I am super interested in the early history of postwar housing — and the teeny tiny houses are among the most fascinating. I’ve seen these called “Tom Thumb” homes, but in reality, a huge percentage (maybe a majority?) of homes in the first few years after World War II ended were quite small — 700… 800…900 s.f. And, for a goodly number of years into the 50s, many many homes were still only around 1,000 s.f. Recently, I learned from reader Sarah that the phenomenon was the same in Canada. She and her partner Liz live in a 1946 “Victory Home” in Winnipeg. Sarah has sent photos from inside their 731 s.f. bungalow, and Sarah also shares some history about Victory Homes in Canada. 29 wonderful photos!
Sarah first wrote me in early January (umm, it’s taking me a long time to get reader submissions posted…):
Hi Pam,
I have just discovered your site and it is wonderful. My partner and I have a 1946 “Victory Home” in Winnipeg, Manitoba. It’s chock full of original features. It is very lovely, and very modest (731 sq feet)!
I wonder if you would have any interest in seeing some photos? I would also love to contribute to sharing pictures and information about early Canadian postwar homes in the hopes that there are other Canadian readers of your site out there who might contribute. There doesn’t seem to be a similar Canadian resource.
Thanks for your consideration and happy new year.
Sarah
Sarah and Liz’ Victory Home photo gallery (click on first thumbnail to launch the slide show):
I ask Sarah for more info and pictures — for sure. She sends them — what a sweet house — perfect — along with more info on Victory Homes and how she and Liz ended up in their little bungalow:
First, some notes on victory houses (most people refer to them as veterans housing, but victory housing sounds so much more exciting!):
“In Canada these homes were built and owned by Wartime Housing Ltd. The crown corporation bought materials and land and followed through with orders for homes across the country. Victory Homes came in two models: a two-room bungalow or a four-bedroom, one-and-a-half story house. They were tiny by today’s standards – and without basements and furnaces – but they met the need.
After the war, many veterans moved into Victory Homes and renovated them. Some of them, enlarged and updated, are standing today. But there was still a post-war housing crisis. The entire economy was affected by a continued scarcity of materials and of the money to acquire housing. In 1946 the federal government responded by creating the Central Mortgage and Housing Corporation (now the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation). The assets of Wartime Housing Ltd. Were transferred to CMHC in 1947 (including the responsibility of housing veterans) through the Veteran’s Rental Housing program.” Source: International Metropolis…. Complete PDF…. More info from the Canada Central Mortgage and Housing Corp.
Sarah continues:
I have attached a bunch of photos of the fixtures in our house and a few of the exterior. I’ve also attached a picture of my partner Liz and I. Our house is sort of sideways on the lot (in comparison to most of the other houses like ours). There was only one owner before us, and she didn’t change a thing as far as we know.
We started our house-hunting journey in 2006 in the heat of a seller’s market in Winnipeg. We initially had our hearts set on a 1910s or 1920s 2 or 2.5 story character house. We soon discovered (to our dismay) that in the areas of the city that were convenient for us as dedicated public transit users, houses are mid-century. Liz decided we needed to develop an appreciation for mid-century houses, so she borrowed some books from an architecture library on CHMC (Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation) house plans from the 1950s. We made 13 (over-asking price!) offers and finally had our offer accepted on a tiny 1946 bungalow/victory house. We had been making offers on 1950s bungalows and the odd 1950s 1.5 story. Our house was the first 40s bungalow we had ever set foot it.
Ours is the rarest of victory homes (2 beds, no dining room) so most of the documentation of victory homes overlooks our type. The layout is so functional, if a bit too teensy. There is a coat closet, a linen closet, and two other hall closets, not to mention bedroom closets. I included photos of the insides of the kitchen cabinets and some closets to show the colours. At first we thought the former owner just had a thing for bright colours inside her cupboards and closets but after looking at the 1941 Sherwin Williams Paint and Color Style Guide I think it was probably part of the trend shown in some of the images – bright paint colours inside kitchen cabinets.
Speaking of paint, I included some photos of the tiny back landing which is painted in two shades of green. A 1940s decor choice? Also, the covers on our light switches each have a tiny maple leaf in each corner – not sure if they’ll show up in the photos.
For the past couple of years we have been focused on getting a new roof, furnace, windows, grading, and cleaning the layers and layers of nicotine off of every inch of the house. We have only painted one room, and we don’t have our window coverings yet. We need a new kitchen counter and backsplash, and the bathroom needs some updating. We want a more efficient toilet, and the tiles around the tubs are all cracked. We want our updates to be in keeping with the 40s (and the house) but we also want a solid surface counter top. One problem: I really dislike 4×4 tile (did I say that?!?!). I really like basket weave, penny, and honeycomb tile. Do you know if they were “in” in the 40s? I am having a hard time finding distinctly 40s fabrics and tiles (other than 4×4).
