Ted and Marzie just closed on their “new” 1948 ranch house. But… do we really call it a ranch house, when the facade also has some delicious Streamline Moderne married to it? And… how should they decorate? Ted wants our ideas — and has sent photos to inspire our input. The invitation is out: time for all of us to put out thinking caps on and play decorator-designer!
Hi, I have a problem I’m hoping you and your readers can help me with. I just purchased a house because it spoke to me, only I can’t quite figure out what it is saying yet. It’s giving me mixed messages. The house is a 1948 ranch with the typical long, low horizontal lines of a wide, single story house with a hip roof and big overhangs, combined with the strong vertical lines of a curved glass block and brick Art Deco “Waterfall”, or “Streamline Moderne” entry. So is it a mid-century modern ranch, or is it Art Deco or just plain eclectic?
Some details have been lost over the years, but some remain like the original pink and blue bathroom, and there was a swinging kitchen door found up in the attic with a round port in it reminiscent of a ship (think Streamline). The bathroom addition to the right with its high, small windows is totally wrong, and the rest of the interior is just plain vanilla post war ranch with its plain, narrow trim and 8′ ceilings.
I have some ideas, many actually, but I’m struggling to come up with a cohesive direction to go with for this house as far as design inside and out. Do I use the remaining original bathroom with its worn tile as my inspiration, and match the new kitchen to it, or do I go with a more modern (1950’s/1960’s) feel throughout? Personally, I’m seeing red countertops and light birch cabinets for the kitchen on the inside, and sunny yellow with bright blue doors and grey trim for the exterior. I admit, I’m typically drawn to Arts & Crafts/Revival houses of the 1930’s with their warm, custom crafted details, so I’m a little out of my element.
I’d love to hear what ideas you and your readers have, including directing me to vendors that might fit the bill.
Ted, whatever you call it, I love it — thank you for sharing; congratulations; and hooray that this house has made its way into thoughtful hands. And I love your sense of humor. Yes, readers say they listen to their houses, too, and sometimes it even gets… spooky! Okay, readers, here’s your chance:
- What to call the style of this house?
- How to remodel in a way that suits the original architecture — kitchen, bathrooms, colors for the exterior, and general ideas welcome!
Heather says
The semicircular roofline over the front door reminds me of a Deco entryway that still remains in the interior gardens of the Flamingo hotel/casino in Vegas (built in 1946).
Vintage images of the Flamingo’s initial Deco iteration would provide good inspiration for landscaping and even interiors…disregard its current state!
I highly recommend researching the property via any avenues available: old permits and real estate records can lead to great info about the builder, names of owners over time, and the neighbourhood.
You’ve found a true gem – enjoy it!
Ted Crocker says
Researching the history and looking for clues as I dig into the house are part of the fun for me. I’m asking old-timer neighbors I’ve met if they have old photos or know of any stories about the house. Some do. Slowly, I’m learning its history. I know it was custom built by a doctor and it was originally painted a medium blue. In the late 1970’s, it was painted pink, had a white 3-rail fence and most of the steel windows were replaced with aluminum inserts (but I can still see the original flashing where it extended over the original casements).
Sharon says
What a beauty your house is! The glass blocks alone would of sold me!
I will echo everyone else that said to live in the house for a while before you do anything major. Houses do speak to us but they need to know us a little too before they speak in a way that we understand. I have lived in my old house for 25 years this time and 8 years of my childhood and it still tells me new things!
