These illustrations from the National Plan Service courtesy Indiana Coal & Lumber companay are idealistic – picture perfect – to be sure. Even so, they all include great little ideas to scrutinize and consider replicating in our own little jewel box 40s 50s and 60s ranches, colonials, capes, splits and contemporaries.

Some tips from this model:

• Color scheme – I personally am a huge fan of gold as a paint color for ranch homes.
• Cupola – a great great addition to a postwar ranch, cape or colonial
• Lots of cool ironwork – connected to lighting
• Note the mix of horizontal and vertical wood, stone, and fretwork above the picture window
• The glass block wondow near the little pine tree, and the window on the green mudroom door are delightful
• Ooooh, and look at the planter with horizontal, minimalistic trellis.

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A classic colonial 50s home

A little two-story colonial action from my stash of dream homes, courtesy the Indiana Coal and Lumber Co. and National Plan Service. Isn’t this dreamy?

As we’re looking at these, notice the little design touches to emulate. Here: Green roof with green/grey shutters… the light above the garage – (we know where to buy this)… the ornamental iron work holding up the porch… the mixture of vertical wood, horizontal wood and brick… the way the fence meets with the hedge and the house…the two decorative corbels connecting the first story of the house to the second story… the upstairs pull-shades and curtains perfectly matched for curb appeal… the decorative bathroom window visible within the porch… the scrolled trim above the garage door… in fact, this two story colonial has a bit of storybook ranch going on!

Click the ‘tag’ below to see the whole series.

Related posts:

1. A 1950 American Dream Home A second image from my collection of 1950 National Plan...
2. A 1950 American Dream House These illustrations from the National Plan Service courtesy Indiana Coal...
3. 1950 American dream houses – we start a new series This year I was really fortunate to nab a real...

A second image from my collection of 1950 National Plan Service homes courtesy the Indiana Coal and Lumber Company. This little series of homes — just about perfection.

Related posts:

1. A 1950 American Dream home A little two-story colonial action from my stash of dream...
2. A 1950 American Dream House These illustrations from the National Plan Service courtesy Indiana Coal...
3. 1950 American dream houses – we start a new series This year I was really fortunate to nab a real...