Ted and Marzie just closed on their “new” 1948 ranch house. But… do we really call it a ranch house, when the facade also has some delicious Streamline Moderne married to it? And… how should they decorate? Ted wants our ideas — and has sent photos to inspire our input. The invitation is out: time for all of us to put out thinking caps on and play decorator-designer!
Hi, I have a problem I’m hoping you and your readers can help me with. I just purchased a house because it spoke to me, only I can’t quite figure out what it is saying yet. It’s giving me mixed messages. The house is a 1948 ranch with the typical long, low horizontal lines of a wide, single story house with a hip roof and big overhangs, combined with the strong vertical lines of a curved glass block and brick Art Deco “Waterfall”, or “Streamline Moderne” entry. So is it a mid-century modern ranch, or is it Art Deco or just plain eclectic?
Some details have been lost over the years, but some remain like the original pink and blue bathroom, and there was a swinging kitchen door found up in the attic with a round port in it reminiscent of a ship (think Streamline). The bathroom addition to the right with its high, small windows is totally wrong, and the rest of the interior is just plain vanilla post war ranch with its plain, narrow trim and 8′ ceilings.
I have some ideas, many actually, but I’m struggling to come up with a cohesive direction to go with for this house as far as design inside and out. Do I use the remaining original bathroom with its worn tile as my inspiration, and match the new kitchen to it, or do I go with a more modern (1950’s/1960’s) feel throughout? Personally, I’m seeing red countertops and light birch cabinets for the kitchen on the inside, and sunny yellow with bright blue doors and grey trim for the exterior. I admit, I’m typically drawn to Arts & Crafts/Revival houses of the 1930’s with their warm, custom crafted details, so I’m a little out of my element.
I’d love to hear what ideas you and your readers have, including directing me to vendors that might fit the bill.
Ted, whatever you call it, I love it — thank you for sharing; congratulations; and hooray that this house has made its way into thoughtful hands. And I love your sense of humor. Yes, readers say they listen to their houses, too, and sometimes it even gets… spooky! Okay, readers, here’s your chance:
- What to call the style of this house?
- How to remodel in a way that suits the original architecture — kitchen, bathrooms, colors for the exterior, and general ideas welcome!
LuAnn says
Congratulations on the awesome house! The 1940s are one of my favorite time periods for home decor. Pam has some great stories and time capsules from the 40s for inspration. For the kitchen, I tend to love white metal kitchen cabinets or wood painted to look similar to the metal. Either way, you could mimic the curved features on the exterior with curved whatnot shelves. Keep the pink and blue bathroom if at all possible! It’s so adorable, and period appropriate for sure. Hope you have a great time figuring it all out. ????
Pam, of course we’re all still here. This website is one of the first things I read in the mornings. And you know we all come out of the woodwork to comment on your fabulous design dilemmas. Can’t resist! Lol! ❤
Michelle Smith says
You do indeed have a streamline modern house. I would advise sitting down with google for a bit a researching interiors and exteriors for Streamline Modern architecture. There’s so much to see. One of my favorites and very underrepresented, at least in my little corner of the country. “Proper” exterior color would be crisp whites or even very pale greys with black (and white)trim. It would technically be fine to paint the brick the same field color as the rest of the house to try to make it disappear more, if you so desired, or even skim coating it to match house would work too.
As far as the interior goes, I wouldn’t touch the bathroom if it is structurally sound. Those look to be mud-set tiles and are far superior to what you would be replacing them with. The kitchen needs slab doors, I would think. And Ikea would actually work here if custom cabinetry is not an option. They have a high gloss door that would be fabulous if you could not find metal cabinets(that’s a tough job nowadays). Check these out:
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/30266734/
And furnishings could run the gamut from deco to 60s mid century as long as they leaned more crisp and clean I think mixing would look right.
Enjoy!
ineffablespace says
I would watch Dark Passage, with Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, and Agnes Moorehead (1947). Bacall’s character, Irene, lives in a Moderne building
Dan says
That building is on Montgomery St, just down from Coit Tower, if I recall correctly. Last time I was there, there was a bobbing Bogart head in the apartment window.
