good.
I also hear you on the bad plumbing part – can’t wait to get Craig’s plumbing up to par.
Your comment about your “Craig” home just made me smile. I hope you win!
Thank you Laurie. I’m afraid of winning, because the only collage I can make now is all 1977 paneling, and lots of construction materials strewn everywhere!
I love my house! I was built in 1953 and I love the hardwoods in the downstairs that we have finally exposed. I love that it has character and as we make changes you can see the changes others have made through the years. Our house has a story and we’re happy to be part of it!
I sometimes picture the couple that built our home and raised their family in it. I see them as man and wife doing chores around the house and I enjoy imagining the history and love that went before us for 61 years in the same family. My husband says he pictures the family too, he says he can see their three little girls running around teasing each other and playing. This is neat since we’re now expecting our first little one here.
It’s been nearly one year since we bought this home, our first. It was one of the first we looked at. Despite being in a neighborhood that had seen better days, right away we said “where do we sign?” We loved the original 1948 features such as old growth hardwood, coved ceilings, custom curved mantlepiece, fir window and door frames, but it was the overall warmth of the house and garden which had us from the first step in the door.
We love our mid-century modest house because we have a pink bathroom! and a blue one!
My wife and I just bought the coolest home in Portland, OR. It’s our first home and I can’t even begin to describe how much we love our 60′s local custom ranch. We are the second owners and the people that designed and built the house lived in it before us!!!. Almost everything is original and in good condition with many unique custom features. The house had been sitting vacant for 5 years, while in a living trust. Over this time the shrubs grew to the roof and the true beauty had been lost. With a lot of love and little help we are getting this “diamond in the rough” back to it’s full potential.
This collage would represent our style so perfect. Were a young, creative, fresh couple with a retro twist!
LOVE IT!!!!
I love the house that I’m in because, at first, it reminds me of a very hectic time in my life (my mother was in the hospital for four months before passing away from cancer at age 60) yet still, on the inside, reflects the whirlwind, carefree life I led before I came here to help her.
In the five years I have been here, the house that I found in haste has become my go-to place for relaxation, self-reflection and quiet time
This two-story house is in a nice neighborhood where not all homes look alike. The house actually drew me in because after living in a tiny Hawaiian bungalow for five years, all I wanted was SPACE! Then the addition of a full-of-love Miniature Schnauzer named Buttercup turned my house into our home. We now live in a peaceful sanctuary with an upstairs office with a window from which you can get an inspiring view of majestic Mount Shasta. A fenced in backyard is our spring/summer hangout spot with trees filled with firefly-shaped lights and baskets and containers overflowing with spring flowers.
When you enter my home, your eyes feast upon several odds and ends collected from my travels around the world including a 12-year stay on Kauai.. The decor is basically vintage Hawaiiana combined with some treasures I’ve collected more recently from Northern California Beaches – Sand Dollar collections, shell displays, etc.
In a nutshell, my house provides me with an homage to the past, physical reminders of my fondest memories, a best friend (Buttercup) to share it with me and an overall positive feeling about the future…
Oooo! Hawaiiana! I think that’s a topic that deserves some attention–and photos!
Hey All-
I love reading all these stories about people’s homes and how much they think about the lives of previous occupants.
A few months ago-I gave details on how to trace a homes history.
I have met and entertained the woman that grew up in my home from 1945-1957. I know exactly what my home looked like inside and out in 1964….but not 1954. (the apple tree in the backyard is “hers”)
I hit me yeaterday to contact her again (she lives one town away) and ask her to send me scans of her family photos during this time period.
When I sold my last home- built in 1883, I left the new owners a scrapbook of photos, wallpaper remnants and other items pertaining to the dwelling. I think I’m going to do this again and suggest other homeowners might want to as well.
Bingo! Photos on their way….why didn’t I think of this sooner?
I love your idea of “gifting” new home owners with pics etc. When I purchased my home 2 years ago, I knew the house had probably been the site of many great parties. Unfortunately I was purchasing the home from the older siblings of the owner who passed away without any children. I asked the sellers if they had any pictures they’d be willing to share but either they had none or weren’t willing to share. I’d love to have a picture on my wall showing the McCauley’s hosting a wonderful party!
Upon opening this page yesterday, I right away liked the collage. How nice that a personal collage is being offered to a lucky winner. I hope they choose to have you post it when it is done, it’ll be interesting to see the pictures chosen to create the collage…
I love the house I am in because it’s it’s a simple 1950′s ranch — manageable at 750 sf. Although it seems small when you have 3 extra (foster) dogs in the house plus your own 2, you always know where they are and what they are up to!
When I was looking for houses I was specifically against a blue house. Guess what? it’s a light blue house and the only one in the neighborhood, and I like that now. Additionally, I bought it myself, it’s paid for, I painted the shutters purple, created a garden in the front and it’s in a quiet neighborhood with good neighbors.
Sharon, for others, it’s the Hawaiian Bungalow but when I read ‘Miniature Schnauzer’ my eyes perk up,…if you win, Buttercup better be in that collage!!
