Update: Random number picked; winner has been sent an email; comments closed. Thanks, everyone, for playing. Remember — new contest every month! Kara was the winner of our January contest to win a Love The House You’re In Collage — and that’s her mid-century cutie, above — as immortalized by collage artist extraordinaire Mel Kolstad. To win our February contest, all you have to do is:
Leave a Comment answering the question, “What year was your house built?” If you want to leave a tidbit on its style, that would be cool, too. Please read all the rules here before entering, they all apply.
This month’s contest rewards DAILY readers — I’ll pick a winner late Friday night. Yay on all of you who check in daily!
“I just love Kara’s house! She was very thorough – she included “before” photos as well and you can see how beautiful her house is now! I used real wood veneer for the fence and wood grain paper for the door. The tree was done using tiny punched circles and the sky is actually handmade paper. I did the house in a paper I found that was the PERFECT color!”
Thanks, Mel! Read more about her work on her cool blog, Ephemeraology.
Trouble says
The Walp Mansion (or Casa Turquesa as I call it) was built in 1954, and my neighbor is an original owner who moved into her house the week of Thanksgiving, 1954. She is a great source for what was original as I work to restore my home.
The vinyl siding came off this summer to expose the original cedar shingles (that go with my 50+ year old cedars in the front yard), and I have a full set of Y-K cabinets to go in the kitchen, replacing the originals that were refaced in the early ’70s. The bathroom is ALMOST done, going from an early ’80s remodel, to 1954 all the way.
Mrs. James, my 92 yr old neighbor who helps me, gave me a B & W pic of the houses here that her and her husband took while looking at the neighborhood while it was being built. The houses are up, but no doors or windows yet, and ALL COUNTRY out behind them! Her son has also given me color photos of our street in the ’50s, and one shows my young cedars only about 5′ tall! How awesome!
One final point that shows my appreciation for originality craziness – there are a couple of dried leaves stuck between the rafters and the roof decking that MUST be from the Summer of ’54! KOOL!
pam kueber says
Woah, Trouble. I’d love to see those photos if you would like to share!!!!
Diana of Mt. Lebanon, PA says
Our “coolonial” was built in 1963, it is a Ryan home that was built as the model home in our subdivision so we have the original pamphlet for it.
The home has the original white siding and white painted brick on the exterior, the original oak plank kitchen cabinets, original built-ins in the familiy room and in my large and homey basement office, original Vermont slate in the entrance, and original door handles throughout. It is truly a family home and we love it! We often get kind comments about our fun kitchen (mostly positive, unless they are from my mother 🙂 ).
Rechercher says
Our modest Craftsman bungalow was built in 1926 by the original owner’s father, for her to live in during graduate school. She lived there until her death in the early 90s, and we are only the second owners. The house still has the original bathroom (and Kohler claw foot tub), though not the original kitchen cabinets, we replaced those several years ago. We plan never to sell this house, though we do dream of renting it out and moving to a mid century mod home that would be a better fit with my mid century furniture and collections. I follow Mel’s work on Flickr and it would be such an honor to see what she might do with our house (and two charming dogs!) as her subject matter.
Sharon Potts says
My Alladin kit home has many of the original features, like the original keys for the keyhole doors, oak parquet flooring, etc. When we moved in we even had much of the original electric! That had to go. We recently remodeled the kitchen and found the old heart pine floor under the hideous faux red brick vinyl. We refinished and kept it and it looks fab. A lot of work to maintain a 1925 home, huh? Good luck with yours.
Rechercher says
We’ve always suspected our home might be from a kit, but have found absolutely no markings on any of the structural members during renovations that have included the attic and basement. We therefore wonder if it might have been built from a plan that was published in a newspaper at the time. I’ve seen several floorplans of similar 1920s houses on different websites, but not one that is exactly like ours. It’s a mystery!
pam kueber says
Hey, be nice about the faux red brick vinyl. Some of us like it! 🙂
Urbanitra says
1953 mid-century modest
Ann-Marie Meyers says
LOL!
pam kueber says
Ann-Marie: In case you are a newer reader, you can read the Mid-Century Modest Manifesto here: https://retrorenovation.com/mid-century-modest-manifesto/
Ann-Marie Meyers says
Our first home was a mid century modest. A little cape cod in Kalamazoo, Mi built in 1951. I still love that place, and wish I had had the chance to fix that kitchen!
Our second was a mid century traditional ranch in suburban Milwaukee built in 1949.
Wendy says
My 1964 Florida ranch has its original blue bathroom, peach bathroom, kitchen cabinets and countertop, terrazzo floor, and jalousie and awning windows. I’ve replaced the defunct original gas furnace with central a/c, essential to life in Florida. I’ve only begun to repair and redecorate, and I just love my little house.
Elaine says
We will be replacing our original oil furnace with a central heat pump also. New roof, new HVAC, updated electric and plumbing…. the vicissitudes of vintage housing! The personality is all worth it, though. 🙂
Connie Simmons says
My 1955 house is just blocks away from where my grandparents lived and my mom grew up. A few of my neighbors are original owners and Mr. Steve even coached my mom in soft ball. It was like coming home since I spent so much time in the neighborhood as a kid!
Sara D says
My house is a 1953 Cape Cod. It is part of “the original suburbs” built around town. We really love it! The top floor is all original, and the main floor is 1/2 original. Basement is total 1970’s but I still love it! We have a pink bathroom and lots of vintage charm! We also have lilacs from the 50’s as well and I think they are one of my favourite things in my yard 🙂
Eartha Kitsch says
We also live in a 1956 ranch. If the good Lord is willing and the creeks don’t rise (please no more flooding this year), it’s going to get all new trim paint in aqua. Then this baby is going to scream 1956!
Jenny says
My house was built in 1956. It’s in a mid-century neighborhood full of ranches and a few two-stories. My neighbor has lived here since 1955, when they had their house built, and remembers when our street dead-ended just past our house and there was nothing but woods. One of these days she’s going to show me the pictures she has of our neighborhood being built, but she has to find them first 😉 I’ve been reading this blog every day since April of last year when we put the bid on our house and I started researching “mid-century”. I loved this house the minute we pulled into the driveway. We looked at each other and said “this is the one”, even before we went inside. I feel content and happy here.
Shelley says
I love those collages so I am so excited to have another chance to win!!! We are in the process of fixing up a 1910 stone Bungalow in Howell, Michigan. So far we’ve ripped out the wall-to-wall carpet and are refinishing the beautiful original 100 year old wood floors! The kitchen has black and white octagonal tile and I plan on painting the walls a sunny yellow. My curtains will be aprons that were made and used by grandmothers of family and friends. I know 1910 is a little older than mid-century – but I will decorating in 1940s and 50s style!