I sent a newsletter yesterday that spotlighted my four favorite time capsule houses from 2011. Reader Joe took a look at the four homes, and mused:
OK, the problem is “How does one know when he has something worth preserving?” We all admire those select-few geniuses who kept their mid-century homes in mint condition, but I suspect most of us went with the flow and re-decorated as periods changed. I mean, we, too, had a 1964 home, but by the ’70s, we had to redecorate, because it seemed so gross. Fast forward 50 years, and I would give anything to have that house back in its original condition! (I’ll bet the original GE appliances would still be working!) Maybe it’s that we become smarter with age, or maybe we are just washed over by the wave of nostalgia. Memories do seem to become more important as we get older. Those of us in the retro movement certainly do have a keen appreciation and vivid memories of “back then,” but which of us was brilliant enough not to ever touch a thing and to preserve our mid-century glamour? I mean, pink? Turquoise? Who would have thought?
If we keep everything as it is in our homes today, is it possible that, in 50 years, people will be dying to have what we got? ….
I definitely have strong opinions on this question. But I’ll put the question out to readers first:
Justin says
I agree in with some of the other readers have put. Its your house, decorate it to your taste. With that said though, if you don’t like the original fixtures as in the stove, tub, toilet or whatever. If its in good shape, Donate it. Don’t just trash it. There are people out there who wants the vintage appliances, or the vintage bathroom fixtures.
Enough with that, when we bought our 1949 brick home, that was something I wanted was something more original. While some updating had been done, for the most part it was original. We did have to do some updating like a new furnace, a/c, water heater (all were missing when we bought the place). We also rewired the whole house. The kitchen cabinets were original but in very bad shape. I was searching for metal cabinets, but couldn’t find any at the time. I ended up buying some from Home depot that look like vintage style. After we got them, then I started finding the metal cabinets. Thats the way it goes I guess. Eventually I’ll find me a set of metal ones and remodel the kitchen again. The only thing is all the work I spent on the tile counter top and backsplash, I’ll have to do again. As far as the appliances in the kitchen, the fridge is a 1949 Hotpoint that works great. Had to rewire it and put new seals on it. We did get it repainted and it is now pink. Looks like it just came off the showroom floor. The stove is a 1941 O’keefe and Merritt Gas stove. Had the gas valves rebuilt in it. Now it works great. In the house when we bought it, it had the original Youngstown Kitchen hood. We cleaned it up and had it painted pink and it looks great. We also have a 1955 Hotpoint dishwahser, that currently doesn’t work, but I do have the parts for it to make it work, just too many projects. Also have a 1958 G.E. Wall oven in pink. Didn’t have to do anything to it when I bought it, beside install it. Even our washer and dryer are old. 1963 Lady Kenmore washer and dryer in turquoise. The work great, have had to do a couple things to them, but just minor upkeep. All in all it works for us. I understand it may not work for everyone.
Wayne says
In my case I had to balance preservation with cost. For example, my bathrooms were all original, but would have cost more to rehab and keep the original tile/sink/tub etc. Things were falling apart! So I chose to keep the layout, but update all the surfaces. It’s sort of a 21st century interpretation of mid-century.
My kitchen had built-in light soffets over the upper cabinets that scream atomic age. I chose to rehab those because they were in such good shape and so unique, but do comtemporary modern finishes.
I think mixing the old with new is the way to go.
dulcie says
I’m an inherently lazy person, I love vintage and am willing to keep what I can in my old house as long as it doesn’t interfere with my comfort and/or productivity. I’m more than willing to get rid of the drafty old windows and replace them with something I can easily open and close and wash, but no one’s touching my creaky old painted wood floors. After we found log walls underneath our lathe and plaster while building a bathroom, we thought it would be neat to keep them exposed, but after having the wind whistle through the chinks, we insulated and drywalled over them. Made me appreciate what Laura Ingalls and Abe Lincoln went through during those cold midwest winters in their log cabins.
Elaine says
It is advisable to rechink the logs every so often. We have a log cabin office, this year we had to fill in the gaps around the old chinking. We used regular caulk with a caulking gun, lots and lots of caulk, then painted over it as part of the project to refresh the logs. I keep forgetting we also have this original 1939 log cabin in the family. That has also been a project to preserve and restore. Original pine floors, huge cedar logs, big fieldstone fireplace. People are always comparing my husband to Lincoln.
Cara says
Quality, condition, uniqueness and gut instinct.
Jane / MulchMaid says
That’s it in a nutshell!
Each person and home is unique, and I bet no two in ten of us would make exactly the same decisions about what to keep and what to replace.
Steven says
Stumbled upon your website when searching for inlaid linoleum.
LOVE IT! A GREAT RESOURCE!
I am currently remodeling a 1945 quasi craftsman bungalow in Fort Smith Arkansas. It’s on a street with similar homes, with one large four square across the way. All though the home was cute, it was terribly in-efficient. ZERO insulation in the exterior walls. The washing machine and dryer were in the kitchen. Along with the hot water tank. The only bathroom had a pedestal sink, so no storage and no counter top space. It was a gut out. The “Formica” counter top in the kitchen with the chrome trim, gone. The inlaid linoleum, gone. Old cracked gypsum board, gone. Drafty wood sash, single pane “poured” glass windows, gone. Took out the arch and another wall, to de-compartmentalize the living room, formal dining room and kitchen. Did we completely bastardize this home? NO! I have a huge appreciation for preservation, however in today’s culture, we must build and remodel efficiently and economically.
