When I am interviewed for stories involving mid-century houses, reporters almost always ask, “Why do you and your readers love mid-century houses so much… What is the appeal?” In today’s sound-bite age, the pressure is on for a snappy answer. But for me, the reasons I have grown to love mid-century houses are multifaceted. Golly six years into the blog, and it’s only now I am writing this down? Here goes — 12 reasons to own and love a mid-century house, based on my experience including interacting with thousands of readers. In a kinda sorta order:
1. Mid-century houses often were built in locations that today, are desirable:
Location location location — I am very conservative about big-money purchases. I am a believer in the classic real estate maxim that the three most important factors to consider when buying a house are, yes: Location, location, location. Fortunately, in many cases, mid-century houses are in good locations. They can be in mature, well-tended neighborhoods with wonderful character, caring neighbors and friendly-sized neighborhood shopping areas nearby. In addition, American suburbs often were developed, over time, in proceeding concentric rings around towns and cities. This means the mid-century neighborhoods can be relatively close to town and city centers, making them easy to commute from; they are not typically remote “exurbs.”
2. Mid-century homes often were built with outstanding quality materials and workmanship that have, and will continue to endure:
Good quality workmanship — Golly, many of these houses were well made. Mud-set tile… Steel kitchen cabinets… Gorgeous vintage lighting… lovely paneling… and more, in many houses. Yes, there may be some refreshing needed. There may be hazards such as lead and asbestos etc. and other not-to-today’s-code issues that you need to get educated on and invest in handling appropriately; consult with your own properly licensed professionals, for more info see our Be Safe / Renovate Safe page. And, there can be ugly surprise maintenance costs. But my sense is that new construction can have its own problems and even nightmares… and that in general, wonderfully crafted mid-century houses still exist by the hundreds of thousands — even by the millions.
3. Mid-century houses — and especially, mid-century modest houses — can be found at relatively affordable prices:
Price — Mid-century homes tend to be smaller than new construction. This is the first reason they may cost less than new or more recent constructed houses, which today average much larger than 50 years ago. In addition, the finishes used inside mid-century homes were typically not what the mainstream market today would consider high-end — no granite or marble or the like. That may put the brakes on their current sales price. And, because original features may read as “dated” to many buyers, the relative purchase price may be better, compared to new construction or to homes that have been “updated” <- now, there’s a word we are wary of here. Finally, even an old house that’s a “fixer upper” in need of repairs is more attractive to me and Kate — we don’t want to pay for someone else’s recent “upgrades” that we don’t like. We would rather get the house at a discounted price and take the chance that we can do the remodeling on budget in way more pleasing to our period tastes. All of these issues suggest you might be able to ‘get in cheaper’ versus buying a newer house.
Of course the overall “better pricing” equation may not be true depending on the market you’re in — in many hip-to-the-vibe locations now, mid-century houses with their original features intact have become more desirable, with the trendiest architectural examples selling quickly.
4. Small mid-century houses can cost less to maintain and remodel:
Size and unpretentiousness = Long term affordability — In addition to costing less because it’s small, a smallish mid-century house will likely scale to require fewer expenditures happily ever after. Small can mean: (1) Less house to pay to maintain, (2) Less house to heat and air condition, (3) Less house to furnish, (4) Less house to pay taxes and insurance on, (5) Less house to clean. Kate adds that a ranch style house means (6) Easier to DIY roof repair$ and hou$e painting and $uch. All of this, by the way, means the less you will need to work to pay for it all. Also, the fact that the authentic period finishes on these house are not ‘fancy’ by today’s standards, means that materials required for restoration may be less costly. For mid-century houses we are talking: 4″ bathroom tiles… resilient flooring… plain cabinets… simple sinks and tubs… and many of these items can be purchased vintage, at ReStores and the like, for rock bottom prices. Peoples, I am telling you: Turn away from the siren song of keeping up with the Joneses and the everlasting gobstopper American marketing machine that works ceaselessly to burrow new-new-new-buy-buy-buy messages into our brains… keep the finishes in your mid-century house simple, which is architecturally appropriate anyway, and squirrel “the savings” into your retirement.