6 years ago I bought my mid-50s ranch with my partner. After living in the house for 3 months, she decided that she didn’t want to own a house and was thinking about moving back to NYC. I loved the house – and ended up re-mortgaging it in my name and ‘buying her out’. Since I had to buy her out shortly after putting the majority of my funds into the initial purchase – I then had to rent out the house.
Well, 6 years later I finally moved back into the house – and I’m thrilled to be there. I now have a clear vision of how I want the space to look, and have been slowly renovating and planning. I love mid-centruy ranches, and this one has so much potential (along with a pink bathroom – that’s staying pink). I love being in a space that fits my style and personality.
We love our house. Its a 1949 brick home. We went in and totally restored the home. We love our home because we did all the work ourselves. We also love the charm our house has. Our nighboor hood is also like a 50′s neighboor hood. Where you know your neighbors. We’ve even had to borrow a cup of sugar from one of the neighbors.
These collages are very cool…would love one!
There are so many reasons why I love my house….not sure where to start!?! It is a 1960 brick ranch and I loved it as soon as I walked in the door. I had been house hunting for a long time and even made an offer on another property…but am so glad that I found this house because it is perfect for me! Some things have been updated (kitchen, etc.), but the overall mid-century ranch feeling is what I love most about it….the perfect mix of old and new! It doesn’t hurt that my furniture and decor is a mix of old and new too.
I don’t know that I love the house I’m in, but I do love tinkering with it and making improvements as I continue to develop my own personal style. It’s great practice for the day that I do find my mid-century modest dream house, which I know is just out there waiting for me. I do love the location of my home, which is a late ’40s little box of a thing, and I appreciate the charming curb appeal, coved ceilings and original wood floors.
I love the house I’m in because it is my dream house! A beautiful mid-century modern ranch with a gorgeous yard and 600 year old oak tree. I still smile as I walk through it every day!
So many reasons to love our house:
• Built in 1953
• Quiet street, older neighborhood, good trees
• Sweet turquoise and black tiled bathroom
• Exterior is painted orange
• No carpet!
• Just the right size on cleaning day
Would love a collage! They are too cool.
We live in an 1899 farmohouse in northern New England, and while it only has one bathroom, two bedrooms, and laundry in the basement (to access you have to go outside and down through the bulkhead – even in the winter if we want clean clothes), we love it. We’ve been here 10 years and are slowly fixing the place up (like we just finished stripping and repainting one bedroom’s wild 1940′s wallpaper! )
I love the house I’m in because my husband and I are completely redoing it ourselves, with our own retro tastes, learning how to drywall and glaze butcher block countertops and grout the amazing tile in the bathroom. It is a project of peace and a building block for our future. And because it’s in Eagle Rock, CA: what a beautiful city!
We love our Frankenstein’s modest. And apparently so does our stuff.
We moved in less than a week before Thanksgiving, and had the whole extended family over. They were not only shocked that we were all unpacked, but that our mid-century modern retro furniture all looked right at home. No trade-ins necessary.
We loved how the house had grown organically over its wooded site. First as a charming weekend cabin, the exterior of which could only be described by preservationists as “non contributing”. Then a lovely ’61 addition, including a dove grey tiled bathroom with faucets I remember from Kohler ads from my childhood. Next came my favorite: a ’71 addition done in ‘poor man’s Usonian’ style. I fantasize that it’s an uncredited Edgar Tafel work, as he did two houses down the street. Like many house in the area from that time, the bathroom is canary yellow. The last piece of the puzzle came in the form of a ’81 kitchen extension.
Lastly, we love the knowledge it imparts. I believe, for example, that we have one of every kind of window known to man: double hung, hopper, sliding, casement and awning, all in one mid-century modest home.
In the early 1940′s a young woman found a picture of her dream house in a magazine. It was a darling classic dutch colonial with a center entry and curving stair case to the second floor. Over the next few years, her husband and father…with lumber from their sawmill on the property…..built the house little by little. Finally, in 1944, the house with it’s koi pond, outdoor fireplace and wishing well, was complete. Forty four years later, we bought the house and surrounding 5 acres. When I told the original owner that it was my dream house too, she presented me with the picture from the magazine that had started it all.
I love my 1952 home because I feel it loves me back. When I bought her, she was droopy and down with 1980′s blue & pink decor. Her walls were grey, her hardwood floors were covered up, her kitchen had baby-poo colored laminate countertops and tired looking cabinets with no hardware, and her yard was a jumble of confused plantings. She was kind of sad, and I could feel that. As I repainted, removed the wood stove inserts from both her fireplaces, pulled up carpets, refinished original oak floors, tiled the kitchen and bathrooms, replaced her ancient picture windows, gave her new shutters and trim paint, and replaced the light fixtures throughout–I knew she could tell I loved her and she started to come back to life! I cleaned and repaired her fireplaces and chimney, I pulled away all the tacky and let the simplicity of her architecture shine through again. The crowning touch was re-designing her gardens with a lovely flagstone patio and traditional, classic plantings. I love my home and it loves me back by welcoming me and all my friends and family to sit and enjoy what a treasure she is.