We saved all the original interior 2 panel doors and all the brass hardware with simple turn locks and crystal door knobs. The 6 panel solid pine front door stays. The original solid 1.5 in wide oak flooring stays. The Super Wide custom fabricated mantle is a keeper. We replaced the windows with vinyl double hung, low E, argon filled glass but kept the same pattern of 6 over 1 window grid. We have all new electric, a water distribution system that will outperform most new construction homes, with an exterior hot water “tank”. Blown in cellulose insulation was put in all walls, and 10 inches in the attic. In the kitchen we will put in oak cabinets, with a solid surface counter top. Stainless appliances and a stainless farmhouse apron sink. The flooring in all the “wet” rooms will be slate tile, from Vermont Slate Depot, keeping an “original” flooring look, but lasting forever. The back doors were replaced with steel insulated units, with leaded glass inserts, again, lending to period style, be not lacking in efficiency. When complete the home owners will own a practically brand new Craftsman Bungalow Home. Originally built in 1945 but with 21st Century amenities. See the transformation on Facebook under POC Real Estate Revitalization, VOZEL PROJECT. “LIKE” us to keep up with future remodels. THANKS!
Terri says
I married into a 1959 San Francisco row house. We HAD to replace the shoddy, single-pane aluminum windows, but the new ones kept the same proportions. Replaced the tile kitchen counter with granite, but got a top mount porcelain sink. More functional, but similar aesthetic. Took the scalloped trim off the cabinets and replaced the hammered copper pulls, but went with streamlined nickel pulls: different, but still mid-century. When I arrived, I banished the w2w carpet to reveal great parquet hardwood. Biggest change: upgrading electrical. It has to function, but you can remain true to heritage.
Chutti says
Great topic- one in regular circulation at our place.
I have to agree with KathyH- It has to be what works for you. It’s your house, you should love what is in there. People tend to think we’re purists on restoration, but it’s more that we’ve seen the long view of what will be likely to last, as well as really, really liking the aesthetic of a lot of old stuff. Both hubby and I grew up in nice homes but without much money due to family illness issues. We learned from our old Midwestern Farm Lady (TM) relatives how to reduce, reuse, recycle, repair before anyone knew that green wasn’t just a color.
Basically, we’re bred to be cheapskates, and happy with that.
in the 60s-70’s Hubs grew up in a charming 1926 Spanish Bungalow, and I grew up in what should have been a bland box of a tract house.
Since we kept our old stuff, both homes had style, warmth and the comfort of well-loved family treasures and just everyday stuff. My mom still lives in her box in the burbs, but it looks different from everyone else’s-full of family antiques that have been loved. Now everyone thinks it looks classy.
Wish I could see Kathy H’s folks place-sounds like a gem, and personal.
We are big believers in keeping what you love and finding a home for the neat old stuff that doesn’t work. Except it’s sometimes hard to let go. LOTSA stuff here…but it’s all neat-o and chosen. We can’t be strict preservationists or full on period restorers, because we see the value of adding old stuff over time-because it’s YOURS. In re-doing our 1920’s kitchen, we have a 1920’s hoosier ,light fixture, pushbutton switches, etc.; a 1930’s stove, a VCT floor that looks straight from the 1930’s, and a 3 month old white fridge from Sears. We thought very hard about a retro fridge, but it just wasn’t efficient enough. Our bill went down $25 with the new fridge!
My point is, our kitchen is starting to feel like you are just visiting Grandma’s house. It’s fun, it looks old, and feels like love is in there. But it reflects a period, and seems sort of like time stopped.
Even if I can’t give up rescuing all my orphaned household items, I know I will find them a good home….somewhere. That stove in the photo makes me want to cry-and I don’t even like to use electric stoves. But it’s PERFECT for someone.
Anyway, what you love is extremely personal.
When you go with that, your house will feel right.
jen says
at least we live in a time where if the item is in bad shape, there are vendors and salvage stores ready with buckets of replica or gently used parts. rejuvenation and hippo hardware are two i frequent most weekends.
an original kitchen was a must have on my list, though most everything else had been flipped. i’ve slowly replaced things with vintage, making exceptions where needed (dishwasher, recycled concrete/glass counters – had 80s crap) but i think they make the house current since all my choices work with the aesthetic of that era.
Barb says
What to save and what to let go are hard decisions. I think livability and practicality are part of the answer. You make decisions based on the reality of living and the desire for continuity. It is a personal issue. I’d also like to think that some modern things would be embraced if they’d been available “back then”. When I shop for new stuff, I use that as one of my decision guides.
Luckily for us, we don’t have too many of these kinds of decisions to make. Our 1961 time capsule was/is in pretty good shape. We struggle with those decisions – but it’s a personality thing mostly. DH would like to keep everything as is. I value practicality and comfort a little higher. For example, the original GE dishwasher had to go. It hadn’t worked in years and was a very heavy pullout bin model. We did keep the original front panel which DH is mounting to the bar door downstairs. Thus we “memorialize” it, but still have an energy efficient dishwasher.
And don’t completely diss replacement windows … single pane aluminum frame windows in the great “northwet” get moldy! Bad for mold allergies.
Wendy M. says
I really believe you have to “go with your gut” when it comes to preserving vs. renovating. We bought our home with the idea that we wanted something unique. To me, it would be pointless to then rip everything out that gives the home character and make it look like every new home in town.
That said, there are some things that just did not appeal to my taste (i.e. the orange, chartreuse and gold curtains in the kitchen, pantry and laundry room.) We also painted the dark masonite walls in the kids rooms/playroom and replaced the sculpted carpet on the stairs/in the bonus room. I don’t think it’s realistic to try to preserve every single detail of a mid-century home…things wear out! I guess my overall mission is to make changes carefully and try to stay true to the feel of the home. I like that it’s pretty obvious our home was built in the early ’60’s and I want to keep it that way.