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.
Lauryn says
Our house is also a Minimal Traditional (or Modern English Cottage, depending on the source) built in 1939. We fall in love with our sweet little home more and more every day, especially now that we’re bringing the kitchen back to the spirit of the late 30s and early 40s. Love, love, love this website!
SAS says
Ooh! I hadn’t thought to look for “Modern English Cottage.” Will have to do that, as ours is somewhat Tudor in style (w/o all the flourishes, of course). Thanks for the tip!
pam kueber says
Lots of “Romantic Revival” still in houses thru the 1930s, I think….
Lauryn says
Now your house really does sound like ours … tudor front and arched doorways inside?? Would love to see a picture to compare! Here’s how I found out what architectural style our house was, complete with a photo of our little love shack: http://www.allexperts.com/user.cgi?m=6&catID=2369&expID=104345&qID=4931744
Alison says
It also sounds a lot like my house–The “Kenwood” kit home from Montgomery Ward.
http://forum.arts-crafts.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/8876045532/m/5781061803
SAS says
Awesome suggestion… Thanks!
Will follow up with a pic this weekend. Need to get one uploaded.
Christa says
My house was built in 1974….so it is edging out of “true” mid century style .Quite clean lined, with a shallow pitched roof, It is the only one of this split entry style in the entire subdivision.
Since we moved here in late 2000, we have been slowly, but steadily trying to pull it back to the 60’s ( a smidge older than it is in actuality, but not by much) All the light fixtures have been changed. It has ben painted everwhere. 2 of the 3 bathrooms have been redone, floors have been replaced, a 1968 Majectic freestanding fireplace has been installed…it is an ongoing project. ( I want a kitchen , bathroom and cork in the family room next) If anyone is interested, my Flikr page is under Choctod72, and the set is “my Retro House”
Love the blog…
Tikimama says
Christa, I’m one of your Flickr contacts (Tiki Lisa), and I can attest to how awesome your house is! And I’m right there with you on your love of aqua!
Jeanne says
Christa, I just added you as a contact. Love your dining room and hall and bathroom! I’m getting close to hanging up stuff in my hallway. I have such an aversion to commitment to hang. LOL I have a fear of putting holes in the walls.
Kara Lyons says
Our house was built in 1959 and we purchased it from the children of the original owners. Lots of original features — including light fixtures, built in clock over the stone fireplace — and they left the original blueprints for the house.
SAS says
A 1940 Minimal Traditional. While it has all the formal and separated rooms of houses built pre-WWII, you can see how floor plans are beginning to open up and flow. Each room is able to take advantage of the sunshine. We are only the 4th owners (one prior owner was here for 56 years!) and the house hasn’t been too “improved,” except where it counts (electric and plumbing). I do have a lot of doors, cabinets, and door trims to sand, fill in dents, and paint, though! 🙂
Lauryn says
Your house sounds like our 1939 house and we’re only the 4th owners too, with the original owner being in it for 50 years. Love those little Minimal Traditional houses!
Josey says
My house was built in 1955 and happens to be 2 doors down from my Mom and Dad’s house. (They moved into the area in the early 80’s I think.) They bought the house, which is now mine, and rented it out for 20 years- you can only imagine all of neglect it went through from tenants, and as a “rental” house it seems it’s not as important to fix things or decorate things the right way. I bought the house and started to bring out the original charm in the bathrooms and kitchen, and that’s when I fell in love with this blog and my entire renovation turned into a “retro renovation”. I’ve learned so much!!!
Nicole says
Our house was built in 1900, with a 1963 renovation (literally in 1963) that we have just loved and built upon it. It is a craftsman bungalow style with an enclosed porch. Would love to have the open porch now that we have lived in almost a year! I really would love a collage because we are getting a new roof and paint job to the house this spring, plus new landscaping. I would like a collage to capture the house we started out in and then I could attempt my own once the outdoor renovations are done (or not ;)).
On a side note, I just love, love, love that there are others who are lovers of mid century homes and can appreciate a time where what Americans had was ample to enjoy, rather than today, where it seems everyone wants a McMansion!
Happy Renovating-Nicole
Lauren says
Our mini ranch was built in 1958 and one of a small handful of homes in our tract home neighborhood that was architecturally “driven” – low roof pitch and a windowless roman brick front.
Wendy M says
We just bought a 1964 one-and-a-half story home from the original owners. The plans (which they kindly left with us) say “original design by Dorothy Brown” (the owner of the house.) I love the little (and big) details she included…tea cart storage (and the cart is still here!) The kitchen cabinet doors that have a hidden compartment for hanging towels…the built-in spice shelves. The best part…tons and tons of storage space and dual sinks in both baths. She was one smart cookie! They were obviously so proud of the home they really didn’t change anything, which I love…
connie says
Hi Wendy,
Do you have pictures to share of all the details she included? Especially the cabinet doors with a hidden compartment for hanging towels and the built-in spice shelves! Thanks!!
pam kueber says
Wow, Wendy, what a great-sounding house, and story. Yes, if you’d like to share photos, that would be fantastic!
Shelly Cahill says
1957…was a very good year in Phoenix AZ for ranch houses in the suburbs!
Ann-Marie Meyers says
If all goes well, I will enter tomorrow afternoon. Please keep your fingers crossed. I close on my 1962 house in Wisconsin tomorrow.
Mel says
Best of luck to you! What part of Wisconsin, if you don’t mind saying? I live in Fond du Lac! 😀
Ann-Marie Meyers says
La Crosse. I grew up in Wi Rapids, and lived in the Milwaukee area for a while before we moved to Texas. I wish I could afford to buy my old Mequon 1951 stone ranch back. We sold it for $140,000. It is worth $350,000. And, when they have floods, it sits high and dry because the original owner perched it way up in the front corner on the highest spot in the entire neighborhood. Even the floods of last year never touched it!