We love the house we are in not only because it fits our design sense, but also since it is the best designed house we have ever lived in. The architect who built it in 1957, George Fisher, sited the house perfectly on the lot to take advantage of the winter sun, to avoid the summer sun, and to capture the prevailing breezes. The juxtaposition of brick and glass is nothing short of poetic. The construction details are also extraordinary. the interior walls are clad in 1″ thick drywall (I never knew it was made that think) and the exterior doors work perfectly after 53 years. That might be because they are clad in plastic laminate, which was considered a high end solution back then. Almost everyone who visits is amazed at how beautiful the house is.
I love the potential this house has as we move closer and closer to restoring the exterior and renovating the interior. I still frequently pause, look around, and smile even after 4 years of living here. This is my forever house.
We all love our homes and they love us! My 1963 ranch, purchased six years ago from the original owners, has changed my life because at first I didn’t love it. I bought it with the intention of “modernizing” it!. Fortunately, I decided to live in the home for a while before doing anything. I lived and listened and the house provided the direction. I grew to love the walnut paneling, the hardwood floors, the recessed eyeball can lights in the living room, the front door with knob in the center and the sound of the original doorbell which my electrician lovingly saved for me. For the first year I lived here I was reminded of odd things about my childhood growing up in a raised ranch built by my parents in the early 1960s. The sound of walking on my hardwood floors reminded me of their hardwood floors before wall to wall carpeting was installed in the 1970s; the screens on the casement windows remind me of that house; and oddly, the sound of the outdoor hose running when I watered plants reminded me of my parents spraying neighborhood kids for inexpensive summer cool downs! My mother’s Alzheimers has erased her memories of these things so I appreciate even more that my house reminds me of the home she and Dad provided for our family. I don’t remember having an opinion about the 1960s so it’s interesting that now I happily live in and LOVE them! I have done some updating in keeping with the period, discovered retrorenovation.com, met Pam and other like minded friends, and have entertained and shared the home with friends more than I ever did in the past. What an adventure!
We love the home we’re in because:
-we are only the second owner of our lovely 1959 mid mod split level!
-we live in the most wonderful neighborhood with the best freighbors ever (that’s friends/neighbors!)
-the sense of community and nostalgia in our neighborhood!
-it feels like home and we never want to leave!
My husband and I love the house we’re in because we were able to get a lovely 1954 ranch style house for our first home. We love dressing vintage and the home matches us perfectly. We looked a long time for a home with metal awnings and this home came with the original ones. The first thing we added that was missing was popcorn glittered ceilings! I have a feeling this home will be our first and only house because of its charm and curb appeal. I love our home!
I am sure of one thing: I would not love the house I’m in if it weren’t for Pam and this site!
you are so sweet
I grew up in Biloxi, on the Mississippi Gulf Coast…home of fresh seafood like “Biloxi Bacon” and our pride and joy, the shrimp – so abundant that it got us the title of shrimp capital of the world. By far my favorite thing to do as a child was to spend time at my grandparent’s house, sitting on their pier overlooking the Bay of Biloxi, salty wind in my hair. They lived (and still do) in a quaint little neighborhood tucked neatly behind the local air force base and surrounded by water on 2 sides. I remember as little girl walking down those streets rightfully named Oak Park, taking photos with my cheap little camera of the grand houses some dating back to the 1920s when the neighborhood was first being developed. The azaleas and camellias always blooming so bright, those oak lined streets, and swimming in the bay will forever be etched in my heart and mind.
Fast forward to 2005, my husband and I were making the trek from Ohio to Mississippi where I had been living for the past 5 years. We were on our way to get married in Biloxi. A little hurricane named Katrina would change everything. We spent the Sunday evening we got in town at my grandparent’s home eating red beans & rice with cabbage and corn bread! True Southern delicacies! The following morning we woke to the rising waters, scrambled for to the attic and sat for 5 hours as the beautiful waters I admired as a child swallowed years of memories, family heirlooms, and the life as I had always known it. We got married in spite of it all on the sunniest Monday morning I had seen in ages. The church still stood and so did we.
A year after the storm my husband and I moved back to the beautiful Mississippi Gulf Coast. While my grandparents were rebuilding their home they had purchased a smaller mid-century modest home at the end of their street. We stayed with them and eventually their house was completed enough that they were able to move back in. That left us with our dream home, all ours! The renovations would have to wait as others around us were rebuilding and my grandfather, a retired construction company owner of 45 years, was helping others. When asked, when is your grandfather going to start on your windows I would remark, “God’s windows come first” as he worked to help the church we had been married in. So, we sat in a home that was haphazardly put back together after itself receiving 4 feet of water.
Eventually our turn came and as you can see from my blog and flickr, we are knee deep in renovating our mid-century modest home. Never a chore, I appreciate everything about our wonderful home and the blessing that we have in our life in spite of everything it has taken for us to get here. I get to live in the most wonderful neighborhood in the world where all of our neighbors have monthly “get togethers” and all our ladies are members of the Oak Park Garden Club. I get to see those oak lined streets, sprayed with flowers every day when I awake. We even have a fox family that moved into our neighborhood after the storm! It really is a treat to live in my house, in Oak Park, and in my beloved Biloxi. I truly love the house I’m in!
