Oh, how we love thee: The original features — big and small — in our homes. They managed to avoid the curse of the previous owner update. Or, maybe you found a time capsule whose first owner who knew they had something good, and didn’t change a thing. Yes, we neeeeeeeded to see the original “they don’t make ’em like that anymore” architectural details and features in readers’ old houses — and you gave us 483 photos, to be exact! There is some FANTASTIC stuff in here! Uploader is now closed — thanks, everyone, for playing. Time to gawk! Above: Close-up of the room divider in Andy A’s 1962 house. Oh my! See? We bet you’re gawkin’ already. 🙂
To see the slide show, click on the thumbnail, it will enlarge, then use the arrows just below to move forward or back. You can start or stop the show from any slide.
Erin says
Doug Camin, I love your split! (Reminds me a lot of ours!) Would love to see more! The scale of your furniture in here is really great!
Doug Camin @ House on Rynkus Hill says
Thanks Erin! We lucked out on the furniture in the living room – the sectional couch and end table were purchased by my Grandparents in the early 1960s. The couch has always sat in the exact same spot, so there are old pictures and slides of family sitting on the couch (with different upholstery) that you can hold up and look at sort of like peering through a time machine. We keep a blog chronicling the work we’ve been doing and it has a lot of other pictures. You can click on my name here and it will take you there.
Diane of PA says
Its just mind blowing that of all of the people that have uploaded photos no one has the same details.,everyone has something very different and unique! Keep em coming……….!
pam kueber says
I KNOW! I agree, Diane — it’s just amazing what’s out there! So many fabulous details — including in mid century MODEST houses!
Ada says
Oh my god, the green bathroom with the ‘shark fin’ shower! I’d totally have bought the house for that room too!…and I’d be sleeping in that shower! Gorgeous!
Janet in CT says
To the reader who posted the photo of the pink bathroom with Morrocan print wallpaper, I think that is a marvelous look. Is that vanity tapered? You are so fortunate to have this look and I wish we could see more of it. I could not read the print under the photo so I hope that you read this and can add it to the comments. I am always pleased to see someone saved a pink bathroom! To my greatest chagrin, I did not save mine in my first home, a 1958 ranch, but that was 1978 and what did I know then?
Roxanne says
It’s totally the cats pajamas here with all this eye candy!
We are in the process of redecorating our bedroom. So I came here to relax. Started to post pics. But forgot to add my handle/name on the pic of my accordion bedroom door and toile carpet.
I will add it from here out when I post pics of my bath.
How fun it will be to check back and see all the weekends posts!
Silly me,
Roxanne – Crete, Ne
Natalie MC says
I went to an estate sale today at a house that had AMAZING bathrooms. They will all be gutted and redone :(. The downstairs one had beautiful tile work on the floors and wall. THE WALL PAPER! Silver foil in shades of pinks and blues with birds. SO FANTASTIC. I got a couple pictures before I left.
jeannette bisbee says
Please, please, please will the person who posted the picture’s of the amazing Gladding McBean turquoise tile kitchen from the 1950’s post more pictures. We have to remodel our kitchen next year, and that is exactly what I want our kitchen to look like……
Everybody’s homes are so inspirational–a local home magazine in our area up in Ontario Canada said one of the newest design trends was ‘retro’ renovation…unfortunately, they did not use or mention this fabulous website….nor were the featured item in the article very ‘retro’, but, hey, at least its a start in the right direction….
But, please, I have to see more of that great tile kitchen, so we can start making plans!!!
Aleta says
WOW! so much to look at! I am particularly fond of that mustard-color wrap-around fireplace! And the Gladding McBean Hermosa tile in Florida! will be looking some more later tonite and thanks to all for sharing 🙂
LauraL says
Loving all these details! Makes me appreciate my mid-century home more. Wish I had one of those doorbell covers with bells on it!
Doug Camin @ House on Rynkus Hill says
Kevin Wagner – the details in your house are awesome. Would love to know some more details about your place.
Kevin Wagner says
Doug, Thanks! It was designed and built by Frank Lloyd Wright apprentice Robert Beharka for his family. Bob began his apprenticeship with Wright in 1954, and supervised the construction of three Wright houses. The last one was the Fawcett house in Los Banos, Ca. During the construction he met a local gal, fell in love and stayed in little Los Banos to start a family and his own practice. This house he built for his family, the whole family took part in building the house, so it took almost 5 years to build. He was a friend and mentor to me, he passed away in 2010 at 84 years old. He was an amazing Architect.
Doug Camin @ House on Rynkus Hill says
Kevin – I actually had a sentence in my first reply that cherokee red was a color typical of a Frank Lloyd Wright influence but removed it – should have known! What a great house. That’s awesome that you got to know him as well. What a great story to be able to share.