Carol says
This is my all time favorite “pretty” movie. Everything is so gorgeous in this movie. Bacall’s beauty is shocking and Bogie is so sexy and the apartment is so perfect, my imagination is stunted while viewing. Great call ineffablespace.
DJ says
Oh, those curved glass block windows- I would have bought it just for that!
There are so many good suggestions on here from readers with much more experience than I, but I do love Ruth’s suggestion to go post-war 40’s streamline, Hollywood glam, and black and white kitchen. But then, I think all kitchens should be B & W (and turquoise!) And Hollywood glam is always appropriate!
Take your time and have fun with it! I’m so glad your house picked you, and remember that an art project this large (really, what are our houses but a large art project?) takes time, and each step you take might lead to a new inspiration. So keep an open mind and an ear to the wall- you never know what your house might ask for!
PS~ Sharing ongoing pictures is a must!
Scott says
I just wanted to say thank you and well done for staging the street view shot with a period-appropriate vehicle. Nothing kills the vibe of Mid-Century Moderne (notice the extra E) like a brand new SUV in the driveway. 🙂
Ruth says
I would go with post-war forties streamline looks. Hollywood-glam where you can. Black and white kitchen.
Go to town with that pink potty! I’d strip the cabinet and open it up. Those doors and drawers are looking sad. Can a cabinet maker convert to open shelving with chic boxes to hold your stuff?
I would get a 40’s wall covering that marries the two colors of pink and blue. I might find a fabric, make curtains, then go online and read about methods for using fabrics as wall coverings.
Sconces and a chandelier, along with wall mirrors would be fab!
Flooring. Tile in baths and kitchens, plush shaggy carpets in other areas.
So lucky! Enjoy!
ineffablespace says
I have not read all the comments but I’d call it a late example of Deco Moderne or Art Moderne.
Is this PNW by any chance? The overall house and the windows has a west coast kind of execution to it.
Similar time capsules here have kitchen cabinets either with the 3/8″ partial overlay, like in your bathroom, or are metal, full overlay, but with a radius on the top and bottom of the door.
I think a 3/8″ partial overlay would probably be shop custom, except Wood-Mode may still offer one. (Kind of ironic that this would be high end now when it’s the sort of thing every finish carpenter built back then). Various companies make a full overlay door with a radius top and bottom, and Plain and Fancy makes a “pillowed” sort of overlay door which might be nice. I do think you have to take cues from the bathroom when redoing the kitchen and other bath.
I think there is a potential danger in new renovations looking a bit too slick and modern, even if somehow they are pretty correct. The bathroom is a perfect example. All sorts of houses had the same sort of bathroom. The moderne aspect of the house has little to do with it. And many of the details are modest and even some of the moderne elements may be slightly clumsy compared to something current and moderne or streamline inspired. Think of how auto designers and other industrial designers of the era Drew their product vs. how it was actually executed. The technology was still sort of pre-War before the 1950s. I don’t think a plain slab door a-la IKEA would be quite right. And no granite, anywhere.
Other things that similar time capsule here have are lots of mirrors..doors or mirrored walls– and pinch pleat draperies, everywhere. It may be regional, but there is a distinct feel of mid-century “Regency” in the fixed decor of the houses here, with a sort of formality that contrasts a bit with the modesty of other details of the house. One house I have saved has leather tiled floors in a small den.
I think the furniture can be a mix of just about anything. Again, this house would not have been furnished entirely in what we consider MCM furniture today. There would have been a mix of fairly traditional and streamline and modern most likely. Certain types of antiques would probably even look good, just not massive late Victorian because of the scale. And, because of scale a lot of current neo-traditional-transitional furniture would not do this house any favors either, it’s usually too big.