Victoria
I love the house I’m in for so many reasons! My home just warms my heart and puts a smile on my face. It’s a very happy house-
I love the house I’m in because it’s my first time owning and I love the process of bringing it back to its 1938 glory. And it’s a damn cute house!
I love my home because it is made in the USA! It has given me meaning in life, I feel like I am being renovated. I have been learning more about the mid century era and appreciate my home even more as I search and stumble on interesting information such as: RETRO RENOVATION!
Let me count the ways! My husband and I love our 1939 ranchalow because it’s perfect for us in every way. It unexpectedly came our way at the right time and for the right price. We love that the original owner sold us the house, and that she left us old photos and documents to find. We love its ranch-y bungalow interior and exterior style, and that it has original doorknobs and light fixtures. We love the ponderosa pine cabinets, trim, and floors that are in remarkably great condition. And most of all, we love that it’s our first home and renovation together . . . I don’t think we’ll ever want to move!
I love the house I am in because it’s my first home and I’m sharing it with the love of my life, it’s our first home. Brian and I met just before he deployed to Iraq for a year. We fell in love long distance and, when he got home, I relocated from Chicago to upstate NY and we bought a house together. Brian has less than a year at home before redeploying for yet another year. I’ve been busy turning our first house into our first home before he leaves. It’s not hard to do when the most important thing to make a house a home is love and we have that!
My husband and I are “geezer newlyweds” and we love the house we are in because we are making it our home, together. We were lucky enough to buy a custom 1956 brick bungalow from the original owner, so it has been meticulously maintained, but not updated. We stripped up old carpets to reveal the beautiful narrow board oak floors, stripped hideous 1980′s wallpaper and painted all the walls, and designed a new floor for the kitchen using VCT in a custom pattern to reflect the original (under 3 layers of vinyl and glue) inlaid linoleum floor. We have a den with a corner fireplace and sand-blasted and varnished knotty pine walls (fabulous!) I have made barkcloth and vintage curtains for all of the windows and we are considering adding an addition- keeping the flavor of the existing house. We are awaiting the return of our 1948 yellow Chambers range from the stove hospital and every day, we find something new to love about our home.
I love the house I’m in because I’ve transformed it into a home. My style, my taste, my hardwork.
I love, love, love my house. It is a small saltbox my ex-husband and I built in 1983. My dad did all the finish work inside, and I did the painting. I knew since the age of 11 I wanted to live on our family farm for the rest of my life, so when I got married, we built this home which is about two city blocks away from my parent’s restored 1806 farmhouse. I am surrounded by pine trees (we are a tree farm) and I have regular visits from deer, coyote, wild turkeys, wood ducks and Eastern bluebirds. My house is small and cozy and just perfect for me.
I love our 1955 Ranch. There – I said it – I own a Ranch and I love it. Not “settled” for it, not “like it because it’s practical but really wish it was something else,” not “love the neighborhood, but hate the house” – I live in a Ranch by CHOICE. And we love it.
Our house is a happy house – the first time I stepped into the house (and back in time, as other than the carpet that had been put in around 1972, everything was completely original), I could tell that happy families had lived there. Other children’s happy memories had filled the house and still whispered to us – I could tell that the house had a happy soul.
The layout is perfect for entertaining – I love the formals and the sweet pocket doors that block off the private rooms from the public areas. I love the big built-in bar that serves as the focal point in the room that we lovingly call the “boom boom room.” After a long day, there’s nothing better than saddling up to the bar for a tasty cocktail prepared by my bartending husband.
My house reminds me of the boundless enthusiasm of the post-WWII years. Not just pink bathrooms, but yellow, green and peach ones too! Not just closets, but linen closets and built-ins for papertowels and tin foil! With all its ammenities, the house seems to say, “hey! War is over! Life is good! Embrace happiness! Pull up a chair and have a drink – better yet, invite your friends and throw a party! C’mon – I’ll make it easy!” I love the unapologetic cheerfullness in every corner – its a happy-to-be-alive house – and it puts a smile on my face every time I come home.
We love our home…because it MCM awesome! We bought it last year from an older gal who’s family was the original owner. It is small and quaint and perfectly 50s – right up our alley! We are having a blast driving on weekends to Portland to find great retro treasures. And our best friends (one an instructor at a local art academy, the other an Etsy-extraordinaire) are helping us with the color scheme. Next up is a super-fab, high-gloss white makeover of the fireplace. We’re pretty into it as you can tell:) Thanks for the great contest Pam. All our retro-respects to the each and every reader – C&C in OR.
How about love the house you are almost in? We received the keys to our 1947 custom ranch house two weeks ago and are getting ready to move in by the end of the month. After being stuck in escrow hades for the last four months on our first house, it is finally ours to restore! My husband discovered this website right after we put in the offer and every day I check for new ideas like designs for vinyl composition tile floor to compliment the yellow and aqua tile kitchen, lighting fixtures, and the all important search of the forum in my quest for a mint green toilet and sink! In four months I have compiled years worth of projects to keep us busy!