5. Old is the new Green:
Embodied energy — These houses already exist. Buy one — and as possible, practical and advisable, retain its original features — and you likely will be helping to avoid additional energy and natural resource use versus building or buying new. Of course, when it comes to energy and environmental features of our houses, each one will need to be assessed on its own; that said, I continue to find it impossible to mentally process the suggestion that we can consume our way out of a consumption process — that is: the implication of “build a green house!” and “buy this green product!” stories that imply that by abandoning our old housing stock in favor of building all-new “energy efficient” housing structures — or, by gutting existing houses and replacing still-functional stuff inside — we would be setting ourselves up for a better environmental future. I flat out find this impossible to believe; I need to see the calculus of how much carbon, water, forest, etc. this massive reworking of our housing stock would chew up.Waste distresses me, so I intensely favor buying existing houses: Use it up, wear it out, make it do. Note: At the end of January 2014, there were 1.9 million existing-built homes for sale in the U.S., the National Association of Realtors reported. The NAR considers this a 4.9-month supply, at the existing sales rate (which was slow in January), under the approximately six-month supply generally recommended. That said, there are now 10,000 Baby Boomers turning 65 daily. Additional houses will be heading our way soon enough….
6. Mid-century was a heyday of architectural inventiveness:
Great architecture and features — Mid-century America was a period of immense innovation. Merchant builders built houses that were stylin’. My sense is that there were lots more major manufacturers in the marketplace supplying products, so there was a lot of competition, which meant a lot of proud invention — amazing stoves! sparkle laminate! cork floors! amazing tile! Homeowners did wicked awesome things like build tiki bars in their basements. And again, quality of workmanship was often wonderful. All this adds up to discovering many wonderful features in mid-century houses. There was interesting design, outside and in.
Another thing we Retro Renovators have in common, I’ve typically found, is that we are highly visual. Once we own or live in a mid-century home, we can easily become fascinated by the aesthetics of the period. That said: All design is highly visual, so I think you could be a highly visual person and be into any interior design style. But I think that our highly visual nature, combined with all the other factors on this list, make the mid-century period a particularly appealing one for us.
7. As cozy as Grandma’s kitchen, hey it is grandma’s kitchen:
Warm fuzzies — Our definition of mid-century houses includes both “mid-century modern” and “mid-century modest.” Interestingly, while “moderns” and “modests” may have been designed to look very different on the outside, on the inside they often shared many many design features — namely, use of unpretentious materials, interesting design features, and similar pastel bathrooms and colorful kitchens. Mid-century modern houses: Hard not to get gaga over the fabulous lines of these houses. Add color, and they are so fun. Mid-century modest houses: These can be so00000 cozy. The ceilings are not super high. The homes envelop us.
America is such a mobile country — so many of us needed to move for jobs — our roots may be far away. We love our mobility, but hey, we miss our kinfolk, too… and the cozy features within our mid-century houses remind us of our Grandma’s house. My grandma had a kitchen full of knotty pine galore, a den with a wall full of family photos, and bathrooms with sunny tile. Happy happy memories, easy to channel if you own a mid-century house.
8. All the modern amenities:
“Modern” living — My sense is that for the mass of America prior to World War II, it was a hard-knock life. But the economy boomed after World War II. And houses from that point on began bringing all kinds of “modern” amenities to the largest generation of families ever… Modern conveniences like: electricity, indoor bathroom plumbing, central heating [and with it, larger windows], “fitted kitchens”, larger flowing rooms, and more. Today, all these same features continue to comprise the fundamental requirements for contemporary homes. Not a lot has really changed. Today, homes need better amperage… windows are double-paned (although not likely made better)… the materials we use to build homes or fit them out may differ… ya got yer low-flow toilets and Energy Star appliances (again, likely not made with as much quality as back in the day)… and certainly many superficial “fashion” choices may be different. But even if you live in a mid-century house that is 50 years old, you are likely living in a house that still is almost entirely suitable to contemporary 21st century living.
Hey: Because a mid-century house may be smaller and cost less to purchase and maintain, it may be MORE suited to 21st century living, if you are concerned about climate change and having the money — in a less stable economic and jobs environment — to maintain it and even to hold on to it.