karin says
Wow! You bought a spectacular house. I agree with all the above
suggestions to live in it for a year. Just fix what is damaged and paint the front door a color that complements the brick. I’d try a metallic cobalt blue to highlight the Streamline look. Your kitchen idea sounds perfect. The brick is fine unpainted. I think your dilemma is mostly about what furniture, accessories and paint that best suits a Streamline style. You could go classic and tasteful with 20s/30s/40s Bauhaus furniture like Wassily chairs or go for an American Deco style. Deco had many iterations and influences. There’s Miami Deco, Egyptian Deco, British and French Deco, Streamline Moderne, etc. I love all of them, but for me, this house screams Streamline. Your swanky pink bathroom seems kind of Miami Deco. I love Streamline because the vintage stuff is fun and relatively affordable. There are lots of new Streamline style products such as lighting. For decor, I’d think dark wood, a cobalt blue mirrored coffee table, a few black and chrome accents, Deco cocktail cabinets, round mirrors, Deco light fixtures, chrome trims, deep comfy club sofas and chairs. You can’t go wrong with that. Deco keeps coming back every few years because it was a great style that could be adapted. This place, with its lovely curves and angles, is pretty cool already. Whatever you do, I’m sure it will look amazing. After all, you had the good taste to pick it.
Grams Robin says
Gee, I don’t know. What does Marzie think? She must have an opinion.
Ted Crocker says
We pretty much want the same things when it comes to a house. Number one is the house has to be warm and cozy, so will lean towards lots of wood and color, rather than the industrial look inside, yet try to give it a streamline vibe. The one thing this house doesn’t have that Marzie wanted was a front porch, so I am thinking we may expand the narrow brick landing out radially to make enough room for a chair or two, and add curvy streamline railings to meet code.
Kathy says
I think it is in the Streamline Modern/Art Moderne family, which can be thought of as a simplified version of Art Deco, or a more ornamental version of International style. It was inspired by the industrial design of the times and often included nautical type elements, like horizontal metal railings, balconies, exposed stairways and porthole windows. Art Moderne was fairly popular until the mid-1950s or so, and is a kissing cousin of Mid-Century Modern.
It is not uncommon to find Streamline elements in houses of the times, typically in hardware and light fixtures and corner windows and glass block. I have even seen it mixed with Colonial Revival, so anything is possible.
Color is a underappreciated element to bring these houses to life. Natural to mid-toned wood surfaces, chrome accents, and triadic color schemes (think salmon, turquoise, cream, jadeite green, aqua, maroon, caramel, strong pastels, off or warm whites). Brights were also used, but typically in the kitchen or in kid’s spaces or rec rooms, but even these were often slightly muted and not quite a pure color.
For me, inspiration could come from old travel posters and their delicious colors, barkcloth and vintage fabrics, Chinese Art Deco rugs, rattan, old movie sets, modern art, and commercial architecture and furnishings of that period and just before. Classic mid-century furniture should fit right in as well. And I can see some dramatic floor plants in the mix.
It doesn’t have to be completely of the period to look terrific. Have fun. Many homes were quite modern, but the furniture and such were more traditional and homey. It is simple enough to accommodate a variety of approaches.
Agree with most of the comments–look into modifying the garage (paint is an option–see Pam’s pages on historic garages), replacing the patio doors or putting a low wall/fence in front, upgrade the landscaping, paint the front door. Painting the window trim and fascia a contrasting color might also be an option. And yes, leave the brick.
Rejuvenation has some great wire type street numbers on clearance right that could be great on your house on that blank wall next to the glass block window, or look around to find something suitable. That and paint are changes that are rather inexpensive and satisfying.
I would also consider refinishing the floors, patching plaster, painting ceilings, and other messy interior tasks that are hard to do once you move in.
with-a-z says
What a fun house to decorate! I can see the challenges though. I would really have to live in this house for awhile to know what I want to do with it. It’s funky vibe really does lend itself to some bright colors, but not in an over done way. I love red, as others have said, and I am a huge fan of taking a color scheme through an entire house – with variations of the theme in different rooms. Decide on a color palette and work from there as you collect items – this helps keep you focused as well. Have fun — keep the awesomeness of the house — replace anything that is so new you could buy it today. 🙂
When re-doing our bathroom and kitchen (down to studs) I found Pinterest incredibly helpful. Create a pinboard for a specific space in the house and start by going on a massive collecting spree of ANYTHING that appeals to you. LOAD it up!!!! When you are exhausted, then go back and start weeding out – distill it down until you get down to pins that really sing to you. You have now gone through the exercise of really understanding what you like and don’t like, without making purchase decisions that waste time and money. There really is a surprising amount of vintage stuff out on the site these days — and you can also save pins from non-Pinterest pages as well, as you define your style and plan.