I love the house I’m in because it is a sweet 1960 bungalow that feels so warm and welcoming in mid-century modest style. There’s no place I’d rather be (but don’t tell my husband who is seriously ready to hit the road with the motorhome).
My house and I have had a tumultuous relationship. When I finally decided that it was OK to buy a house on my own, and started house hunting, it became very apparent that my funds and the cost of the houses in my town of choice were not a good match. I love this town, though. Collingswood, NJ is a Philly suburb with Main Street USA charm a go-go, while still being progressive and inclusive to all types of families. My realtor pushed me towards towns with lower housing costs, but I wouldn’t budge. I would be a Collingswood homeowner or nothing! If only I could find a house with a low enough price for me to buy.
It was an estate sale. A little twin (a house sharing one wall with a neighbor) built in 1928. It had not been updated since the 1940′s which was fine by me! It had a pink and black tiled bathroom (save the pink bathrooms!) and pink octagonal tile on the floor in pristine condition! The kitchen was huge—with a formica countertop and tons of cabinets that with a little painting could be brought back to their former 40′s awesomeness. Plus it had a stow away ironing board and small tiers of half circle shelves on the cabinet corners. As for the rest of the house…it was a nightmare! Knob and tube wiring, windows falling out of their sashes and a tin porch roof that had rusted through and was raining water inside. However, the bottom line was, I could afford it!
That was about a year and a half ago. Since then my father and I have re-wired the entire house, it was converted from oil to gas heat, I got all new windows (thank you stimulus package), a couple of new doors and walls, a new porch roof, and the promise that if I stuck with it long enough this house would show its worth. I’ve learned that 1920′s construction is structural gold in comparison to the houses built today, and with every improvement I see a little of my home’s former glory shining through.
We’ve had a rough go of it, including several basement floods and a squirrel infestation, but I definitely feel like we’re in this together—the house and I. I can almost hear her cheering me on, saying, “I’m in it if you are!” Go you, house—I love you to death! That’s right, I’ll say it: I love my house!!!
I Love my house because not only is it a house but its my Home. I have put my hard work into wanting my home to look like and be what I love, vintage, retro, & etc. Allthough I’m far from being done in making this my dream home, day by day I still find something new to do or make to make it my style. My 4 year old loves to help make our home pretty
My husband and 2 childern love living here in just the right amount of space and yard! My husband shares my style and taste in the renovations, and thats what I love, that my whole family loves the home that we live in & the style!! I truely love my Home and I can’t wait to see how it will look after I finally get it renovated!!!
We love our 1954 ranch home in Rosedale – a neighborhood consisting of a handful of tree-lined streets in beautiful Austin, Texas. It’s April and the temperatures have already hit 80 degrees and the sun is shining in on our mud rooms – in the front AND the back of our lovely home. Should we stroll over to the Upper Crust Bakery and enjoy delicious cinnamon rolls or to the Taco Shack for breakfast eggs and bacon rolled in tortillas? Perhaps we will take a swim in the Ramsey Park pool or go for a run and scope out ideas for native palms and cactuses… Jealous yet? We also have a pink bathroom. How about now?
; )
We love our mostly brick 1945 home because it is unique – the only one on the street (soon to be declared History West Broadway) like it. The house was built with interesting features that make it fun to live in and be with friends and family.
I love my 1950 bungalow because it embodies traits I value — quality and efficiency. It’s well built and laid out and was well maintained by its original owner, Miss Florence. It welcomed me in from the second I stepped on the porch; I couldn’t let anyone else buy it.
It needs a lot of cosmetic fixes to bring it back to its mid-century glory, but it’s fun to do (even if it is a lot of work). I’m happy every minute I’m home, and that’s priceless.
Why do I love the house I am in? Because it’s one year older than me! And it suits all of us to a T. It’s a 1968 custom built home that leans towards modern versus traditional and has everything I could have ever wanted in a house. A walk-in pantry, a mudroom an upstairs laundry room, a spacious master suite etc., etc., etc. It has lots of original details that I adore and that I am enjoying working with rather than gutting and replacing. It’s a fun challenge and one that keeps us busy!
I love the house I’m in, a 1954 cottage style ranch. My husband had the house before we met, and I have to admit that I fell in love with the house and especially the kitchen before I fell in love with my husband. Every countertop, cabinet, and appliance is authentic to the house with the exception of the refrigerator and even includes an elevator oven. Walking into the kitchen brings back many childhood memories from the 50′s.
The house just has so much character – definitely not cookie-cutter. The LR is long and narrow and has three large floor to ceiling windows that are most likely precursers to sliding doors. Oh, and lots of archways for a little house.
The outside of the house has the wide clapboards and is painted the typical New England white with green shutters and, of course, a green roof to match the shutters.
It definitely is modest home, but cute, warm, and fun.
I love our 1950′s house.
We are the third owners of a craftsman home built in 1921. The home was rated condemnable by the county when we bought it. Most renovations have been functional more than aesthetic but we just completed a bathroom renovation that allowed us to create a wonderful shower inspired by 1940s tile designs. I found retrorenovation as I researched bath and tile designs. I continue using this website for inspiration as we can soon begin focusing on personalizing our home.