9. Great for aging in place:
Floor plan: Mid-century houses often were ranch-style houses or Cape Cods with bedrooms on the ground level. Single-story ranch houses, in particular, are great for aging in place. Having lived in several styles of homes, I would go a step beyond and say that ranches — with those bedrooms close at hand and nice circulation and flow — are more livable for virtually anyone and everyone — although I do miss all the exercise I got going up and down stairs 800 times a day when I lived in two-story houses. Sort of. Note, I do acknowledge: Ranch style houses require larger lots – and obviously, the larger and more sprawling the home is, the more land will be required; my understanding is that building up, if you need space, is more economical along a number of dimensions.
10. Getting trendier every day:
They’re hip(ish) — When I started this blog in 2007, there already was a market for mid-century modern houses — the architect-designed confections, with impractical roof lines, especially on the West Coast. In the six+ years since, interest in these mid-century modern houses has really exploded. Meanwhile, flash back to 2007 and mid-century modest houses were not much on the fashcionista radar, they were disparaged, even. But then came Mad Men (Betty had a knotty pine kitchen) … and in general, 50 years passed and there was a new generation of buyers without any baggage…. and all the kids are wearing retro anyway… and more Baby Boomers were retiring, and they were nostalgic and downsizing and wanting ranch houses… and there was a Great Recession, and small, affordable houses were sort of appealing again… and I’ll even suggest there was the internet, including this blog, connecting folks to mid-mod alternatives and resources… and before you knew it, the world began to see the charm of the simple tract house. Today, there’s much more interest in mid-century houses — modern and modest alike — with lots of readers telling me that they are searching for old houses from the era to call their own.
11. Multi-generational neighborhoods:
Neighbors from the way-back days — Live in a mid-century neighborhood, and chances are there are original owners in their original houses nearby. Theirs may be the last generation in America not to move nine times (or whatever) because of job changes. It’s so nice to have some grandma and grandpa-aged neighbors around, to tell us what the place looked like from the start, don’t you think?
12: Wonderful stories, and Polaroids, too:
The stories — This one is related to #11 … and is one of my favorite “unexpected surprises” about the joy of owning a mid-century house: There are folks still around who can tell us first-hand stories about our homes, including who built them, who lived there and why. I am sure there are wonderful stories about Victorian and Arts ‘n Crafts houses, etc., too. But we can longer hear those stories first-hand, and there likely aren’t many photos. Readers with mid-century houses, on the other hand, report experience after experience of meeting the original owners, or their children, of their houses. The original owners share information and stories and photos and architectural drawings…. In my house, the grown child of early, longtime owners showed me where he stashed his teenaged Marlboros (they are still in their hiding place; he searched; yes, they were there, and then we put them back – a little time capsule.) He showed me where his beloved boyhood dog chewed the door molding at the top of the basement stairs — and I now treasure that boo boo. He showed me where the dog was buried in the backyard. His mother sent me photos taken in the house in the 1950s — weddings, Christmas, the original kitchen…. It’s all so heartwarming, I could bust. I am just the latest caretaker of this treasure of a house. Which there are oh-so many reasons to love.
What do you think, dear readers: Did I capture the big reasons we love our mid-century houses?
And for sure: I would love to hear — in great detail — yes! — the exact reasons that you chose your home!
Kim Bloem says
I just bought a midcentury home across the street from where I live now. The original owner was my life long doctor until he retired in the 80s. We have talked to him and he is gathering photos so we can keep it the same way!
Robin, NV says
I would add one more – in a well-cared-for, older home all of the liveability “issues” have been worked out. I’m talking the simple little niggling things that can drive you nuts if they’re not right – light switches in poor locations, power outlets in odd spots. These homes were designed with Susie Homemaker in mind (and probably with her input) so finding the right outlet when vacuuming is a snap (for example). I’m not saying there aren’t the occasional oddities but mid mod homes tend to be full of the stuff that makes life easier – lots of closets, drawers, built-ins, etc. Furthermore, the smaller size of mid mod homes make them easier to care for – cheaper to heat/cool, cheaper to remodel, easier to clean, etc.
