Oh, how we love thee: The original features — big and small — in our homes. They managed to avoid the curse of the previous owner update. Or, maybe you found a time capsule whose first owner who knew they had something good, and didn’t change a thing. Yes, we neeeeeeeded to see the original “they don’t make ’em like that anymore” architectural details and features in readers’ old houses — and you gave us 483 photos, to be exact! There is some FANTASTIC stuff in here! Uploader is now closed — thanks, everyone, for playing. Time to gawk! Above: Close-up of the room divider in Andy A’s 1962 house. Oh my! See? We bet you’re gawkin’ already. 🙂
To see the slide show, click on the thumbnail, it will enlarge, then use the arrows just below to move forward or back. You can start or stop the show from any slide.
Diane of PA says
John.
They do have a company that will refinish the terrazzo–couldn’t imagine the $$–but might be an option to look into. OOOHHHHH and an atrium———-me jealous!!
Doug Camin @ House on Rynkus Hill says
I was going to mention the same thing about refinishing the terrazzo. Not sure how familiar you are with what it is, but they can even fill in holes (though matching can be a problem) because it is a poured-in-place flooring. If it’s just dinged, scuffed and scratched all over from tile removal you can scrape the concrete from the tiles off and have a refinisher come in, sand it smooth and refinish it again.
Yeah I didn’t realize there was an atrium at first too. Totally awesome.
John says
That is one of the many projects down the road. I call it an atrium. Its walled on 3 sides and fully enclosed by screen. Not an atrium in the strictest sense but thats what i like to call it.
Arron says
Man I love all these houses. I was/am the stupid one I have a 1964 not sure really what it is, maybe a ranch?? 3 bedroom 1100sqft house very mid century modest no modern at all here:( When we moved in looking back now we had the coolest kitchen total 60’s but the oven didnt work the dishwasher leaked so we decided to keep up with the jones and gutted the kitchen and updated everything. Our bathroom had a pink sink, olive tub and brown toliet so we gutted that to, but we have left the cool tile floor. We have left the hard wood floors intact and I am going to be starting to redo the living room into a more modern retro look. Can’t go full blown retro as the wife wont go with that but its a start and I even go her to go with to the antuique store. I’m pretty sure our house was the 1964 value house as there isnt much in the house that screams 1960’s except for my formica shelf in the laundry room and the bathroom floor.
Diane of PA says
John in Florida,
Whats the flooring on the right side of the fireplace? You have features going on in every room—I’m in love—whats the backside of the house look like—inquiring minds want to know!!
John says
Hi Diane,
The back of the main part of the house is the 9 sliding glass doors. I uploaded, but didnt put my name on, the porch off the master bedroom, it has walls going into the yard making it private. My yard is small compared to the house so i was as far back as i could be to take that picture. I will try to find an old picture of the atrium from the real estate listing to get a view of it. Its raining here and is supposed to be for the next several days so i wont be able to get a current view… but its pretty much the same.
John says
And the flooring is white tile… over the terrazzo. The tile isnt original, the previous owners unfortunately put tile and pop and lock laminate flooring over the terrazzo, damaging it.
allisonbrownadams says
All of these are stunning examples and now I’m feeling sheepish about my mid-century (very) modest ranch! My 1956 basic brick box has most originals intact (pink bathroom, pine basement den, wood valances, etc.) but it is very simple. My LR/DR built-in room divider was left to ruin in the flooding basement for years, so now I have some great ideas for fancying it up a bit when I’m ready to rebuild it. Thanks!
Shiloh says
Wow. All of the pictures had me smiling – beautiful. Partial to the split levels and staircases. Built-in bookshelves always lovely and cozy. I am so happy such a website exists. I always assumed I was the only person growing up who had a secret obsession over small, original architectural details. Clearly I am not and that makes me happy.
Sherree says
Thanks Kate and Pam for using my porch planter photo 🙂 I just love all the original details in everyone’s homes!
lady of the house says
I’m with midmichigan! I had a hard time finding a relatively clean spot in my executive ranch to photograph, and finally settled on the planter, but it still looks rough, loaded up with the poinsettias left over from Christmas.
I’m going to get to work! Thank you so much for the gorgeous inspirations, everyone.
Elaine Schuster says
Ooh, I am so loving all those wonderful window walls. Both my houses are basically caves. We are working on adding light where we can.
Sorry for the shaky picture I uploaded. I had a better one, but picked the wrong one out of the lineup.
Also that Sputnik chandelier is awesome, and the beautiful polka dot room divider.
midmichigan says
I wanted to upload but the house was too cluttered. You guys are making me clean. Thanks, I think.
nina462 says
me too. I’d have to clean first 🙂
Lynne says
Pam and Kate….we need a chat room or a discussion forum so we can all talk to each other, get opinions and such.