Our house turns 60 years old this year! It is so comfy! I love the1950′s custom wood cabinets, the knotty pine den, pocket doors and our sky blue tiled bathroom upstairs and of course, the ubiquitous pink bathroom downstairs. Of course the fully bricked exterior really gives it a timeless look!
I love my house because it reminds me of time gone-by, as well as bringing us forward.
I love my little mid-century ranch home for many reasons: My husband and I renovated/restored every inch of the home together & it’s where we lived when we got married. I love that it was built before “modern” building methods cheapened the character and quality of homes. I have beautiful hardwoords, original Marsh wood cabinets, peach shower tile with a little mosaic tile shower floor, skinny pink brick partial exterior, cedar plank siding, and it’s my first home with a garage (yay!). I even kind of love the original jalousie windows because I can keep them open during wet weather and listen to the rain.
I love ‘playing house’ in my house! After a long day of work, I can walk in the door, string on my pearls, fasten on my arpon, and whalloolaa! I am transformed into a 50′s house wife
Our family is the proud second owner of this fab 1950′s two-story colonial because ~
our house has CHARACTER ( baby blue metal kitchen cupboards to beginwith)
It is COZY (a family room adorned in knotty wood pine walls & boxbeam ceiling, & two fireplaces to warm our long MN winters)
CONVENIENT (suburban location, walk to library or park or coffee or school)
CLASSY (great curb appeal!)
I love our 1956 split level for so many reasons. Although we were looking for something older (20′s-40′s bungalow) this home has turned out to be so much more than we expected. We just moved in a few months ago, so it’s still new and exciting to us! I love the huge front picture window with beautiful view of the neighborhood, the 3 distinct living areas of a split level, the brick front, the hardwood floors, the pink master bath, the pink kitchen sink, and even the slightly distressed kitchen counter tile and old wood cabinets. Oh, and the split level backyard with humongous pool (a lot of upkeep for DH & sons!). While others would want to “update” (especially the kitchen) we bought this house for its 50′s charm and want to keep it just the way it is.
When we were house-hunting, I knew I wanted a Cape Cod style because that is what my grandparents had. My grandparents house always was a safe, loving place. As a child, I’d rather be there than anywhere in the world. My grandparents were modest people, factory workers who never graduated HS, but saved their money and bought their first and only home when they were in their mid-40s.
The furniture was all Early American Ethan Allen (my grandmother splurged). She furnished the “summer kitchen” in the basement with her old chrome table and chairs from their old apartment. There was bamboo furniture in the “bar room” with old light-up bar signs my grandpa got from a friend who had a bar and the barstools were bright orange. My special bedroom had a chenille bedspread and really cool lamps with cowboys on it. She had a lot of hobnail milk glass, as well as some atomic-type coolness, most of which was in that bar room.
When I saw my house, a 1964 Cape Cod, one of the only on a block filled with raised ranches and split levels and new 4000+ sq. ft. Center Hall Colonials, I knew in my heart that it was my house. And I was right…I get the same good feeling of being safe, and would rather be here than anywhere else in the world. It’s filled with a lot of my grandmother’s furniture and collectibles, along with “my stuff”. Hopefully someday, my kids will look back on their childhood home with the same memories and feelings I have of my safe childhood home.
We love the house we’re in — a 1959 ranch colonial kitchen — mostly because of the two-sided sandstone and flagstone fireplace between the living and dining rooms. It separates the huge bank of sliding glass doors on both sides. I can’t wait to get everything unpacked and decorated enough to entertain. An excuse to pick up some vintage barware!
Love the turquoise shower and the white-and-gold flecked Formica vanity in the Jack N Jill bathroom, plus the curvy birch wood valance over the sink in the kitchen.
It’ll be cool and homey when we’re done fixing the remuddling!
Linda and I love our house because of the uniqueness and the challenge of putting it back together. We were tweens when this house was built in 1967 and never thought anything from that era could be so cool! But, from lamps to fixtures to cars and furniture we have learned all about restoring and living with……say a wall mounted 1969 Modern Maid toaster. Who needs Crate and Barrel and Pottery Barn when there is Al’s vintage, Habitat and Goodwills all over out here in Mesa AZ. Our flat roof ranch with Formica counters and built-ins are a refreshing change from the stucco mcmansions we lived in prior to this. Long live retro!
I love the house I am in! We are about the same age. We both remember the great times of the 50′s & appreciate where we are now. Both of us are just glad to be here! We can always use a little work but our foundations are strong & we just love to have all the family together & under our roof. That is what a house is all about- a wonderful home for the family.
i LOVE MY HOUSE BECAUSE IT REPRESENTS THE NEW ME…AFTER A PAINFUL DIVORCE, MY DAUGHTERS AND I UP AND MOVED FROM A LARGE MCMANSION, WHICH NEVER FELT LIKE HOME, TO A SWEET, LITTLE “DOLLHOUSE” ON A BEAUTIFUL POND. WE FEEL PEACE AND SERENITY HERE AS WE WATCH THE SWANS GLIDE OUTSIDE OUR WINDOWS. WE CAN WALK OUR THREE DOGS TO THE BEACH OR MARINA, LIKE I’VE ALWAYS DREAMED OF. I CAN HONESTLY SAY, THIS HOUSE MAKES ME SO HAPPY – IT IS SIMPLE AND BEACHY, HOMEY AND COZY, CLEAN AND MOST OF ALL – NO MORE LIVING IN A BIG HOUSE THAT I FELT LONELY IN. I LOVE MY HOUSE BECAUSE IT IS …HOME.