But personally I’m big on the warm fuzzies my house gives me. It’s charming and I love knowing that it’s greener than new homes. As a historian, I love the feeling of continuity I get from the house. I also love that it’s sufficient for my needs and that I’m not paying for (and cleaning) more house than I need. Not to mention that my property taxes are WAY lower than newer homes in my area.
The Atomic Mom says
Yes to all of these! I live in Los Alamos, NM (home of the Manhattan Project of WW2), which was made into a permanent town after WW2, starting in 1946. The Army Corps of Engineers built all of the original homes in the town — and they are sturdy. I live in a 1949 duplex made with 2×6 solid wood frame and on a concrete slab that will last longer than any nuclear winter. My house is full of REAL oak hardwood flooring, trims and finishes too. In 1957, when they opened up private lots for custom building in the town, MCM was in its hey-day. We have several neighborhoods that are MCM-a-licious.
As for this list, I would add COLOR! I love how MCM homes, furnishings, fabrics, styles were not afraid of color. Your word “greyige” is so perfect for how I think modern homes are. I also love that MCM furniture is not oversized and over stuffed. It’s just right.
Anne-Marie Cory says
Wonderful article. There are so many things about my house that I love:
1. I am less than 2 bikeable/walkable miles from downtown,
2. The floor plan is perfect. There is no wasted space, nothing pretentious and so very, very family friendly.
3. The yard is big enough to “farm” and still have room to play and eat outside.
4. The neighborhood does include original owners, elderly couples, families AND lots of racial diversity. Because my family is multiracial and very unconventional, this is a great bonus for us.
5. My house is cool. She reminds me of an elderly woman who used to be a dancer. She has great legs, a snappy sense of style and a long memory full of saucy stories.
nina462 says
I agree whole heartily! Couldn’t have said it better –
JKM says
One of the things I like about mid-century homes, especially modern ones from the ’50s and ’60s is how FUN they feel. Architects, builders, appliance manufacturers, etc. were experimenting and trying new things for new ways of living – with eyes toward the future. Lots of “wow” factors that still ring a vibe today.
Steve says
Number 5 is one of my biggest pet peeves. There are constantly articles in my newspaper about some new “Green, LEED, Carbon Neutral” blah, blah, blah house that someone has just built. Once you get into the story they inevitably say that they had to tear down as existing house to build it. Now I’m not suggesting that green building practices and LEED standards are unimportant, I just think it’s a little hypocritical to destroy a house that’s perfectly fine in order to advance those goals. For many people “green” has become a new status symbol, and I think being a slave to status is the ultimate in wastefulness. Okay, sorry – end of rant.
Janet in CT says
Excellent point, Steve! And also, they are contributing an ENTIRE HOUSE to a landfill! How green is that?! Pam, it made me so sad to see the GE stove I love in a dumpster. Is this a real photo or photoshopped? What are people thinking? Those stoves are ten times the stove the new ones are!
Patty says
What’s not to like?
Warm, seasoned personality.
Janet in CT says
Pam, your list is excellent, and the two responses prior to mine are exactly how I feel. We have looked for a house to retire to for years now, and I think the tally is over thirty houses. I found our 1957 ranch in a town we had never considered, being too far from our beloved coast of Maine. But when we walked in the door, I just knew it was THE ONE! I had already fallen in love with it from the photos, but I had been so disappointed so many times previously, that I didn’t have my hopes up. Well, the first thing I noticed was when you walked in the door, no smells! No odor of stale cigarettes, mold, dirt, rotting wood, cooking or animals. My husband couldn’t find anything wrong with our little house short of the roof was installed improperly. I found it endearing immediately, maybe much because the owner was a widowed elderly fellow who never changed much of anything short of some renovations in the eighties. Alot of the house was original, such as the blue tile look paneling in the bathroom, the gray plastic tile with black trim and shiny maple cabinets in the kitchen, and beautifully maintained wood floors. The lot is downright tiny, but we don’t want to be mowing lawn all week either. And many of the things John Brown did do in the house leave us loving him! We laughed so at the hundreds, and I mean hundreds of nails in the garage and on the cellar stairwell, in all sizes to hang things on. And I have to grin whenever I see the spaghetti sauce splashes on the cabinets, eternally sealed when he last put the coat of shiny shellac on them, because he was in his eighties and couldn’t see to clean them properly. Or how he put in a shower stall in two different colors of plastic, because he probably saved alot of money buying two sets that had flaws or damage, but got one good one out of the two. He put siding on the house but he didn’t replace windows or doors or floors or tile or anything that didn’t need fixing, bless him. This is alot of the reason we bought this particular house, knowing John loved his house too, and let it be. No huge new house for us with a big yard. Been there, done that. We love our little ranch and know it is the perfect house for us.