Felicia Alexander says
One more thought: if you need to replace that red linoleum floor but want to preserve a similar look, Marmoleum might be your solution. It’s an option for the kitchen floor, too.
http://www.forbo.com/flooring/en-us/products/marmoleum/cfctp7
Ted Crocker says
I like their products. I did a kitchen remodel for my cousin’s 1957 ranch using their flooring. Ignore the black dishwasher and modern faucet.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/RPmN2mT20R6c2jL9EANPl1EpksrLQD7-nS05GOF3z3nUrzlU_zLhEk2TFJvIJyy_A2KNPUFR0yIUj08u8XuHiicqC-PSqaz56YVHhzur0g0LDuabtwcCyK2oFe3oYR4UP6PNfDrc1AojqbqvQuzxWg3RQYyTv0NE9RDBDtFu3CebHl5cZal8Fj_p9hQE0JL8eBql3vQLHM1UpDOiY1m9_Ybq7nCeli7pKGT06vXkcynb2m0rCES9PzhSPzQqw6LLsXpYRCDXyGo-VATGFDl3-fAG7slFQZ-TYvz0-l6ncCRKKQzuPImTuMLOisJ3GUXGjGvuAAs09QlbzW9v9zaALXzgGKWl21_uI89cLkw59AtbLgyjDERhbP1dGLSKF0IeHVPYY64kHoBAig1vxIVaLgxFqPh0nEGcS9kMLs5dlVYFOVwq8BktoSyl7jbiIG4WHEQShJwLEeE4faNNQLHt-FQ7znSPMMhVtw65271dTmxUIKCN1TpnpplrC970IgIQPfQBzIhsclgDVIWqqBng3vSTFQa3kWEWmeOoovIGyq_KpjS3wA5T4A6We4LDDz1vXNH-Rou05fOaCa_Pb25-v2_9AYWofiYhSBxiBBnQKu80wpw7M9fz8xme=w711-h948-no
Felicia Alexander says
Thanks for sharing. Really nice aesthetic balance on those multicolored flooring inserts, and cool drawer knobs, too. I don’t begrudge the black dishwasher and modern faucet. After all, a truly historically appropriate dishwasher for this kitchen would probably be a housewife doing it all by hand. There are some places most of us are probably not willing to go for the sake of preservationism.
Lisa Pildes says
Haha!
Carol says
Ahhhh, you have skills that will serve you well. I like the color of the hardwood floors, it’s classic. I personally would go for the sedate art deco look when decorating with the smoldering colors and mohair upholstery. I would keep it tailored and sophisticated. As one reader suggested, check out Miami design in the 40’s. Another reader suggested a darker color palette. Check out barkcloth online for color inspiration or shop for vintage on ebay. Look for “cutters” on ebay, which is basically a remnant, or damaged, but has useable fabric when cut up. That’s an affordable way to have colors in your hand. Old barkcloth has an amazing palette of colors. Some chunky Hey-Wake would pop against those floors. Keep everything original if it’s salvageable. Google English Art Deco and English Streamline Modern images. This style (your house) was extremely popular on the other side of the pond. Have fun and photos, photos, photos, we are a greedy bunch for eye candy.
Janet Adair says
Don’t worry about a name for the style! It’s just plain FABULOUS! Don’t touch that pink bathroom~ just paint the walls & update light fixture. For the kitchen put the sink under the window~ use slab front cabinets or metal ones if you can find them online~ check out Marmoleum flooring. Good Luck! !!!
Felicia Alexander says
What a wonderful house–congratulations! Your design instincts seem very good to me, although I agree with everyone who advises you not to paint over the brick–the horizontal lines created by the brick and mortar draw the eye to the Streamline Moderne windows and accentuate them.
That pink-and-black bathroom is a treasure. Please don’t change or replace anything in it unless it is so worn out that it can’t be saved.
Personally, I really dislike the current fashion for dark wood flooring. I’d be inclined to strip and refinish the wood floors in a medium-to -medium-light stain (depending on what the wood is) to bring out the natural wood grain. That will also make the rooms feel more spacious, especially if you bring in larger pieces of Deco-era wood furniture.
It’s hard to tell from your picture what condition the red linoleum at the bottom of the stairs is in, but it might be worth keeping if it’s in good shape.
If it were me, I would repaint before moving in. Nothing screams twenty-first century quite like gray, mushroom, or stark white walls. This house is much too fun for such cold, sedate colors. I very much like your idea of painting the exterior yellow (what yellow do you have in mind, by the way? Canary? Lemon?). Consider blue as an alternate trim color to gray, although a light gray would admittedly look classy. I like the suggestions others have made to paint the front door blue, but I’m not sure what blues would work with the brick detail.
Do with the kitchen as your design spirit moves you, but send Pam some pictures when you’re done!