I love our house because it’s different- it’s from 1968 and was basically a blank slate when we moved in. I love that nothing in our house looks like it’s from a catalog and although it presents its own unique challenges, it fits our needs perfectly and is in an excellent location.
I am really trying to love the house I’m in. It’s a new home (mostly because the historic ones in my rural town rarely get on the market… but I check all the time!), but I am retro-fying the inside. From my boomerang table, to retro vinyl floor in the kitchen (the guy at the design center thought we were kidding!), to my glorious mid century teak dining room, I’m working with what I have and trying to make a home that is pretty on the inside.
I LOVE THE HOUSE I LIVE IN! I have loved it since 1940 when I first lived here as a three year old. I grew up here. I married here. I moved back after my Mother passed away. (She made me promise not to sell her house.) So, here I am. It is a wonderful house with wonderful memories past and memories in the making. I have made my granddaughter promise not to sell my house. The tradition lives on.
When I first saw my home I knew it was right for me. My home is a small arts and crafts bungalow that I just found charming. No big mega-homes for me, my cozy home is perfect. Oddly, I was especially drawn to the built in cabinets in my tiny kitchen. I have talked with designers and contractors where I live to try to maximize my kitchen space and they all want me to rip out and “update” my kitchen with what they insist are real wood cabinets. I ask you, how can anything that shiny & fake looking be real wood?! I think of the carpenter who built my kitchen cabinets almost 100 years ago using skill, attention to detail and a work ethic often unseen today. I feel a connection – and an obligation – to my home to be true to it’s beauty and it’s future so it continues to not only hold it’s own among the sprawl and growth, but be the home that people say “How quaint and charming, why don’t we build them like that anymore?”
I love our ranch house because not only do we have one fab pink bathroom, but we also have a buttercup yellow bath. The original owner who built the house in 1959 was a Urologist and you can tell that he thought the bathrooms were really important. One of them even has a water fountain in it! Too cool.
I love our 1950 ranch for so many reasons!!! We have only lived here for a few months, and I love that we will be spending many years making it our own while watching our sons grow up here.
I love our 1955 Cape Cod because it came complete with the original Youngstown Kitchen cabinets. At first we said we would live with them, then we grew to like them, now we celebrate them!
I love my mid-century ranch for it’s the rich appeal of the wood floors, plaster coved
ceilings, pink bathroom with clothes chute and huge storage cabinet, endless closet
space, stone fireplace that matches the stone exterior of the house, basement with
endless storage space, the yard with the beautiful mature trees, especially the 60 ft. tall row of blue spruce lining the edge of the backyard, and the breathtaking Japanese magnolia that is now in full bloom outside the dining room window. When house hunting, I think I looked at every house on the market in my town. When I walked into this one, I just knew she was mine! My boyfriend tried to talk me out of it, but her charm and character just spoke to me like no other had, and I just had to have the pink bathroom and the giant gorgeous magnolia outside my window as I sipped my coffee on a spring morn! Glad I listened to myself on this one!
I inherited my childhood home (built in 1949 with 4 bedrooms and 2 baths, one pink and blue) — many memories! We restored it last summer
and moved in this house in August. I love it not only because my parents loved it
and kept it in good shape, but because we do not have a mortgage! Yeah!!!
I love my house for many reasons, but mostly because it is the first house my husband and I bought together and we were so proud the day we signed the papers. It was ours!
Thank you for this giveaway!!
I love the house I’m in because my husband lives there too
It is also a glorious 1962 ranch that suits my style sense to a T.
Thanks for the site, inspiration and all the resources Pam!
Richard in Repentigny
I love the house I’m in because it is the fourth “untouched time capsule” house I’ve bought during my adult life that was built between 1948-1952 and I’ve been the second owner in all cases. I love my house because it is the first and only house that my second husband and I bought TOGETHER, so the memories created in it will be of us and not of any former spouses. I love my house because we bought it to downsize, yet I don’t feel like I had to compromise anything except some space because I have good “bones” to work with in regards to bringing my 1952 story-and-a-half post war bungalow back to it’s glory days.
I love the house I’m in because it was love at first sight. My husband, Michael, and I walked in and just knew this was the house for us. Our 1957 brick ranch was virtually untouched which is a blessing and a curse. You know the story, original light fixtures, hardwood floors, awesome bathroom with turquoise Formica and painted glass tiles, but plumbing and electrical needed updating among other things. It’s still a work in progress, but so worth it!
We are the second owners. We purchased our home four years ago from a nice lady who was selling it on her mother’s behalf since her mother had to go to a nursing home. We developed a friendship that has lasted since the day we met.
