Update, Monday, May 31: We have a winner — congratulations, Robin L. — who has been notified and is whoopdedoo happy. 🙂 ENTRIES NOW CLOSED. Watch for another contest – different question – same prize – a “Love The House You’re In” custom collage made by our collage artist laureate Mel Kolstad – in June.
Amy was the first winner of a “Love The House You’re In” custom collage made by our collage artist laureate Mel. That’s Amy’s wonderful house… and Amy’s husband’s vintage truck… all interpreted by Mel. This is such a fun contest — let’s do it again. To enter this month:
- Leave a comment on this post answering the question: What year was your house was built? If you like, I’d love to hear about what era/style you are decorating it in… but this is not required.
- And, subscribe to my newsletter. Yes, this helps me build my newsletter list… I send ’em out max twice per week.
Please read all the rules here before entering. I’ll pick a reader next Monday morning.
Susie says
This is a really neat contest!
We bought our house a little over a year ago from the original owner’s son. His dad built it in 1957. It seems as though he was quite the perfectionist (he was a professor of industrial studies at the local university), and the house is very well made. I guess it’s what you’d call a 1&1/2 story house. It has a very unique, atomic look which is what we fell for the minute we pulled into the driveway for the first time. So far we’ve decorated little by little and have lots more to do. Our interior style leans toward the late 50’s or early 60’s with a few 70’s pieces thrown in here and there. Our biggest accomplishment so far was painting the kitchen pink to match my Frigidaire Custom Imperial double oven and adding classic black Armstrong tile. We’re in love with the house, which sets on almost two acres, and we’re hoping to tackle the yard and landscaping this Summer. We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us!
nina462 says
I havea 65 ranch on about an acre with trees/woods next door. It’s white with black shutters. I have hardwood floors thoughout and a lovely, knotty pine basement w/bar. my fireplace takes up 1/2 of the living room wall, and I have the wood beams as well. my style is 1940-early 1960. I have a blue bathroom (original tiles/woodwork).
I also have a 68 dodge coronet in the garage-
Siobhan says
I am closing on a 1953, 1000 square foot ranch in 2 days. Though my furnishings are eclectic/antique, I hope to change the fixtures to match the period of the house. I must say, I am getting a lot of good ideas from this site!!
Kara says
Our 1800 sqft ranch was built in 1950. It has an addition on the back that we think was added sometime in the 1960s. Our decor is a mix of modern with some mid century pieces that I have been picking up at auctions, estate sales, and garage sales. I am having a blast decorating our new home!
Elaine says
We’ve lived in our 1964 wing colonial for 20 years and love it. It is decorated in 70s country style sort of slimming down to eclectic these days.
If we buy the Space Coast 1963 ranch house we are looking at, I’ll be back for ideas. It is all original and full of real wood paneling, maybe too much even for me. It even has 60s furniture that is for sale with the house.
MaryE says
My home was built in 1952. I don’t know what style to call it so if you know, please illuminate me! It’s 2400 sq. ft.–1200 upstairs and 1200 downstairs, looks like a ranch/ rambler but it is 2 full floors with a daylight basement. It’s had 5 owners over its life, and I know 4 of them–amazing! Recently, one of the daughters of the original owners dug up some photos of it from 1953 and 1954, and I’m so pleased to see that I am restoring it to what it was like originally. Owners 3, 4, and 5 had followed many trends of their decades, as was evidenced by the scraping of paint and removal of wallpaper. But, I’m a 1954 baby and I loved the homes I grew up in, so I’m going back to that look. My decor is traditional, and okay–I admit it–I bought new furniture. Classic styles from Ethan Allen–I’d never owned new furniture before, and it was a gift to myself. I retro my house in other ways–renovated my bathrooms and kitchen to June Cleaver status with classic ceramic and mosaic tiles. When I have another $20,000 or so to throw around, I really want the retro look kitchen appliances featured on the RR website–so DREAMY!! I’m fortunate to have linens and collectibles from my parents or thrift store finds that speak to my own mid-century origins and tastes, and every day I wake up to a light-filled haven of my own creation.
What I am really proud of is my garden. I took what was essentially a gravel parking strip, large enough to park 8 cars and transformed it into a peaceful haven that includes a flagstone patio and native NW plants. Everyone that comes to my home feels the love, happiness and peace I continue to strive for. My home is the family gathering place, and that ain’t no small thing–with 6 siblings, their spouses and children, the CHILDRENS’ children–well, all in all a normal family get-together is around 25 – 30 people and everyone has a corner or chair or place to cozy into.
From the first days in this house, I felt it pleading with me to banish the latest ‘decorating’ disasters and return it to its original beauty, and I have tried to do just that. It wasn’t about adding, but taking away to reveal the original design.
karen says
We moved into our 1956 split level this past December and absolutely love it. Our current furniture is a combination of Calif bungalow/shabby chic, but as I replace & redo I’m trying to incorporate a little MC Modern into the mix. The kitchen needs a little work, but I definitely want to go more in the direction of restoring rather than “updating”.
August Vintage says
Our house is a classic 1954 ranch style–and you could call the design style vintage modern with a healthy dose of mid century influence (but more warmth than those ‘unhappy hipsters’). The house took some unfortunate turns in the 1970s, but we’re working on it (was there ever pink tile in the original bathroom? I may never know thanks to hefty slabs of beige cultured marble). But, I love it–I love it more every day 🙂
katybug says
We live in a 1955 ranch that has had many rounds of renovations over the years–I feel like an architectural detective trying to figure out the original floor plan, hardwood floor stain, kitchen layout, etc. Part of the fun for me is trying to guess the previous owners’ plans and hopes for our home. Our decorating style is traditional, heavily influenced by the gift of some wonderful furnishings from my grandparents, who moved into their own 1957 ranch and lived there for over 50 years.
Kersten says
We live in and love our 1957 redwood ranch. It is simple and sweet with a few fun characteristics thrown in (the rotiseree built into the stone fireplace!). We definitely celebrate the danish modern feel of the house and do what we can to showcase that style. Since most of what we find doesn’t cost a ton of cash, we enjoy switching things out when something more appealing shows up! We are currently retro renovating the bathroom and then next up is the kitchen (an entire 1956 kitchen awaits in our garage!) My goal is to turn it back exactly as it was when it was built. (Although tearing out all the sheetrock to re-expose the mahogany paneling sounds terrifying – but I just may do it! We KNOW it is under there!) Thanks for all the fun, Pam!!