Robin, NV says
Janet – I totally agree. The minute I stepped in my house I knew it was the one. It was obvious the previous (original) owner had loved the place and we could tell right away that the construction was top notch – no squeeky floors, no off plumb walls. But what really sold me was the kitchen with its birch cabinets. It was just so warm and glowy, it really stood out against the cherry and oak kitchens in the other houses I’d looked at. Despite the occasional cosmetic flaw, my house just exudes love in a way modern houses don’t.
Chzplz says
Boy, did you get that list right.
I love my cosy, affordable, well built house in a neighbourhood with mature trees, located closeish to the city center. I love all my “adoptive grandparents” that wave out their window every day when I’m walking the dog. I love that my lot is just big enough for a real backyard, but small enough that I can mow front and back lawns in under an hour. And as it’s a bungalow with great accessibility, I can stay here until I go out feet first.
I love my mid-century modest home.
Chris says
What a fun article, Pam! You are absolutely right — about everything!
Our home is a little earlier – built in 1934 – but I think most of the same factors give our house its appeal.
The only thing I might add is an intangible quality. Good vibes! We weren’t actually looking to buy a house when we fell in love with this one. We were planning to marry in the summer and were very tired of in-town, apartment living. A co-worker told me his mother had a rental house in a wonderful old neighborhood, just a few miles away from the city. It was winter — a very bleak time to look at properties. No leaves on the trees, no flowers… brown grass. Even so, we could tell the neighborhood was great. The homes ranged in age on the street from about 1870 to 1970! (The trees were HUGE!) My friend couldn’t remember the address of the rental house, but had a good description for us. Consequently, we ended up REALLY looking at all the houses.
There was a really cute one for sale. It had a small, screened-in front porch and really big lot. Out of curiosity, we ended up calling the realtor on the sign — just to see what houses sell for in the neighborhood. We were very honest and said there was no way we were looking to purchase — we were just being nosy. The realtor was happy to invite us to peek inside.
Here’s where the good vibes come in. The house had last been re-decorated in the late 60s — and not in a good, Retrorenovation way. It really was unattractive. The owner had “updated” it to be a rental and did everything very cheaply. (Note here the difference between inexpensive and cheap. It was cheap.) Most people would walk in and walk back out. But the house just FELT GREAT! The way the sun came in through the windows gave it a warmth, even in mid-winter. We peeked under the dry-rotted carpeting and saw very nice oak floors. It was small — 2 bedroom / 1 bath — but the lot was very large with potential for an addition. It was our house. We ended up buying it! Never mind that we used our wedding money for part of the downpayment!
Since then, I’ve tagged along with house-hunting friends. I’ve been in many newer homes that needed no repair or updating whatsoever. The electrical work is all up to code. The new windows are energy-efficient. The granite countertops sparkle. Everything is perfect and clean. But not one of these houses has ever had the wonderful feeling that ours does! We still have so much work to do. I doubt we’ll ever be done. I’m convinced, though, that houses absorb something over time. Old homes retain something of the people who lived in them. They have a substance that newer builds, no matter how high-quality, do not.
We love our old house, despite its flaws. When my husband gripes about them, and about all the projects we have to do, I rush to defend our home (claws out, if necessary.) Do not insult my little grandma house!!!!!!! I love her!
Eileen Herlihy says
AMEN!! I feel the same way with our new (to us) “modest” home. We are just the new caretakers. Done with pride and respect.