Oh yes, the house really needs come curb appeal, too. We are thinking maybe a mint or spring green repaint on the original stucco. Any thoughts or suggestions you have on anything related to the house would be appreciated.
We both love mid-century houses and interiors now and are so thankful we didn’t get the kind of house we set out for! I discovered your blog over the holidays and can’t stop reading it. It’s fantastic.
Where did you live in Canada??!!
Cheers,
Sarah
Thank you so much, Sarah. What a darling house — so small, but so full of charm, I love it.
For a 1940s house, if you don’t like 4×4 tile for the bathroom, how about subway tiles for around the tub? Oh and as we discussed via email, those sure do look like plastic tiles in your bathroom. I have NO PROBLEM whatsoever with ripping those puppies out — I had three bathrooms full of them, and I was a happy pammy the day they were gone. In my bathrooms, the plastic tiles were absolutely rotted through, they were not watertight and 50 years had done their damage, no question. Ceramic on concrete board – yes! If you need to re-do the floors, I think that octagon or small six-sided mosaics (same as what you call honeycomb) — with or without color dots (which could be nice) would be appropriate. For exterior paint ideas, I’d point you at the library of Aladdin Home images for inspiration.
And I love love love hearing about Canadian postwar housing history. I lived in Canada for about six years of my adult life — I went there for two jobs with Ford. The first time, I lived in Toronto, in Cabbagetown. The second time around, I lived in the Bronte area of Oakville, a Toronto suburb. BTW, I have been to Winnipeg — a wonderful town, I had a great time! Thank you so very much for taking the time to share your home with us all. Circle back as you continue your updates, we’ll all want to see what you and Liz do with it to make it your very own.
MCMeg says
It’s adorable. I love it!
Alice says
What a doll house, you lucky ones! Love the switch plate covers and the door escutcheon. We had great success cleaning ours from our 1949 home with “Goo Gone”…it was a project to do over wine and the results were awesome. (Of course, I waited to do this as part of the projects to sell the house, so someone else is enjoying the shiny escutcheons now – – at least I pray they didn’t “update” them!)
I agree with black and white hex pattern tiles for your bathroom floors and then white subway tiles for the walls.
This link will take you to a photo of black, white and gray hex tile pattern that you may like:
http://www.oldhouseweb.com/product-showcase/hex-tiles-mix-and-match.shtml
Keep the toilet if you can and just install a dual-flush knob…they work great!
For the exterior I would take advantage of how well evergreens do in your area…there are wonderful dwarf and slow-growing varieties which you will appreciate when it comes to your spare time. I agree with Gavin that some vertical climbing green will enhance “the bungalow” feel.
Have fun and cherish the bit of history that is safely abiding in your hands!
Sarah says
We are so slow to really try to clean up the switch plate covers, etc., because I am terrified to ruin or break anything! I will have to trust in goo gone… I too pray that your shiny escutcheons are still in place and well loved.
Good call about the evergreens. There are some very mature ones in the neighbourhood and they look amazing. I love how they tower over the teeny houses. I like the idea of slow-growing or dwarf varieties. I think they would look great toward the front of the yard with a corner fence. Thanks, Alice!
Maria says
I too live in a “victory” home. The original floorplan was a total of 850 sq ft with two bedroom, a bath, living room and kitchen. There were a couple of additions in the 70’s but house still tops out at 1100 sq ft. The house didn’t even have air conditioning until 1999 (I am in Florida). I love my little house and I cannot imagine living anywhere else.
Kelly says
Super sweet house. I love the pops of color in the cabinets and closets.
John D Taylor says
I love your house. It is nice to see that other folks enjoy retro style as much as I
JT
Candice says
What a GREAT house! I agree, you need to bring some of that amazing detail and charm outside. Wider window frames is a solid suggestion. Would this style of home have had shutters? Working, or at least the appropriate width shutters and window boxes could do a great deal for charm. Consider doing a two tone paint job, with a line below the windows.
I love geraniums for this era of home. A hearty second on vines, or trellis of some kind, and right now it’s calling out for shrubs.
Another alternative depending on the shade of your thumb would be to plant a victory garden in your front yard.
Dwarf fruit trees, trellises for pea vines and raised boxes would do wonders to give definition to your home.
If you don’t go for picket, what about an urban farmstead look with wood post and square wire fencing? like so: http://www.productionfenceworks.com/residential/residentialWood/wood-wire/Georgia-fence-three_files/Snellville-Wood-Fence.jpg
Sarah says
Candice, thanks for the link to the urban farmstead fence. I have never seen that before. Looks like it would be great for growing vines. And thanks for the other suggestions too.