It’s a great home filled with love in a great neighborhood where we always plan to stay and raise our son, John.
well…the first thing i love about our house is that its OURS…my husband and I have always rented and finally, at 40 years old, we bought. yay! i had two requirements while we were house-hunting…hardwood floors and a gas stove. our hundred year-old bungalow in midtown Memphis has both and more. i love our gorgeous hardwood floors, our lushly flowered yard, our huge kitchen (with gas stove), our black and white and pink toile bath, i could go on and on…but what i really love that its a home. our home.
I love the house I’m in because it was worth every second of the home search…and now the renovating! My boyfriend and I are the recent owners of a 1952 California-style ranch…in small town, farmland Michigan (now you know why the search lasted so long!).
Green tile bathrooms, walls of windows, two fireplaces and the funky gold accented paneled walls in the basement are just a few of the reasons why we instantly fell in love with our find!
Currently working on getting it back to its original 1952 state for us to enjoy day in and day out, enjoying meals under our pull-down atomic chandelier and enjoying lots of sunshine in the living room while watching our Mad Man season dvds!
Every time I pull into my driveway to see my little time capsule, I’m all smiles!
I LOVE my 1950s brick ranch house! I looked for months(!!) for THE house in my price range that was a fixer-upper but still solid. When I drove up to the house, with its purple shutters, white garden table with bird, blue and white awnings, and weird garden decorations, I KNEW it was the one for me. 2 years later and lots of hard work, she still is the one for me! And there is always work to be done!
I love my house. I love its big, spacious rooms. I love that my dog and kids can RUN inside. I love that my house needs me so much! It was unwanted, neglected by the architect who lived here before. I “get” my house. I lived here for 2 years before I started renovating, absorbing the house and its environment, imagining and envisioning what I would do. In the past 3 years, I’ve touched every single surface. Sanded and re-stained trim, scraped 7 layers of wallpaper off the sad walls in the front room and retextured them to a beautiful smooth gleam, painted every ceiling and room, torn out walls and made discoveries. I discovered that where I wanted to put my sink, a sink had formerly lived! Where I wanted to put a wall, a wall had formerly been — there was a header hidden under the sheet rock. Where I wanted to paint gray, there had been gray and still was behind the molding, and where I thought a doorway should be added, guess what? A doorway was framed behind the plaster. I have not gutted, but carefully uplifted and refurbished. In exchange for my labors I have beautiful fresh rooms that feel as if they’ve always been this way. I watch the sun rise over Mt. Hood from my shower each morning, and I keep my eye on Mt. St. Helens throughout the day. At night, I enjoy the twinkling lights of Portland’s waterfront and downtown. During the holidays, I snuggle in the big chair with my children and watch the lighted boat parade on the river. Sketching ideas with my kids, shopping for tile, scraping old paint while sipping tea and talking, this is what we do in my family. This 1937 house is alive and well. It has taken continuous work, consumed my thoughts, inspired my imagination. Through living here and loving my house, I’ve become more skilled and more grounded. I know we belong here, and I know my old house loves me too!
I love my 1957 split-level for so many reasons, here are a few; 1) a clean asymmetrically angled roof-line. 2) a turquoise blue AMF full-size pooltable that I’m sure they built the family room around. 3) a pink and gray bathroom. 4) especially, the very unpretentious neighborhood it sits in.
When I walk through the sliding glass portals of the house I love and live in, I am transported to a comforting and familiar world of mid century so thoroughy it’s as if Tinkerbelle has sprinkled me with fairy dust. It’s taken years, but it’s been a labor of love to make something so un-mid mod into “as mid century as you can get with no money”.
Our much-loved home is simply a very plain little 1970′s rectangle which has been filled with every original piece from the era which the retro thrifting gods have seen fit to bestow upon me.
This little abode began as nothing more than a weekender’s place on the Carolina coast which was put together beginning in the late ’60′s with scrap, junk, and cast-offs. Many of these cast-offs have turned out to be some ot the most remarkable mid mod fixtures: Lightolier bathroom lights, funky Persian tile lino, and a sliding glass door the brand of which graced the Eichlers. It’s a crazy quilt becoming a little more of an atomic boomerang each day.
I love my 1957 mid-mod because walking into it is like walking into a house that someone built and left (mostly) perfectly still for all of these years, and yet, it gives one the perception that these walls could share some fun stories. I love the huge windows that show off the beautiful trees, I love the mahogany paneling and built-ins everywhere, I love my original kitchen with its highlighter yellow countertops and Thermador oven. Mostly, it just fits our family, and lets us be who we are. Sure, there are some things that need work or need to be restored. But just as this house lets us be ourselves, we will help it become itself once again. One project at a time!
we’ve lived in our house about three yrs now, and we’re still changing the way it looks; we want everything to live in harmony- h wakefield buffet, the lighted daylight donuts sign, the knoll chair that looks like a pair of lips, and the painted velvet pictures, to mention a few- all kinds of styles can go together- you just have to make them talk to each other; forgive the faux metaphysics, i just couldn’t figure out any other way to say it; it’s a fun house, and we love being here; it goes perfectly with a gin and tonic; thanks, and thanks for the great work, bob terrill, ft collins, colo