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Julia Baum captures the “vibrant display of personality” in cookie-cutter tract houses — 50 years later

pam kueber - Updated: November 5, 2020

Retro Renovation stopped publishing in 2021; these stories remain for historical information, as potential continued resources, and for archival purposes.

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Take a neighborhood full of cookie-cutter tract houses …  let their owners fuss with them … and 50 years later photographer Julia Baum finds that they have been “transformed from modest white cubes into a vibrant display of personality and present a rebellion against conformity….human individuality cannot be contained. Inevitably it shines through even the most average facade.” I love her study, which demonstrates again that their is so much to love about our jewel box mid-century homes. No matter how small, the opportunity is there to make them our own.  Read more about Julia’s project and see her slide show of 13 same-yet-different homes here.

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  2. Tikimama says

    I agree with JAVA – we do the same thing, don’t we?! It’s so much fun to hunt down the time capsules (which I prefer), and fascinating to see what people have done (or let happen) to their homes over the years.

    • pam kueber says

      Richard, you are SO right. I didn’t realize I was missing that and am now definitely on the hunt!

  6. JAVA says

    i LOVED that gallery! Wow, Julia’s project kind of reminds me of the way I document these 50s/60s homes. she is awesome!

  7. Retro Junkie says

    A few have very nice landscaping that makes them look quite upscale. But a couple look a though the bushes, and ivy have taken on a life of their own. But that is what makes them stand out to be unique! Who wants a home that looks just like 25 of your closest neighbors?

  10. Carol says

    If I am not mistaken, many of these homes have been on various HGTV programs; Design to Sell, etc…………