I love, love, love the idea of a victory garden. We are working toward that in the back yard.
Cara says
Darling house! I love the colors. I definitely would not be able to survive with all of my junk, er, treasures in a house that size. I agree though these fantastically efficient, back to basics houses are making a comeback.
It is funny we have the same Bakelite leaf plates on the original plug outlets in our 1915 house. Mine may have been updated as I haven’t really researched vintage electrical plate styles. They may have been scrounging through old stock in order to get these houses built or even still manufacturing them.
The dorm I lived in, which was built in the 50’s, had the hex (honeycomb) tiles in all of the bathrooms with pink and yellow subway tiles. I was just in a friend’s aunt’s house from the 40’s and she had original basket weave tile. Styles didn’t change as quickly back then plus my philosophy on a situation like this is if it makes you happy, use it! Now if you were replacing all of the nifty original doors and light fixtures I would have a different philosophy. LOL
Mint green stucco outside would look fantastic! I am also seeing window boxes, shutters and a picket fence. I’m all for the cute though so I understand if anyone is horrified and digusted by those ideas.
Don’t forget to share pictures of your updates and restorations when you finish.
Sarah says
Thanks, Cara. We have a lot of “treasures” too, and luckily a basement to store them in given the size of our house.
Very interesting that you have the same leaf plates in your 1915 home. What part of the country are you in?
It’s really helpful to hear all these feedback about hex and basketweave tiles, as I would like to keep the floor tiles close to what they might have been. We’ve just been to a couple of open houses for 1945 homes in the area and they both had hex tile floors and the same plastic wall tiles as ours – but in a red wine colour.
Worry not – we are in love with the doors and light fixtures and could never change them!
Maryanne says
Hey there!
I’m Canadian, I’m Canadian!!!
I live in a ~400 house mostly original mid-century subdivision in Surrey (a suburb of Vancouver). The houses are a mix of standard ranches (~1100 sqft), ranches with basements (~2000 sqft) and split levels (~1700 sqft). I live in a one owner, 1955 standard ranch with basement (1.5 stories). We have been able to hold off some of the McMansions/Megahouses attracted by our large lot sizes (>7500sqft) by successfully down-zoning the neighbourhood to 3200 sqft max including garages and outbuildings in a city that normally allows 3500 sqft plus basements. Still having problems with a city that doesn’t enforce it’s own bylaws but at least we’ve stopped the mass bulldozing that has happened on the streets outside our neighbourhood.
I love the tiny Winnipeg house and would love to see pics of the neighbourhood.
Sarah says
Yikes, mass bulldozing. Glad to hear you’ve managed to stop it and hang on to your neighbourhood’s character. The home and lot sizes you describe still seem huge in comparison to ours :). Your house sounds great.
If you do want to check out the general area I can give you a couple of radom address in the area to “google street view”: 1185 Mulvey Ave or 515 Cambridge Ave. Most houses in the area aren’t as tiny as ours.
Teresa Halpert says
One-owner houses are special–it makes you feel as though you have been given a trust. And so many lovely touches.
I LOVE the bath faucet! I would be tempted to take the hint from those hexagonal escutcheons (as well as the hexagonal shape of the sink and the towel-bar wall plates) and throw some hex tiles into the mix (maybe the floor?).
The hex theme seems very “late art deco-y”, which is definitely in keeping with your time frame. Since the lav faucets are different, I wonder if these were a replacement for original ones that broke. (You could change them to ones with hexagonal escutcheons…) I don’t know the logistics of rebuilding vintage faucets, but I’m guessing that could be done, or you could get a reproduction, like the “deco style lavatory faucet” from bathsfromthepast.com . (If your sink is two hole–I can’t tell from the photo–they can put the hex escutcheons on a bridge faucet.)
Sarah says
Yes, yes, yes! Thanks for the info about where to get a reproduction.
pam kueber says
Re curb appeal: How about beefed up moldings around the windows and maybe even the gables… and for sure, window boxes? (I want to see those two windows securely on the same plane.) I guess that would be messing with the historic integrity of the exterior… but it could be sweet… Also, how about investing in the walkway to the front door — so the feng shui energy knows for sure how to get in. Widen it…nix the concrete and go for brick pavers… prettify it with shrubs, maybe a bit of statuary — a pixie? Lots of great ideas coming in!
Sarah says
Lots of great ideas, indeed – and thanks for yours. I know what you mean about the historical integrity issue… It’s tricky when the exterior and front yard are so plain and that is the original state. A facelift in keeping with similar but fancier early post-war styles will hopefully help keep the integrity.