So exciting!!!
Ted Crocker says
Thank goodness for the internet, right?! It is exciting. I’m having a lot of fun already.
lee says
I love this house. Can you tell us where it is?
The garage door style is “of the era” I think. Anybody disagree? This is the style I have on my 1964 ranch house.
Ted Crocker says
It’s located in Castro Valley, California.
KStacey says
I just posted yesterday that I thought the original (pre-mirrored doors) bedroom closets must have been like the ones at my grandmother/uncle’s house. Which happens to be in San Lorenzo! (The “Via” Streets area) Both sides of my entire family have been in Alameda County since well before your house was built, a lot of them in their 70s/80s are still living there. With CA property tax laws, some of them can’t afford to move or downsize, crazy! I’m going back home next week, will have to show my dad this article and see if he has any 411. I mean, they can’t even drive down Hisperian to the grocery store without giving me the complete history of every business/building/development in the area, so who knows. Sometimes they crack me up! “That’s where Jake’s garage was, I heard his son Jack makes wine now or something.”
Felicia Alexander says
Thank you for solving that mystery for us. Readers who thought the house was in the Pacific Northwest were pretty close!
KStacey says
It is saying “I am awesome, I have potential, live in me a while and you will discover what I need.”
I think that the patio door does look odd, but only because there is no fence around that area, it should be a nice little private patio. Hot tub? 🙂 . The beauty of a house that still has rooms is that you don’t need everything to be the same. Obviously, some sort of cohesion throughout is desirable, but you can do what you like in each space with colors, etc. I hate seeing the 50s/60s ranch homes in my area after the flippers get ahold of them, tearing out all the walls so instead of a den, breakfast room, living room and kitchen, there is one ginormous room with an open kitchen/island in the corner. Besides not being a fan of the open floor plan, it’s just not as much FUN! Haha!
No matter what year a house was built, staying “retro” doesn’t mean sticking with JUST that. I mean, a house built in 1950 can have 60s or 70s elements as well, the original owners wouldn’t have decorated when they moved in, leaving it at that.
But again, mostly? I wouldn’t do much of anything yet. Certainly nothing drastic. Living in it a little will show you the path.
Ted Crocker says
I like your idea for creating a private fenced area around the sliding doors. I never thought of that. The patio door does look odd and is not original. Originally, the house was open there and had a covered breezeway between the house and garage. Having the advantage of knowing the entire house and the lot’s layout and flow, I have come up with a different way of dealing with it – sort of returning it to a breezeway. The slider goes. The breezeway behind those sliders will be raised two steps and a covered brick porch will be created under the roof leading to doors to the garage, an in-law unit, and the side entry to the kitchen’s pantry/mud room/laundry. I think you are right about not having to stick to exactly 1948.
smmw says
Please do not redo that beautiful bathroom!
Liz says
People are mentioning garage door and front door. That garage door actually looks like it could be the original wood door. I have a similar design on a 1962 high ranch, and what I did was paint the inset pieces to “match” the glass during the day. It looks great. In fact, you can’t even tell there is glass most of the time (I also put in frosted plexi to help with this, so that it holds the light and looks a little more opaque.)
As for front door, I would go with something that would be more period appropriate to the 60s. In many ways, this house was ahead of its time! I think as styles were changing people were grabbing a little of the old familiar and adding it to the new. Our challenge is to decide on the style that feels most cohesive, and go from there. I like to think of it as taking a Mid-Century Modest into Mid-Century Elegant. If in doubt, ask the house 😉 It’ll know!
Ted Crocker says
The garage door is not original. I do feel like it needs to be replaced with either a solid front door with some deco style moldings or some offset windows up the left side.
The problem with the entry is that it is dark. Money willing, I’d love to add round ports in the brick to either side of the solid wood front door. This way I could keep the original knocker/speak easy and door bell lever. They are so cool!